Search this site

LOCATION: Hilversum, Netherlands Photo above is property of Escape Cafe Hilversum Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Zoltar Speaks 📅 DATE PLAYED : January 22, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Arabian Nights 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 4/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE : €179/ team ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You and your group step into an old antique shop, the kind cluttered with forgotten curiosities and trinkets of a bygone era. Among the dusty shelves and oddities, one item immediately catches your eye: a curious fortune-telling cabinet labeled Zoltar. You’ve probably seen machines like this before—the cheesy kind you'd find at a boardwalk or carnival, promising to reveal your future with a booming voice and flashing lights. But this one is different. It speaks without prompting. And not only does it seem to know your future… it may know your past as well. With that chilling realization, you're pulled into a story far beyond the antique shop walls. Hidden sets, untold secrets, and thrilling discoveries await—if you're brave enough to follow where Zoltar speaks. Video above is property of Escape Cafe Hilversum 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Zoltar Speaks immediately impresses with its massive room, offering a sense of scale and grandeur that truly transports players into its world. The expansive space allows for a level of exploration and discovery that smaller rooms simply can't match, making every corner feel like a new mystery waiting to be uncovered. Rather than feeling overwhelming, the layout is cleverly designed to guide players through an evolving journey, ensuring that every inch of the room serves a purpose in the adventure. Adding to the immersion, costumes are not just an extra touch but a pivotal part of the experience, seamlessly woven into the storyline. Unlike other games where costumes might be optional, Zoltar Speaks presents them at just the right moment, making them feel like a natural progression of the adventure rather than a gimmick. When the game provides them, it’s not just for show—they play a meaningful role in the unfolding narrative, reinforcing your connection to the world and the characters within it. This game does something unlike ever seen before in an escape room that really turns it into a strategic offering on the. game's point of view. after we played in the room, we exclaimed to ourselves, why haven't more escape rooms done this kind of thing before? just for the finale is worth the price of admission. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While the finale delivered an incredible and fitting conclusion to the experience, it leaned heavily on a singular effort, leaving some members of the group feeling like spectators rather than active participants. In a game filled with engaging moments for everyone, the final challenge felt like a departure from that inclusivity, making us wish there had been a way for the entire team to contribute more meaningfully to the climax. The scents used throughout the game did an excellent job of transporting players into the world of Zoltar Speaks, adding an extra layer of immersion that made the experience feel even more real. However, at times, the scents became a bit overpowering, slightly distracting from the puzzles and gameplay. While they undeniably enhanced the atmosphere, a bit more subtlety in their use could have maintained the immersion without pulling focus away from the adventure itself. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Zoltar Speaks " is a game that recently opened its doors to English-speaking players, and we were fortunate enough to be among the very first to experience it. With only whispers heard through the grapevine and recommendations from some of the top venues in the Netherlands, we added it to our itinerary almost on a whim. What we found was an absolute hidden gem. This game masterfully walks the line between fresh innovation and nostalgic charm. It takes the core of what makes escape rooms enjoyable—immersive storytelling, clever puzzles, and shared discovery—and infuses it with something unexpected. From the moment you step into the elaborately designed set, it's clear just how much love and attention went into every detail. The puzzles were fun and original, the environment was rich and dynamic, and a surprisingly strategic element gave our team a new layer of gameplay we didn’t see coming. While not the most difficult game for seasoned enthusiasts, Zoltar Speaks doesn’t need to be. Its strength lies in the journey, not just the challenge. For smaller groups especially, this room offers the perfect space to connect with the experience—and with each other. It’s always refreshing to find a game that feels like it was made for players, not just around them. The team behind Zoltar Speaks clearly understands what makes this hobby special, and their passion radiates from start to finish. The cherry on top? The wonderful staff, who were just as excited to talk about the game as we were to play it. Zoltar may have predicted our future… but it never could’ve told us how much fun we’d have. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Paid parking in nearby garage Near train station Escape room attached to a bar Photo above is property of Escape Cafe Hilversum (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 #ArabianNights #EscapeCafeHilversum #Hilversum #Netherlands

LOCATION : Tampa, Florida, USA Photo above is property of Intense Escape 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Basement 2: Mama's House 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 1, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl (Ages 12+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 120 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $149.98 (2 ppl), $209.97 (3 ppl), $239.96 (4 ppl), $294.95 (5 ppl), $347.94 (6 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 🎭  LIVE ACTOR : Yes 📖 THE STORY A sequel to Intense Escape’s infamous original, " The Basement 2 (Mama’s House) " throws you right back into the twisted world of the cannibalistic serial killer known as Hambone. This time, you and your group have been hired by the FBI to investigate Hambone’s connections to a string of new murders. Your mission: infiltrate his mother’s house and uncover evidence that definitively links him to these gruesome crimes. But from the moment you step inside, it becomes clear—this isn’t going to be a simple operation. It’s almost as if they were expecting you. Captured almost immediately, your team finds yourselves trapped once again, this time inside Mama’s house... What follows is a chaotic, high-stakes escape filled with disturbing environments, shocking moments, and a growing sense of dread. You’ll be searching for critical evidence while trying to survive whatever “Mama” has in store for you. While you don’t need to have played The Basement 1 to enjoy this sequel, returning players will notice deeper narrative ties and rewarding connections between the two experiences. The storylines are cleverly interwoven, creating a richer world for those paying close attention. Be warned: this is one of the most intense horror escape rooms in the United States. The venue is known for pushing boundaries. You may be tased. The actors will touch you—but you are not allowed to touch them. That said, safety is a top priority, and the trained cast creates a controlled yet utterly terrifying environment designed to maximize both immersion and adrenaline. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE There’s a familiar mechanic in Mama’s House that echoes a particularly memorable sequence from the original Basement—but rather than feeling recycled, it’s been reimagined in a way that heightens tension and dread. It sent ripples through our group, leaving each of us on edge, knowing that anyone could be chosen next for a more… personal experience. Intense Escape continues to shine in their ability to select individuals for these shocking encounters, ramping up the psychological pressure and creating unforgettable moments. What really elevates this experience, though, is the continuation of the storyline. While it isn’t forced on you, those who take the time to absorb the environment—reading between the lines of the puzzles, the decor, and the scattered details—will uncover pieces of a deeper narrative web. It’s a rewarding element for those who are truly invested in the world Intense Escape has built. With a generous two-hour runtime, Mama’s House is able to stretch the pacing in all the right ways. The team doesn’t just give you more puzzles—they give you more time to feel. More time to get anxious. More time for dread to build. That extended pressure slowly chips away at your group’s nerves, which is exactly what this room is designed to do. It’s an endurance test in the best (and most terrifying) way. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Given how extreme Mama’s House can be, it's understandable—and appreciated—that the team takes time to go over safety protocols both before and during the experience. That said, these moments can occasionally pull you out of the immersion. While they’re necessary for player comfort, it would be incredible to see these reminders woven more organically into the narrative, perhaps through in-world characters or environmental cues, to maintain the tension without breaking the illusion. On the puzzle front, everything functions well and is logically sound. The room follows a more traditional escape room structure, leaning heavily on four-digit locks, keys, and combination puzzles. It’s not the most high-tech game out there, and in some ways it feels like a callback to an earlier generation of escape rooms. Still, in the context of this terrifying setting, the puzzles serve their purpose—keeping you engaged, solving under pressure, and moving through the space with purpose. Just don’t expect many bells and whistles when it comes to tech. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " The Basement 2 (Mama’s House) " solidifies itself as one of Intense Escape’s strongest offerings—and one of the most terrifying escape rooms in the United States. With a generous two-hour runtime, this game gives you the space to explore, solve, panic, scream, and feel fully immersed in a story that ratchets up the horror from the second you're captured. It knows exactly what it wants to be: an intense, pulse-pounding, scream-filled journey through the mind of a killer and his equally terrifying family. While it may not push boundaries on the puzzle design side, it honestly doesn’t need to. The puzzles do their job, and what the game lacks in tech-heavy mechanics, it makes up for in narrative design, immersive tension, and raw, unfiltered terror. What’s particularly brilliant is how the game can be played on multiple levels—if you just want to survive and escape, the experience still works perfectly. But players who stop to pay attention, read the clues, and piece together the deeper narrative are rewarded with story connections that add a surprising level of emotional and logical depth. Created by a family-run venue, the love and passion Intense Escape puts into their games is immediately apparent. The staff’s enthusiasm matches the energy of the game itself—it was genuinely just as fun chatting with the team after as it was surviving the experience. These are horror escape rooms made by people who love horror escape rooms, and it shows in every dark corner, every scream-inducing scare, and every shocking twist. Bring your bravest friends, keep your wits about you, and see if you have what it takes to make it out of Mama’s House alive. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking located outside of venue. Complementary water after completion of the game. Most players should be able to crawl for a small portion and having basic physicality is recommended. Tasers are used in this experience. Actors can touch you, you can not touch actors. (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 #IntenseEscape #Hororr #Florida #USA

LOCATION: Altenstadt, Germany Photo above is property of one BREAKOUT 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Insider 📅 DATE PLAYED : April 26, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Detective 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 80-150 € ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (34:00) 📖 THE STORY New York, CIA Office – 1988 Agent Mills is suspected of espionage and murder — but we have no hard evidence. You’ve got 60 minutes inside his office to uncover the truth before he returns. Find the murder weapon. Uncover proof of his betrayal. Escape before time runs out - The nation’s security is in your hands. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The Insider offers a diverse set of thematic and period relevant puzzles. The different tasks will have you using many of the props located around the office, such as an old computer, as well as needing a keen sense of observation and searching prowess. We also appreciated that the room, like any office, is full of information which may not help you in your mission. This information won’t throw you down any rabbit holes, but it might slow you down and make you really have to think about how relevant certain information may be. This dynamic ensured we spent a lot of time collaborating and exchanging ideas. The room looks like it was from the 80’s, with plenty of old office furniture and decorations adorning the walls, such as old photos and even a world map that reflected the state of world back then; sorry, but there is no Latvia or Estonia .. it’s all still part of the USSR! So overall, we found there to be a good level of immersion created through the set design. This room is perfect for newcomers or larger teams. The puzzles, which are mostly fact-finding and observational, are approachable for beginners. The spacious office layout ensures there's plenty of room for everyone to spread out, without feeling crowded, making it an excellent choice for groups of varying experience levels. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While the room offers solid puzzle mechanics and an engaging atmosphere, it’s beginning to show its age. The lack of modern special effects means it doesn’t quite deliver the “wow” moments that more contemporary rooms often provide. A few updates or tech-enhanced features would elevate the experience. Having team-based challenges would elevate the game further, especially for times when groups do play, as a way to ensure everyone remains engaged. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? While " The Insider " may not have the flash and complexity of newer escape rooms, it remains a solid, enjoyable experience. It’s a great choice for beginners or those newer to the escape room world, offering a mix of classic puzzles and 80s nostalgia. When comparing this game to their latest, Vegas Baby! it is impressive to see how far the company has evolved. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking is available on site, but it is limited There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and a small selection of beverages for sale For the most part, this game is wheelchair accessible. Photos above are property of one BREAKOUT (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 one BREAKOUT 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 #Detective #oneBREAKOUT #Altenstadt #Germany

LOCATION: Warsaw , Poland Photo above is property of FunEscape Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Missing 📅 DATE PLAYED : July 1, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Adventure, Criminal 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 250-450 PLN ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [60:00] 📖 THE STORY Do you remember Amelia, your friend's daughter? She has been out of touch for several days now, and her family is terrified by her sudden disappearance. Amelia was supposed to spend last weekend with her father Mark, who lives nearby. You decide to help in the search and head out to his house. On the spot you find the door taped with police tape. This does not stop you, however, a breach of security can be noticed. You have to act quickly. Time is running out, and the clues you find may be crucial in explaining the mystery of the girl's disappearance. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Unexpected game ending. The game is full of mystery and while playing, you are constantly trying to figure out what is going on. In the end, you will be shocked. Settings are clean and neat. Everything in the game plays smoothly and looks appropriate. Puzzles are interesting and original. The idea behind them is obvious and logical. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The game is available only in Polish language at the moment. It seems that there are a couple of puzzles that were designed first but don't seem to work now. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? One of the best escape rooms in Warsaw at the moment. It will suit perfectly for people who like mysteries and interesting, not obvious stories behind the scenes. The game takes place in the 80-s, so you can experience the vibe of that time. ℹ️     ADDITIONAL INFO Paid parking on weekdays before 20:00 and free parking on weekends and weekdays after 20:00. Difficult to find a place to park a car. Be ready to climb a ladder. Lobby with a sitting area. Toilet available. Not wheelchair accessible. Water in the sitting area. Ventilators in sitting area, no air conditioning. 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 "!) #PaulShyshou #IRLescaperoom   #EscapeRooms #FunEscape #Adventure #Criminal #Warsaw #Poland

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: Mystery Date Played: June 11, 2022 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 8/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Up to 10 logins) Time: Expires 72 Hours from start Price: $30.00/ Up to 10 logins 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Expecting to enjoy a cruise vacation, things start to take a turn for the worse when you notice weird occurrences happening onboard the ship. People start to disappear and the interior starts looking more empty by the day. Not quite sure what to make of this, it's time to pass out for the night and see what tomorrow has in store. When the morning comes, your first thought is to head straight for the breakfast buffet! As soon as you try to open the cabin door, it is locked from the outside. It is now up to you and your team to get out of the cabin and explore the ship to find out who locked you in and how you are going to get out. NOTE : This is the first game of a multi part series. Some things may be left unanswered at the end of this game. Video above is property of WTF Escaping 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 WTF Escaping uses their own integrated gaming platform for "Something Strange at Sea" (no downloading required). Everyone will have a unique code that will require answers to be entered into the website. The user interface is straightforward and clear. All of the actions needed to be performed in the game could be done without much direction. There is an integrated voice and video chat in the game so no external interface is needed. During the game you will keep track of notes and other unique findings in a journal. You can access this at the bottom of the screen. It will contain quite important clues for your journey. Another aspect of the journal that might be overlooked are the “fast travel” buttons. This is a large game with a lot of things to search for so WTF Escaping has implemented a fast travel option to make traversing this cruise ship a little bit less cumbersome. Navigation throughout the game takes place in a 3D rendered version of a replica cruise ship. Having been on a couple cruises, I can honestly say the interior and the decks depicted are quite accurate. Photos above are property of WTF Escaping 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles in this game will really force your team to think. With a mix of some simpler puzzles to some absolute time sinks, you really have something for everyone with this game. Most of the logic when solving the puzzles during the game created a proper flow and enjoyable experience. With the whole group having access to all unlocked areas of the space, the game lends itself to a divide and conquer strategy with some mild communication to make sure puzzles are effectively solved. All of the puzzles can be completed in the game and the use of the internet is not required (although during one time sink puzzle, you can search for a solution to speed things up). 🅲🅻 🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Something Strange at Sea" does a good job of bringing well thought out puzzles into a world that seems appropriate for them to be there. There is a hint system in the game, but we didn't need to use it during our experience. All of the sets get their locations across well enough, there are some points during the game that when you need to navigate specific sections, the arrows aren’t quite clear on where they will take you. This is the big advantage to the in-game fast travel option. The story of the game isn’t explicitly told to you completely and because it is the first episode, WTF Escaping doesn’t reveal all its information which left our group feeling a little confused and shocked by the way the game ended (we didn’t realize until after, that it is the first episode). However, it makes sense where the ending of the game is and by that point you have run across a wide variety of puzzles and you're left with a satisfying room that the second episode is in your future. (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. #MikeSchnurr #AtHomeGames #DigitalGame #PointNClick #Mystery #EscapeRoom #WTFEscaping #Australia

LOCATION: Burgum, Netherlands Photo above is property of Silent Town 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Asylum 📅 DATE PLAYED : January 18, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Horror, Asylum 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 Players) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl (Ages 16+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 90 Mins (+30 Mins.) 💰 PRICE : €169/ group ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 🎭 LIVE ACTOR : Yes 📖 THE STORY What starts as a casual case of urban exploration quickly spirals into something far more sinister. Your team stumbles upon Silent Town Asylum—long-abandoned, shrouded in decay, and whispered about in hushed tones. Just beyond the entrance, an old radio crackles to life with a distress call, hinting at a possible disappearance tied to this forgotten place. Despite your better judgment, curiosity gets the best of you. You press onward. As you explore the asylum’s rotting halls, rumors begin to feel more like reality. The head doctor, once revered, was conducting inhumane experiments on the patients here—experiments that may still echo through the dark. Your team must uncover the truth, find the missing person, and survive what lies within. Just don’t stray too far from each other… you never know what might be waiting around the next corner. Video above is property of Silent Town 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The atmosphere in " The Asylum " is absolutely off the charts. From the moment we stepped inside, our group was fully swept up in the immersion. We weren’t even halfway through the first space before we caught ourselves standing still—no longer solving puzzles, just completely lost in the sheer tension and mood of the environment. The design does an exceptional job of taking over your senses and pulling you into its world. One of the biggest standouts of the experience was the use of an actor. Rather than relying on cheap scares or basic chase sequences, the way the performer was woven into the game elevated every moment they appeared. Their timing, movement, and presence didn’t just startle—they told a story. It created scenes of pure horror that left us feeling everything at once: joy, terror, disbelief, and awe. It was the kind of emotional rollercoaster we’ll be talking about for a long time. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While " The Asylum " excels at building a gripping group horror experience, it doesn’t quite offer the same level of personalization for individual players that some horror enthusiasts might hope for. The game leans heavily into collective exploration and shared fear, which works beautifully for immersion—but it also means that each player might not get their own standout moment. This is very much a game where sticking together is key, both thematically and mechanically. For some teams, especially those looking for more individualized interactions or tailored scares, this might not hit the same high as other horror rooms that focus on personal story arcs. It’s not necessarily a flaw—just something to be aware of depending on your group’s preferences. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " The Asylum " is a standout example of how a horror-themed escape room can be elevated into a full-on immersive experience. From the moment our group entered the space, the atmosphere and world-building were strong enough that we found ourselves wrapped up in the tension—so much so that, at one point, we briefly forgot we were even there to solve puzzles. That kind of immersion is rare, and it’s a testament to the love, detail, and intention behind the design. One of the most enjoyable parts of the experience came after the game had ended. The staff shared a short highlight reel of our group playing through the game from the control room’s perspective. It was both entertaining and insightful, and added an extra layer of appreciation for how much goes into running a room like this. Being able to laugh and debrief after such a tense adventure gave the whole experience a nice sense of closure. While the game is fairly linear, and there's a decent amount of walking and backtracking, it feels purposeful within the theme. The repetition and route design help establish a mood of unease and reinforce the setting's asylum-like chaos. It’s a well-thought-out detail that might go unnoticed at first, but really ties into the overall narrative once it clicks. " The Asylum " stands out as a masterclass in immersive horror escape rooms. Its meticulous design, atmospheric tension, and innovative use of space create an experience that blurs the line between game and reality. The highlight reel at the end offers a delightful debrief, allowing players to relive moments of suspense and gain insight into the game’s clever construction. That said, this game is very much designed for players who are comfortable with intense horror themes. From the fog-choked hallways to the jump scares and psychological tension, it leans heavily into its setting and doesn’t hold back. While it’s one of the most impressive horror experiences we've had, it's not for everyone—and that’s okay. For those willing to embrace the fear, The Asylum offers a 90-minute journey that will stay with you long after the doors close. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Street Parking No Heat or AC in building All players must be able to walk up stairs and ideally basic physical movements (crawling, squatting ect.) Substantial amount of Theatrical Fog used Can be played in English and Dutch Photos above are property of Silent Town (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 #SilentTown #Horror #Burgum #Netherlands

LOCATION : Hickory, North Carolina, USA Photo above is property of Nocturne Adventures Photos above are property of Nocturne Adventures 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Ripper 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 4, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $39.99 - $49.99/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You and your friends wake up groggy and disoriented in the dark, grimy basement of a notorious serial killer known only as The Ripper. The goal is simple: escape. Get out of his twisted lair before he returns—and makes you his next victims. Along the way, you might uncover clues or evidence that could help identify and capture him… but let’s be honest, survival is the priority. The clock is ticking. Can you make it out before he finds you? Ripper is an intense horror-themed experience—but what makes it truly special is its adaptability. The team at Nocturne has thoughtfully created different levels of intensity and alternate content to suit a wide variety of players, from brave families to seasoned horror fans. It’s an adjustable experience that can meet your group where you are… and maybe even nudge you just outside your comfort zone. Video above is property of Nocturne Adventures 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE You and your friends wake up groggy and disoriented in the dark, grimy basement of a notorious serial killer known only as The Ripper. The goal is simple: escape. Get out of his twisted lair before he returns—and makes you his next victims. Along the way, you might uncover clues or evidence that could help identify and capture him… but let’s be honest, survival is the priority. The clock is ticking. Can you make it out before he finds you? " Ripper " is an intense horror-themed experience—but what makes it truly special is its adaptability. The team at Nocturne has thoughtfully created different levels of intensity and alternate content to suit a wide variety of players, from brave families to seasoned horror fans. It’s an adjustable experience that can meet your group where you are… and maybe even nudge you just outside your comfort zone. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While the puzzles in " Ripper " are well-designed and thoughtfully crafted, they almost take a backseat to the sheer intensity of the experience. The game leans more into the feeling of a full-blown haunt than a traditional escape room at times—heightening the tension, adrenaline, and sense of urgency. That’s not to say the puzzle elements aren’t strong (they absolutely are), but you may find yourself solving with shaky hands and a racing heart. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Ripper " is the original offering from the Nocturne team—and it’s what put them on the map. Originally planned just before COVID hit, the creators worked closely with the city of Hickory to bring this immersive vision to life. What emerged is an experience unlike anything else in the escape room world: raw, intense, and completely unforgettable. While the puzzles and storyline are a bit more stripped down compared to their later offerings, that doesn’t detract from the overall experience. The puzzles are still engaging and thoughtfully placed within the world—they just happen to take a backseat to the heart-pounding chases and immersive horror narrative. You won’t walk away quoting clever wordplay or intricate logic leaps. You’ll walk away remembering the thrill, the screams, the suspense—and somehow still be smiling. Twists and turns lurk around every corner, and the use of live actors creates a horror movie feeling that’s difficult to replicate. As a bonus, after the game, you’ll even get a peek at behind-the-scenes footage of your group being hunted, which adds a perfect touch of laughter after the tension. All in all, " Ripper " is a bold, adrenaline-packed introduction to Nocturne Adventures’ unique style. It’s an intense ride—but with the team’s thoughtful adaptability, it’s one that can be enjoyed by a surprisingly wide range of players, from horror fanatics to curious first-timers willing to push their boundaries. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Located in Basement of private residence Snacks and souvenirs for purchase Multiple versions for all horror levels 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 #Horror #NorthCarolina #USA

LOCATION: Reading, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Deadlocked Escape Rooms Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Time Machine 📅 DATE PLAYED : May 3, 2023 🎬 GENRE : Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-4 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE : £50-100 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY The Wexell Corporation has a mission for you. The first group that they had sent out on their time machine never returned. Unfortunately, you only have one minute to repair the machine before it spits you out in a different time zone. If you fail to repair it within the allowed number of tries, you'll be stuck in the rift of time forever... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The humorous performance of the GM's character played a big part in making our time travel journey an enjoyable one. This concept of how to create a 60-second escape into a 90-minute room was genius. It felt like we were playing a Boda Borg game but in an actual escape room. We loved the idea of using Wexie (a very cute robot) as the hint system. The GM was also great at coming up with witty clues. The way the room transformed as we " traveled " through time was quite impressive. Sometimes it could be drastic changes and other times just subtle ones. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK A few puzzles that we had to solve on the computer screen felt like puzzles we would encounter on APP game. We were hoping for more tactile objects rather than data inputs. We thought a few of the items could be labeled since we were searching for a while and were not sure if we found what was clued. We were surprised that one of the objects we found could actually open since we haven't encountered one before. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Deadlocked Escape Rooms builds everything in-house and they are big supporters of repurposing items for their rooms. With that said, we were genuinely amazed by what they were able to do with their limitation on budget and space. I wanted all the players out there to know that the only reason this game still exists is because of the passion the owners have for this industry. It takes a lot of energy to run this room and if you're interested to know why, I'm sure the GM would be happy to show you what they have to do behind the scenes. Deadlocked Escape Room also has a lot of fun online games that they've created in the past few years. Make sure to check our website for those reviews. We had the privilege of taking a sneak peek of their new room in the making and all I can say is, cast a spell and bring me back to Reading! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO No street parking. The escape room is located down one flight of stairs. Small lobby with seating. 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 Deadlocked Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #DeadlockedEscapeRooms #SciFi #TimeTravel #Reading #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Bülach, Switzerland Photo above is property of Secret Clue GmbH Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Haunted Toy Store 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 30, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Spooky 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 100-175 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes (32:16) 📖 THE STORY In a charming little village, there was once a beloved, award-winning toy shop. Children adored it, and adults admired the toymaker’s kindness and craftsmanship. But one day, something mysterious happened... Now, the shop stands abandoned, its doors shut tight, and the once joyful laughter has been replaced by an eerie silence. The villagers keep their distance, whispering about what might have happened inside. Do you have the courage to step through the door and uncover the truth hidden within? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE One of the standout elements of this escape room is its storytelling . From the moment you step inside, an automated narrative sets the stage, and additional audio tracks throughout the game provide deeper insight into past events. This continuous storytelling adds a layer of immersion that many escape rooms overlook, making it a truly notable feature. The set design is another highlight. While the toy store itself is compact, it’s packed with toy props and thematic furniture that enhance the experience. The second room feels larger and introduces a couple of special effects, including a well-timed jump scare that heightens the tension; though the overall atmosphere leans more toward eerie than outright scary. As for the puzzles , they are well-designed to keep all team members engaged. The first room features a mostly nonlinear flow, encouraging players to search and complete mini-puzzles at their own pace. The second half shifts gears, requiring stronger teamwork and communication skills to progress. The puzzles also tie in well with the storyline, particularly in the latter half when the narrative expands. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK While the room doesn’t suffer from broken mechanics or illogical puzzles, there’s room for enhancement. The two main areas that could elevate the experience even further are: More puzzles : The game could benefit from additional challenges to extend playtime and deepen engagement. Stronger thematic immersion : While the set is well-constructed, the toy store theme doesn’t fully come to life. More vibrant toy store elements could enhance the setting further. Likewise, the spooky aspect isn’t fully utilized beyond dim lighting and one jump scare. More could certainly be done to push the scare factor up. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is a solid, well-crafted escape room that’s best suited for low-to-medium-experience players. The difficulty level is moderate, and the scare factor is minimal, making it ideal for families or those who prefer a more lighthearted experience. Due to the limited space and number of tasks, a team of two to three players is the sweet spot, any more, and it might feel crowded. 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 #Spooky #SecretClueGmbH #Bulach #Switzerland

Photo above is property of Theory 11 Company: Neil Patrick Harris (Manufactured by Theory 11) Game: Box Two Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Mystery, Adventure Date Played: April 9, 2025 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommended 1-2 ppl) Time: Unlimited Price: $39.95 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Neil Patrick Harris is looking for a partner to complete one of the world’s most exclusive puzzle competitions and the task has fallen onto you. Open the box, reveal the secrets, solve the puzzles and see if you and NPH can complete the Sir Eriick Planhart’s challenge and join the club. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ The beautifully embossed box shows a lovely design and has the large keyholes cut out, which you just know will serve a purpose later. Opening it reveals a beautiful key and a note from NPH himself. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The whole experience kicks off with a letter from NPH himself, setting the tone. Along the way, we were pointed to a couple of websites that helped explain what we were doing and even put us in touch with NPH himself in a chat. NPH also sent us a few videos which was a nice personal touch to the experience. The game itself had lots of clever tricks and surprises that revealed itself, ones we would expect from NPH himself. One note is to not snoop too closely into the box as it may reveal things sooner than they should. There is a ton packed into the box from props and clever little tricks. The chat system was a key part of the experience. We used it to interact with NPH and get clues for the puzzles. Most of the time it worked great, but there were a few moments where we figured something out early and didn’t realize we needed to plug the earlier steps into the chat. That threw off the flow a bit. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Most of the puzzles were less solving but more clever tricks that needed to be uncovered. A couple of times, we did feel it was unclear what needed to be done even with the clues. Once we did though, there were some really jaw dropping “Wow!” moments. The chat didn’t have a hint system built in specifically, but when we put in an incorrect solution, it would automatically give us a hint. This was helpful sometimes, but frustrating at other times when we felt we didn’t want a hint yet. One of the other things we found random was that the puzzles at the end were set to be solved non-linearly, but once we solved a puzzle, we were then directed to another random item to solve a second puzzle on it. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Box Two was packed with neat secrets and twists as we played through. The story was playful and light. While the puzzles didn’t always feel like puzzles, there were plenty of great reveals and “Wow!” moments. Even the reset of the game was surprisingly satisfying. The game took us about 2 hours to complete and we played with 2 people, which worked well and though the game doesn’t explicitly tell you how many should play this game this felt like this would be the maximum. Any fans of NPH, magic tricks or just fun date night experience, this is one to check out. Neil Patrick Harris' acceptance speech for " Best overall Table-top Game " on our Bullseye Award '20 show ! (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 Neil Patrick Harris & Theory 11 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. Other recent creations (Children's magic books series) by Neil Patrick Harris The Magic Misfits $17.79 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $7.24 (Paperback) - Purchase Here The Magic Misfits: The Second Story $13.77 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $7.99 (Paperback) - Purchase Here The Magic Misfits: The Minor Third $13.74 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $7.99 (Paperback) - Purchase Here The Magic Misfits: The Fourth Suit $13.88 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $23.25 (Paperback) - Purchase Here #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #neilpatrickharris #nphgames #nph #theory11 #themagicmisfits #boxtwo #celebrityescape #escaperoomindustry

Photos provided by Theory 11 Company: Neil Patrick Harris (Manufactured by Theory 11) Game: BoxONE Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Puzzles By Mail 📬 Genre: Mystery, Adventure Date Played: October 5, 2020 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Size of Team: 1 Player Time: Unlimited Price: $29.95 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 From the brainwaves of Neil Patrick Harris comes an interactive challenge. Use your wits and decode each layer of BoxONE. Unboxing "BoxONE" by Neil Patrick Harris: 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Since this game was manufactured by Theory 11 , we expected no less than luxury. The beautiful gold, brown, red and black colors used on the box really brought out a level of elegance like no other. In the center of the box, NPH is peeking at us through a keyhole. This definitely created a mysterious feel along with just a tad of creepiness. As we opened the box, all we saw was a notepad, a pen with NPH's initials on it, a box of challenge cards and a small black envelope (which could be easily overlooked since it was camouflaged nicely with the black felt). 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Seeing that this game was meant for one player, we played the game separately. As I followed the instruction sheet and started on the first step of the game, I thought to myself, this is going to be easy. There was not much to do here besides finishing the challenge cards in the box. Boy was I wrong! There were so much more to be discovered. We played the game in different ways. Brandon was always the curious one and if he could skip over all reading and just dive into the puzzles, he would. So he "discovered" as much as he could from the box right from the start. I am a rule follower so I only revealed items when the game instructed me to do so. There's really no right or wrong way to play the game but if you revealed things too early, you might not know what to do with them and this might confuse the game flow. Since we can't reveal too much about the game (as we don't want to ruin the surprises for you), all we can say is that, there's so much more to what we were able to show in our unboxing video (below). Ok, ok, I'll spill just a tad more...you'll be "traveling" outside of this box for certain missions. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Since we played the games separately, this game really showed us our strengths and weaknesses. Brandon is great at trivia so he took much less time than I did with the first part of the game. As the plot thickened, puzzles started to take forms in logic and decryption. I would say I had a slight advantage over him on those. Normally when we play together we would use the "divide and conquer" method but with this game, we were on our own. I quite enjoyed not having to fight over game pieces with him for once. Overall the puzzles were not considered difficult for experienced puzzlers but some parts could be challenging for beginners. If you do get stuck, there's a weblink that'll take you to a hint page. If you still need help, you can email NPH or if he's not available, feel free to email us. Although this game could be done around an hours time for experienced players (under normal circumstances), there was a puzzle that may lead you to not be able to complete it until the next day. But be patient and you shall be rewarded... 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Throughout the game, we probably said "wow" and "oh, that's what it's used for!" numerous times. There were moments when we felt like this was a magic box and other times when we thought it's an escape room in a box. We don't know how NPH was able to pull this off but he's brainwaves is definitely on another wavelength. We enjoyed the backstory as much as the game play. The build up was intense and the main character (plus the special appearances by NPH myself) really portrayed the urgency of the mission. Comedy is something NPH tries to include in everything he does and we definitely had our share of laughter. Although I know this game is supposed to be for "ME TIME", it's definitely playable as date night, family night and group puzzle night. Just remember to cover NPH's eye if you decide to "cheat" because he's watching your every move... Neil Patrick Harris' acceptance speech for " Best overall Table-top Game " on our Bullseye Award show ! (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 Neil Patrick Harris & Theory 11 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. Other recent creations (Children's magic books series) by Neil Patrick Harris The Magic Misfits $17.79 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $7.24 (Paperback) - Purchase Here The Magic Misfits: The Second Story $13.77 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $7.99 (Paperback) - Purchase Here The Magic Misfits: The Minor Third $13.74 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $7.99 (Paperback) - Purchase Here The Magic Misfits: The Fourth Suit $13.88 (Hardcover) - Purchase Here $23.25 (Paperback) - Purchase Here #CiciCao #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #thekellyclarksonshow #kellyclarkson #neilpatrickharris #nphgames #nph #theory11 #suitup #themagicmisfits #thesecondstory #theminorthird #thefourthsuit #boxone #celebrityescape #escaperoomindustry

LOCATION : Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Cryptic Characters 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Dungeon of Despair 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 29, 2022 🎬 GENRE : Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CAD $35 pp/ $24.50 pp (Students)/ $20 pp (Ages 12 & under) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY After some recent magical attacks in the kingdom of Edoria and the kidnapping of the heir, the king and queen have declared that all magical practitioners are to be arrested and executed. Unfortunately, that includes you and your friends. After getting thrown into the dungeon, your group has one hour to escape before your execution. Can you make it out and, possibly find out who is behind all the attacks and where the heir has been taken, along the way? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room was designed with such detail that nothing stuck out as being out of place. The walls and props looked authentic and even down to the padlocks, wooden boxes and aged paper, everything belonged in the room. The story was simple but gripping and detailed enough that even afterwards, we felt that there would need to be a sequel to the game. A bulk of the puzzles were tech based but blended into the room seamlessly. A few times we did feel like there was some magic at work here. The ending was a fun and clever eureka which had us talking all the way home and the next day. The fantastic GM we had that took us to the room and interacted with us afterwards, added another level of immersion with the acting and costume. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One puzzle we felt could have been a little clearer in the instructions and it took a few iterations for us to solve. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Dungeon of Despair " was a beautifully designed room and the attention to detail to make sure everything kept you immersed was amazing, down to the padlocks and even the GM. We, ourselves, felt like the most out of place thing in the room. The game also allowed for an additional side quest which was well thought out. If you do take the full hour to escape, you will still have the pleasure of finishing the room with a good ending but if you do have additional time, you can enjoy the side quest and get more story out of the game. The story and how it played out was fun and though simple, very effective in keeping the game exciting. The puzzles did promote a lot of teamwork and working together to complete. Anyone who is into the fantasy theme and beautiful sets would love this room, but this is a must play escape room for anyone and everyone. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Street Parking Lobby with Seating Area Wheelchair accessible, First Floor (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Fantasy #Medieval #CrypticCharacters #Canada

LOCATION : Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Cryptic Characters 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Containment Breach Z 📅 DATE PLAYED : January 28, 2023 🎬 GENRE : Horror, Zombie 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 6 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 6-12 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CAD $35 pp/ $24.50 pp (Post-Secondary Students) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY As humanity’s final hope, you and your team of top scientists make your way to the laboratory, seeking to create the cure for the devastating zombie contagion that emerged. As you all make your way to the entrance, a horrifying turn of events occurs – half of your team becomes overwhelmed by the relentless zombie horde, transforming into zombies themselves. Can you, as the scientists, race against time to devise the cure before the persistent zombies break through the door? Can you, as the relentless zombies, manage to breach the defenses and devour the scientists before the antidote is born? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The rooms were set up to interact with each other as they each had “sabotage” puzzles that would allow you to disrupt the other team momentarily. The timing of each was nice as it caused a minor annoyance but not enough to completely derail the game. Each room also had a progress tracker that allowed you to see how well the other team was doing to keep the competitive levels up. The set design was flawless, each room capturing the intended atmosphere whether it was the science lab or the break room. Nothing stood out as out of place where each lock seamlessly integrated into the theme. The GM, who dressed up in character, set the ambiance of the room to immerse us fully in the intense story. The puzzles were well clued and made sense. It was very clear in each room what should be used. The flow of the puzzles also made for a great experience with a few easy, quick hit puzzles to ones that took many steps to get us to the final solution. One minor thing is that the lockers have phone chargers in them which is a nice touch. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was a puzzle reset button that was out in the open. Though we should have read the label, in the middle of all the excitement we pressed it couple of times, not realizing it set us back. A cover on it could have avoided the confusion. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Having only done a handful of team vs. team escape rooms before, this is what they all should aspire to be like. Both rooms were completely different but did have an even puzzle flow to them. Initially, we had booked this room for a single play-through. However, our immersion in the game and our intense competitive spirit had us stay and play a second time, swapping sides (fortunately, there were no bookings right after us.) The puzzle flow was non-linear and had a solid mix of quick easy puzzles that one person could solve and more difficult ones that required the whole team to work out. The set design of the rooms was perfectly executed as everything was integrated into the room and made to belong right down to the last combination lock. We played with 6 total, 3 on each team and found that it allowed us to see everything and stay involved but can also see having up to 5 on each side and still have a great time. Any zombie fans or anyone having a competitive spirit would love this game and even if not, this is a game everyone should play. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Street Parking Lobby with Seating Area Wheelchair accessible, First Floor Chocolate bars and water available for purchase Phone chargers in the lockers "Containment Breach Z"  is a team vs. team escape room where you compete to see who can complete their room first, the zombies or the scientists. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Horror #Zombies #CrypticCharacters #Canada

Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos Company: Thames & Kosmos Game: The Gang Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Board Game, Poker Date Played: March 27, 2025 Difficulty (based on 6 players): 6/10 Size of Team: 3-6 Players (Ages 10+) Time: Approximately 20 Mins. Price: $19.99 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You and your gang of elite thieves are gearing up to crack open some vaults and make a clean getaway. To get the job done, flawless teamwork and perfect coordination is needed. If you can open three vaults, the team gets away scot free, but if you trip three alarms, then the jig is up. Video above is property of Thames & Kosmos 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Inside the sleek, shiny box is a deck of poker cards with some beautiful face cards that blends the look of western flair and classic casino styles. Also handy are player guide cards, describing the turn order and poker hand rankings as well as some Specialist and Challenge cards used during game play. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The best way to describe this game is cooperative poker. If you know how to play Texas Hold’em, then you know 90% of the rules already. What makes this game cooperative is that during each betting phases, you and your group try to rank your current hands without talking about your cards, using poker chips marked with stars ranging from 1 (the weakest hand) up to the number of players (the strongest). Each player chooses the chip they feel best represents their hand. One of the few ways to communicate is you can take another person’s poker chip but you cannot give another person a poker chip. The only ranking that matters though is the final one. Once the final community card is revealed and everyone has made their final chip selection, the hands are revealed. If the group’s rankings are correct, bravo, you have opened the vault. If not, then an alarm has been tripped. One of the aspects of the game that adds more depth is after each hand a new stipulation is brought in. If you have succeeded in opening a vault, a challenge card is drawn. The challenge card will give you a handicap next hand which can range from skipping one round of ranking to having someone change their hand in the middle of the round. The opposite happens if you tripped an alarm. You will draw a specialist card which will give you an advantage in the next round. Those range from having one player share their pocket cards with another player to one player sharing their hand ranking with the group. Once you have gotten familiar with the game, there is also the professional and master thief mode that raises the stakes and makes sure that there will always be at least one challenge card in play. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🆁🅰🆃🅴🅶🆈 If you’ve played poker and understand hand probabilities and strategy, then you know the basic strategy. We played a few times with different numbers and as the rules say, the game gets harder with more people, especially when players have tied hand rankings. For newer players, keep in mind that “high card” is a common hand. Also, pay attention to the community cards and think theoretically, what 2 card combinations could create strong hands while watching how others grab their chips. Though there is minimal communication, try to communicate the strength of your hand by grabbing chips early and with intent. If you are not sure, hold off until people who are confident they have a strong hand to grab chips first. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " The Gang " checks all the boxes for me. It’s heist themed, cooperative, easy to learn and quick to play. While most of the cards are standard playing cards, the stylish redesign merges the traditional playing card with a slick robbery theme. For beginners, it’s best to start with a smaller group but if you are looking for a challenge, add more people to up the difficulty. Fans of poker, cooperative games or quick, engaging games would find a lot to love here. This is a perfect pick for any board game night whether you have “3 of a kind” or a “full house”. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 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 #BoardGame #Poker #ThamesandKosmos #USA

LOCATION : Markham, Ontario, Canada Photo above is property of Omventure Markham Photo above is property of Omventure Markham 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Hong Kong After Dark 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 12, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Murder Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 120 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CAD $67/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Dragon Head Lee, leader of the Triad, was found dead in a back alley just before the Inheritance Ceremony, with deputy chairmen FayeTal, Bomber, and MadDog as prime suspects. To restore order, a new leader must rise, blood must be shed, and old ways must be cast out. As a team of fresh recruits, you are tasked with navigating the chaos and deciding on the new order. But in the dark underworld, betrayal can be found anywhere. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The overall game was an exciting blend of escape room and murder mystery for those who are fans of both. As we progressed, a digital case file would gradually build on a large screen, giving us information to uncover the mystery. The set design was jaw dropping. Hitting the streets of Hong Kong, it truly felt authentic with the narrow alleyway with shops and signs on each side and apartments overhead, creating the perfect nighttime ambience. There was some neat roleplaying involved during the murder solving, which added some excitement to the solve. The puzzles fit seamlessly into the story, using the set and blending into the environment to become part of the storytelling. For fans of logic puzzles, there are plenty of them to enjoy here. The screen of the ending case file was large enough that we could all sit around it together to review it. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK It’s tricky to pinpoint the right group size for this experience. On the one hand, some of the escape room puzzles made it difficult for more than 2 or 3 people to work on them, while the murder mystery part would have been better with more people. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Hong Kong After Dark " was a gripping 2 hour experience that kept us engaged and on the edge of our seats from start to finish. Omventure did a fantastic job blending a murder mystery with an escape room, combining the best of both worlds. Stepping into the beautifully crafted streets of Hong Kong was still a highlight. With 4 players, we had a great time, but it is hard to gauge the right number of people. At times, it felt like there were too many of us and other times, it felt like there weren’t enough of us. Anyone looking for challenging puzzles, a longer experience or people who love murder mysteries would enjoy this room. If you are in the area, this is one you should take a stab at solving. Photos above are property of Omventure Markham ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking Lobby with seating area $4 discount for (2) escape rooms in a day Board game cafe for an additional charge Video game area for an additional charge Bubble Tea Car (OmMyCup)with variety of drinks and simple food for purchase Photos above are property of Omventure Markham (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #OmventureMarkham #MurderMystery #Ontario #Canada