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LOCATION: Zoetermeer, Netherlands Photo above is property of DarkPark Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : If Walls Could Whisper 📅 DATE PLAYED : May 20, 2023 🎬 GENRE : Thriller, Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl (Ages 14+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : Є1162.00 (2 ppl) - Є145.00 (3-6 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [45:00] 📖 THE STORY A trip to explore the old abandoned orphanage seemed like a good idea at the time, until the door slams shut behind you. Then the radio mysteriously turns on… You explore the orphanage, room by room, looking for a way to escape. The longer you spend there the more voices you begin to hear, and the more you question, why is it that everything appears to have been left behind. Why did everyone suddenly abandon this place? Video above is property of DarkPark 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The level of immersion has to be the highlight of this room, the tension was so thick we could cut it with a knife. Every design choice, whether being a special effect or construction detail was right on point, creating a dark and creepy atmosphere that lends itself perfectly to the story. Although there was no actor present we were always expecting something or someone to jump out or grab us; I think this demonstrates how immersed we were into the story. The puzzles would push us and pull us through the orphanage, forcing us to continually explore and perhaps (re)visit places we might not want to be. We love experiencing rooms that are this open and give players ample opportunity to admire the set design, especially when it has been so professionally installed. The variety of puzzles was another highlight. The puzzles relate to the theme and story and also feature several that require two or more people to complete, ensuring the whole team can participate in the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The final puzzle was a little tricky to complete with only three people, it requires at least one of you to be either tall or quite flexible. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Definitely a must play room for anyone visiting the Netherlands. This is one of the scarier rooms we played on our 24 room trip, even though there was no actor. Update - January 22, 2025 Mike Schnurr and his team also visited DarkPark to play " The Orphanage ". The game starts with a unique and immersive introduction, drawing your group into the unknown before leading you into the game itself. With a well-balanced mix of logic and physical puzzles, your team will investigate this eerie location and uncover its terrible secrets. The tension and atmosphere are top-notch, making you question every sound and every shift in the environment as the story unfolds. One puzzle, in particular, was an absolute joy to play—taking inspiration from a classic childhood game but adding a chilling horror twist that perfectly fit the experience. However, during the finale, our group found that the soundtrack reached such an intense crescendo that it became difficult to hear one another, making communication more challenging. While the game does have a storyline, it takes a back seat to the immersive atmosphere and relentless tension. By the time we reached the end, the adrenaline had taken over, and our gamemaster had to help piece together some of the more nuanced story beats. This isn’t a flaw in the game itself, but rather a testament to how horror and high-stakes moments can change a group's ability to absorb the narrative in real time. All in all, " The Orphanage " is a thrilling and spooky experience, perfect for horror lovers. Its barrage of puzzles creates an unrelenting adventure that grips you from the moment you arrive on-site. The game masterfully blends psychological tension with clever puzzle design, ensuring that your heart races not just from fear—but from the sheer excitement of the challenge. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking: There is free public parking very close to the escape room, less than five minutes’ walk. There is a waiting area with seating, drinks, snacks and games for purchase, and a bathroom. This game can be played in English & Dutch (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 DarkPark for comping our tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. Update : Mike Schnurr also visited DarkPark to play " The Orphanage: If Walls Could Whisper " in January '25!! Thank you for hosting us! #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #DarkPark #Thriller #Horror #Netherlands

LOCATION: St. Gallen, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape Company & Bar Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : World of Magic: The Tale of the Missing Hat 📅 DATE PLAYED : February 8, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Fantasy, Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 130 - CHF 280 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [55:00] 📖 THE STORY A hushed whisper spreads like wildfire through the magical community. A shadow stirs in the depths, old darkness rising once more. Fear tightens its grip as the great magicians of our time prepare for battle — but before they can strike, their enemy moves first. The magical hat, a cornerstone of the arcane world, has vanished without a trace. This is no ordinary theft. This is an omen. To unravel this mystery, you’ll need every ounce of skill, every spark of magic at your disposal. Face the encroaching darkness, uncover the truth, and above all — save the magic hat before it's too late! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The most striking feature of " World of Magic: The Tale of the Missing Hat " is undoubtedly its production value. The team went above and beyond, even hiring a carpenter to meticulously craft an immersive, authentic space that truly transports players into another world. The level of detail is so impressive that you might forget you're on the second floor of a business building and instead feel like you're walking through a real magical street. Beyond the grand set design, the attention to small details is exceptional. Thoughtfully placed props and design accents breathe life into the theme, reinforcing the sense of immersion. This meticulous craftsmanship is what sets top-tier self-built rooms apart from off-the-shelf purchased rooms, which often deliver high-quality aesthetics but lack the finer details that make a space feel truly alive. The game is deeply story-driven, unfolding seamlessly from the moment you enter to the moment you leave. We especially appreciated the professionally shot introduction video, which set the stage for the adventure. Even more impressive was the short video at the end—an often-overlooked touch that provided satisfying closure to the story. Narrative depth is further enhanced through voiced updates and notes throughout the game, adding context to your actions and reinforcing the sense of purpose behind your journey. The clue system is both innovative and thematic. Before entering, we were given a magic amulet that acted as our guide, offering hints when needed. This added an interactive and immersive layer to the experience, especially for younger players, as the amulet’s voice had a distinctly Harry Potter -like charm rather than sounding like a detached game master in another room. The game also features some fantastic special effects, one of which was particularly thrilling—it was something I’ve been hoping to see in an escape room for years. Without giving away spoilers, let’s just say it was executed brilliantly and added an extra touch of magic to the experience. The puzzles were well-integrated into the theme and accessible to players of all ages and experience levels. Most involved searching for objects or information and then using them in creative ways. And of course, what would a H arry Potter -inspired adventure be without a wand? 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There were no glaring issues for us. After playing, we had the chance to chat with the owners and offer some minor feedback—mainly suggestions on how to make certain tasks feel more meaningful within the story or tweak a couple of puzzle mechanics. The only small frustration was that the amulet sometimes spoke at the same time as other in-game elements, causing a bit of audio overlap that disrupted the flow. Fortunately, the team is already working on a fix, so this shouldn’t be a lasting issue for future players. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Absolutely! The set design alone is worth experiencing, but if you love this style of escape room — or Harry Potter in general — this is a must-play. For experienced teams, a duo (or trio) might be ideal, as the puzzles aren’t overly complex, but the experience remains highly rewarding. " World of Magic: The Tale of the Missing Hat " is the latest offering from Escape Company, and it’s clear they are continuing to raise the bar for escape rooms in the area. We can’t wait to see what they create next! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. There is a central parking garage in the town, only a couple of minutes' walk. Attached to the escape room center is a clean and comfortable bar that serves food as well as drinks. There is also a small selection of boardgames available to play too. A wheelchair would be challenging but not impossible. You may miss some small facets of the game though. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Escape Company & Bar for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCompanyandBar #Fantasy #Magic #StGallen #Switzerland

LOCATION: Asakusa, Japan Photo above is property of Nazo x Nazo Gekidan Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : A Detective's Log of a Walk in Asakusa 📅 DATE PLAYED : June 6, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Puzzle Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 1 ppl) : 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 1+ ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 2-3 Hrs. 💰 PRICE : 1650 ¥/ pp 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You are an acclaimed detective. One day, a client visits you and presents you with a mysterious letter from his wealthy ancestor who lived in Asakusa. The letter may be a map of a treasure that his ancestor left! Can you assist your client in uncovering the treasure? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE I enjoyed sightseeing in many places in Asakusa while solving fun puzzles. Some places I visited were popular sightseeing spots, but some I did not know. I loved discovering new things to see in Asakusa. The game had a good number of puzzles. The types of puzzles were mainly paper-based puzzles using the kit and the information I searched at the designated spots on the map. The game's difficulty was just right to enjoy sightseeing and solving puzzles. Although the game was in English, these puzzles were the ones often seen in Japanese escape game scenes. If you want to experience the puzzles in Japanese games, this game is perfect. It was convenient to carry the game kit, which only came with a few materials while walking around the city and solving puzzles. I loved the pencil wrapped in a paper of traditional Japanese design. It was a cute souvenir. Hints were available on their website. Although the game required internet access to receive a hint or to enter answers on their website a few times, I liked that no app was needed to play the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK I could solve all the puzzles with the paper given and the information that I found while exploring Asakusa. If you do not like puzzles, such as word puzzles and ciphers, this game may not be for you. It might be nicer if I could access further materials to read about some places or their history as an option. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? “ A Detective’s Log of a Walk in Asakusa ” was a fun puzzle game in which players visit many intriguing locations in Asakusa while solving puzzles that are often seen in Japanese escape games. The game is perfect for enjoying time with friends and family. If you are interested in experiencing Japanese-style puzzles in English and discovering Asakusa, I recommend this game. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO You can purchase the game kit at the Family Mart on the first floor of MIMARU TOKYO Asakusa Station. No reservation is required. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) #ChikakoOmura #IRLEscapeRoom #PuzzleHunt #NazoxNazo #PuzzleHunt #Asakusa #Japan

Photo above is property of Ink & Clues Company: Ink & Clues Game: Secrets of the Holloway Manor Country: Sweden 🇸🇪 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Mystery, Detective Date Played: February 21, 2025 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Size of Team: 1-4 ppl Time: Approximately 1.5 Hours Price: $13.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 On September 16th, 2015, four teenagers set out to explore the eerie, long-abandoned Holloway Manor near their small town of Stonebrook. Rumors of ghostly apparitions and hidden secrets had surrounded the mansion for years, drawing the teens in. Inside, they uncover something far worse than they expected: a hidden chamber filled with the remains of multiple victims. Now, as the detective, it's your job to uncover the victims' identities and the dark history behind their fate. The truth lies within the walls of Holloway Manor and the quiet town of Stonebrook. Photos above are property of Ink & Clues 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 I would describe the Ink & Clues games as micro narrative mysteries. It's one of those games that is more a matter of making reasonable deductions/leaps to construct what actually happened from out an imaginative expansion of the story and its facts rather than a series of puzzles to solve. What it does well is to make a lot of intriguing intimations with a very economical amount of actual material to have to survey and keep in your head. The flipside of this is that it can feel quite thin at times, straining the plausibility of the entire plot, while making the leaps seem a step too far given what limited facts you have to reason from. It did a good job of playing by the rules of a well crafted mystery by giving every suspect a substantial motive and accordant evidence, but by the end,for all its mysterious intimations playing it felt a little empty, because the mystery itself lacked substantive deductive depth and layers. Photos above are property of Ink & Clues 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Though It did a great job of alluding to some great mystery, the process of getting there was not sufficiently developed. It was constructed through the barest trappings of a realistic case file, and was more about speculating upon the mysterious narrative premise it did so well at intimating, then it was on unravelling some chain of evidence. The smoking gun itself, though clever - maybe too on the nose - was like hidden in plain sight. You knew that was the critical piece of evidence, and when you knew that the rest of the mystery collapsed down to earth, because whatever cool explanation these other suspects and narrative threads it may have had hidden inside itself, it was ultimately just a tool to erect scaffolding necessary to give the appearance of a deep mystery so as to keep you guessing. Which is to say all these threads didn't really matter in the end. This game has such a dichotomy of like great power of sucking you in but leaves you kind of high and dry in the actual playing of it. Photos above are property of Ink & Clues 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Even for all this criticism I still had fun playing this case. It still gave me that warm fuzzy mystery game feeling of wonder, and I would do another one, but with the hope that they keep up the good narrative work while also adding a little more depth to the game itself. It's a bite sized mystery, that's half story, half a good think. I recommend it if your looking for something light and intriguing. (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Ink & Clues for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #AndrewWoods #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #InkandClues #Detective #Mystery #Sweden

Photo above is property of Ink & Clues Company: Ink & Clues Game: A Lethal Fix Country: Sweden 🇸🇪 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Mystery, Detective Date Played: March 5, 2025 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Size of Team: 1-4 ppl Time: Approximately 1.5 Hours Price: $14.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 A man is found dead in his apartment. A single needle mark and signs of substance abuse—it seems like an open-and-shut case. But the deeper you dig, the more suspects and motives you uncover. Was it an accident, or something far more sinister? 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 It's really a one act mystery - a micro mysteries, brain teaser - built around the intriguing premise of a murder made to look like a suicide, with a decent series of steps to solve all leading up to a outlandish but inventive smoking gun. If their previous game Holloway Manor did a good job of building a mysterious narrative this case does a good job of putting together some reasonably clever realistic case file type puzzles. The art is AI generated (the game might be AI assisted as well). For players of these types of games it is quite simple, but at least also economical and cohesive. None of this sounds like high praise but I will reiterate what I've said in earlier reviews - the game itself is well designed enough to be an enjoyable play. Photos above are property of Ink & Clues 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 It's built as a conventional case file type game. It's well constructed, plausible, not frustrating, but also maybe not all that challenging either. You might not have heard this story before, but you've definitely seen some of the puzzles. It's light, though it still does a good job of making the player identify and triangulate the key elements of the story. It's a process of elimination while simultaneously moving towards the smoking gun, through a series of interesting suspects and situations. I think the Aha moment comes together quite well as both an interesting solution and a funny way to try and murder someone. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 I like the two games I've played so far, though I will say they are more akin to a short story, something casual, as opposed to a “real” longer form type mystery. It's well designed, playable, although it doesn't have the depth of mysteries that aspire to carry a player through real narratives and deductive challenges. It's a fun, short, brain teaser that sticks to the rules of good design. It's highly playable while not being totally impressive - a kind of Murdle with slightly more soul and creativity. (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Ink & Clues for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #AndrewWoods #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #InkandClues #Detective #Mystery #Sweden

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Company: Puzzle Post Game: The Disappearance Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: March 10, 2025 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 5/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommended 1-8 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Recommended 60-90 Mins.) Price: £16.99 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Dr. Carter has been in the Arctic Circle doing some groundbreaking research. One day, she up and vanishes. Believing her animal migration patterns research has uncovered some shocking information, can you solve the puzzles and figure out what happened to her? Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ The game arrived in a flat cardboard envelope with all the instructions and details conveniently printed on the back. Inside, we found an assortment of high quality and colorful documents. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 We started by reading the information on the envelope which provided the backstory, the content list and clear instructions on how to play and where to input our answers. Once we opened the envelope, we began with the introduction letter which brought us into the story, explaining how we needed to find the code and uncover what had happened to Dr. Carter. We were then directed to the conference agenda and began checking everything out. As we dove deeper into everything, the writing was well done making the cluing feel natural and subtle. The theme of animal research and the scientific conference seemed believable. The set up was smooth and intuitive, including the website we needed to input our solutions. It was helpful that we could check the solutions to the puzzles as we solved them. One thing we appreciated was that the envelope contained 2 of everything. This allowed multiple people to work on a puzzle together with ease. The ending of the game was also satisfying and nicely developed, wrapping the game up. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles were designed to be open and nonlinear, ensuring no puzzle depended on another. This allowed everyone to work on something and stay engaged. One aspect that stood out to us was that Puzzle Post did a fantastic job with using numbers as solutions. At times for other games, number solutions can be quite ambiguous but here, we knew exactly what to input. There were a solid range of different puzzles both in variety and length with some being quicker challenges and others being longer ones to solve, but none of them overstayed their welcome. Their hint system was nicely tiered on a separate website, which slowly revealed the solution to make sure we still got our aha moment. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " The Disappearance " definitely satisfied our puzzling itch. The game hit plenty of high notes with the story and mix of delightful challenges. If you are introducing newcomers to puzzle games, this would be a fantastic choice. It offers plenty of variety, minimal downtime, and enough tasks to keep everyone involved. Veteran puzzlers would also enjoy it, though they may work through it more quickly. Unlike many other puzzle games, this one works well for larger groups. We played with five people, but it could easily accommodate up to eight. Just keep in mind that more players means you might not be involved in solving every puzzle. Any fans of science, puzzle game fanatics or first-time puzzlers would enjoy this game. This game sits under Puzzle Post’s Dinner Party line of games and this is something we would gladly whip out at a casual gathering with friends. (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 Puzzle Post 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 #PuzzlePost #Mystery #UnitedKingdom

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers The Maritimes is big on fishing and seafood so we definitely had to have some fish and chips, oysters and more. Lobster rolls were also a common menu item and no matter where we went, they did not disappoint. Here are some of our favorite eats in Halifax and the area. The Little Ice Cream Shop Black Point, NS B0J 1T0, Canada Driving back from Queensland Beach, we spotted one of the more prominent ice cream stands on the side of the road named “ The Little Ice Cream Shop ” and we are glad we stopped. A large ice cream stand that looked like it was run by a mom and pop family, they had a large variety of ice cream from soft serve to hard ice cream to vegan ice cream, all coming in a variety of flavors. They also have a large list of toppings for your ice cream as well as turning any one of those flavors into a milkshake. As someone who is lactose intolerant, we were impressed with the decent selection of flavors they had outside of the classic vanilla and chocolate. Not only that, but they were delicious which is something you do not get with all lactose free ice cream. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Tom's Lobster Shack Peggy's Cove, NS B3Z 3S2, Canada Stopping for lunch at " Tom’s Lobster Shack " at Peggy’s Cove, this is supposedly one of the better lobsters rolls we were told we could find in the area and it did not disappoint. With minimal menu choices, the moist lobster roll came in 4 flavors, Naked, Classic, Truffle or Cajun. There were no wrong choices here. Each roll was overflowing and delicious. Each of them was served with chips as well. We at first thought we would share but after some bites, we each decided to get our own. A must stop when you are in Peggy’s Cove. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Sicilian Pizza Corner (Blowers and Grafton) Halifax, NS, B3J 1J8, Canada A long time ago, the corner of Blowers Street and Grafton Street was famous for its 3 pizzeria locations that all made Halifax style Donairs. Donairs that inspired many locations across Canada to try and replicate. They were so good apparently that during the 1995 G7 Summit in Halifax, world leaders stopped at the corner to pick up Donairs. This is also the corner that inspired the Canadian franchise “ Blowers and Grafton ”. Of the original locations, the only one that is still on this corner is Sicilian Pizza. That obviously meant we had a try it (It was also the only one that was open at the time of day we went). Inside, it did seem kind of dingy and dated but we ordered a Donair and a slice of everything pizza. The pizza was large enough to rival a New York slice and tasty with lots of toppings. The Donair was fantastic and not the type of Donair we were used to. There was no lettuce, packed full of meat that it couldn’t close and the sauce was just the right amount of sweet. Many places have tried to copy the Halifax Donair but this was truly what the legends speak of. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Lobster Suppers at Shore Club Hubbards NS, B0J 1T0, Canada We first encountered the sign on the way to Queensland Beach, which talked about a Lobster dinner. We knew we had to look this up. " The Shore Club " was built in 1946, but the " Lobster Suppers " had already been happening since 1936 on Hubbards Beach. Having heard about these community lobster boils, we knew we had to check them out. Parking at the Shore Club and walking in, we knew we were in for a treat when we saw the chefs in the back pulling out lobsters from the large stock pot out in the open air. We went inside and the décor looked like it had never changed from the 40s. The menu at this place was very simple with only a handful of items from lobster to steak to chicken cordon bleu. Obviously we had to get the lobster dinner which could be ordered in 1lb or 1.5lbs, which came with a pound of mussels and unlimited salad bar (which consisted of pasta salad, potato salad, bread, beets and other amazing pairings for the seafood). The highlight outside of the food was that before the lobsters came out, the waitress came out and tied a bib around everyone’s neck. Of course, the meal was simple but absolutely delicious with how fresh everything was. Dessert was also a lovely treat with the brownie and ice cream. If you can time your trip right and check the schedule, you may also be lucky enough to enjoy the live music after dinner, where they remove the dinner tables from the hall and turn it into a dance floor. Even if you cannot make it to the Shore Club, you absolutely must try a traditional Halifax lobster dinner when you are in the area. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers #MatthewLui #Travel #Food #Drinks #Halifax #NovaScotia #Canada

LOCATION: St. Gallen, Switzerland Photo above is property of AdventureRooms St. Gallen Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Das Festmahl (The Feast) 📅 DATE PLAYED : February 8, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CHF 100 - CHF 192 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [45:00] 📖 THE STORY The Dark Lord has captured you and locked you in his dungeon. You have 60 minutes to escape. Then it's dinner time - not just for the Lord and his strange guests. His "pet" also needs to be fed... Will YOU be the next meal? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE " Das Festmahl " makes full use of its setting, a basement with high ceilings and exposed brick walls, to create an immersive dungeon-like atmosphere. AdventureRooms has enhanced the space with well-placed, authentic props and high-quality materials, delivering a rustic yet slightly whimsical aesthetic. 'The storyline stands out from the usual escape room narratives. The premise is refreshingly unique and well-conveyed, with the light gamemaster interaction at the start adding an extra layer of tension and excitement from the outset. This small theatrical touch set the stage for a daring adventure. The puzzles were a highlight, offering a variety of challenges that required observation, searching, light dexterity, and creative thinking. Nothing felt too straightforward, encouraging collaboration and problem-solving throughout. The diversity in puzzle design kept the experience dynamic and engaging. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The game opened with a strong sense of urgency, thanks to the tension of having to escape while a guard slept nearby. However, once he left, that suspense faded, and the storyline lost momentum. Even the reveal of the Lord’s “pet” felt underwhelming, despite its potential to be a highlight of the experience. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? For those who look forward to creative puzzles, then this is a definitely a game to play. The overall look and feel of the space is to a high standard and helps provide a certain level of immersion. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. There is a central parking garage in the town, only a couple of minutes' walk. There is a comfy lobby area with chairs and some soft drinks for sale. Wheelchair accessible. 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 AdventureRooms St. Gallen for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #AdventureRooms #Adventure #StGallen #Switzerland

Photo above is property of Propulsion Games Company: Propulsion Games Game: Twisted Logic: Abbotsfield Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Horror Date Played: February 2, 2025 Difficulty (based on a group of 1 player): 4/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 10+ Hrs.) Price: $4.99 USD (Steam) OS   Windows 10 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Working for the Office of Unexplained Phenomena as an Exorcist, You have been dispatched to a house to exorcise a demon. The reconnaissance team has gone ahead and made the preparations. Uses their notes to learn the history of the home, solve the enigmas and find the items to complete the exorcism ritual. Video above is property of Propulsion Games 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 This game can be found on Steam and right from the start, I was first asked to download the case file notes and review them. This was important as I needed information from there to navigate the home and uncover the backstory. Once I did a quick scan of the case file, I entered the eerie house and explored the different floors, where ghostly voices from the past helped piece together the story. Of course, what horror game wouldn’t be complete with a couple of jump scares along the way. The atmosphere had a great eerie feel with its audio effects adding to the unsettling feel as I wandered the rooms. The opening introduction drew me in with some creepy visuals and light hearted narration. I wished the ending had some more visual effects but the dialogue did a great job of tying it all up. One important note is that there is no save feature in this game, but no need for one if this game takes about an hour to complete. Also, take note of the caution at the start saying “Be careful what you pick up” since your inventory has limited space. Note : This game is only available on Windows OS. Photos above are property of Propulsion Games 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The game captured an escape room feel with the puzzle experience which kept me engaged. The case file was filled with cryptic notes that needed to be reviewed to discover the clues and would point you to where you should look either in areas of the house or in other notes in the case file. Keep a pen and paper handy as some puzzles were easier to solve when written down. There was a small hint system that made use of a Ouija board, which was clever and blended right in with the theme and atmosphere. Photos above are property of Propulsion Games 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " Twisted Logic: Abbotsfield " was a great horror game with a chilling atmosphere and clever puzzles that provided satisfying eureka moments. The game was designed to be finished in one sitting so it doesn’t over stay its welcome. Fans of horror games or clever puzzles should definitely give it a try. By the looks of the title, it feels like more Twisted Logic games may be coming, and I’m definitely looking forward to them! (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 Propulsion Games  for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #Steam #PropulsionGames #Horror #Cooperative

LOCATION: Luzern, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape Quest Luzern Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Paranormal Activity 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 10, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 98 - 198 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [26:37] 📖 THE STORY Not believing the stories you’ve been told about a strange and abandoned house, you decide to investigate the old family home which has been plagued by paranormal activity. Will you discover any evidence, and more importantly, will you survive to tell others about it? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game has a really nice flow to it, there are multiple rooms to explore and a lot of props and thematic furniture inclusions. During the game we explore a lot of the house, including a surprise location! I feel the majority of escape rooms fail to properly embed a story that has the possibility to evolve during the game, however, in this room there is definitely an unexpected twist which impressed us and created a thrilling finale. This is a linear room with a set of puzzles that begin to crank up in complexity as we progress. The variety of tasks was also impressive and had us having to think outside of the box on a couple of occasions. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We ultimately felt that the room lacked the ‘paranormal’ in paranormal activity. There should have been more special effects to push the illusion of ghosts and spirits haunting the property and possibly putting our lives in danger. For those not wanting to spend an hour on edge it might be a relief, but for those expecting a spooky experience from start to end, you might leave feeling a little underwhelmed. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This was our favourite room at Escape Quest. It delivers on providing creative puzzles and an engaging story. As mentioned above, the room is not as scary as we would have liked, but this might be preferable for other teams. For experienced players, this room is ideal for a two-person game due to its relatively low difficulty level. However, newer teams might find it beneficial to bring up to four players to fully enjoy the experience ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There are parking spaces in front of the entrance, on the roof of the adjacent building, and around the building for visitors. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and some drinks for purchase. There are some small puzzle boxes and other escape room adjacent items for sale too. Photo above is property of Escape Quest Luzern (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Escape Quest Luzern  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeQuest #Mystery #Luzern #Switzerland

LOCATION: Luzern, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape Quest Luzern Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Fair 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 10, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 98 - 231 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [26:58] 📖 THE STORY It’s almost time for the great big Swiss fair, but oh-no, disaster! Someone has stolen the most important item, the symbol of the fair! Normally the fair’s Director could have solved the issue, but he is nowhere to be found … now the only hope left is you! Can you help recover the item before the fair is due to open? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game master did an excellent job with the briefing, and his enthusiasm was contagious. You can tell he is passionate about what he does and looking after us. Escape Quest has crafted an original story that had us excited even before we entered the room. Although the plot doesn't have any twists or further developments, the fun factor remains high throughout. The game is divided into two distinct parts: the director's office, which is rather drab, and the Fair, which bursts with a vibrant carnival theme, complete with bright colors and game stalls. Many of the puzzles are themed around carnival games, alongside traditional escape room challenges like decoding, searching, and logic puzzles. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Despite the game's strong thematic elements, it unfortunately falls short in fully masking the office-like environment. The immersion could have been significantly enhanced with higher quality props and set design. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " The Fair " is probably Escape Quest's most enjoyable room, suitable for groups of all experience levels. While it doesn't feature many cooperative challenges, which might leave larger teams with less to do, we found it perfect for just the two of us. Playing as a duo allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience and enjoy every moment. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There are parking spaces in front of the entrance, on the roof of the adjacent building, and around the building for visitors. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and some drinks for purchase. There are some small puzzle boxes and other escape room adjacent items for sale too. Photos above are property of Escape Quest Luzern (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Escape Quest Luzern  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeQuest #Adventure #Luzern #Switzerland

LOCATION: Luzern, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape Quest Luzern Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Magical Mastery 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 10, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 98 - 170 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [46:54] 📖 THE STORY Once upon a time, a competition was held between the bravest faculties in the world to determine who would control all of the magical world. The competition consisted of three complex stages; the dragon realm, the mysteries of the underwater world, and the endless labyrinth. The magical entity to complete all the challenges first would receive the goblet of bravery and be crowned the winner. However, the competition has long been forgotten. Can you complete the tasks and figure out who the ultimate winner was? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The variety of puzzles in this game is impressive and diverse. Each stage offers a unique set of challenges: the first stage features straight logic puzzles, the second focuses on observation-based tasks, and the third and final stage involves dexterity challenges. What makes the puzzles even more impressive is their nonlinear nature. Teams can choose to split up and tackle different puzzles simultaneously or stick together and work through them one by one. This flexibility adds an extra layer of strategy and teamwork to the experience. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We were not fans of the decoration for this game, which consisted of only a few puzzle elements mounted to the walls and lots of paint. The interior was unfortunately too sparsely furnished and the overall vibe felt pretty cheap. For a magical-themed room it really lacked any kind of magical elements or vibe. We would have expected more tech-based puzzles or special effects to really provide some immersion. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is an appropriate room for people who place a higher emphasis on interesting puzzles than they do set design or story. The nonlinear format also makes the room good for teams of all sizes. Larger groups can easily split up to tackle the different puzzles. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There are parking spaces in front of the entrance, on the roof of the adjacent building, and around the building for visitors. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and some drinks for purchase. There are some small puzzle boxes and other escape room adjacent items for sale too. Photos above are property of Escape Quest Luzern (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Escape Quest Luzern  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeQuest #Fantasy #Luzern #Switzerland

LOCATION: Luzern, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape Quest Luzern Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Duel: Logic & Duel: Creativity 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 10, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Puzzles 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 98 - 231 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [28:39] and [27.38] 📖 THE STORY Both the " Duel: Logic " and " Duel: Creativity " quests are designed to be played by competing teams, to see who will be faster in completing the same number of (different) puzzles. Which side of the brain will be faster? Teams can also play them in an uncompetitive mode, as we did. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Although the rooms do not have any particular story driving them forward, they are at least theoretically designed and decorated. We especially liked the way the Creative room was put together; my wife would have loved the bright wallpaper in our house! The Creative room is colorful and whimsical, while the Logic room is quite plain and industrial by contrast. To keep the competition intense, each room features a giant brain that displays not only your progress but also that of your opponents. This thoughtful touch maintains high tension throughout, especially if teams are completing tasks at a similar pace. Each room offers an impressive set of puzzles that test you in different ways. The Logic room focuses on mathematical and logic-based tasks that challenge your deduction and observation skills. Meanwhile, the Creative room has you competing in dexterity and smell tasks, among other artistic challenges. The race element adds a unique twist compared to most escape rooms. What truly sets this experience apart is that the two rooms are entirely different, unlike the usual identical Duel rooms. This twist actually inspires you to want to play both rooms back-to-back to see which team can complete them the fastest. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with any of the rooms, they are both solid escape experiences. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? While you could argue that these are more puzzle rooms than traditional escape rooms, they still offer exciting experiences filled with creative puzzles that drive competition. Even though we didn't play in a competitive mode, we thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay and can recommend these rooms to teams of all experience levels. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned escape room enthusiast, you'll find plenty to appreciate in these thoughtfully designed challenges. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There are parking spaces in front of the entrance, on the roof of the adjacent building, and around the building for visitors. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and some drinks for purchase. There are some small puzzle boxes and other escape room adjacent items for sale too. Duel: Logic Duel: Creativity Photos above are property of Escape Quest Luzern (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Escape Quest Luzern  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeQuest #Puzzles #Luzern #Switzerland

LOCATION: Morley, WA, Australia Photo above is property of Realmz Escape Game Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Mummy 2 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 14, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-5 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $45.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Ancient tales said that the great pharaoh of Egypt was trapped between worlds eternally and placed a curse on his tomb. Whoever brings back the honor to the pharaoh and helps his transcendence into his afterlife might gain tremendous wealth and power. However, nobody who entered his tomb ever came back safe and sane. One day, you received your great-great-grandfather’s diary, which contained the location of the pharaoh’s tomb and some clues. Can you solve the mystery in the tomb and come back safely? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room's decor was beautiful and visually appealing. Although the room was not large, it made me feel like I was exploring an Egyptian tomb. I enjoyed all the puzzles. They looked like classic Egyptian theme puzzles but had a little twist. They were all fun to solve. My teammate and I agreed that we loved one of the gimmicks. The puzzles and gimmicks made us feel like we were in a classic adventure movie. Before we entered the room, we listened to the game's introductory story, which set the stage for our upcoming adventure. That was a great way to begin the game with excitement. There was a signal every time we solved the puzzles correctly. This signal enhanced our gameplay experience to clarify what to do while playing. The system allows both beginners and experienced players to enjoy the game comfortably. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Although it is a minor thing, one of the puzzles required us to set the five knobs at specific positions and hold them in place. Since we were a team of two, it was a little stressful to keep the knobs in position while attempting to solve the puzzle. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " The Mummy 2 " is an exciting escape room that allows you to explore an Egyptian tomb. The interior is visually appealing, and the puzzles are engaging without overly complicated. If you want an adventure movie-like experience, this Egyptian tomb is a perfect place to be with your friends and family! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Realmz Escape Game is located in a suburb of Perth and is accessible by car, Uber, or public transportation from the city center. There is parking available in front of the building. Photos above are property of Realmz Escape Game (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 Realmz Escape Game for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #ChikakoOmura #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #RealmzEscapeGame #SciFi #WesternAustralia #Australia

LOCATION: Schöftland, Switzerland Photo above is property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Top Secret 📅 DATE PLAYED : December 6, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Espionage 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 92 - 180 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [49:00] 📖 THE STORY As top level spies, your mission is to retrieve top secret missile blueprints from an enemy military compound. To achieve this daring task, you have intentionally allowed yourselves to be caught and imprisoned. Now, you must escape and break into their high security vault in order to retrieve the documents. Video above is property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Yes! A Game Over room which has plentiful props and decorations which exist outside of those connected to puzzles. The room design was not overly fancy, but it was functional and thematic, the impressive assortment of props helped raise the immersion to a higher level than in any of the other games at this location. In addition to the decor, the game also has a couple of cool special effects inside the safe which created a fun and daring atmosphere, making us feel like we were in a Mission Impossible movie. The game comes with an interesting assortment of puzzles which are all relatable to the military or spy theme. We particularly liked the dexterity moments, which coincidentally also encompassed a team based challenge. In addition to a high quality set design and impressive puzzles, Top Secret also pays attention to the storyline. We had to progress through each stage, escaping prison, collecting our weapons, cracking into the vault, and finally stealing the blueprints. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There wasn’t too much by way of misses in this experience. I would have liked better room lighting, as I feel making rooms overly dark for atmospheric reasoning is not always a good idea. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you're looking to channel your inner spy for a day, this experience is perfect for you! This is the most challenging room at the GAME OVER location, but it's also the most rewarding. While I might hesitate to recommend it to beginners due to its difficulty, seasoned teams will definitely find it a thrilling challenge. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There is ample free parking on site There is a lobby area with some seating and lockers Adjacent to the escape rooms is an American-themed diner, a cinema, a go-kart race track, which are all owned by the same person Photos above are property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms Check out our interview with the owner to learn more about GAME OVER + an exclusive tour of their headquarters in Athens, Greece: 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 (Schoftland)  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #GAMEOVER #Espionage #Schoftland #Switzerland