Photo above is property of Puzzling Pursuits Company:    Puzzling Pursuits Game:     Origins & Ends Country:   USA 🇺🇸 Language:    English Type of Game:     Tabletop Games 📬 Genre:    Detective Date Played:    October 18 2022 Difficulty (based on 2 players):     8/10 Size of Team:    Unlimited (Recommend 1-6 ppl) Time:    Unlimited (Approx 2-4 hrs) Price:    $34.95 (FREE Standard Shipping in the US) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Two days has passed since your encounter with Reager. Though she escaped your grasps, you were able to save her brother, Alfred, who is now recovering in the hospital. In and out of consciousness, Alfred is able to recount the terrifying situation that he had to endure. One thing that sticks out is that he is sure Reager will return home to Cordelia St. Manor one last time to gather her belongings before relocating, possibly going into hiding forever. Making note of Alfred’s description of the secret underground section of the manor, you know you cannot let this opportunity slip away. Serving as the third and final installment of the Blackbrim series, you contact Commissioner Farodson and his officers and make your way to the mansion to confront Reager and hopefully end this once and for all. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Opening the sturdy and authentic cardboard box, you find 2 dossiers labeled Part I and II. Inside each of them contains either envelopes that are clearly marked with what you need for the story or some loose papers and contents. Photos above are property of Puzzling Pursuits 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Starting the game, the story that is laid out is short to read but engaging no doubt. Everything that we had to take out and use was high quality. We were pulled right into the urgency of what needed to be done and solved right away. The game was also easy to navigate as each envelope was well marked and had an engrossing narrative to it which allowed us to explore everything right away. The game has an amazing online section. Going to the website, you can find hints, a recap of the previous stories if you have never played their previous games or need a quick refresher, an inventory list to ensure you have all the contents in each envelope and finally an “Enhance your Game Night” section. In there, you will find food, drinks, costumes and music you can play to spice up your experience. There is also a solution checker, which you will need to use. Not only will it confirm your solutions along the way, but it will also be what progresses the story and tells you what to open in certain parts of the story. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Both parts of the game could be played non-linearly, with the answers to all the puzzles leading to a meta puzzle. This was nice as we could divide and conquer as well as work on bits and pieces at a time and try different ideas out as we checked them all out. One tip is to make sure to check both sides of the paper. At times, we were stuck on a puzzle but found out later that more information was needed on the back of the paper. The puzzles were clearly marked with the order and everything you needed but this was a tough game with some tough puzzles. These puzzles did remind me of a puzzle-hunt type game that had some minimal cluing as well as some tough logic puzzles to solve. There was not a ton of material for each puzzle, but you needed to find out how to use it properly and how everything ties together. We really loved the theming of the puzzles though. There was a nice variety to them that fit and flowed with the game. The hint system for this game was amazing and one of the best I have seen. There were many level of hints for each puzzle and each laid out a full explanation of what they wanted us to observe or do with some even providing an example of what their explanation meant. Photos above are property of Puzzling Pursuits 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Origins & Ends" was a gratifying conclusion to the full trilogy of Blackbrim games. The minimal but intense story draws you into the game quite quickly. The puzzles were on the tougher side which reinforces the idea that you should play the games in order and not be afraid to use the well thought out hint system. Not only will the story play out better if you play the boxes in order but the puzzles in each of the boxes ramp up nicely as you reach the finale and attempt to take down Reagar. With a mostly non-linear set up, we played with 2 experienced players but this game would also play well with up to 5 people as well. If you are fan of minimal reading but immersive games or more difficult puzzles this is a great game and series to enjoy with a group of friends. (If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from" ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Puzzling Pursuits 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. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #PuzzlingPursuits #Detective #Mystery #USA

Photo above is property of Puzzling Pursuits Company: Puzzling Pursuits Game: The Fifth Column Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Detective Date Played: December 18, 2023 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommend 1-6 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Approx 2-4 hrs) Price: $34.95 (FREE Standard Shipping in the US) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 The German Reich has officially fallen and World War II has come to an end… except a rogue Nazi group seeks to infiltrate and bring ruin to the allies. This element known as “ The Fifth Column ,” has somehow made it onto the US land and are hidden in Manhattan. A communication between members has been uncovered and Commander Jacob Williams has turned to his finest agent to help crack the decryption hidden amongst these papers to uncover what dastardly plans this Nazi loyalist have for the home of the free and brave. What nefarious plot are their hiding and can we stop it in time? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Following a similar vein to all previous Puzzling Pursuit games, the game arrives in a sturdy matte cardboard box with a thematic design wrapping it. Inside there are two dossers that look like briefcases labelled Part 1 and II. Inside are a range of paper materials from letters, posters, maps, telegrams and more. I felt overall the look fit the post WW2 vibe and the classy and sophisticated quality added to the feel of immersing yourself into the game. Photos above are property of Puzzling Pursuits 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 After receiving the game introduction and opening the letter, the premise is laid out quite solidly with a nudge on where to start first. These games have a semi open world puzzling style where there is a clear and defined end puzzle that can only be solved once all others are but you are free to do the other puzzles in what ever order. I felt the narrative grew as the story continued and was post powerful during the second act, but the first act was a fun adventure of dipping your toes into a thematic setting puzzle experience. There is an online web portal for this game that allows you to check answers and access hints. As you check your answers you will receive little messages from the command center that helped build the story for me. In addition, there are certain envelopes that cannot be opened until instructed so submitting the answers is essential to get that notice. The hints are well scaffolded with additional images as you progress in case you need the visual which I loved seeing that support. There is also an “Enhance your Game Night” section which gives you suggestions on how to set the mood for a true game night with food, drinks, costumes and music you can play to spice up your experience. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 As mentioned before, the game is generally non-linear with an end puzzle being the focus for each part. This means you can easily divide and conquer if you are a larger group. These puzzles generally have a lot of logic word puzzles but also quite a few math puzzles as well. We recommend having plenty of paper set aside as you will need to write out patterns. You also will need to write on puzzles at times. What I found most fun about this experience was the layered use of some of the materials. Reveals had us diving back to part one to unravel a new clue that was such an “aha” moment. I also enjoyed the decryptions and ciphers as they made for satisfying reveals that helped flesh out the story. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "The Fifth Element" was an engaging new chapter in the Puzzling Pursuit world of puzzling. The story is straightforward but still offers twists that work so well into the setup of the puzzling. The clues, materials, and reveals all fit within the theme and world as well as draw you in. This game challenges you to work through word problems so don’t be afraid to write out steps or reach for the detailed and extremely useful hint system. Once again Puzzling Pursuit continues to create fascinating experiences and I am very curious to see what comes next! (If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from" ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Puzzling Pursuits 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. #JillianRaymond #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #PuzzlingPursuits #Detective #Mystery #USA

LOCATION: Orlando, Florida, USA Photo above is property of The Escape Effect Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : A Knight to Escape 📅 DATE PLAYED : January 11, 2026 🎬 GENRE : Adventure, Medieval 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 120 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $69.95/ pp (Min. 4 ppl required) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY The king recently died, and the kingdom has fallen into chaos. His designated heir, a kind and just younger son, briefly took the throne… until his power-hungry older brother staged a brutal coup. The young king was killed, his loyal supporters imprisoned, and Stonebury Castle now stands under tyrannical rule. You are what remains of the resistance. Some of you rot in the dungeon below, while others lurk in the courtyard above, trying to mount a rescue. Separated by stone walls but bound by purpose, you’ll need to communicate, collaborate, and outwit the usurper if you hope to reunite (and escape) before things take a darker turn. Video above is property of The Escape Effect 🎯    HIT THE BULLSEYE A true split-party quest . Unlike rooms that briefly separate you for a small portion of the game, A Knight to Escape keeps your group divided for the vast majority of the experience. Information, tools, and progress are spread across both sides, making communication and teamwork absolutely essential. We love split-info designs, and this one really commits. Theme-forward puzzle design . The locks, mechanisms, and challenges you encounter feel right at home in a medieval castle, including many more physical puzzles and well-hidden tech (with the notable exception of the triggered blacklight). Two hours that fly by . Few U.S. escape companies offer 2 hour rooms, so it was a delight to have a longer game. The extended runtime lets you sink into the experience, and they manage to keep you fully engaged despite the relatively small space. Thoughtful accessibility. The game is designed to be accessible for wheelchair users or those with other constraints. The staff are happy to adjust lighting and sound as needed, which we always appreciate seeing done well and proactively. Cute extras to take home . The Escape Effect goes beyond most companies in offering not only general escape room merch like t-shirts and stickers but also room-specific mementos, including pins, coins, and (in some cases) take-home puzzle games from the same world. 🧩   MISSED THE MARK Narrative development . While the premise is strong, the story itself doesn’t evolve much during play, and the ending felt a bit subdued. We would have loved a slightly punchier ending and a hint delivery system that fit within this story. Clarity in execution . Although the puzzle ideas were generally solid and understandable, a few challenges were made trickier than necessary due to challenges in visual or auditory distinctions. Greater consistency and differentiation in certain elements would smooth the experience and keep the difficulty focused on problem-solving rather than interpretation. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? A Knight to Escape is a fantastic pick for groups who love traditional escape rooms with lots of physical puzzles and minimal searching, are prepared to divide and conquer, and are looking to settle in to a longer adventure. If you enjoy split information, heavy communication, and the feeling of plotting a daring medieval jailbreak, this quest delivers. Just be warned, it’s not an easy ride. This game would be especially great for a double date or a parent-and-kid duo on each side of the divide. (They are strict about their four-player minimum.) Be sure to balance your teams thoughtfully on both sides of the castle; success truly depends on cooperation between dungeon and courtyard. So sharpen your wits, steady your nerves, and gather your fellowship…this is one rebellion worth rallying for. ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO There is plenty of free parking available right in front of the location. There are bathrooms available, and you can bring your things into the room with you to stick in a corner. It is one of many family-owner businesses in this small plaza; ask about the discounts you can get at the restaurants and other places nearby with your receipt. Photos above are property of The Escape Effect (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 The Escape Effect  for providing a media discount for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #DaveBristol #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #TheEscapeEffect #Medieval #Adventure #Florida #USA

LOCATION: Orlando, Florida, USA Photo above is property of The Escape Ventures Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Operation Arctic Storm: The Final Meltdown 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 25, 2023 🎬 GENRE : Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 3-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $52.99 - $57.99/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You and your friends are researchers stationed at a remote outpost in Siberia. Everything seems to be going smoothly until your AI assistant on the outpost suddenly alerts you of an incoming storm that threatens to wreak havoc and leave your base in ruins. With the storm rapidly approaching, you have just 90 minutes to prepare the storm vehicle for its venture into the tempest in order to ensure the survival of your group. Can you complete the preparations in time? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The size and scale of Operation Arctic Storm: The Final Meltdown are truly immense, spanning multiple rooms and stories. It's one of the most physically demanding rooms in the country, requiring participants to crawl, climb, and navigate through various obstacles, creating an immersive experience that feels like a fight for survival. The puzzles in this game are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, creating a sense of urgency and immersion. Despite being a 90-minute room, our experienced team managed to utilize every moment effectively. The challenges felt like authentic scenarios we might encounter in such a situation, requiring a combination of physical and mental agility to overcome. Every detail of the room is meticulously crafted, transporting players from Florida to the heart of Siberia. While not as frigid as its namesake, the environment feels authentic and immersive, with each element contributing to the realism of the experience. Additionally, there are enjoyable references to other rooms and hidden Easter eggs, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK After much consideration, nothing is needed here. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Operation Arctic Storm: The Final Meltdown " sets a new standard for immersive escape room experiences. From the moment you step into the room, you're fully immersed in the world it creates. The puzzles are expertly designed to provide a sense of accomplishment without overwhelming players, with each step seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The game is filled with triggers and step-by-step achievements that make you forget you're solving puzzles and instead feel like you're fighting for survival. With so much to do and explore, the 90-minute adventure is jam-packed with excitement and challenges. Like other Escape Ventures rooms, there are opportunities to interact with actors, adding a personal touch to the experience without being intrusive. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to escape rooms, Operation Arctic Storm offers a thrilling and unforgettable journey. Update - February 15, 2025 Brandon and I recently played " Operation Arctic Storm: The Final Meltdown " and all we can say is... Wow, this game was "COOL" (no pun intended)! The moment you step into the mission base, it's like Florida's Sunshine State vanishes, and you're plunged into a thrilling icy adventure. Our main challenge was figuring out how to survive the bone-chilling cold, only to be delightfully surprised by a "lovely" little twist later on. The missions were brilliantly crafted to match the theme and the props used for the puzzles were absolutely ingenious. The Escape Ventures are truly on the cutting edge, seamlessly blending high tech with a sense of reality, turning this fictional world into a breathtakingly real experience. I have no idea how they pull it off, but they keep amazing and thrilling us! We can't wait for their next adventure! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Lobby with games For best experience, players must be able to crawl and climb. Accommodations can be made however. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, interview with the owners, the room(s) (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 The Escape Ventures  for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. Update : ESCAPETHEROOMers also visited The Escape Ventures to play " Operation Arctic Storm: The Final Meltdown " in February '25!! Thank you for hosting us and we had an amazing time in both of the games! Update : Our reviewers Krista & Dave also visited The Escape Ventures to play " Operation Arctic Storm: The Final Meltdown " in January '26!! #MikeSchnurr #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TheEscapeVentures #Adventure #USA #Florida

LOCATION: Orlando, Florida, USA Photo above is property of The Escape Ventures Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Satirical Miracle: Granny's Blackmail 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 16, 2021 🎬 GENRE : Adventure, Holiday 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $35.00 - $42.00/ pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Granny isn't so jolly this season!! She still remembers how you forgot to give her a present last year! As proper punishment, she demands that you decorate the house before her guests arrive in one hour...Fail to do so in time and she'll be cutting you out of her will! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Although it's an easy item to make, we still love the innovative ideas the creators bring to an entrance of an escape room. This one really made us feel like we're entering a fairytale. One thing you'll notice with The Escape Ventures games is the consistency on their set designs. This one is my personal favorite as the transformation happens right in front of your eyes. You won't even realize that you're part of it until it's complete! The color scheme used for the set design really bought out the holiday spirit and the furniture decor inside the house had a really warm feeling of being at a grandma's house. The attention to detail from outside the lawn area to inside the house (that looks like two floor high) was amazing. Be careful with the plates! They are real! There's a little surprise during the game that we really enjoyed. A lot of the escape room utilized this "tool" but this one actually made it REAL. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was a good amount of "finding" and count puzzles that we had encountered in this room (since this is a family friendly room, I can see kids really enjoying this puzzle). With "finding" puzzles, there's no way to confirm on if we missed one or not so it's tougher in a room with lots of decors. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room made me happy from start to finish. The ending especially bought out the holiday spirit. But you can easily play this during anytime of the year because the victory will get you ready for any type of celebration. Families with kids would have a blast in this room since there's plenty for them to discover and a lot of room for them to explore. If you're looking for a bit more challenge, check out their other rooms " Bros For Life: Fraternity Heist " and " Outage: No Vacancy ". Also, make sure to check out our interview video above with the owners as they have a brand new room coming out soon! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is a free parking lot right in front of the facility, lobby area with seating available, merchandise 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 "!) Disclosure : We thank The Escape Ventures for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. Update : Our reviewers Krista & Dave also visited The Escape Ventures to play " The Satirical Miracle: Granny's Blackmail " in January '26!! #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Adventure #Holiday #Fun #TheEscapeVentures #USA #Florida

LOCATION: Orlando, Florida, USA Photo above is property of The Escape Ventures Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Outage: No Vacancy 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 16, 2021 🎬 GENRE : Mystery, Supernatural 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-4 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $35.00 - $42.00/ pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY The new owners of the Madame Locktane's Inn & Suites is preparing for the motel's grand reopening. You and your maintenance crew have been hired to provide some minor repairs to the building. While conducting some handywork, an outage occurs and suddenly the spirits awaken... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The decor of the start of the game definitely hit the spot on a haunted hotel feel. The way we had to figure out the way into the room was a great add on to the experience along with great intro performance from the game master. Since this room is played mostly in complete darkness, we had to throw out a lot of our traditional way of solving puzzles and rely a lot on our senses. Touch was incorporated in various puzzles that was sens ational. The size of the room is not large but the creators were able to utilize every inch of the space. Especially in the dark room, you can actually be fooled by the spatial dimension and think the room is bigger than it is. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One of the door designs was slightly awkward as it could potentially be a hazard to the players when playing in the dark. It would be nice to incorporate a bit more variation in to the use of other senses like smell perhaps? Most of the puzzles were revolved on touch. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is our first full 60 minute escape room that we mostly played in the dark. We've done a 10 minute one at Red Vein Escape but this is a much larger scale. Not only do we have to solve puzzles but also have to face our fears. You have no idea what you're touching or what is around you. After playing this game, I realized how much we overlook our sight as a sense. But during the game, I also realized that our senses can adapt quickly so losing one sense actually made the other one a lot more sensitive. Spatial and object recognition was used a lot in this room and your brain really starts to form this imprint of everything you've touched. At the beginning, we had no idea where everything was but slowly a floor plan formed in our minds. This room is definitely going to memorable for us. I would recommend 2-3 people for the ultimate experience. I wish the creators had more space to build a much larger escape room for us to explore as this could easily become an immersive experience rather than just an escape room. If you've never tried playing puzzles in a complete darkness room, give this a go! This is definitely something to chat with your friends about. If you are just looking for a regular escape room experience, then by all means try their " Bros For Life: Fraternity Heist " and " The Satirical Miracle: A Jolly Tale of Granny's Blackmail " room. Both were excellent. Also, make sure to check out our interview with the owners above as they have a brand new room coming out soon! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is a free parking lot right in front of the facility. Lobby area with seating. Merchandise available for purchase. NOTE : "Outage: No Vacancy" is played 60% of the time in COMPLETE AND TOTAL DARKNESS. For the safety purposes, The Escape Ventures requires all players to wear closed-toed shoes. 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 The Escape Ventures for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. Update : Our reviewers Krista & Dave also visited The Escape Ventures to play " Outage: No Vacancy " in January '26!! #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #DarkExperience #Mystery #Supernatural #TheEscapeVentures #USA #Florida

LOCATION: Orlando, Florida, USA Photo above is property of The Escape Ventures Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Bros For Life: Fraternity Heist 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 16, 2021 🎬 GENRE : Heist 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $35.00 - $42.00/ pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Bro... it's time to pledge!! You need to prove yourself in order to join the ES KA PI fraternity! Your objective is to steal the golden eagle statue located in the university's president's office without getting busted by the campus 5-0!! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This game completely took us back to our college days. The main game area sets stage on a college campus. The count yard, hallway, trophy display, lockers really portrayed the campus life style. Some puzzles were well thought out in terms of what you would do as a college student. It was a lot of fun to solve and a good workout as well! We really enjoyed a visualization puzzle towards the end. The mechanism that revealed the answer was pretty cool too. Totally rockin' dude"! We love the secret "ins" and "outs" that were incorporated in this room. It really gave a nice balance of a "wow" at the beginning and finishing off with a "bang" at the end. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One of the props felt under used. They could easily program a puzzle with it. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This game is impressive from set design to puzzles to storyline. When I came out of the game, I felt like I was fraternized . I couldn't stop saying "Dude!" I love how unique the theme is yet it's so close to our hearts. College has some of my favorite memories and this game really made me feel young again (ok maybe not the part where I had to pick up XXX numerous times). The creators really thought of everything (even the ceiling was covered with tinted blue light that it made it feel like evening time) and you'll see what we mean when you go and play this game. It's a must do when visiting Orland, Florida. If you have time, definitely play their two other rooms " Outage: No Vacancy " and " The Satirical Miracle: A Jolly Tale of Granny's Blackmail " as well. Also, make sure to check out our interview video above with the owners as they have a brand new room coming out soon! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is a free parking lot right in front of the facility, lobby area with seating available, merchandise available for purchase. NOTE : Some crawling required. 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 The Escape Ventures for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. Update : Our reviewers Krista & Dave also visited The Escape Ventures to play " Bros for Life Fraternity Heist " in January '26!! #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Heist #Fun #Adventure #TheEscapeVentures #USA #Florida

Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos Company: Thames & Kosmos Game: Masters of Crime: Mosquito Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Detective, Adventure Date Played: December 15, 2025 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7/10 Size of Team: 1-6 Players (Ages 16+) Time: Approximately 2-4 Hrs. Price: $19.95 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You play a scholar/treasure hunter of archeology - think Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - who's gotten caught up in a murder of a renowned archaeologist by a criminal syndicate known as “Mosquito”. You task yourself with both solving his murder as well as finishing his last expedition. You must explore the late professor's world in London, before taking off for the jungle. Be careful, not everyone is who they seem to be. Your choices matter, and they could be the difference between glory, or death. Video above is property of Thames & Kosmos 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ "Mosquito" is part of a new set of games in Thames and Cosmos Masters of Crime Series. Each game is color coded, and Mosquito is tinged with the dark mysterious green of the jungle. The cover is quite evocative - with the characters bursting through a clearing in the jungle - and indicative of promised adventures, and secrets held within. I love a good adventure, especially one made up of a rag tag group of less than trustworthy compatriots, and there's no better setting than the heart of the jungle and its mysteries. The game pieces themselves are extremely well done. They do a great job of presenting the game as well as giving the player a way of laying it all out before them - it feels like you're tracing your own perilous globe trotting expedition on some ancient treasure map. Photos above are property of Thames & Kosmos 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The game is really smartly designed, with a board for organizing all the cards that make up the story, as well as to track one's progress. It also has these fun envelopes which gate developments and provide exciting reveals. Essentially the game is broken up into two parts: One a murder mystery, and then the other an expedition, of you and your carefully selected game character compatriots. So you're getting a nice mix of gameplay types, all while feeling the pressure of making the right decision as you advance the story along. It's never hard locked, but you are essentially playing against yourself to get as high and as fast and correct a decision making score as possible. I think the highest virtue of the game is just how organic the puzzles feel, and how much variety of puzzles there are. The writing and world building as well - while both believable and hammy - does a good job of making the game come to life. It's a great production for such a compact box. Photos above are property of Thames & Kosmos 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The game's puzzles are designed and varied with extreme judiciousness towards giving a well rounded puzzling experience. It manages to combine a choose your own adventure, a murder mystery, and a puzzle hunt chain, all of which originate fairly organically from the premise of the game itself. The game manages to give you legitimately informed “choose your own adventure” type puzzles that avoids the pitfall of choices which are random and ungrounded, which is an impressive feat for a game of this compact scope. The fact that you get to choose which characters to take with on your adventure is such a fun proposition. The puzzles are perfectly on theme, bidding you to uncover secret knowledge, plots, and identities, as you hone in on your final destination, and your final perilous bid to uncover that treasure from its doomed temple. You will need to go beyond the information in the game to finish some of the puzzles - namely the internet, and doing real world research - something I think is perfectly suited to the idea of the explorative nature of a genuine adventure game. Imagine your Indiana Jones, but the library with the hidden panel is now the internet with the hidden hyperlink. In the end its all quite filling and satisfying, I just think they brought together so many strong puzzling elements and did it in good taste. Photos above are property of Thames & Kosmos 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 I recommend "Mosquito" , it's a smart game with a great imaginative premise, and it's fun to play solo or in a group. The series itself does a wonderful job of adapting different scenarios into different puzzle structures, which keeps the format fresh. Thames and Kosmos has a track record of continuous innovation, and I think this series renews the imaginative possibilities of the choose your own adventure genre. These games are such a wonderful seamless bringing together of all the best puzzling elements, it's really a family affair from one of the best creators. I am bias towards the utilization of digital tools - which this game implements quite well - and I do think the next frontier is furthering the possibilities of the digital game, possibly through more interactive A.I. elements to enliven the static informational nature of physical games. That being said they've done a great job of bringing these elements to life, while also making good use of their straightforward digital platform. Ultimately it has the advantage of being a physical game - which is easier to play in person - though it has the drawback of not being a full fledged digital game with all its expansive creative powers. I'm interested to see how Thames and Kosmos utilize a digital platform, as well as possibly new AI tools, to further the interactivity of their games. 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, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Thames & Kosmos 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. #AndrewWoods #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #OneOffs #Detective #Adventure #ThamesandKosmos #USA

LOCATION : Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan Photo above is property of SCRAP Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Escape from the Underwater Puzzle Challenge 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 20, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Puzzle Hunt Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-4 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 30-Min (puzzle hunt), 3-min (escape room) Weekday 💰 PRICE : 2-Player Ticket: Advanced: ¥3,600/ pp, On-the-day: ¥3,900/ pp 3-Player Ticket: Advanced: ¥3,100/ pp, On-the-day: ¥3,400/ pp 4-Player Ticket: Advanced: ¥2,600/ pp, On-the-day: ¥2,900/ pp An additional ¥300 will be added to the price listed above on weekends, holidays, and during peak seasons. ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes Reviewers: Cici (English)/ Chikako (Japanese) 📖 THE STORY You are immersed beneath the ocean waves, surrounded by sea creatures of all shapes and sizes swimming around you. Ultimately, you have just 3 minutes to enter the mysterious small room and solve its final puzzle! あなたは、神秘的な海の生き物や隠された手がかりに満ちた奇妙な海底世界に閉じ込められてしまいました。限られた時間の中で、パズルを解き、海の生き物を集め、脱出する方法を見つけなければなりません。 Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯    HIT THE BULLSEYE This was our first large indoor puzzle hunt, and we thoroughly appreciated being able to concentrate exclusively on solving puzzles without the usual distractions of weather conditions that come with outdoor puzzle hunts. We strategically divided our team, allowing Chikako to tackle puzzles requiring a Japanese speaker while we handled the English ones. Our efficiency in solving the puzzles gave us ample time to discuss all the puzzles we individually tackled before proceeding to the final challenge. The puzzles varied, with some involving "search and find," others requiring logic, and some being phonetic. This diversity allowed each team member to leverage their strengths effectively. We appreciated the "twist" in the final puzzle, which initially led us to believe we might fail, but a shift in our thought process turned the tide in our favor. シンプルな謎が多いが、日本の周遊謎やホール型公演の序盤に出てくるような、紙ベースの日本的な謎解きを英語でも楽しめるのが良い。日本の謎解き文化やSCRAPの謎に慣れるための公演に適している。謎を時間内にたくさん解く構成なので、チャレンジとして面白いし、簡単な謎を数多く解くのが好きな人には特に楽しいゲーム。初心者にもおすすめできる。 店舗の指定されたエリアを回る形式のため没入感はやや控えめではあるが、世界観に沿った謎が用意されており、深海をイメージした部屋があったのも印象的だった。店舗内を歩き回りながら謎を探索するのも楽しい。 二つのパートに分かれているため、周遊謎と脱出パートの両方を味わえる構成になっているのは斬新。脱出のパートは３分と短いが、ラストの謎としてふさわしい内容だったと思う。 二つ目のパートのヒントは、とてもありがたかった。 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The coin's "advantage" at the end was unclear. If it had a more exciting role in intertwining the storyline or added more purpose during the final puzzle, it would have been much cooler. 二つの異なる種類のゲームスタイルに分かれているため、最初の説明が長くなりがち。二つのパートの間にも説明が入ることで、ストーリーやゲームの流れが途切れてしまい、没入感はあまり感じられなかった。ストーリーの展開も特に強くはなく、二種類のゲームスタイルがうまく融合していないように感じた。 最初の３０分が探索と紙謎が中心のため、物理ギミックや電子ギミックが好きなエスケープルーム派の人にはあまりおすすめできない。 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This indoor puzzle hunt game offers a dynamic blend of puzzle difficulty levels, clearly marked on each puzzle. Players who understand Japanese have access to more puzzles, but the game is fully solvable for English-only players. English speakers can complete the game, though they encounter fewer puzzles. It's wise to either take detailed notes or snap pictures with your phone, as some puzzles are interconnected and not always located nearby, saving you unnecessary trips. We thoroughly enjoyed racing around the building, searching for clues, and collaborating as a team to solve them. We take pride in having collected all the coins, which aided us in the final puzzle. Do you have what it takes to escape from underwater? 「Escape from the Underwater Puzzle Challenge」は、SCRAP店舗内を回って紙ベースの謎を解くパートと、脱出パートという二つの謎解きスタイルが融合した新感覚のゲームです。日本の謎解きに触れてみたい方や初心者向けで、プレー人数は2~3人がおすすめです。SCRAP渋谷店を訪れた際は、ぜひ一問でも多く解けるようにチャレンジしてみてください！ ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Real Escape Game Crossing Shibuya is a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station. There is no place to store any large luggage during the game. Please refrain from bringing large bags with you. This location requires you to walk down one flight of stairs. This game also requires you to use the stairs as some puzzles may be located one flight up. Shibuya has many shops and restaurants. Photos above are property of SCRAP (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 SCRAP  for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ChikakoOmura #IRLPuzzleHunts #PuzzleHunts #ScavengerHunt #SCRAP #Shibuya #Tokyo #Japan

Photo above is property of clueQuest Company: clueQuest Game: Falling Star Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Print-N-Cut 🖨️✂ Genre: Espionage Date Played: February 19, 2022 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 8+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested 90 Minutes) Price: £15 | Print @ Home, £25 | Print & Post, £28 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 It’s close to Christmas and the team realised that the S.T.A.R. is missing! According to Agent Comet, their nemesis is planning to use it to reveal the identities of all undercover clueQuest agents at the peak of the villain Christmas party. Help Mr. and Mrs. Q, Lord Hammerschmidt, and MM7 to find and retrieve the missing S.T.A.R. before it’s too late - lives and a Merry Christmas are at stake here! Video above is property of clueQuest 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Players can choose a couple of options - a full-coloured Print-and-Post option where clueQuest sends you your Print-and-Play set, or a black-and-white Print-and-Play option where you can download, print, and cut out the play components as needed. In order to play the game, players would need to log into clueQuest’s site, where the game is hosted digitally, with the PDF acting as puzzle components needed to progress the story. We played using the same group login on clueQuest’s hosting platform while communicating via Streamyard. Hint systems were also included as an option on this platform. However, do note that certain animation or video-heavy components had a risk of lag over the course of the game (this might also be affected by your internet speed). Using a group login allowed us the option to either move along with the rest of the group as long as one member managed to solve the required puzzle (a message will automatically pop up alerting you other members are moving forward), or stay behind to attempt the puzzle on your own. I liked this flexibility, especially if there was a lag in the animation or if there was a puzzle I wanted to try on my own. Photo above is property of clueQuest 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Taking full advantage of the game’s hybrid nature, there’s a great mix of different puzzles - logic, deduction, visual, spatial - that will serve as fun challenges as we get through the story. Playing as a group with different puzzle inclinations - some of us were more visual puzzle people, some could deduce observations quickly - it was great to have that variety to keep us on our toes. Some of the coding to make the game feel 3D or how we can "interact" with the characters in the storyline is really different and fun. Every new game from ClueQuest is another step up from their previous. However, do take note of possible lag on the digital platforms, especially as you try puzzles as a group. Heavy animation or video-heavy sections of the platform can cause lag in some devices. At the same time, there were one or two puzzles that we found ourselves brute forcing through due to a lack of or confusion on the visual references. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Take a dive into this if you’re into a variety of puzzles and want to bring your spy-detective skills to the table. Given the hybrid nature of this game (print and cut + digital components), we recommend that you have access to a digital meeting platform (Zoom, Skype etc…) if you are playing remotely. The visual and graphics are the best part about this game. If you've played other ClueQuest games, you'll know exactly what we're talking about (check on our website for the other game reviews). It’s a fun game with an exciting back story, and cute animals just make everything better! P.S. Bonus points if you manage to spot familiar faces in the game materials! Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of these game: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (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 clueQuest 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. #JoelynAlexandra #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #PrintNCut #DIY #Espionage #clueQuest #UK #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION : London, England, United Kingdom Photo above is property of clueQuest Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : CQ Origenes 📅 DATE PLAYED : October 15, 2021 🎬 GENRE : Sci-Fi, Adventure, Crime Solving 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl (has duplicated room that can fit up to 12PP) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : £25-35/PP (pending on group size and peak vs off peak times) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Your mission is to stop evil Professor Blacksheep from launching a cyber attack and extracting secret data and genetic research. To do this you must access Mr. Q’s old base and secure the mainframe of the computer…. but the only way to do it is to shrink yourself down to the size of a mouse in order to access it. You have 60 minutes to complete this before the Shrink'o'Mat's effects wear off and you are returned to normal size. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Good Games Master, very enthusiastic and clearly very proud of the room. Great concept, lovely props which will make you smile and with puzzles that are very in keeping with the theme. The Shrink'o'Mat feels very Sci-fi and like it would actually shrink you down to size and brilliantly in contrast to the second part of your task that has a retro feel. Clever way of intertwining the smaller puzzles’ solutions into a final puzzle to construct. Not linear, so each player can have something to do separately. A wide variety of puzzles, something for everyone and very few padlocks (but one very impressive one!). Great ending to the game, you felt the sense of urgency and we came out feeling really buzzy. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The clarity of clues from the GM on the radio wasn’t always very good. One sound task was tricky because of the background music. We were very eager to get our victory photo and was told that we're going to get there right after the game but we had to chase them down after a day had passed. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? The concept of this room is super innovative, slick, smart and keeps you smiling throughout. It is the forth in the storyline but worked as a standalone room as you’re given the back story – don’t feel you need to do the other 3 rooms first. It is built to involve all the team players (anywhere between 2 and 6) there is no sitting on the side-lines for this mission. It is quite spacious so would be fine for 6 people. Our team of 4 got out with a couple of mins to spare so it gave us great value for money! ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO There is no designated parking available. Easily accessible by public transportation (8 Min Walk from "Kings Crossing Station" Team memorabilia is available for purchase after your game. clueQuest has a meeting space. They’ll work with large groups and offer team building programs. Lobby with seating, game is one flight downstairs. 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 clueQuest  for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. Update : Brandon & Cici also visited clueQuest and played " cQ ORIGENES " in May 2023!! #DawnBallard #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #SciFi #Adventure #Crime #clueQuest #London #UK

LOCATION : London, United Kingdom Photo above is property of clueQuest Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Revenge of the Sheep 📅 DATE PLAYED : July 5, 2022 🎬 GENRE : Secret Agent, Mission 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 3-6 ppl (Ages 14+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : £25-35/PP (pending on group size and peak vs off peak times) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY "Revenge of the Sheep" draws you into a comic-book-style battle of good vs evil—the fate of the world is hanging in the balance and it’s up to you to save it!. You must foil the plans of clueQuest’s reoccurring villain - Professor Blacksheep and his evil side-kick. They’ve invented a “SheepMutator” capable of transforming any human within range into a meek, compliant sheep. You’ve only got 60 minutes to locate and disarm the series of SheepMutator devices that they are on the verge of unleashing on the world. Save us all from an ovine future! All of the escape rooms at clueQuest (the longest running escape game company in the UK!) chronicle the struggle between the undercover crime-fighting agency led by Mr. Q. (resident hero and yellow mouse) and his nemesis Professor Blacksheep, but don’t worry, it’s easy to jump right in. You can start with any of the games and follow the storyline. A friendly and enthusiastic game master will tell you all you need to know. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We booked a Tuesday morning time slot and arrived to find the place buzzing. With multiple rooms for each of their games, the clueQuest facilities can accommodate many bookings and/or large groups. The lobby spaces are atmospheric and our game master had great energy, which set the perfect tone for the important task at hand, i.e. saving humanity! The game packs a lot of puzzling into a fairly compact footprint. The standout elements in the room are the industrial-grade custom props that bring tactile realism and hold surprises within. The cartoonish visuals and whimsical gadgets you encounter feel perfectly at-home in the universe they’ve created, and enable you to throw yourself into the game’s plot line. In fact, we preferred the gadgety, mechanical elements of the room over the high-tech elements that didn’t integrate as cohesively. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We were given a walkie talkie to engage directly with our game master. We found the audio quality made it difficult to understand and frequently had to ask our game master to repeat themself. There were a lot of small keys to keep track of. At one point, we got ourselves stuck because we thought we'd already used one of the many keys when we actually hadn't. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Revenge of the Sheep" delivers a charming premise, a compelling experience from the second you walk through the door, and novel puzzles and set elements. With two players, there was a lot to get done and this room kept us on our toes and got us excited to play more of the clueQuest escape rooms. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is no designated parking available. They are less than a 15-minute walk from the nearest underground station. Team memorabilia is available for purchase after your game. clueQuest has a meeting space. They’ll work with large groups and offer team building programs. Photos above are property of clueQuest (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 clueQuest for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JenMcPhilimy #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #clueQuest #Spy #SecretAgent #London #UK

LOCATION: Spring, Texas, USA Photo above is property of Escape In Time Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : First Years 📅 DATE PLAYED : October 31, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Fantasy, Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 3-8 ppl (Ages 12+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $35.00/ pp (Min. 2 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Embark on an extraordinary adventure as novice wizards and witches! Gather essential supplies like enchanted wands and potion ingredients. Beware of lurking dark forces eager to challenge your abilities. With puzzles for first-year students, this quest offers thrills for all ages. Gather your friends, unlock your magic, and conquer evil before time runs out. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The way we were introduced to the game was an exciting moment, thanks to the "secretive" approach of the game designer and the mere size of the entrance. The set design truly captured the essence of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. There were a variety of enchanting stores, such as those selling magic books, brooms, and wands. Additionally, various "characters" were busily engaged in their tasks, enhancing the magical atmosphere. The puzzles varied in categories but consistently adhered to the fantasy world theme. We were particularly thrilled by a transformation in one of them that felt like a magical performance. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The props definitely needs updating. Several of them didn't function properly during our experience, which detracted from the immersion. An outdated puzzle clue was left in the room, leading to confusion as we attempted to solve a nonexistent puzzle. The ending should deliver a more triumphant experience through some special effects that could be felt by the players. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Attention Harry Potter enthusiasts! Are you ready to challenge your intellect? While you don't need to know the movie details to make your escape, you'll certainly discover some Easter Eggs that fans will appreciate. If the room receives updates on the condition of some props and technology, it promises to be an enjoyable experience for participants, as the puzzles functioned smoothly, and the set design was definitely entertaining to explore! ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO Seating in the lobby This game is located in the building across from their main lobby Free parking right outside the venue 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 Escape In Time 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 #EscapeRoom #EscapeInTime #Fantasy #Magic #HarryPotter #Texas #USA

Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos Company: Thames & Kosmos Game: Masters of Crime: Shadows Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Mystery, Heist Date Played: December 24, 2024 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Size of Team: 1+ Players (Ages 16+) Time: Approximately 10-15 Mins/ per day (for 24 days) Price: $15.38 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You’re no ordinary thief. You’ve been hired for the ultimate high-stakes job: stealing a painting from the prestigious Bachmann Gallery. But before you can snag the goods, there’s a whole lot of prep work to do. From assembling a crack team to scouting the gallery and crafting a foolproof plan, every choice you make could be the difference between getting away with the loot or ending up in the slammer. And when the big day comes, the real question is: were you ready? The thrill of executing your plan and seeing your decisions play out makes this game different from your typical tabletop puzzle game. You’ll feel the rush (and pressure) of pulling off that perfect heist! Video above is property of Thames & Kosmos 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Visually, " Masters of Crime: Shadows " leans minimalist, but it works for the tone of the game. The illustrations are few but effective, capturing the vibe of a sleek, modern heist. The materials are dominated by a deck of cards (covering locations, characters, and story/puzzle elements) and 12 envelopes containing images, clues, and other vital info. You’ll also get a notes page to track things like your timeline and a paper playmat to keep the chaos organized. The playmat isn’t strictly essential, especially if you’re short on table space, but it’s a nice touch to help you find things. While the game may not leave a visual imprint in the way some highly stylized games do, the clean design and sharp organization allow the story and puzzles to shine. It’s a form-follows-function approach, and it works. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Where " Masters of Crime: Shadows " truly excels is in making you feel like your decisions matter. The game unfolds in two acts: first, the planning phase, where you decide how to prepare for the heist. This is where most of the action takes place, as you’ll weigh options, debate strategies, and try to cover all your bases. The second act is the heist itself, where your earlier choices play out and determine your success. While the heist section is shorter, it’s deeply satisfying to see how your preparation pays off…or doesn’t. The game blends storytelling, paper puzzles, and online elements, requiring an internet connection to play. The online components feel realistic, heightening the tension and pulling you deeper into the world. Be ready for a fair bit of reading - it’s a storytelling game, after all - but it never feels overwhelming. Instead, it adds depth to your decisions, and it sparked plenty of lively discussions between Dave and I over how best to pull off our daring plan. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles themselves are on the easier side, making this a great entry point for non-puzzlers, and the quick solves keep the pace moving. Despite their simplicity, the puzzles are polished and well-integrated into the story, never feeling like afterthoughts. Both the paper-based and online elements are thoughtfully designed, enhancing the narrative while keeping you engaged. We especially loved how everything tied back to the heist theme, making each solve feel purposeful and connected to your mission. The puzzles are not the star of this show, but they play their part solidly, complementing the story and heightening the sense of being actively involved in your heist. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 If you’re craving something different, " Masters of Crime: Shadows " delivers. It’s the first of the Masters of Crime series that we’ve tried, and the concept feels fresh! A heist may be a common theme, but the freedom to plan and shape it yourself is unusual, intriguing, and lots of fun. The story is engaging, and the game is well-constructed, providing plenty of value (and hours of play) for its price point. The 16+ age rating felt a bit high to us. While you do play criminals and there are some more adult concepts, we’d feel comfortable with players 12+, as the feeling is more lighthearted rather than gory or gritty. While we’ve pulled off plenty of heists in in-person escape rooms, we’ve found that tabletop games more often have you as the detective solving the crime. Shadows not only puts you on the dark side of the law, it has you overseeing every aspect of the heist from the ground up. It’s a novel and immersive approach that made us feel fully invested in the gameplay. Whether you’re a puzzle enthusiast or a storytelling fan, this is a game worth your time—especially if you’ve ever dreamed of being the mastermind behind the perfect crime. 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, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Thames & Kosmos 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. #KristaJones #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #OneOffs #Heist #ThamesandKosmos #USA

Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos Company: Thames & Kosmos Game: Masters of Crime: Incognito Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Crime, Mystery Date Played: January 24, 2025 Difficulty (based on 6 players): 6/10 Size of Team: 1-6 Players (Ages 16+) Time: Approximately 2-4 Hrs. Price: $19.45 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Liam O’Reilly, a member of the notorious Brooklyn Seventeen gang and serving time in prison, was ready to turn over some key information to the FBI but before he could, he was found dead. Given the circumstances, the FBI suspects foul play and has sent you into the prison, incognito to find out what truly happened to O’Reilly. Video above is property of Thames & Kosmos 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Inside the box, we found a large poster that looks like a mat where we will have to lay out cards as well as a large deck of cards asking us not to shuffle or look through them. There were also a handful of sealed papers, each marked with a number. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Opening the box, there was minimal set up and the rules were easy to learn, making it easy to jump right in.. We laid out the large poster that served as a game board to help us track locations, suspects and upcoming cards. We placed the card deck beside the poster where we were explicitly not to shuffle the cards. Working through each card, they were very straightforward in explaining how the game mechanics, setup process, and how to interpret the symbols and cards we would run into. Something unique that we rarely see in big box store games are websites that we needed to navigate to solve the mystery. These were well designed and enhanced the gameplay for us. . The game did involve a lot of reading but there was plenty of material to pass around, keeping everyone engaged. While some of the writing came across as unintentionally humorous, it added to the experience, making the game entertaining and immersive. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 This was packed with deduction puzzles making us work like real detectives to piece together evidence, create timelines, find alibis and more. There was plenty to go though but we never felt like we needed to make a leap in logic. Many times, we had to make a choice in the game. Most times, we would need to use what we knew to be able to make the better choice. Though we would get the same items if we made a bad choice, we would earn a better star rating if we made a good decision, which we would tally up at the end to see how we did. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " Masters of Crime: Incognito " hits a lot of high points. The setup was quick and simple, with minimal rules to learn, allowing us to dive right in. The deduction provided plenty of content to sift through and a Choose Your Own Adventure style where our choices would decide our final rating. We played with 6 people and found that there was enough material for everyone as well as how large the playmat was which let multiple people work together. With less people though, everyone could easily participate in more. Any armchair detectives or fans of Choose Your Own Adventure style gaming would enjoy this game. This is one game that shouldn’t go Incognito. 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, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Thames & Kosmos 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 #PuzzlesByMail #OneOffs #Crime #Mystery #ThamesandKosmos #USA