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Photo above is property of Identity Games Company: Identity Games Game: Medical Mysteries: Miami Flatline Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Detective Date Played: March 20, 2025 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6.5/10 Size of Team: 1-4 ppl Time: 60 Mins. per patient Price: $48.83 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 House - the game, has returned in a much anticipated sequel, ditching the gray facade of Gotham for the neon tropics of Miami. Florida, the perfect swamp and breeding ground, a veritable pathogenic party. The temperatures are rising, the diseases are more exotic. No place offers a greater biodiversity for the perplexing study of the human condition. If you thought this was going to be a vacation you were wrong, but hopefully not dead wrong. “Medical Mysteries puts you in the shoes of an Emergency Room doctor, tasked with ensuring your patient survives the night - their lives are in your hands. Can you work with your team to examine, diagnose and treat your patient, before it’s too late? As an Emergency Room Doctors, it is your job to examine your patients’ mysterious symptoms, review their medical history and uncover hidden clues. Work together to diagnose the conditions. Follow clues, run tests, consult specialists and use your instincts to diagnose the patient, and finally make the right treatment decisions to help your patient survive the night. Then, work to determine the underlying cause of their condition. Earn points along the way for making the right treatment decisions and helping your patient survive the night.” 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ The game continues its run of game design perfection - if it aint broke don't fix it. This time they've tweaked the aesthetics ever so slightly to dilate the game towards the colors of Miami, making them bolder, brighter, eye popping, and neon tinged. The vividness makes the game even more enjoyable to look at and handle. The material is extremely well presented. Just the color coding alone is masterfully done. It's very readable, playable, shareable, which is key because the game often is at its core a matter of connecting types of information (symptom and pathology) and carefully construing a diagnosis out of them. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Gameplay wise it's much the same great system as the first, except as a sequel which anticipated the players desire for more exotic and challenging scenarios. It is at once standalone, but also builds upon the original game, so it's an attempt to satisfy both worlds, the new and legacy player. They've expanded and refined the symptoms, pathologies, and solutions, creating a vaster and more wondrous universe of medicine. The most impressive part of the game is how organic and true to life they have made it with the static elements it is composed of. It is a living game: your choices have effects, which in turn create new situations to be affected. There are many paths, and there can be multiple ways of uncovering information and treating and stabilizing the patient, though only one explanation of the origin of their pathology. I can say with extreme confidence, given my cursory knowledge of Medicine, that this is the closest I have ever felt to playing a real Doctor. It is replay-able, and it is not. Take what eventually proves a wrong turn and you can backtrack to where it first started to go wrong. But once you have stabilized the patient, and therefore turned the final page and solution, there is no turning back. So I implore anyone playing this game - really play it before you turn that page, and really think through the solution, the pathology of which is often much more subtle then what is immediately understood through the diagnosis and its final resolution. I said this in a review of the first game - the solutions require a leap from stabilizing the patient and identifying their diseases to ultimately explaining how the disease started in the first place. This can often have some kind of environmental component, which is communicated through the narrative uncovered alongside the medical diagnosis. For example, we can trace the anaphylaxis, which you have just stabilized with an EpiPen, to the peanut butter residue which is accidentally being put into the patient's sandwich everytime they pack a lunch. So clean that kitchen knife! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The symptom, condition, medical action, pathology system is such a perfect play and elevation on the classic murder mystery genre which is limited to death and the motive and means behind it. The logic of the game is immediately relatable, and yet it communicates a very deep and novel system, the human being as an organism being its own kind of special puzzle. This one jumpstarts a little faster, which I love - meets game lovers expectations - defibrillator hits a little harder, and the ceiling is higher. It is trying a little harder to complicate the diagnosis, and to throw you curveballs, and to make you have to think over every little decision and the potential resulting complications. At its best this game really gives you that sense of urgency of treating a live patient, while really testing you to work through the logic of deconstructing the symptoms and the patient's evolving condition - which is the thrill and challenge of it all. The finale is something like the designers conceiving of the ultimate challenge, but I will leave it at that. Choose your own adventure, and for the sake of little Zoey choose wisely! Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The one knock, if any, is that there's a lot of material, and yet not a lot of replay-ability or content, in the sense that I can guarantee you players will be clamoring for more by the end of it. They need the equivalent of a steam DLC type release schedule, and many of them, because there the foundation of the game could sustain so many more great cases, it's quite tragic. There's this tug of war in the marketing and selling of mystery games between standalone and legacy, between a one shot game and a game where the depth gets deeper as the player gets more invested and involved. I want to believe that the player base enjoys these games enough to support a legacy system of releases - it should be! This game is almost screaming for a digital version so support that model. I want to finish this by saying buy the game and try it for yourself, I think you'll have a blast, it's an ingenious pivot from the usual murder mystery games. As House says: "We save lives. That's what we do. Sometimes we need to do stupid, crazy, risky things to do it." (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 Identity Games for providing us with a sample of this game. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #AndrewWoods #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #Detective #BuffaloGames #NewYork #USA

LOCATION: Solothurn, Switzerland Photo above is property of Brainbox Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Hannibal Lecter 📅 DATE PLAYED : May 22, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 96-174 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (48:00) 📖 THE STORY Step into the chilling world of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist with a dark secret. In this escape room, you're not just racing against the clock — you're up against one of the most dangerous minds ever known. His puzzles are clever, his traps twisted, and his game is deadly. Can you stay calm, think fast, and outsmart the master of manipulation? Escape before time runs out… or become part of his collection. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Hannibal Lecter is by far the most immersive of the three rooms at Brainbox, with the most impressive set design that features a host of props which are scattered throughout the rooms which we work through. The decoration isn’t overly congested with items, but the limited number of pieces work nicely to create a somewhat dark atmosphere, but this is by no means a scary experience. The opening sequence is a particular highlight, featuring a set of cooperative puzzles that require both physical coordination and verbal teamwork as players work together to escape their initial confinement. This engaging start immediately draws players into the experience. While one of these early puzzles could benefit from slightly clearer guidance, the overall teamwork element is well-executed and enjoyable. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While the game featured a few puzzles that were genuinely creative and engaging, several others felt overly vague and unintuitive. Too much time was spent confused about what we were supposed to do next, often resorting to guesswork rather than logic. It seemed these design choices were intended to increase difficulty, but they ended up causing more frustration than satisfaction. The ending was particularly underwhelming. The final puzzle felt disconnected from the story and lacked any real sense of climax or resolution—it didn’t feel like we had truly “escaped” or completed a meaningful objective. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Though marketed as a horror-themed escape room, the atmosphere never really delivered on that promise. At no point did we feel scared or even unsettled, so those seeking genuine horror or tension might be disappointed. That said, this makes it a suitable option for players curious about darker aesthetics but hesitant about intense scares or jump moments. The overall difficulty sits at a medium level, which could present a fair challenge for newer teams, though some of the more ambiguous puzzles may feel less rewarding. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is available on site in the public car park adjacent to the train station. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating, lockers, and a few cold drinks for sale. 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 Brainbox Escape Rooms 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. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #BrainboxEscapeRooms #Thriller #Hannibal #Solothurn #Switzerland

Photo above is property of WTF Escaping Company: WTF Escaping Games: Something Strange at Sea Country: Australia 🇦🇺 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Thriller Date Played: May 31, 2025 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 5/10 Size of Team: 2-6 ppl Time: Approx. 1-2 Hrs. Price: $30.00/ team 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You and your team are part of a deep sea expedition when you find an old submarine hidden in the depths of the ocean. You head into an open hatch when suddenly, it slams behind you. With no way back, you are forced to head deeper into the submarine and see if you can find another exit or this might be your final excursion. Video above is property of WTF Escaping 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Built on Telescape, WTF Escaping makes excellent use of the platform, delivering a smooth, intuitive experience from start to finish. Their familiarity with the tool shows how well this game was made. The artwork stands out, capturing the gritty, rusted feel of a long-forgotten submarine. Photos above are property of WTF Escaping 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Getting started was super easy and intuitive as I simply clicked on the link and the game began. It’s a point-and-click style game, which they made user-friendly. The intro video was well made, setting the scene and kicking off the story. I appreciated the thorough first page being a full tutorial of how to play and how to operate the game. There were actually two ways to play the game. You could either explore freely by clicking around, or use a handy button that highlights all the interactive spots on the screen, depending on the difficulty you want. There were a lot of high points in the game. The map in the corner was especially helpful, showing me exactly where I was in the ship as well as which direction I was facing, making sure I didn’t confuse any turns. The game also had a notebook that automatically saved key information as I discovered it. Though I didn’t need to write everything down, keeping a pen and paper handy to help with the puzzle solving was useful. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles had a nice mix of logic and observation. The game started linearly but then opened into a more non-linear gameplay which would be perfect for a group, allowing different people to work on different things at the same time. Since the game is built on Telescape, when someone solves a puzzle, it updates for everyone automatically. The hint system used a tiered hint format that gradually nudged me in the right, so I could still enjoy those satisfying "aha!" moments. The hints were accessed through a QR code though, so make sure to keep your phone nearby. Photo above is property of WTF Escaping 🅲🅻 🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " Deep Sea Escape " was a solid and satisfying puzzle experience. The little details really stood out in the gameplay from the ambient ocean sounds and effects to the polished opening and closing videos. The puzzles hit the sweet spot with the right amount of challenging and great “aha!” moments when I made the connections. I did play this one solo but it would work great for up to 4 people, especially in different locations looking for something fun to do. Whether you're a puzzle beginner or just want a creative way to reconnect with friends, this one is definitely a deep dive worth taking. (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 WTF Escaping 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. #MattLui #AtHomeGames #DigitalGame #PointNClick #Suspense #EscapeRoom #WTFEscaping #Australia

LOCATION: London, England, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Escape Plan Ltd Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Pushed for Time 📅 DATE PLAYED : May 27, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl (Recommend min. 3 ppl) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE : £87-£204 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [67:00] 📖 THE STORY Pushed for Time promises to be different to anything you’ve played before and your adventure starts in front of a Parisian Art Deco elevator. Sometimes the only way forwards is back… but which way will you choose? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The standout element of this game is hands down the time machine—a spectacularly fun centerpiece that feels like stepping into a retro disco. Picture flashing lights, pulsing colours, and your choice of custom music. Prefer electro swing? Jazz? The Charleston? Whatever your vibe, this feature brought instant energy to the room and made the experience uniquely memorable. It might just be my favourite time-travel escape game to date. The story integration is also worth noting, with clearly defined goals and stages that are both logical and thematic. It’s easy to follow without ever feeling spoon-fed. Our Gamemaster, Django, helped set the tone brilliantly with a heartfelt and atmospheric introduction, immediately drawing us into the world. We also appreciated the non-linear structure, which is perfect for larger teams. While we chose to stick together to experience each challenge as a group, the game design allows for parallel puzzle-solving if you’re gunning for a fast time. The puzzles leaned toward Gen-1 design: search-heavy with a satisfying mix of deduction and logic. Yes, there are a lot of padlocks—but for those of us who love the tactile joy of cracking codes and unlocking boxes, this was a feature, not a flaw. A special shout-out goes to the photo opportunity at the end. Too often, games overlook this final touch, but here, it was creative and well thought out—offering a fitting conclusion and a great memory to take home. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There’s very little to criticize. While the puzzles were on the simpler side in terms of mechanics, they were numerous and varied enough to stay engaging throughout. If anything, the room aesthetics and materials felt a little basic compared to other equally modern games, but this was a minor point that didn’t detract from the fun or flow of the experience! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Absolutely! This game is accessible for all experience levels and delivers a unique story, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and a generous number of puzzles. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned escape room enthusiast, this time-traveling adventure is well worth jumping into. Additional Info There is no public parking available, the location is best suited to arriving by public transport. There isn't really a defined lobby area for the company as each room is located in different parts of a multi-use building. This particular room does have a private seating and entrance area with secure lockers for your stuff. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our interview with the owner to understand more on the development side of these games: 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 "!) #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom   #EscapeRooms   #EscapePlan #Adventure #London #UnitedKingdom

Photo above is property of Buffalo Games Company: Buffalo Games Game: Medical Mysteries: NYC Emergency Room Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Detective Date Played: July 24, 2024 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6.5/10 Size of Team: 1-4 ppl Time: 60 Mins. per patient Price: $25.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 House - the game! “ Medical Mysteries: NYC Emergency Room " puts you in the shoes of an Emergency Room doctor, tasked with ensuring your patient survives the night - their lives are in your hands. Can you work with your team to examine, diagnose and treat your patient, before it’s too late? As an Emergency Room Doctors, it is your job to examine your patients’ mysterious symptoms, review their medical history and uncover hidden clues. Work together to diagnose the conditions. Follow clues, run tests, consult specialists and use your instincts to diagnose the patient, and finally make the right treatment decisions to help your patient survive the night. Then, work to determine the underlying cause of their condition. Earn points along the way for making the right treatment decisions and helping your patient survive the night.” 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Can I just say what a top notch production this is, they really got this thing ready for prime time. The medical game aesthetic is very on point, evocative and typographically pleasing in a way that seduces our attention. Janky aesthetics can really detract from a game despite its playability. There's something about that basic, uniformly ugly and unimpressive, lack of aesthetic good sense that just repels the imagination. Even for a function over aesthetic type of person like me is still a deal breaker. Ok, but what's more impressive is how the information in the game itself is organized and broken down. The game not only looks great, it reads extremely well too, in terms of how its content is partitioned, it's very playable without ever becoming overwhelmingly chaotic. It's also well tailored to being played and shared by multiple players, allowing the group to easily swap and simultaneously pour over the elements of the case. Minor criticism I have read in other reviews is that the text at times can be a bit small for the degree of reading you may encounter - this is true but it may be necessary given limitations of space, though I agree if your ever making the players read a lot then be sure to make it easy on the eyes. Photos above are property of Buffalo Games 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 If you are in any way familiar with the brilliantly fun 2000s TV show House, where the eccentric and sassy eponymously named main character plays medical Sherlock Holmes (he even has his own Watson nee Wilson as a straight man sidekick), diagnosing patients and their mysterious illnesses, working his brilliant powers of deductions through many strange twists and turns until inevitably and coincidentally House gets to the right answer just as the show is nearing its hour run time. It teaches you that medical cases make for great mysteries, in both theme and format disease and our treatment of it really lends itself to interesting detective work. It also teaches you that though we treat illness in a hospital, the cause and thus the pathology of these diseases starts beyond it. Hence House eventually figured out that the girl's symptoms looked a lot like heavy metal poisoning, which lead him to figure out that her mom was secretly dosing her oatmeal with lithium to curb her budding teenage promiscuity, and if he wanted to not just cure the symptoms but cure the disease, he needed to stop mommy from drugging little Jainy. How does the game play? Well first of all they put you through a great tutorial that is easy to follow and really shows you the ropes. The beauty with this game is that the theme and the format of playing doctor immediately lend themselves to our puzzling imagination. Same goes for legal games, we immediately get that we are trying to prove or defend a case and its facts. They are natural extensions of detective games, and they have the same virtue that they invoke a world and its logic that are immediately relatable to the player and which therefore enrich their immersion in it, and so the puzzles too have the potential to be more natural and mimetic. This game plays exactly as you think it does: a patient comes in with various symptoms, medical background history, vital stats, and a intake interview, from which you then try and piece together a course of action, using interviews, tests, drugs, expert analysis, operations, all the while the patient states and the general story dynamically respond to these actions. You race to at least stabilize the patient if not hopefully figure out the pathology of their disease, all within a limited number of time/actions. This setup is near perfect, my only criticism being this, that the tutorial should give you slightly more of a sense of how subtle the cases can be, as in they aren't just a matter of going through the actions available to you, that as often happens in House, if you want to score 100/100 you really do need to do more than just stabilize the patient and determine their medical condition, you need to trace that pathology back into the context in which it originated. This is both the genius of the game, since it makes success something more than just the correct and mechanical sequencing of medical actions, but it also comes at you a little too fast, and that by the time you realize this at the end of the first two cases are all like this, you've already played them and can't go back. It's also not explicitly clear in the tutorial that you will always have to make this leap. There was a bit of a disconnect in the leap between stabilizing the patient and correctly identifying the pathology of the patient's disease. The information you get from your actions will not ultimately give you the answer itself, you need to make that logical leap yourself. Let me just say though the answers themselves are quite clever - so this is more of a warning to players, take your time! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 On the one side there is the patient, their symptoms, their pre-existing conditions, and their environment and its factors, and on the other is this medical guide book explaining all the actions you can take, what they might do/resolve, as well as what certain symptoms look like. So basically you are trying to correctly parse out the symptoms, identify them correctly, and cure them as it would be, using this guide book, your common sense and powers of deduction, as well as an awareness of how their environment might have precipitated this sudden disease. All the information you need can generally be found in the guidebook, it's just up to you to match the information with the symptoms, and navigate the results in an appropriate way. In this way the game is naturally rich in its complexity, having a intuitively simple form and yet proving informationally and deductively quite complex. Beautiful, that's how a mystery game ideally should be. So, for instance, if a patient is dehydrated, you may spend an action giving them some IV fluids, this may stabilize them, as well as potentially make them communicate more, in addition to eliminating some of the symptoms and thereby simplifying your process of deducing the complex relation of symptoms and disease. A patient can have more than one thing wrong with them, and they can also have overlapping and unconnected symptoms, so it's really a process of untangling this web of symptoms and diseases. A test may ultimately tell you what they have, it can tell you how to cure it, and that may be enough, but often times there's more to it, and this may not tell you how they got it, and unless you can communicate this fact the disease may be perpetuated by their lifestyle or environment, and so usually the final leap you have to make demands that you connect their pathology to these conditions, ala House, which makes for a much more satisfying game then simply running some tests and finding the inoperable brain tumor. It also makes it more than simply a medical game, but a story game, and more interestingly than not, most diseases have a exotic story behind them. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Overall, this is a great game, and one in which I highly recommend. It's just a really well done production, and they have raised the medical theme to the level of a masterful detective game. The worst thing I can really say about the game is that its begging for more content. Here's the dilemma: for all that high production and thought which has gone into it I feel like it was over much too soon! It isn't really replay-able, unless you fail, and even if you succeed I recommend you look through the story cards to see all the different paths you could have taken, as well - in a more morbid vein - all the ways in which your carelessness could have killed the patient. This series is begging for an expansion (which it will soon get in the fall, and which i will be playing as soon as it comes out), in both the scenarios as well as the extent of the medical symptoms and knowledge it encompasses. I hope, hope!, that the expansion skips with the tutorial and amps up the complexity as much as possible, though I fear that for sake of popular appeal it will mirror the onboarding of the base game. In any case, go out and grab this game and contribute to the creators so that it may live a long and happy life as a successful series. (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 Buffalo Games for providing us with a sample of this game. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #AndrewWoods #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #Detective #BuffaloGames #NewYork #USA

Photo above is property of Travelers Cloak Manuscripts Company: Travelers Cloak Manuscripts Game: The Astronomy Tower Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Alchemical Mystery Date Played: March 31, 2025 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 3-7/10 (depending on the chapter) Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommend 1-4 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Approx. 5-10 hrs) - Individual chapters ranged from 5-45 mins. Price: $185 CDN 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Haven dreams of moving to Italy and helping to curate and preserve the wonders of the Villa of the Starry Skies, where Galileo himself once viewed the wonders of the universe. However, her journey brings both unexpected danger and discoveries as she seeks to understand secrets long hidden. The story immediately drew us in with its intriguing blend of astronomy, astrology, art, and alchemy - a fabulous mix of science and fantasy with a more light-hearted tone. It’s a narrative-rich experience, with each envelope including a fair amount of reading and various types of ephemera to advance the plot, particularly journal entries by Haven herself.. That said, the plot was sometimes hard to keep straight, especially since we focused our note-taking on puzzles rather than the story itself. Some parts never quite clicked into place, and we found ourselves asking, “Wait - who was that again?” more than once. If you love immersive tales, you’ll likely still enjoy the vibe here, but consider jotting down key story beats as you go. And fair warning: the frequent typos, while not game-breaking, did pull us out of the moment at times. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ This game is undeniably beautiful - clearly a labor of love. The visuals blend Italian elegance with mystical flair, combining astrology, alchemy, and cultural elements in a way that feels richly and consistently thematic. The print quality is top-notch, with sturdy paper and lush colors that made everything feel polished. A few images - like some rather sad-looking birds - felt a little out of sync with the overall aesthetic and gave off “AI-generated image” vibes, but these were rare blips in an otherwise thoughtfully designed world with some gorgeous artwork. While it is predominantly a paper-based game, there are a few other components. We definitely appreciated some of these unexpected touches, like the inclusion of actual Italian treats (those lemon pirouettes were a chef’s kiss of a detail). Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Gameplay is organized into 13 envelopes, each containing a standalone puzzle and some narrative elements to advance the story. You’ll often revisit previous envelopes for clues or materials needed for the current puzzle, which makes tracking your progress (and where things came from) essential. Playing the entire game in a shorter window helps maintain momentum and memory (for both the story and where you saw that thing that just might with this thing…). While the discrete envelope structure provides great stopping points, The Astronomy Tower is definitely a strong candidate for longer binge-playing sessions, ideally with minimal time between bouts. For us, the final puzzle was a bit anticlimactic compared to earlier chapters - more of a soft landing than a dramatic finale - but it does appear to segue nicely into their next game, The Lost Queen. The hint system is thoughtfully structured, with tiered hints and a separate answer sheet in each chapter’s envelope. Hints typically take the form of guiding questions that aim to nudge you toward the solution without giving too much away. We appreciate the opportunity to let players come to the a-ha moments themselves! However, in some cases, the leap between the question and the solution may still feel murky. Overall, the hints would benefit from more detailed explanations and provision of answers to each step along the way, as it is still possible to get stuck (or unable to see how they reached the final answer). Internet access and a QR scanner are required for many of the chapters, which didn’t bother us but might be a factor for some. Also worth noting: while the game is replay-able with a bit of care, no reset instructions were provided. Another great reason to keep meticulous notes (or take pictures) of what is found in each envelope! Also, make sure you have plenty of table space - it gets sprawling fast, especially when you’re deep in the game, surrounded by dozens of intricate, lovingly crafted items. One final gameplay tip: While you're told to open sealed items within each envelope last, that doesn't always mean you'll get a clear prompt telling you when to do so. Once you've explored everything else in an envelope, it's safe to peek. And don’t overlook loose items outside the envelopes, and which chapters they go with. We missed that at first and briefly thought we were missing a key piece. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The difficulty of the puzzles are quite varied - early puzzles are fairly quick and accessible, while later ones ramp up in complexity thanks to layered clues, increased number of potential items from earlier envelopes that you might need to incorporate, and occasional red herrings or lack of signposting. Most answers come in the form of words or phrases, though we occasionally misread them as cues for additional steps we hadn’t done yet. One or two puzzles didn’t quite work for us, but there were several we really enjoyed, and the overall variety kept things engaging. We really liked the tactile quality of many of the paper-based puzzles - there’s a surprising amount of physical interaction built into what could’ve just been flat printouts. We also appreciated the use of “filler” Latin text in some documents, which helped guide our focus to what actually mattered, though some could feel this detracts from the immersion. There’s a lovely mini-meta moment partway through, too, which gave us a satisfying sense of progress and payoff. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 There’s so much to love in The Astronomy Tower. This game is bursting with creativity, atmosphere, and handmade charm (and a lot of reading!). Yes, a round of cleanup - fixing typos, improving a few puzzles, ramping up the ending - could elevate it even further. But even as-is, it stands out as one of the more unique and charming at-home puzzle games we’ve experienced. We especially valued how physical and interactive it felt, even within a format that relies almost entirely on paper. If you’re looking for something that blends rich narrative, imaginative puzzles, and a hefty dose of handcrafted magic, this one’s well worth diving into. (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 Travelers Cloak Manuscripts 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 #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #TravelersCloakManuscripts #Alchemy #Mystery #Canada

LOCATION : Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Cryptic Characters 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Starship Minerva 📅 DATE PLAYED : May 3, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CAD $35 pp/ $24.50 pp (Post-Secondary Students) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY The Starship Minerva was en route to a planet for a routine delivery when it suffered critical malfunctions. Now, both the ship and its crew are in danger. The onboard AI has initiated emergency protocols and will begin shutting down life support systems in 60 minutes. Can you work together, as a team and with the AI, to restore the ship before it's too late? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design made for a great sci-fi experience with a strong Star Trek feel. It was immersive with lots of flashing lights, futuristic tech and doors and the Captain’s chair was such a great touch. There was only a single traditional lockbox in the game which fit into the story. Everything else was tech-based for a more genuine feel to the game. The puzzles were clever, creative and went along with the story. After onboarding us with the first few easier puzzles, we got a hang of how the ship, technology and puzzles worked for us to interact with. The highlight of the room was definitely the AI character that we got to interact with. Not only was it our guide and hint giver but an integral part of the story. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was a solid experience with no major misses. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We had such a great time playing " Starship Minerva ". The room was tech based with lots of things to interact with and a few fun surprises. The set was immersive with the futuristic design and the puzzles made sure we were all engaged the entire time. We completed the room with 3 people which let us all see most of the room together. With more than 5 people, the room might start feeling cramped. This room is perfect for any sci-fi fans, Star Trek fans or anyone who would love to interact with a character. Overall, this was a well designed room with fun nods to " Star Trek " and " 2001: A Space Odyssey ". ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Street Parking Lobby with Seating Area Chocolate bars and water available for purchase Phone chargers in the lockers Free sticker Photo above is property of Cryptic Characters (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 Cryptic Characters   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 #SciFi #CrypticCharacters #Alberta #Canada

LOCATION: Tampa, Florida, USA Photo above is property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Haunted Mansion 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 17, 2021 🎬 GENRE : Horror, Supernatural 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $32.99/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Your team is one of the best when it comes to paranormal investigations! Based on your experience dealing with the supernatural, a mysterious man has sought you out to offer you a large sum of money if you successfully retrieve a powerful artifact believed to be inside a haunted mansion. You should know that the previous investigators that he approached, never returned... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Call me a scaredy-cat but any room with creepy dolls deserves a check mark on my horror escape room list. Ok but seriously, this room is really creepy. Right when I walked in, my initial thought was to walk out. The creators did a great job with having a very simple room at the beginning with not much to explore except a few photos and a door. Even if you did find the key, would you want to open it? As we bravely entered into the mansion, there was just enough light to lead you to where you have to be. This was a great way for subtle clues but not having to say it out loud (although there were plenty of things "said" out loud throughout the game). You'll definitely get your jump scares in this room. There's no where to hide. Certain things are manually triggered just at the right times so if you're a fan of that then you'll be quite satisfied. The puzzles were quite interesting as they are build relevant to the storyline. Soon enough you'll be able to figure out who and why they are haunting this mansion. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One of the color puzzles was kind of faded. It was hard enough to see color in the dim lighting so we felt that this prop needs some refurbishing. A set of props were used various times to trigger objects. We were used to using an item once and actually misplaced the last one. It was quite difficult to search for the missing prop in the dim lighting. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is not the scariest room we've ever played as most of those have live actors in it but it's definitely up there in terms of special effects and set design for a horror room. You'll definitely feel like you've experienced a scary paranormal activity and be glad you're back to safety once that door opens. We really enjoy the story aspect of the game and if you're a horror fan, you should definitely come and visit the "little friends" here. They told us to tell as many people as we can as they're eager to meet the next visitors! But if horror is definitely not your then, then fear not, the " Lost City of Atlantis " is waiting for your visit. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking outside the facility. Lobby with seating area and merchandise for sale. 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 GAME OVER Escape Rooms 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 #GAMEOVEREscapeRooms #Horror #Supernatural #Paranormal #Haunted #USA #Florida #IAPAA

LOCATION: Tampa, Florida, USA Photo above is property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Lost City of Atlantis 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 17, 2021 🎬 GENRE : Adventure, Mythology 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $32.99/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY After many years of research, you have finally located the lost city of Atlantis!! Your adventure awaits and history is about to be made. Who knows what mysteries lies ahead of you... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE One thing we were surprised about this room was the unexpected change forced by the set design making this game from a team experience into a cooperative type. That was pretty clever considering the prop used was a perfect fit for the theme of the room. The blue light ambience throughout the room along with the sound of water made us feel like we were submerged under the ocean. We did like the accent lighting to various spots and props in the room. The ending in particular really made it feel like a victory when the correct item was placed in the designated spot. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The audio from the game and sometimes the game master was not coming through very clearly which hindered our puzzle clues. (Update 10/31/22, per owner, the speakers has been changed to Dolby surround sound now). Certain challenges of the room didn't feel like it was relating to the theme of the game but more like an added puzzle. Perhaps if the prop was changed to something relevant in the storyline, it'll be a better fit. (Update 10/31/22, per owner, the prop and puzzle has now been changed to be related with the underwater theme ). 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Most of the puzzles in this room was towards the easier side. Some were merely recognition of patterns and placing items in the right spots. We did enjoy latter part of the game when suddenly the scenario changed and that took a bit more time as we're relying purely on communication. This is a good beginner room especially for it's mythical type of theme and lighting effects. We wish there were a bit more on the storyline rather than just puzzles. And if you're looking for a totally different theme like horror, then you have to visit their "Haunted Mansion"! Don't be afraid. We survived! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking outside the facility. Lobby with seating area and merchandise for sale. 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 GAME OVER Escape Rooms 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 #GAMEOVEREscapeRooms #Atlantis #Adventure #Mythology #USA #Florida #IAPAA

LOCATION: Tampa, Florida, USA Photo above is property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Money Heist 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 1, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Heist 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 1 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-10 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $73.98 (2 ppl) - $369.90 (10 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY The moment for the ultimate heist has arrived, meticulously orchestrated over years of planning. This is a historic chance for the team, each member ready to demonstrate unparalleled skill and ingenuity. The Professor's intricate strategy is designed to outwit security and law enforcement, with every detail meticulously planned. As the Mint doors close, the true test begins, with adrenaline and anxiety heightening the stakes. Every decision is critical, as the team navigates trust and loyalty, with the greatest danger potentially coming from within. Time is of the essence, and the heist awaits, challenging each member's loyalty and courage. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Deactivating a laser alarm at the start of the heist makes you feel like genuine robbers. It definitely provided adrenaline rush. The props in the game were intricately connected to the show. Several "hidden spots" surprised us with unexpected elements in the game. One of the puzzle clues cleverly used a real-life incident to provide the solution. The sound of the police car and flashing lights at the end created an intense sense of urgency. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK As experienced players, you might find yourself wasting a clue at the start for a puzzle that lacked clear instructions on what to do. If you excel at "search and find," you might not require one. Some props in the set design seemed like red herrings, as we didn't end up using all the information. This game contained many "giveaway" answers that we believe could be improved with a different type of cluing system. However, you might need all available times, as there are two Math puzzles that could consume a majority of your time. The final clue for the last puzzle could have better incorporated the props, making the final escape a bit more thrilling. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you've seen the show "Money Heist," known in its original Spanish title as "La Casa de Papel," you would undoubtedly appreciate the intricate and immersive nature of the game that draws inspiration from this captivating series. The game is filled with a plethora of Easter Eggs, carefully embedded references and nods to the show's iconic moments, characters, and themes. These hidden gems serve not only as delightful surprises for fans but also enhance the overall gaming experience, making it much more engaging and relatable for those familiar with the narrative. While these Easter Eggs may not directly assist you in solving the various puzzles presented throughout the game, they certainly provide a significant advantage in shaping your thought process. Understanding the connections between the items and the storyline of "Money Heist" can help you develop a strategic mindset, allowing you to associate specific objects with particular challenges or clues. Are you ready to embrace the challenge and embark on an adventure that mirrors the heist of the century? ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking outside the facility Lobby with seating area Merchandise for sale Lockers available Photos above are property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, 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 GAME OVER Escape Rooms (Tampa)   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 #GAMEOVER #Heist #Tampa #Florida #USA

LOCATION : Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan Photo above is property of SCRAP Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Asakusa Puzzle Adventure 📅 DATE PLAYED : August 27, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Puzzle Hunt Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 1 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 1+ ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : Approximately 3+ hours 💰 PRICE : ¥2,700 (Game Kit), ¥4,200 (Event Exclusive + Original Tote Bag) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Asakusa is one of the most popular sightseeing sites in Japan. The city is rich in history and traditional cultures. Your guide today is TenTen, a rickshaw puller in Asakusa who grew up in this vibrant city. With TenTen, explore the city, take lots of photos for your memory, and enjoy your journey of solving mysteries in Asakusa! Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯    HIT THE BULLSEYE I enjoyed exploring the lively town of Asakusa with fun puzzles. The game explained the culture and history of this area well. I enjoyed discovering and learning some new things that I did not know. Other than just solving puzzles, I liked that there were experiences that players could try in Asakusa. The game started by exploring Asakusa to gather information to solve puzzles. In the beginning, I felt the puzzle part was slow. Yet, I liked that Japanese culture was nicely introduced in the form of puzzles in this game. I really enjoyed them toward the end. The last part of the puzzles was memorable. It was convenient that the approximate estimated time and brief information about each chapter were given in the guidebook. It helped planning the journey on my own while playing this game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The game depends heavily on the website to play it by uploading photos at many places in Asakusa. I could see the intention, but I felt it was too much. Make sure your smartphone has a steady internet connection and enough battery! SCRAP is usually cautious in defining things used for puzzles. It is probably not a big deal for most people. However, I felt an explanation about one object was misleading when I solved a puzzle. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Asakusa Puzzle Adventure " was a delightful game to explore Asakusa with fun puzzles. It introduced me to the history and culture of Asakusa well. This game is a fantastic way for everyone to enjoy puzzles and sightseeing in Asakusa simultaneously. When you have a chance to visit Tokyo, I recommend signing up for TenTen's Asakusa tour! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Real Escape Game Asakusa is a 5min walk from "Asakusa Station" of Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or Tobu Skytree Line There is no parking. There are many shops and restaurants in Asakusa. 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 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 #Asakusa #Tokyo #Japan

LOCATION : Hickory, North Carolina, USA Photo above is property of Nocturne Adventures Photos above are property of Nocturne Adventures 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Nevermore 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 4, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Gothic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $35.00/ pp (Min. 3 ppl required) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting poem The Raven, Nevermore reimagines the tale in a richly immersive escape room experience. You and your team step into the shoes of Poe’s tormented protagonist, entering the parlor of a grand but crumbling Gothic mansion. Shadows stretch long across the floorboards, whispers seem to echo through the walls, and the atmosphere is thick with sorrow and mystery. As you explore the house, you begin to uncover the presence of lost souls—each trapped, each yearning for peace. Through your journey, it becomes clear that you’re not just solving puzzles, but helping to free these spirits from the grip of despair. The lines between reality and the supernatural begin to blur, pulling you deeper into a beautifully tragic narrative that feels like something lifted from the pages of Poe’s own journal. Video above is property of Nocturne Adventures 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design in Nevermore is nothing short of breathtaking. Nocturne Adventures absolutely nails the Gothic aesthetic, immersing players in a space that feels both haunting and beautiful. From shadowy corners to ornate fixtures, the attention to detail in the scenery transports you into a world that feels plucked from a dark fairytale—or Poe’s own imagination. Crafted by a clearly passionate team, Nevermore radiates the kind of love and care that elevates it beyond just another escape room. Every element—from the intricate puzzles to the emotionally resonant storytelling—feels intentional. The puzzles don’t just serve as challenges; they reinforce the theme and narrative, pulling you deeper into the melancholy mystery. It’s a game where atmosphere and gameplay blend seamlessly to create something truly special. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK After much consideration, there’s very little to critique here. While no game is ever truly flawless, Nevermore left such a strong impression in its atmosphere, storytelling, and puzzle flow that any nitpicks we could mention feel insignificant in the grand scheme. It's a rare game that feels so thoughtfully crafted, it's hard to dwell on the minor details. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? In this unassuming location lies one of the Southeast's most heartfelt and beautifully executed escape room experiences. Nevermore is not just an homage to the works of Edgar Allan Poe and classic Gothic horror—it’s also a love letter to the escape room medium itself. Every inch of this game feels like it was created with passion, intention, and an unwavering dedication to storytelling. From the moment you step into the space, you’re pulled into a richly layered world full of hidden corners, clever transitions, and unexpected moments. It's a game that fully immerses, yet remains accessible to players of all skill levels. The puzzles, the design, and the story don’t just coexist—they elevate each other. Each discovery feels earned. Each room flows into the next with purpose. And the finale brings it all together in an emotional, satisfying close that left us with lasting memories. If you're anywhere near the area, Nevermore is absolutely worth the visit. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Located in Basement of private residence Snacks and souvenirs for purchase Photos above are property of Nocturne Adventures (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 "!) #MikeSchnurr #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #NocturneAdventures #Mystery #NorthCarolina #USA

LOCATION: Bülach, Switzerland Photo above is property of Secret Clue GmbH Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Steampunk 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 30, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 100-175 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (41:52) 📖 THE STORY Step into the world of Sherlock Holmes and face his greatest adversary, Professor Moriarty! The criminal mastermind has devised a sinister steampunk machine capable of destroying the entire city. Your mission: infiltrate his secret laboratory, decipher his cryptic codes, and shut down the deadly device before it’s too late. As you race against time, Sherlock Holmes is in pursuit of Moriarty, who is once again slipping through the shadows. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Walking into the room made an immediate impression—the design transports you to a shadowy London alley, complete with red brick walls and a cobblestone floor. A few small puzzle-related props help bring the space to life, preventing it from feeling too minimal. The game kicks off with a narrated introduction from Sherlock himself, setting the stage for our mission. However, Sherlock’s American accent was a bit jarring—probably unnoticeable to most, but as an English speaker, it stood out to me. Throughout the game, Sherlock continues to provide updates, a unique touch that keeps the story alive without being intrusive. These moments added depth to the experience, though I occasionally missed what was being said. Thankfully, the narrative was more for immersion than delivering crucial game clues. The room also featured some special effects, including lasers and smoke, enhancing the atmosphere. The lighting struck a great balance—dim enough to set the mood but never so dark that it became frustrating. While the room wasn’t overly packed with props, it made up for it with a selection of dress-up items. This added a fun, whimsical touch, especially for the post-game photo! The highlight for us was the final puzzle. It stood out not only because of its creative use of props but also because it required all three of us to be engaged both mentally and physically—a truly satisfying conclusion! 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While the puzzles were well-designed, logical, and enjoyable to solve, there simply weren’t enough of them. The entire game contained only seven puzzles, which felt too few for an escape room experience. Another shortcoming was the lack of strong thematic connectivity. Moriarty’s machine never truly felt menacing, and the space didn’t quite capture the essence of a criminal mastermind’s lair. If not for Sherlock’s narration, we might not have realized we were in the Sherlock Holmes universe at all. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Despite the disconnect between theme and story, this escape room is still a solid choice, particularly for smaller or less experienced teams. The beautifully crafted set is immersive, and the lower puzzle count means a higher chance of success. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. Free parking is available in clearly designated spaces around the side and back of the building. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating, lockers, and a few cold drinks for sale. This game is wheelchair accessible and disability friendly Photos above are property of Secret Clue GmbH (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 Secret Clue GmbH 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. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystery #SecretClueGmbH #Bulach #Switzerland

Photo above is property of Real Escape Game by SCRAP Company: Real Escape Game by SCRAP Game: Jujutsu Kaisen - Escape from the Cursed Spirit of the Abandoned School Country: Japan 🇯🇵 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Supernatural, Mystery Date Played: January 29, 2022 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommend 1-3 Players) Time: Unlimited (Suggested 1.5-2 Hrs) Price: $29.99 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You are a student at Jujutsu High, a school to train sorcerers in the art of expelling curses and demons. Your skill allows you to use cursed techniques over long distances but with the limitation that you are unable to leave your home. One day, there is news of people going missing at an abandoned school. It is soon determined that this is the doing of a cursed spirit. Getting a letter from your teacher Gojo, you are requested to work with the other first year students to find out what is happening and expel the curse at the abandoned school. Video above is property of Real Escape Game by SCRAP 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Opening up the dark envelope, you will find an introduction sheet that will give you the backstory to the characters and Jujutsu High, a letter from your teach Gojo, and a top secret document with information on the abandoned school and mission at hand. There will also be a second envelope that contains everything you need to learn and perform your cursed technique. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 This game is played online using the envelope that you purchased. In the envelope, there is a lot of backstory and information given to you about Jujutsu High and the characters as well as all the items you need to perform your “long distance folding technique”. SCRAP does a great job giving you all you need to know about the characters and the backstory of Jujutsu High and the world of curses. You do not need to have watched the show to enjoy the game but you would enjoy the characters and story more if you have. One tip would be the take the time to go over the backstory before getting into the game. Once you sign into the online component, you are will be given a high quality video introducing you a little more to the characters and story. The videos are in Japanese but with English subtitles. The voice acting was top notch with a simple but effective video to advance the story after you solved some puzzles. To communicate with the characters and submit your answers, there will be a chat window that you type the answers and prompts into. One note is that there were a lot of cut scenes throughout the game. After every puzzle solve, there seemed to be a 2-3 minute video to advance the story. The hint system was set up to give layered hints before the solution which we found was done well. We did use a few hints and never felt that we were just given the solution. They also provided photos for the solutions which communicated what you needed to do easier. Photos above are property of Real Escape Game by SCRAP 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The bulk of the puzzles were based around the “folding technique” that was introduced in the game. This was quite unique and different. We were reluctant at first about folding puzzles, but SCRAP did an excellent job executing them and we were very enthralled with what they could come up using a few simple folds. This is also one of the reasons where you should only play with 2 or 3 people because anymore and there would be too many people just sitting around. There were also a few other puzzles to break it up here and there to help keep us engaged and not overdo the folding. This game ramps up nicely to help you get familiar with everything by giving you some simple puzzles to solve and get used to before giving you tougher puzzles. Another key component was that certain puzzle themes that were introduced weren't just used once, but multiple times. So nothing seemed wasted or was over too soon. One tip is to make sure you go through everything. The information you need to solve the puzzles will be there somewhere. Photos above are property of Real Escape Game by SCRAP 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 If you are familiar with other SCRAP games, especially some of their in-person games, than this is one that you would enjoy. The folding puzzles were a nice surprise to see and we found that they were simple to learn but were challenging enough, especially as the game progressed. One item that we enjoyed was how they were able to integrate why we are playing at home into the story. It did take the 2 of us just over 2 hours to complete the game but there was a lot of story to watch. This is a great game for some people who are new to at-home escape games since it does a great job holding your hand at the start but letting you go on your own further in. Having watched the anime show Jujutsu Kaisen, we really enjoyed being able to interact with the characters but even if you are not familiar with the show, this is still a great game to play. (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 Real Escape Game by SCRAP 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 #RealEscapeGamebySCRAP #JujutsuKaisen #EscapefromtheCursedSpiritoftheAbandonedSchool #Supernatural #Mystery #SCRAP #Japan

LOCATION: Bülach, Switzerland Photo above is property of Secret Clue GmbH Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Paranormal 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 30, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Horror (light), Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 100-192 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (56:02) 📖 THE STORY In a quaint, picturesque village, there once stood a beloved, award-winning toy shop. Children adored it, and even adults marvelled at the toymaker’s kindness and craftsmanship. But one day, something mysterious happened… Now, the shop sits abandoned, its doors closed, and whispers of eerie happenings keep everyone at a distance. Do you have the courage to step inside and uncover the chilling secret hidden within 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE " Paranormal " is Secret Clue GmbH's largest and most ambitious escape room, spanning more than twice the space of some of their other games. As one of the last rooms we played, we were truly impressed by its scale. With unexpected new areas continuously revealing themselves, the excitement never waned. The atmosphere is masterfully crafted, delivering a truly haunting experience that keeps players on edge. The uncertainty of when—or if—the next jump scare would occur kept the tension high, especially with the game master occasionally appearing in character as a paranormal entity. Combined with meticulously designed sets, eerie lighting, and spine-chilling sound effects, the game fully immerses players in its supernatural world. The puzzles are seamlessly woven into the narrative, requiring logical thinking, keen observation, and strong teamwork. We especially appreciated how each task served a purpose in advancing the story, gradually revealing the dark and tragic past of the house’s former inhabitants. This level of story-driven puzzle design is not easy to achieve, yet Paranormal does it exceptionally well. The sheer number of puzzles was impressive, making this room feel longer and more content-rich than the average escape game. We progressed at a steady pace, yet still finished with just four minutes to spare—a true nail-biter that kept us engaged until the very last second. More than anything, Paranormal is a storytelling masterpiece. From beginning to end, the narrative remains the driving force of the experience, making the process of uncovering the family’s chilling history one of the most rewarding aspects of the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While the set design, atmosphere, and storytelling were all outstanding, a few puzzles felt unnecessarily finicky or overly sensitive. For instance, certain mechanics required extreme precision or had hidden timing constraints that weren’t immediately clear. This led to moments of frustration, as we lost time repeating tasks without knowing what we had done wrong. In these instances, game master intervention became necessary, but it felt like it shouldn’t have been. A clearer indication of failure conditions would greatly improve the experience. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? While " Paranormal " was our second favorite overall at Secret Clue, it was undoubtedly the most immersive and atmospheric of the five games we played. If you're brave enough to confront the spirits within, this is a must-play escape room. That said, the fear factor isn't overwhelming, making it accessible even to those who might not usually go for horror-themed rooms. It’s a great way to test your boundaries, and for those who love a deeply immersive, story-driven experience, Paranormal is a standout choice. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. Free parking is available in clearly designated spaces around the side and back of the building. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating, lockers, and a few cold drinks for sale. This game is wheelchair accessible and disability friendly Photos above are property of Secret Clue GmbH (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 Secret Clue GmbH 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. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Horror #Mystery #SecretClueGmbH #Bulach #Switzerland