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LOCATION: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photo above is property of TRAPPED Mississauga Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Room 057 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 30, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 Players): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-7 ppl (Recommend 4-6 ppl) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $28/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The year is 2036 and you have had another vague dream of a time in a hospital on a remote island long ago. They keep reoccurring but always stop on a door labelled #057 that never opens. You want to remember if this is real, but the virus stripped you of your memories that you have been struggling hard to gain back. With your recruited team, your vague recollections have led you back to this same hospital to uncover the truth. Can you reclaim your lost memories and discover what happened within these eerie halls? NOTE: This is a standalone sequel of a previous game by TRAPPED, "Contaminated Hospital". Video above is property of TRAPPED Mississauga Escape Room 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Room 057 combines clever use of objects and well-made technical components to guide players through the discovery. A truly unexpected surprise is carefully crafted into the game that thrilled my team and made us stop to appreciate it. Set design was solid and the use of coloured lights helped build atmosphere. There is a good variety of puzzles that provide excellent “aha” moments as they physically open boxes or reveal secrets. Each players had something that could play to their strength and could have their moment to shine in the room. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was one puzzle that were a little long and tedious for a 60-minute escape room. Time became a key thing as there is a lot to do in the hour. There is component that is used by several puzzles that wasn’t made clear in the beginning. More of a heads up than anything else but there is a safe in the room that will lock you out for 2 minutes at a time if you input the incorrect code twice. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Room 057" provides some really unique and interesting twists that kept my team engaged and determined to follow solve this mystery and I admit I didn’t expect the ending! This is a challenging game that would benefit more experienced players as it requires more layered puzzling to piece together clues and solutions. I recommend this type of game for groups looking for a break from the tradition locks and who enjoy a little eeriness to their games. Each time we solved a puzzle was a true experience as things unfolded and opened before our eyes. The surprise at the end was a perfect way to end this experience. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank TRAPPED Mississauga Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JillianRaymond #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TRAPPEDMississaugaEscapeRoom #Canada #Thriller

LOCATION: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photo above is property of TRAPPED Edmonton Escape Room 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Carnival 📅 DATE PLAYED: March 3, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Spooky 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $29/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The carnival has just arrived into town with all the excitement of the games and shows. But everyone is here to see the main attraction... the Fortune Teller. However, when you arrive at the carnival, you realize that you cannot leave and the only way to escape is if you can find the Fortune Teller and have her decide your fate. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The bulk of the puzzles had a carnival theme which added to the theatrics of the room. All the puzzles were also well clued and we never had any moments of wondering how to arrive at the answer. The overall flow of the room as we went from one to the next was planned out very well and added to the theme and fun of the room. This was an all-tech room which made for a fun experience. This gave us more of an opportunity to experiment and try different fun ideas on puzzles. We did ask for one hint and found the GM clued us really well with a nice push in the right direction and still allowed us to arrive at the solution on our own. There were some sly eureka moments that really made us smile after we got them. Without spoiling it, the ending really made the game as our jaws dropped when we got there. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The room could have used a little more “carnival” decorations to give it a more immersive experience. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "The Carnival" was a fun room with logical puzzles and wonderful flow. This room did promote teamwork and discussion as a few puzzles were made easier through communicating with one another and decisions needed to be made as we progressed (you may see the true colors of your friends lol). The ending of the room absolutely made this room and tied everything together. The premise does seem creepy but the room has no jump-scares overall (unless you have a fear of clowns, as there is one clown in there). The room was a little on the easier side which would make for a great room for beginners or experienced people trying to set a record. We played with 4 experienced players, but this could be a fun night out with 6 beginners. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking Lobby with seating area Located on the ground floor Wheelchair accessible Party Room available Small selection of board games to purchase Photos above are property of TRAPPED Edmonton Escape Room (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank TRAPPED Edmonton Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TRAPPEDEdmontonEscapeRoom #Canada #Spooky #Carnival

LOCATION: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photo above is property of TRAPPED Edmonton Escape Room 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Room 057 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 26, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $36PP (2PPL), CAD $32/PP (3+PPL) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY In the year 2036, you wake up with a recurring dream of being trapped in an abandoned hospital and continually see a room labeled "057"; on a remote island. Saved by a rescue team in the dream, you have memory loss due to a mysterious virus from the island. Unsure if it was merely a dream or a lost memory from 30 years ago, you decide to recruit a team and revisit the hospital to uncover the truth behind your forgotten past. Video above is property of TRAPPED Mississauga Escape Room 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The puzzles and story flowed seamlessly together, leading to intuitive solutions that worked well with the narrative. The bulk of the puzzles were either grand enough that allowed everyone in the room the chance to solve it or had enough pieces that everyone was able to be engage in the solve. A few props stood out for their quality, creativity, and unique usage. One particular puzzle distinguished itself for its inventiveness and led to a fantastic eureka moment that felt movie worthy. The GMs were skilled at giving hints that were cryptic enough to help us solve the puzzle and not take away the excitement of our eureka moment. Having some group members with some mobility issues, the GMs were very considerate in accommodating them. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One puzzle could have been clued slightly better as we knew the solution but not the order of input which delayed a key part of the story. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Room 057" was a solid room that had some creative puzzles that gave us some great eureka moments. The puzzles and narrative flowed together smoothly for an immersive experience. The set design was creative with some appealing props. We played with 4 people and found that it worked out to allow everyone the chance to see everything and stay involved. Even an additional person would have worked well in the room. Anyone who is a fan of mystery or science type rooms should give this room a shot. Overall, our group had a blast solving this mystery, and the ending wrapped up the room beautifully. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking. Lobby with seating area Located on the ground floor Wheelchair accessible Small selection of board games available for purchase. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TRAPPEDEdmontonEscapeRoom #Canada #Thriller

LOCATION: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photo above is property of TRAPPED Mississauga Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Chaos Effect 📅 DATE PLAYED: March 16, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Murder Mystery, Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 Players): 9/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-9 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 70 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $28/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY When a young woman is found murdered in her apartment it sounds like a pretty clear cut case. Except when it is revealed that she's in a secret research project involving Quantum Physics, it becomes clear that her murder is not as it seems. A single clue is left by her body that will spiral you on a quest across time as you search for the individual that caused this bright star’s future to end so suddenly. Can you unravel the mystery and find her killer or will you become lost in the typhoon left by the wings of a butterfly? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Chaos Effect cleverly uses a concept that encourages players to really move and explore between rooms. The rooms have nuance in the details that play such a pivotal role as you move forward without even realising. The combination of puzzles and murder mystery creates a hands on and brains on experience that keeps you thinking from start to finish. The story is clear and well outlined with excellent progressions marked throughout. The twist of this experience is an absolute delight. It forces new perspectives and changes the direction of the game. The puzzles use a combination of traditional puzzling but also a unique application of pattern and observational recognition. The game mechanics were fun and felt immersive in the game. They made sense and I loved how they unfolded. Pay attention to some curious items in the first room to help you foreshadow later aspects. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The game starts off pretty broad that can mislead players to trying to tackle puzzles in the wrong way. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re not sure. The middle room, while I understand the importance of it, felt a little tedious in repetition. Not necessarily a missed the mark but this game has a heavy murder mystery aspect that requires you to narrow down suspects, which not all escape room players may like or be able to do. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Chaos Effect" takes the framework of a traditional escape room and applies a fascinating mechanic that really gets your brain thinking. The story was engaging and I loved the unravelling of the mystery. Our group was able to solve the majority of puzzles but one particular mechanic kept us from fully capturing all the story and it was a “dang!” kind of moment once the GM talked things through with us. This is a challenging game but incredibly rewarding. I recommend this game for groups with a variety of puzzlers and an attention to detail. The twist was perfect and will push you further down the rabbit hole. This has been TRAPPED Mississauga’s best game yet! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking is available in the front. There are currently 5 rooms in this facility with another in the works. Private room is available for events Tabletop games are available for purchase Note: This is TRAPPED's most challenging game. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank TRAPPED Mississauga Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JillianRaymond #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TRAPPEDMississaugaEscapeRoom #Canada #MurderMystery #SciFi

Photo above is property of Code Candy Blue Company: Code Candy Blue Game: Disappearance at Darkmoor Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Mystery Date Played: June 14, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Size of Team: 2-6 Players (Min. of 2 Players Required) Time: Unlimited (Suggested time 2 -3 hours) Price: $24.80/ Team (up to 6 logins) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 A leading student from the enigmatic Darkmoor Academy has disappeared. Hidden beneath its ancient stone corridors are secret chambers and mystical rituals. Can you reveal the hidden truths and bring her back before Darkmoor claims another victim? Video above is property of Code Candy Blue 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Each player from your team receives a unique login code, allowing them to explore the game independently. The game progress isn't synchronized among players, meaning each individual must input all answers to keep up with the group. We arranged a phone call to talk about puzzles, strategies, and solutions. This is not a point-and-click game, so it does not involve any searching. The hotspots are bright pink, clearly indicating that information is available when clicked. In each stage, there weren't many rooms to switch between. Most of the clues and puzzles were concentrated on a single screen. As you delve deeper into Anna Marks' disappearance, you start gathering information to move forward. The dossiers you receive contain audio recordings along with the corresponding transcripts. As you advance, you'll gather information that will be stored in your inventory for future reference. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Generally, the puzzles in "Disappearance at Darkmoor" were logical and complex, requiring you to establish connections using the information gathered in your inventory. As detectives, we were assigned to discover Anna Marks' location by employing investigative techniques to gather some answers. The puzzles we had to solve all connected to the storyline really well. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 We strongly suggest "Disappearance at Darkmoor" for both beginners and enthusiasts who enjoy detective-style games. As detectives assigned to uncover what transpired and locate Anna Marks, we felt as if we were placed in the driver’s seat to conduct the investigation. As you explore her life and the suspects involved, twists and turns to the story begins to unfold. For beginners, we suggest 3-4 players, while for enthusiasts, 1-2 players are recommended. (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Code Candy Blue for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #ColdCandyBlue #DigitalEscapeGame #OnlinePuzzleGames #Mystery #USA

LOCATION: Urbana, Illinois, USA Photo above is property of CU Adventures in Time & Space Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Rise of the icarus 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 14, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $32.00/ pp (4 ppl), $27.00/ pp (5-8 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You’ve been called to the Arctic to investigate a possible UFO crash. What begins as a routine first-day cadet assignment quickly turns into something much bigger, stranger, and more exciting than your training prepared you for… 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE An unforgettable companion character: The heart of this experience is the absolutely adorable alien robot you meet along the way, serving as both your hint system and hype squad. Our GM did a fantastic job of bringing him to life and personalizing our interactions. We were completely enamored and thoroughly entertained. Cooperative puzzles: This room does a great job splitting information across spaces and encouraging real collaboration. The final sequence, in particular, required multiple hands, each with their own special job, and would have worked well for slightly larger teams. (This is why the room minimum is technically 4 people, and it would have been fun to have a few more players.) Thankfully, as a duo, the GM was able to help us out a bit from afar. A fresh take on the UFO aesthetic: Rise of the Icarus has a stunning and beautiful interpretation of a UFO environment. It manages to feel both industrial and otherworldly in a really cohesive way. It’s impressive, immersive, and just plain cool to explore and hang out in! Tech integration and satisfying solves: There are plenty of creative puzzles and cool effects interwoven with tons of futuristic tech. This game has SO many fun gadgets and gizmos and doodads…but they do a good job making it clear what goes together and what’s actually in play. They even have a cool, futuristic “lantern” to ensure you don’t have any issues with dim lighting. Color-blind friendly: Color-based puzzles are generally supported with symbol or shape backups. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Light narrative thread: While the experience is consistently fun and engaging, the story itself doesn’t evolve in a deeply meaningful way. Things change and progress in a positive way, but we never really gained an understanding of the backstory or underlying reasoning behind what we were doing. Visual confusion: One puzzle had a background that we were meant to ignore but I interpreted as meaningful (leading to struggles completing the puzzle). It didn’t seem necessary or much of an enhancement, so I questioned why it was there. However, it seemed clear to Dave it was just a background to be ignored, so I may be unusual in finding it misleading. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Rise of the Icarus" was an absolute blast. We walked out stunned that this wasn’t the top-ranked room in their lineup (having not yet played Forest of Fables). It is probably our favorite spaceship-themed game we’ve played, with such a stellar combination of high-end set design, tech that really wows, endearing character interactions, AND a myriad of super satisfying, co-op heavy puzzles to solve. We consider it a can’t miss in the greater Chicago area, and it feels adaptable enough to suit almost any group. It’s truly a maximal version of spaceship room! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Private lot with a good amount of parking. The generous lobby/waiting area where you check in has both shirts for sale and a creative, co-operative version of tetris you can play. There are bathrooms and a water cooler available. There are no lockers, but you can leave your things in the rooms themselves. On the other side of the building, you’ll find Parcadia – a very cool mini-golf experience with a tavern, a mini puzzle-hunt, and lots more in the works! Across the street there is also a food hall with a variety of options. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank CU Adventures in Time & Space for providing us with a media discount for this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #CUAdventures #SciFi #USA #Illinois

LOCATION: Schaumburg, Illinois, USA Photo above is property of 60 to Escape Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Jurassic Outpost 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 13, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Survival, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 4/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $42.00 - $45.00/ pp (depending on # of players) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY One of Dinotopia’s employees has gone rogue, and you’ve been brought in to help restore order and recover a missing dinosaur before things spiral completely out of control… 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE A fully realized world: From the moment the game begins, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Dinotopia. The blend of dense jungle atmosphere, scientific research spaces, and sleek park technology creates an environment that’s easy to get lost in. Throughout the experiences, the spaces were highly engrossing and fun to be in. Cinematic moments: The game begins with a great in-world intro to launch the story, and it definitely delivers a cool, memorable conclusion. You have a personal choice to make about how things will end, but it will be something you’ll remember either way. Tech-heavy (and everything worked!): Like many of their games, there are relatively few traditional locks here, in favor of thematically tactile and interactive puzzles. Several stood out to us for satisfying solves that fit naturally in the setting, and we appreciated how often information was distributed across different spaces to encourage communication and collaboration. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Lack of clarity: As with their other games, clarity around a few details could be improved. One puzzle relied on color matching of items that changed color under different lighting conditions. In another case, there seemed to be a deliberate mismatch of paired elements, so that you couldn’t solve it until you accessed a 3rd piece of information. We would have preferred that the info be initially obscured, rather than contradictory. Limited solve feedback: There were a handful of times where we weren’t immediately sure whether we had successfully triggered or completed something. A bit more audiovisual feedback in certain moments would have helped maintain flow and reduced second-guessing. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Jurassic Outpost" is a great fit for players who love adventure-style rooms with strong environmental design and cinematic presentation. The combination of naturalistic scenery and interactive tech creates a cool Jurassic Park vibe to bring out your inner biologist and archaeologist. If you’ve, always wished you could be a part of that world, digging up fossils or studying brontosaurus behavior, now’s your chance. Time to gather your wits and your field gear, and go see some dinos! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Large lobby with seating Merchandise for sale There are bathrooms (much cleaner and nicer than the main mall ones) and water fountains. There are no lockers, but there are hooks and a spot on the floor in each room where you can leave your things. Located inside the Woodfield Mall Free parking (closest entrance would be one near P.F. Chang's (Middle Level, Grand Court next to "Cinnabon") 60 to Escape also has a 9 hole mini golf experience available - "Putt Portal Mystery Golf" Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of their Schaumburg location, an interview with the manager & owner, and a look inside their rooms (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank 60 to Escape for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #60toEscape #Survival #Adventure #Illinois #USA

Photo above is property of Literary Adventure Society Company: Literary Adventure Society Game: Lovely Brooke in the Ghost of Fountain Lane Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: June 6, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommended 1 to 6 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Recommended 1.5 - 2 Hrs) Price: $55.00 USD 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 While on vacation, not one but two mysteries find Loveday Brooke. One involves a ghost haunting a local boarding house, while the other requires the search for a stolen cheque. How are these two cases related? As Loveday and her team delve into the criminal underbelly of the spiritual and religious worlds, can you solve the mystery alongside her? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ This box was beautifully packed and assembled. Inside, we found a welcome letter, envelopes of evidence, a candle and tea to add to the ambiance, and plenty of other extras for a fun and extraordinary experience. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Beginning with the welcome letter, it outlined everything we needed for the experience, including a small description of the contents in the box and how to use them. Wanting to get the full experience , we brewed the tea, mixed one of their recommended cocktails and lit the candle to create the perfect atmosphere for the game. There were also some extras with fun tidbits to learn about the time period. The welcome letter pointed us to a website where we could listen to the audio play and find many other extras. There were recipes for different cocktails and mocktails, with one that even incorporated the tea that was provided. There was also a section on how to adapt the game if you were playing with young children and even a helpful guide on how to read cursive. You would need an internet connection for the audio play but LAS provided an option where you could download it to take it along with you as well as a eBook version if you would prefer to read it or use it to follow along like me. This audio play itself was a Loveday Brooke Story but slightly modified to add an extra mystery for us to solve. The production quality of the audio-play was spectacular. The voice actors and the original music was top tier. In fact, the theme song was so catchy I caught myself still humming it the next day. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 This game was all deduction based and flowed smoothly. Along the way, Loveday would find evidence and reference it by its envelope letter, which was our cue to open it up and examine it. Near the end, she would reveal that she had solved the case, which was our signal to pause the audio play and see if we could piece the mystery together ourselves. We never felt like there were any red herrings but knew everything was in front of us and we just needed to make the connections. The evidence was of great quality, and we loved the variety as we tried to figure everything out. Additionally, since the last time we played, they introduced an “almost” answer checker. After completing the case, we could take a short quiz asking key questions that would give us an overall score without revealing which specific answers were incorrect. This was a lovely touch as if we got it wrong, it would bring us back into discussion to go through the evidence again. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The amount of thought and effort that Literary Adventure Society puts into these mysteries is astonishing. We weren’t just listening to an audio play. We were right beside Loveday Brooke solving the case. The evidence was simple but great quality. The extras that came along with it, like the candle, tea, notebook, and historical tidbits, totally elevated the whole experience and ambiance. From the tea to the answer checkers, they hit the mark with everything here. We honestly cannot stop talking about this game. It was perfect for a couple’s night in, but having a few friends over would make for a fun, casual evening too. You just cannot go wrong with this perfectly packed evening. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Literary Adventure Society for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #USA #LiteraryAdventureSociety

Photo above is property of PostCurious Company: PostCurious Game: Emerald Echoes Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Fantasy, Alchemy Date Played: May 3, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommend 3 ppl) Time: Approximately 4-6 Hrs. Price: $79.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You seek to uncover the long lost mysteries of the 15th-century correspondence between a famous alchemist of yore and another young woman… While this game is a sequel to "The Emerald Flame", you certainly don’t need to have played that one to enjoy this! (In fact, you might consider playing this one first…) This is also truly a “puzzletale,” as PostCurious calls them. The story here isn’t just a bit of background or a light skin to give the puzzles some context and rationale. Beautifully written by Lauren Bello (an award-winning TV writer), the main story is developed in-depth, with excerpts at the start and end of every chapter. But really, there are two parallel stories, as you also get entertaining correspondence between two co-workers in modern time, cleverly interwoven in part with the hint system. This tale has both heart and humor and hit a really nice length for us, with enough to have impactful story development without it being so much that the reading overpowered the puzzling. Video above is property of PostCurious 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ If you’ve played any other PostCurious games, then the quality of components and the artwork will come as no surprise to you, and they are in a similar style to Emerald Flame. The robust components are primarily paper-based, but there are a few intriguing manufactured components as well that provide some of the sense that you are really dealing with ancient artefacts! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Emerald Echoes" is structured to clearly guide you through the experience. While the initial instructions in the “Start Here” brochure may seem a bit complex, they’ll make sense once you dive in. The game contains 4 main envelopes (or chapters), ordered by date. Within each chapter are a series of folders, both blue (story-focused) and green (puzzle-focused), as well as some supplemental materials. While materials within an envelope may be used for multiple puzzles, nothing is needed across different envelopes. Everything is clearly labeled in a way that fits the archaeological cataloguing context, guiding you through the game in a linear way. The segmented chapters form nice break points if you can’t or don’t wish to play straight through. (Though we always found it hard to stop!) The “Analysis” cards serve as the clever progressive hint system (in the form of an entertaining text conversation!) that is accessed by slowly sliding the hint page out of its sleeve, so you can read one text at a time. We generally were quite confident that we had the correct answer once we figured it out, but the only way to check yourself is to read through the hints…so if you’re wrong you will discover that at the same point you get your first nudge in the right direction. Though there is a digital answer checker you can use if preferred, along with a few other optional digital resources. Generally, however, no internet is required! You will want a decent amount of table space to spread all the gorgeous materials out on. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles feel fresh and deliver plenty of satisfying a-ha’s, though they are more approachable than some of PostCurious’ other games. While I still wouldn’t say they’re easy/beginner challenges, the hint system and linear nature still make the game overall quite accessible for newer players. We did have one issue at the very end of the game where a physical item didn’t function quite as intended, though we were able to eventually work around it. There was also one associated puzzle that was a bit less clear and sort of required some outside knowledge (or what may not be entirely standard knowledge). Overall, though, it definitely scratched our puzzling itch in fun, varied, and creative ways that fit well with the story! 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Emerald Echoes" is a fantastical romp that both moved and entertained us. Although it’s a sequel, it’s less difficult than Emerald Flame. So, if you’re newer to puzzletales, you might consider playing this one first…though there will be a few spoilers in that case. Both are fabulous games, and so well-rounded in terms of excellence in story, art, puzzles, and the way in which these elements are all woven together. Emerald Echoes is a perfect example of why PostCurious is one of our go-to brands when people ask for tabletop puzzle game recommendations, and we’re excited that it’s more well-suited to beginners than some of their other tales. We can’t wait to see what they do next! Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank PostCurious for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #AtHomeGames #PuzzlesByMail #TabletopGames #Fantasy #Alchemy #USA #PostCurious

Photo above is property of Arcane Wonders Company: Arcane Wonders Game: Cat and the Tower Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game (Board Game) 📬 Genre: Adventure, Fun, Co-operative Date Played: May 1, 2026 Difficulty (based on 3 players): 3/10 Size of Team: 1-5 ppl (Ages 8+) Time: Unlimited (Approximately 15-30 Mins.) Price: $29.99 USD 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 At its heart, "Cat and the Tower" tells a gentle, emotional story about Toto, a small black cat who believes his mother has become a star in the sky. Determined to see her again, he sets out to climb a fragile, towering structure reaching ever upward, helped along the way by his feline friends (and by the players guiding his journey). As the tower grows taller and more unsteady, each careful placement represents both progress and risk, capturing Toto’s hopeful climb toward reunion in a story that is as touching as it is playful. It’s not often that a board game places such emphasis on narrative, but here the story meaningfully enhances the experience. As you build higher, you unlock story cards that gradually reveal more of Toto’s journey, drawing you in emotionally and giving a real sense of purpose to your actions. You’re not just stacking pieces, you’re invested, eager to uncover more and help Toto reach his goal. 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Cat and the Tower" is a cooperative dexterity game that thrives on simplicity and tension. On first opening the box and getting to grips with the mechanics, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to Rhino Hero. However, this feels like a more evolved take on that formula, layering in additional complexity alongside its narrative elements. This evolution broadens its appeal, particularly to slightly older or more experienced players. Each turn, players draw cards that dictate how new pieces are added—whether placing platforms and walls or carefully balancing new cat figures. The twist lies in the wall pieces, which vary in height and must be combined on the same level, creating an uneven, increasingly precarious structure. The core challenge comes from managing this instability: as the tower grows, even the slightest movement can become a nerve-wracking decision. Because the game is cooperative, players naturally communicate, plan placements, and take calculated risks together. Every wobble feels shared, and when the tower inevitably collapses, it’s a collective failure rather than an individual one. The pacing is brisk and engaging, making it easy to jump into multiple rounds without fatigue. It also works remarkably well as a solo experience. In this format, it becomes a focused, almost meditative challenge, perfect for a quick 15–20 minute session. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 While not a puzzle game in the traditional sense, Cat and the Tower still presents players with a series of ongoing spatial and tactical “micro-puzzles.” Each placement forces you to evaluate balance, weight distribution, and future consequences: placing a piece in the safest spot now might make later moves much harder. The puzzle element comes from adapting to the constantly shifting structure, there’s no single correct solution, only better or worse decisions in the moment. The randomness of card draws adds variety, ensuring that no two towers (or problem-solving paths) feel the same. However, the depth remains intentionally light; this is more about intuition and steady hands than deep strategic planning. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Cat and the Tower" succeeds by blending a heartfelt theme with accessible, tactile gameplay. It’s easy to learn, visually charming, and emotionally engaging, making it an excellent choice for families or casual game nights. While it shares some DNA with the cult classic Rhino Hero, the added narrative layer and mechanical tweaks give it its own identity. More seasoned gamers may find the strategic depth limited, but the cooperative tension, physical challenge, and replayability keep it enjoyable. The inclusion of a satisfying solo mode further adds to its versatility. Ultimately, this is a game less about winning or losing and more about the experience itself, carefully building something fragile together, sharing in the tension, and hoping, just for a little while longer, that everything holds. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Arcane Wonders for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #CardGame #Cooperative #USA #ArcaneWonders

LOCATION: Barcelona, Spain Photo above is property of Maximum Escape Barcelona Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Sherlock Holmes vs London Devil 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 24, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Detective 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-4 ppl (Ages 12+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: €45/ pp (2 ppl), €36/ pp (3 ppl), €30/ pp (4 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY In a rise of fear and uncertainty, London finds itself without Sherlock Holmes and numerous other inhabitants who have disappeared. What events are unfolding in this city? What measures can be implemented? The city calls for only the most adept detectives to unravel and solve, by any means required, the final case of the esteemed detective. Do you possess the expertise, intelligence, and analytical skills necessary for this high-stakes mission? Video above is property of Maximum Escape Barcelona 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We love the unique twist the creator brought to this escape game. The set design was very immersive, beginning with the dark alleyways of London and gradually transforming into a chilling scene, which I'll leave for you to discover. We thoroughly enjoyed engaging with props that closely resembled real-life situations, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience. The jump scares were expertly executed, enhancing the experience for players. They were spaced out perfectly, allowing us to absorb the story while still feeling the intensity. The live actor brilliantly enhanced the storyline, adding an element of suspense as we never knew when we'd encounter him, heightening our anxiety and anticipation. The game provided a clear introduction to the storyline, outlining our objectives, and concluded with a satisfying sense of accomplishment. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We focused on a clue for awhile that we were able to interact with, unaware that it wasn't yet time to activate it. We often hoped for more puzzles, as the game had plenty of room for additional interactions. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Typically, Sherlock Holmes is portrayed confronting Moriarty as his arch-nemesis, so it is refreshing to experience a different perspective in this game. As American players, we are accustomed to games loaded with puzzles. However, this game offers a more immersive experience that emphasizes storyline and character interaction over complex puzzles. We genuinely appreciated the originality and innovation demonstrated by the game's creators. If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you will certainly want to engage your intellect, as he would say, "The game is afoot!" ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking on the street Maximum Escape has many locations with different games. Make sure you are at the right location. Lobby with seating & water Live-actor This game is located on the lower level and you'll need to climb down one flight of stairs Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Maximum Escape Barcelona for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Thriller #Detective #LiveActor #SherlockHolmes #MaximumEscape #Barcelona #Spain

Photo above is property of Code Candy Blue Company: Code Candy Blue Game: The Cryptographer Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Detective, Mystery Date Played: October 16, 2021 Difficulty (based on 4-5 players): 7/10 Size of Team: 2-6 Players (Min. of 2 Players Required) Time: Unlimited (Suggested time 2 -3 hours) Price: $24.80/ Team (up to 6 logins) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You receive a cryptic message from an agent who went missing months ago. Clues guide you along a twisted path through the city of New Hyperion in search of the missing agent. Is it a plea for help, or a trap - or both? Only you and your team of agents can put a stop to a plan to control Earth's defense satellite system, IF you survive that long. Video above is property of Code Candy Blue 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The Cryptographer is a website based investigation where you will examine clues and answer questions to progress through the game. You will receive a link and login details to the webpage where you will carry out your investigation. Everyone will need to create a login on their main website and the person purchase the game is the main host where others will enter their codes in as "guests". You and your team will all log into the same page, but your sites are not synced with each other. Everyone in the team will have to do all actions and type in all codes, so make sure that everyone follows along. Once logged in you are greeted by the home office communicator and given your first task. As with many tasks to come you use a special map to check your results and receive a final answer. Once you find the correct answer, you will input the answer on the site and be able to move along to your next mission with a new location, objective and task. Make to check your inventory panel on the left side as many information you need for the puzzle is not only in the clues provided but also within the documents. You might even need to refer back to previous information at times in order to solve the current puzzle. Along the way you have the option to take hints. For each mission you can choose to read multiple layered hints as well as the answer. You will not receive any penalties for reading the hints, so it will be completely up to you how to use them. Photos above are property of Code Candy Blue 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles start off being quite simple looking through photos and deducing answers, but as the game progresses so does the level of interaction. From setting correct frequencies on a transmitter to clicking around as fast as possible to mark things before the time runs out, there’s a lot to actually do in this game. There are a few math puzzles that are more analytical and will challenge your logic. For example by choosing a correct path of addition and subtraction that will result in the defined number as well as a fair share of ciphers, anagrams, word scrambles, and artistic liberties of the use of the Fibonacci sequence. My favorite puzzle was a take on painting by numbers. It was a nice break and a chance for the team to reassemble. But don’t be fooled, it is not as easy as it looks. At one point you are faced with deciphering codes that are changing every 30 seconds. And unless you’ve managed to sync every click with the rest of your team down to the second you are on your own on this one! Photos above are property of Code Candy Blue 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The cryptographer is a game with a good mix of easy and more complex puzzles and tasks, and even though it only takes place on this one website it feels pretty interactive. I found that there were a few red herrings along the way, as well as some (what I would consider) outside knowledge needed, but not bad enough to keep our team too far off track. For a couple of the puzzles we spent way more time than needed, simply because we had missed a key part of it. But I actually enjoyed those two puzzles a lot anyway because exploring the devices inputs and outputs was fun on it’s own. I also think those missions were better suited for team play than others, which is something I appreciate in a game, especially when it’s not synced across devices. We actually divided into 2 teams for this game which was kind of fun to do it in competition style. Team A had 5 people and team B had 4. It was fun to gather back together after the game to discuss about the experience. All in all I really enjoyed The Cryptographer, even though I would have needed more help with the speed deciphering at the end. This game gave the option to let you try the puzzles on your own but play it through a team setting. 😉 (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Code Candy Blue for providing us with a sample of the game. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HannaNyberg #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #Mystery #Detective #CodeCandyBlue #USA

Photo above is property of Code Candy Blue Company: Code Candy Blue Game: Amnesia! Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Thriller Date Played: June 16, 2021 Difficulty (based on 6 players): 8/10 Size of Team: 2-6 Players (Min. of 2 Players Required) Time: Unlimited (Suggested time 2 -3 hours) Price: $24.80/ Team (up to 6 logins 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You woke up with a major headache. All you see in a dead body next to you. You have no recollection of who you are. Slowly you begin to uncover your identity through clues that were left behind. There is no time to waste as you just realized that you need to infiltrate a terrorist organization in order to stop them from stealing a nuclear warhead! Video above is property of Code Candy Blue 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 We assembled a team of 6 over Zoom and each logged in with our own game code. The game is not synced so each of us will have to solve our own puzzles in order to proceed. I found that selecting one player to share his/her screen was very helpful to keep the team moving at the same pace. It's quite nice to have your own game code since you can control your own game and not be forced to move forward with the team. The purchaser will have 6 month to revisit the game before it expires. At the beginning of each puzzle page, you'll have a short narrative giving you some context to the story. We really liked that there's an audio option as well for player's not too fond of reading but more importantly the reading voice really sounded like a professional voice actor pulling us deeper into the mystery. The game contained mostly hi-res images as puzzle clues but occasionally we're able to "drag and drop" and interact with certain puzzles. As you "collected" the clues, they'll be put into your inventory bag. these are mainly documents so it'll open up as pop-up windows. Make sure to close them after use or else you might have too many windows by the end of the game. There were also nudging hints if you get stuck. I would highly recommend using them to keep the game flow. Photos above are property of Code Candy Blue 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles really made us feel like we're a spy. We had to search for high secrecy locations, infiltrate enemy headquarters, find ways to identify and retrieve intel, and more! If you feel like you're flying through the beginning of the game, wait till you get to the latter part. The game warms you up with puzzles like "search and find", questionnaires and easy decryptions. Some puzzles were multi-step ones that I was glad that I was not alone. We spend a good amount of time on a Math problem and a deduction puzzle. If you're a beginner, look into their "Training Day" game first before trying this game. This game definitely will satisfy the enthusiasts that are looking for a challenge. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Since we've played a good amount of digital escape games, it was quite nice to face a challenging one for once. We took about 2 hours to complete the game. I'm not going to lie, there were a few instances we almost pushed the "hint" button and lost some of players due to the complexity of a few of the puzzles. This is definitely a team game and you'll need to push each other through theses obstacles. Although the process caused some frustration, the satisfying "YES!" moment when we solved the puzzle as a team was a moment to remember forever. (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Code Candy Blue for providing us with a sample of the game. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #ColdCandyBlue #Amnesia #DigitalEscapeGame #OnlinePuzzleGames #Mystery #Whodunit #Detective #Murder #Puzzle #Solve

Photo above is property of EscapeWelt Company: EscapeWelt Game: Space Rover Country: Germany 🇩🇪 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Sci-Fi Date Played: May 22, 2026 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommended 1-4 players) Time: Unlimited (Recommended 60 Minutes) Price: £49,99 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 The Space Rover was designed to travel on alien soil and embark on a journey to collect relics that defy human knowledge. Having returned to Earth, the secret relics are hidden inside behind multiple layers of puzzles and locks. Can you solve them to unlock the cosmic knowledge that can forever change our understanding of the universe? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Taking the rover out of its box, it’s a beautifully crafted wooden vehicle that looks like a space rover with treads and a drill in front. There are plenty of cryptic markings and suspicious pieces all over, ready to be solved. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Right from the start, the rover was very easy to dive into. I began investigating the rover from all sides, checking out the markings and making connections. An obvious “Start” point was helpful to kick off the game. As I continued to manipulate the rover by moving, rotating and pulling on things, this would free other pieces or allow other pieces to move which would typically give me more information to progress. The rover was impressively well built. It felt solid and durable so I never had to worry about accidentally disassembling or breaking anything while exploring and fiddling with it. This worked both ways, though, as whenever I input an answer, everything had to be aligned perfectly to trigger the next step. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There was a good variety of puzzles which varied in length. That threw me off a little as some required just a couple of steps while others had me take a handful of notes to solve. The puzzles obviously required manipulation of the rover and was quite satisfying once you discovered what moved or needed to move. One tip is that once you make it into the rover, there is a final puzzle that requires you to go to the hint page to input your answer. This is something I wished they made a little clearer. The hints were very high quality though I would not necessarily call them hints. There was a QR code that linked to a series of in depth walkthrough videos, taking you step by step on how to complete the puzzle. I found the best way to navigate them was to start the video, get the piece of information I needed to move forward, and then pause it to try solving the rest on my own. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Space Rover was fun to play, and the compact size made it perfect if you need to puzzle on the go. There were a lot of small details packed into it, so you definitely had to look at things carefully. I was blown away by how many puzzles and intricate locking mechanisms were crafted into such a small box. While I played it on my own, I felt it would work best for a maximum of two people without having to hand the box around to everyone to see. It also had a beautiful look, and once you are done, would make a great display piece on the shelf. This is a great game for someone travelling and needs a puzzle fix or for a couple’s night in. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #PuzzlesByMail #TabletopGames #OneOffs #SciFi #Germany #EscapeWelt #ESCWELT

LOCATION: Urbana, Illinois, USA Photo above is property of CU Adventures in Time & Space Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Forest of Fables 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 14, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-8 ppl (Recommended Ages 13+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $37.00/ pp (4 ppl), $32.00/ pp (5+ ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The Narrator’s sister, The Collector, has disappeared into a story world, and the Narrator is unable to enter to help her. So, she recruits you to step into the pages as Characters and journey through the tale in hopes of finding The Collector and helping her escape before the story closes around her for good. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Storybook immersion: Forest of Fables is one of the most transportive escape rooms we’ve ever played. The world is expansive, whimsical, and constantly surprising, with an improv-heavy immersive theater element that makes the entire adventure feel alive. And it empowered us to believe that we had real agency as characters in the tale. Spectacular fantasy world: The set design is just fabulous, from the large-scale environments to the intricate details, and totally befitting the storybook world. We were surprised and delighted each time we gained access to a new space. Narrative progression: One of the things we appreciated most was how the story developed over time – both in terms of the actual plot and in the mechanisms used to convey it. It was playful, fresh, and right up our alley! Expectation-defying moments: This game plays with player assumptions in clever ways and delivers some truly magical reveals and unexpected twists as the tale unfolds. Smooth flow: This is a tech-heavy room, with the thematic puzzles well-integrated into the environment and story. Some sections were more linear than others, and it all flowed smoothly. Everything just worked and made sense. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was one of our favorite rooms EVER, and very well-rounded, so we’re digging pretty deep for critiques. If we had to nitpick: A slightly fuzzy chapter: The narrative framing in an early section felt a touch less clear to us than the rest of the experience. Our goal was understood, but we didn’t totally follow where we were. Once the adventure fully unfolds, though, the storytelling becomes much easier to follow. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Ranked the #2 escape room in the US in the 2025 TERPECA awards, "The Forest of Fables" absolutely earns its reputation. It’s imaginative, theatrical, playful, interactive, surprising…you will indeed feel like you’re stepping inside a fairytale! This is an ideal room for players who value immersion and storytelling over pure puzzle grind. While there are certainly satisfying puzzles throughout, the real enchantment comes from existing inside the story world and uncovering its secrets piece by piece. The fantastic actor interaction element also adds an unexpected, human energy that makes the experience feel all the more personalized and memorable. It’s absolutely worth the effort to get out to Champaign-Urbana to play! (And while Champaign-Urbana is a bit of a trek from other attractions, with 7 rooms and Parcadia there’s plenty to keep you occupied just at CU Adventures…) So embrace your inner Character and dive into this fable, with all its twists, humor, creativity, and the undeniable sparks of magic along its wondrous adventure. It’s unlike anything else we’ve played. Photos above are property ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Private lot with a good amount of parking. The generous lobby/waiting area where you check in has both shirts for sale and a creative, co-operative version of tetris you can play. There are bathrooms and a water cooler available. There are no lockers, but you can leave your things in the rooms themselves. On the other side of the building, you’ll find Parcadia – a very cool mini-golf experience with a tavern, a mini puzzle-hunt, and lots more in the works! Across the street there is also a food hall with a variety of options. Features a live actor in-game Photos above are property ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank CU Adventures in Time & Space for providing us with a media discount for this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DaveBristol #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #CUAdventures #Fantasy #USA #Illinois