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LOCATION: Indian Trail, North Carolina, USA Photo above is property of Masterpiece Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Missing 📅 DATE PLAYED : September 26, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Horror (they describe it as PG-13) 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 3-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $33.00/ pp (Min. 3 ppl required) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You’re visiting a small town where, 30 years ago, a strange recluse named Eugene vanished without a trace, causing some consternation among the locals. Around the same time, a ten-year old boy named Malachi disappeared, followed by another 12 people. Locals always suspected Eugene was the perpetrator, but the case was never solved and the story faded into misty memory once the incidences abated. Recently, folks have started disappearing again, and seeing as you fancy yourself to be the local super sleuth, you’re determined to figure out what’s going on! The recluse’s old house is up for sale, so this is your opportunity to get inside and find some answers. The real estate agent will be there in an hour…can you sneak in and discover anything - without going missing yourself? Video above is property of Masterpiece Escapes 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE There is a well-developed story that begins before you enter and unfolds as you progress through the experience. Attentive fans of narrative will find subtle clues amongst the decor and puzzles along the way - we were a bit too wrapped up in the experience to notice the finer points of this mystery! Our GM recapped the entire saga quite nicely at the conclusion, allowing us to appreciate what we'd overlooked in our efforts to avoid adding our names to the list of victims. The sets are spooky without being excessively dark, and sufficiently bloody for a missing persons/horror-lite theme. The well-paced experience becomes progressively more intense, but never suffocatingly so. There are as many puzzles as we've encountered in a single 60-minute experience - and the density of them accelerated as our heart rate increased, meaning we had to find ways to think faster as our brains were looking for ways to flee! Along with this puzzle volume comes a commensurate volume of locks - however, the signposting and placement of puzzles/locks/clues was very well thought out (as well as containing deeper significance), preventing the confusion and frustration that often occurs in a lock-heavy experience. Additionally, some of the puzzles had multiple components that lent themselves well to working in tandem. The audio soundtrack that is a hallmark of many Masterpiece rooms was in full force during our attempt to avoid becoming Missing ourselves, with spooky themes aplenty and fun instrumental covers of classes tunes that were perfectly suited to the environment. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The grand finale contains a suitably horrific centerpiece, but also features a ton of puzzles in a very small space. This was fine for our duo, and the puzzles themselves could theoretically be done simultaneously by more people; however, fitting large groups into the space in a way they could function effectively could be a bigger challenge than the puzzles themselves. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This story-driven adventure is sufficiently spooky to elicit some good screams and squeals from those prone to such things, without ever being inappropriate or over the top. The high volume of relatively simple (but cleanly designed and implemented) puzzles may not appeal to every experienced escape artist, but any fan of Friday the 13th and similar Halloween staples should test their mettle by making their way over to Masterpiece and seeing if they have what it takes to save the Missing! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Masterpiece Escapes has free parking right in front of their location. There is a good-sized lobby with drinks available for purchase. They have bathrooms available and bins in each room to store any belongings. You will need to walk briefly outside after checking in to get to this experience. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Masterpiece Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DaveBristol #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #MasterpieceEscapes #Horror #USA #NorthCarolina

LOCATION: Zürich, Switzerland Photo above is property of Hidden Games Zurich Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Secret Hideout 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 3, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 30 CHF/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [37:48] 📖 THE STORY Dr. Danger is on a ruthless spree in Zurich, leaving chaos in his wake. Your undercover colleague has infiltrated his gang, risking everything to find the villain's hideout and leave clues for you to follow. Now, you’ve got just one shot: break in, gather enough evidence, and slip out before Dr. Danger returns. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Atmosphere & Design : Stepping into the first half of the room was an immersive experience. The use of vintage props – sacks of goods, wooden crates, and assorted items - effectively created a convincing Prohibition-era warehouse vibe. Dim lighting enhanced the ambiance, although it occasionally made reading clues a bit tricky. Overall, they maximized the small space with thoughtful decorations and a well-executed theme. Puzzle Variety & Difficulty : The room offered a solid mix of puzzle types, including searching, decoding, bomb defusal, logic, and elimination tasks. The puzzles were accessible for newcomers; my two teammates, both playing their first escape room, were able to engage with each element fully. Their excitement and enthusiasm were infectious, and by the end, they were eager to try the other rooms at this location. Story & Theme Cohesion : While there weren’t many story developments throughout, an audio clip helped maintain the theme and played a role in one of the tasks. The story arc led to a satisfying conclusion, giving a nice sense of closure by the end of the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Immersion for Experienced Players : As a seasoned escape room player, I felt that some puzzles didn’t fully align with the theme, which occasionally disrupted my immersion. However, this didn’t seem to affect my teammates, who were thoroughly entertained and engaged. Decor Consistency : The second part of the room didn’t quite match the high level of decoration in the first. Maintaining the same attention to detail throughout would have helped sustain the immersive feel. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room is an excellent choice for beginners, judging by my teammates’ enjoyment. As an enthusiast, I still found it rewarding and well worth the experience. I’d recommend this room for groups of two or three due to its cozy spaces and the lack of team-based puzzles. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is available on site. The escape room is found within a bowling alley. The bowling, is however, owned by another company that follows different opening hours. During our first game the bowling was not yet open, nor was the restaurant. So, snacks and drinks may not always be available during your visit, if the bowling is closed. The escape room company do not have any food or drink for sale. There is a dedicated seating area for people attending the escape room. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Hidden Games Zurich  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 #HiddenGames #Mystery #Zurich #Switzerland

LOCATION: Fribourg, Switzerland Photo above is property of Friscape Photos above are property of Friscape 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Swamp House 📅 DATE PLAYED : August 15, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Thriller, Horror 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl (Recommended Ages 16+) 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 100-150 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [29:29] 📖 THE STORY You and your friends embark on a fishing trip with a local guide who you have just happened to meet whilst out walking through a marshy region. But something seems ‘fishy’… The next thing you know, you’re waking up with a sore head in a dark and dingy room. You’re handcuffed, and surrounded by pieces of human flesh! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The quality of the decoration in this room is both thematic and of a good quality. There are authentic props used for decoration and plenty of things to see and interact with. Although this game comes across as horror themed, the scare factor is minimal, making this ideal for people looking to peak into this genre. Aside from the numerous fake body parts which adorn the room, there isn’t too much else to be scared of. The game takes place in a large open area, a kind of kitchen come bathroom, this allows for teams to freely move around and access different parts of the game without feeling too cramped or on top of one another. We liked how even though the room plays in a linear mode, you still need to collect different bits of information at different stages of the game to be used later on. This added some depth to the puzzles. The variety of puzzles is also well balanced, there is searching, code breaking, and some interactive moments, offering plenty of things to do. Players begin the game handicapped in some way. For us, one was handcuffed with our hands in front, whilst the other had his hands zipped tied behind his back. Luckily it wasn’t too long before we could cut his ties and he could participate in the game freely. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The connection to the game and story was disappointing. Considering we are supposed to be in a fisherman’s house there was nothing related to this or being in a swamp. Although it didn’t affect the game play, it still lessened the impact of what appeared to be an interesting and more unique plot. There is an electric panel on one wall that features two hand prints and is obviously designed to entice players to touch it. Whilst I don’t mind inserting something to startle or shock us, I found the voltage to be way too high and the jolt was very uncomfortable for me. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is a very light horror game that has some enjoyable puzzles and moments within. The level of difficulty is aimed at less experienced teams, however I think even those who have played a few games will still get something out of the experience. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. There are several car parks in the near vicinity. Players will register and pay at the reception desk of the upstairs bowling alley. A member of Friscape will then come to greet you and escort you downstairs to their rooms. Downstairs there are some shelves for your belongings and seating. There are no secure lockers. 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 Friscape  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 #Friscape #Thriller #Horror #Fribourg #Switzerland

LOCATION : Amsterdam, Netherlands Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Last Night in the Red Light 📅 DATE PLAYED : November 1, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Puzzle Hunt, Detective Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 4/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-100+ ppl (Ages 6+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 2-3 Hrs. 💰 PRICE : €35/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY It's the 80's, and you are a suspended gumshoe hoping to prove your worth and earn your way back onto the force. Your captain has given you the chance to review the evidence concerning a recent death in the Red Light District. Can you follow the breadcrumbs through the winding streets, solve the crime, and regain your honor - and your badge? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This game is based on a true tragedy from the 80's that happened in the Red Light District, and you'll visit the scene! We appreciated the realism and sense of history this brought, as well as learning a bit of local lore. The experience will have you walking around the Red Light District and Chinatown, which is a fun way to get out and about and see a bit of the city. It was a great intro for us on our first night in Amsterdam! While the bulk of the game works through your paper booklet and the chatbot on your phone, you do get some physical items at one point along the way. We are happy to do paper puzzles, but there is also something very satisfying about the use of physical ephemera. You will also need to examine a number of the things in the actual environment, further localizing the experience. You can take this game completely at your own pace, so long as you finish before the bars close. (The chatbot tells you at the start when each one closes.) We recommend taking your time to look around and planning to get some snacks and extra drinks at at least one of the venues along the way. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The chatbot was a bit slow and glitchy for us, and crashed a few times. The slowness could have been due to the speed of our e-SIM. It has a mechanism to return to where we left off in the game after recovery, which was helpful, but we no longer had access to the full chat history. Having some kind of chapter summary always easily accessible would be helpful in these instances, as well as if you wanted to break the 3 sections up over a longer span of time (e.g, one per night). We would have loved to have a bit more local info and history woven into the story itself! There is some general historical info and trivia in the booklet, clearly marked and noted as non-essential for gameplay. While we enjoyed reading those, and appreciate that some players might not have an interest in this kind of info, it would be easy to weave more of it in with the chatbot. ("Tell me more!" vs. "OK, what's next?" could let the user choose if they wanted to engage with this kind of additional info). The 3rd bar was at capacity when we arrived, so we couldn't get in. This is no fault of Mystery City, but just be aware it's a possibility (probably less likely on a weeknight). Thankfully, while we'll have to go back another time to get our drink, we were still able to complete the game without it! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " The Last Night in the Red Light " is an enjoyable way to get out and see a bit of Amsterdam. The puzzles (particularly in the first chapter) are very straight-forward and more geared towards the puzzle-curious, and would be a fun way to introduce some of your non-puzzling friends to this kind of adventure. As a pair of enthusiasts, we approached it as a fun night of drinking and exploring, with a bit of light puzzling. We definitely got to see, explore, and experience some areas we otherwise would have missed! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Mystery City has games in a number of cities around the world, and they do have an office in Amsterdam. However, you don't need to visit it to begin this game (assuming you registered online), as it begins at Bier Fabriek. When you arrive, show the bartender your booking confirmation, and they'll get you hooked up with your pen, booklet, and drink tokens for beer or soft drinks. (If the first person you talk to isn't in the know, have them check with their colleagues). You will need a device with working Internet in order to use the chatbot, as well as for navigation and potentially one puzzle that requires outside knowledge. It takes you to 3 bars over the course of the game, as well as through the city. Be prepared for a bit of walking and time outside. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Mystery City Games 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. #KristaJones #PuzzleHunts #IRLPuzzleHunt #ScavengerHunt #Detective #MysteryCityGames #Amsterdam #Netherlands

LOCATION : Barcelona, Spain Photo above is property of Enigmik Escape Room 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : La Cerveseria (The Brewery) 📅 DATE PLAYED : June 27, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Mystery, Cooperative 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 80 Mins. 💰 PRICE : €22/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY This room was created in collaboration with the Estralla Damm beer company. In it you have been chosen to continue the lineage of creating the greatest beer in the world out of a secret recipe, given to you by the very charming and whimsical old world brewer named Mr Josep (who is played by a very famous local actor in the disneyland level introductory video). 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE There's a reason this game has been a Terpeca stalwart for all these years, and that's because it's a solid certifiable gold classic, a master work of intelligent semi-mimetic design, executed economically in a very modest space. It hasn't changed much if any over the years because it honestly is in its own way perfect, starting with the premise and its implementation of making the players cooperate as brewers in a very escape roomey but true to life brewery scenario. The first genius thing they do is assign each player different respective control over the aspects of brewing, thereby separating their roles so as to make the process a collective effort of their coming together. Very smart design that plays out really well. The onboarding video that gives you the whole story and mission is very charming and well done. The making of puzzles out of the process of brewing, along with the set which looks reasonably like what a brewery might look like, is done in a very creative way. The responsiveness of the set as well is really good, as well as the puzzle variety which is akin to a very smartly designed playground. The puzzles are as much fun in a tactile sense as they are intelligently designed. It'll have you running around, pressing this, scooping that, jumping on this, plugging on that, throwing this, etc. The host was amazing, very charming, as well as informative when we had a chat at the end about the room, and escape rooms in general - you're getting a human touch, which is very common in Spain. You get to taste your own creation at the end! 😉 🧩 MISSED THE MARK It didn't really miss the mark in any ways, but it is an old school room, meaning it relies on good old fashion puzzles, as opposed to immense sets replete with live actors. But what set and tech it uses in creative ways. The one criticism I might have is within the set and puzzle design is that yes, even within the idea of brewing and how it lends itself to our understanding of the set, sometimes we were at a loss for just how to engage with the puzzles. This is not a bad thing per se, as identifying the puzzle itself is part of the puzzle, but i would say as a resultlike 30% of the time we were directed by the eventual hint which arrives when you fail to keep up a brisk pace or when you appear to the game master to be treating the set like test monkeys let loose in a control room, and this means that 30% of the time we were not solving the puzzle as completely as it could have been done if possibly we just had a little more natural direction. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? It is a certifiable old school classic game that everyone should play, and which is in many ways a model for how escape rooms should be designed. It reminds me of how far you can go with a good premise and smart puzzle and set design. The making of an escape room out of a brewery points towards escape rooms as being more than just puzzles in a room, but as scenarios, the idea of which greatly pushes and expands the possibilities of what an escape room can be. Even if this room eventually gets pushed off the Terpeca - as it will - I believe it will continue to be recognized for its originality and creativity, and continue to be an influence on escape room design. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Best to book ahead as the room is quite popular, and it takes some setting up. Enigmik is located in downtown Barcelona. Street parking is available but limited, best to take the subway which is very close. The building itself is somewhat non-descript beyond the banner, you have to ring the doorbell to be let in, and as usual with Spanish games, it has something of a cold open. You do get a bottle of beer as a reward for completing the game, so let them know if you do not want to partake. Again, as with all Barcelona rooms for some reason, there is the possibility of getting wet, and also some degree of climbing and crawling, but it's fairly minimal - take your time with these. You will be given bracelets with your corresponding ingredients that you will use to interact with the game, as well as a lanyard with a phone that will transmit information and clues. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) #AndrewWoods #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Enigmik #Mystery #Barcelona #Spain

Photo above is property of Bézier Games Company: Bézier Games Game: Xylotar Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game (Board Game) 📬 Genre: Musical, Trick Taking Date Played: September 23, 2024 Difficulty (based on 3 players): 4/10 Size of Team: 2 to 5 ppl Time: 30 Mins. Price: $14.95 USD 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 After attending a rock concert in Calgary, Alberta during the 80s, Bobby McColdsnap fell in love with the keytar. Unable to learn the keytar since he was a polar bear and had too big of paws, he commissioned a local craftsman to create a Xylotar, a device that combines the synthesizer and xylophone. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ The cover of the small box has a picture of a polar bear rocking out on the Xylotar. Inside, the cards contain different colored musical notes on one side and numbers on the other. The cards also are narrower than most playing cards. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The game plays like a standard trick taking game but with a few twists that add some excitement to the game. First, you deal out all the cards to everyone. Picking up your hand, you sort the cards with the lowest values on the right and the highest values on the left, regardless of what note/color the card is. Once complete, you give the hand to your neighbour on the left. You then get your new hand and without looking at the face of the cards, you lay them out face down on the table with the highest card on the left and the lowest card on the right. You now have your Xylotar, where you know what note/colour each card is but not the specific value. From there, you play the game as you would a normal trick taking game, playing cards that match the leading suit or if you do not have any more of that suit, any other suit, including the trump suit. At some point during the game though, you will have to make a bid on how many tricks you think you will take. After playing a card but before the next person plays their card, you say you will make a bid. You pick 2 adjacent cards and choose one and place it face up and place the other back. The face up card is now your bid. Some of the standout things from this game is first, how narrow the cards are. This is great since you must lay all your cards in front of you and if they were standard size, could get quite long. We also appreciated using different musical notes as the suits that go along with the color as well as a count of how many cards are in each suit on the back of each card. We had a blast playing this game as it was a fun twist on the standard trick taking game and the look of excitement or disappointment as you learn the range of your cards. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🆁🅰🆃🅴🅶🆈 A couple of strategies that we learned after a few games is that we knew what cards our neighbour had as we organized them. We could use this to our advantage to help keep track of what cards are out there. When flipping over cards, not only keep track of where you pulled the card but also how many cards are in that suit, which you could use the “high note” card to keep track of or the card itself would tell you how many cards are in that suit. Also, when you make a bid, remember that the card goes out of play. Sometimes you could use that to your advantage. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Simply put, " Xylotar " is a trick taking game where you know the "note" (suit) of the cards but not their specific values, just the range. For me, this game "hits all the high notes". A hilarious but tragic backstory about a polar bear wanting to play a musical instrument, simple but effective card design to build your own Xylotar, easy to learn rules with some strategy built in as well as a short game that can be played as a "one hit wonder" or "on repeat" throughout the night. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #Musical #BezierGames #Canada

Photo above is property of Mobile Escape Company: Mobile Escape Game: Escape Mail - The Shackleton Series: Episode 2 & 3 Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Historical Date Played: September 30, 2024 Difficulty (based on 4 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommend 1 to 4 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Recommend 1 - 2 Hrs) Price: $20.00 USD (at the time of the Kickstarter) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Continuing the story of Ernest Shackleton and his crew, we learn more about their ordeal as they attempt to survive the arctic weather on the ship. As the ice closes in, do they have enough supplies, can they keep up the morale and what plans does Shackleton have to save his crew. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Folding the envelope open, each layer and side either has instructions or is built to be part of the game. Once inside, we found a lot of colorful paper and documents and other flat items fully packed in the envelope. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Folding open the envelope, we found it fully designed on each face. On the outside were all the instructions on playing the game, how to access the web app and the flow card, all helpful in navigating the game. On the inside, the envelope was decorated in a particular manner that looks like it may become important later in the game. Once inside, we found a lot of documents, some that look like they came from the journal of Shackleton himself along with some photos, cryptic notes and other items. As we played the game, we used the app to check our answers and get hints. One thing we found clever was that the game could be played offline without the app, though the app does provide validation if the answers were correct as well as this was where the hints were. Also, to view the intro and outro videos, the app would be required. Some of the highlights that we loved about the games were all the pages marked with either a “Puzzle Page” or “Story Page”. A puzzle page was something that we needed to solve a puzzle while the story page was an optional page that we could read to learn more about Shackleton and the crew’s adventures. The game also comes with a flow card, which was helpful for seeing what documents connect with each other. We found that this was like a “pre-hint” when we were stuck. We also loved how Escape Mail incorporated the envelope into the game to add another dimension to the game. Sometimes it was a 3D environment or other times, a creative use for a puzzle. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Each episode had some fantastic puzzles, each different from the rest with lots of variety (We also loved the “Wuzzle Puzzle” created for each one). Each envelope had non-linear puzzles that allowed everyone to be working on something different and all the answers would then form the metapuzzle. We really enjoyed how creative each metapuzzle was and how each of them took a couple of steps to make for a satisfying solve. The hints were found only in the app and were well tiered. On any that we were stuck, we could easily go down the tiers and not have our eureka moment spoiled. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Escape Mail has hit their stride with the 2nd and 3rd episode of the Shackleton series. Each of the episodes have been cleverly designed with the different puzzles as well as educational with the story of the game. We are just as excited to learn more about Shackleton in the next episodes are we are on solving the puzzles. The quality of the items and clever design of the envelope that can be folded up and packed flat were neat. Any puzzle fanatics or history buffs would enjoy this game. We played with 4 people and found that to be a great number for everyone to divide and conquer but still enjoy everything. Like Shackleton and his crew, we will be eagerly waiting for information from afar about this ongoing saga. (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 Mobile Escape for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #Historical #Canada #MobileEscape #EscapeMail

Photo above is property of Arcane Wonders Company: Arcane Wonders Game: World Wonders Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game (Board Game) 📬 Genre: Tile Placement, Territory Builder Date Played: September 16, 2024 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 6.5/10 Size of Team: 1 to 5 ppl Time: Unlimited (Approximately 60-90 Mins.) Price: $50.95 USD 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 " World Wonders " is a strategic board game that combines elements of city-building, tile placement, and resource management. Players take on the roles of architects in ancient civilizations, tasked with building a new city and constructing iconic landmarks, whilst maximizing resources and expanding the population. The game is set against the backdrop of famous historical wonders (known in the game as ‘monuments’) such as the Great Pyramids, Colossus of Rhodes, and Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Each player must carefully plan their city's layout, balance the use of limited funds, and complete wonders before their rivals. The game features competitive mechanics with a focus on efficient construction, tactical placement, and adapting to evolving strategies. Victory is achieved by acquiring more Victory Points than your opponents through thoughtful planning and optimal use of resources while assembling one of the world's greatest ancient cities. 🆃🅷🅴 🅲🅾🅼🅿🅾🅽🅴🅽🆃🆂 Despite the underwhelming, dull grey box, the components inside are perhaps one of the game’s biggest draws. There is a large assortment of different tiles, boards, and wooden structures that, come the game’s end, will leave you with a colorful 3D city, featuring many ancient monuments. So, what’s inside the box? A double-sided player map, that features a lake on one side and a river on the reverse, and a player resource board to track your money, population size, and advancement with food, ceramics, and gears. One main game board for placing the building tiles and tracking the player turn order. This board can also be flipped over to track the end game scoring. Specialty wooden resource markers and uniquely themed player tokens Three decks of cards; Monuments, Public Objectives (for advanced game play and scoring), and Solo Play. 55 Road Tiles, offering three different road lengths. 80 Building Tiles featuring eight shapes across five different colors. The number of shapes will depend on whether you are 1-3, 4, or 5 players. 31 beautifully crafted 3D wooden Monuments and Towers. The Monuments are without a doubt our favorite component; they are bright, chunky, and full of detail which you perhaps wouldn’t expect in a game of this price point. Overall, the components are visually appealing and crafted to a high standard. As you build your own miniature city, win or lose, you'll likely feel proud of your creation, so much so that you might even be tempted to take a photo of it as a keepsake. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Like most modern board games, World Wonders uses several different mechanisms; tile placement, resource management, action points, and open drafting, to create a game that offers a lot of decision making coupled with short snappy turns. Each turn, players start with seven gold coins to spend on upgrades to their city; roads, buildings, towers, acquiring the first player marker, or completing a monument. Moving in turn order, players may choose to purchase one item at a time, until all their coins are gone. However, each resource is limited per round, so think carefully what you’ll choose as another player might take it before it comes back around to your turn. Once purchased, each item must be placed immediately on to your board, following their own set of specific placement rules. Roads – Must be adjacent to other roads, the sidewalk (running along the base of your board), or a tower. Towers – Can be placed anywhere, so long as they are adjacent to something and placed on land. Building Tiles – Must always be adjacent to a road tile or another building tile of the same color. These are the main source of adding resources to your board. Monuments – Each has its own unique set of placement rules, such as being on or adjacent to water, or adjacent to a certain type of building or road. The cost to build a monument is all of your remaining gold for that turn, i.e. placing one ultimately ends your turn for this round. Therefore, it is often wise to wait until you are down to one or two coins before purchasing your monument, unless of course you fear another player taking it before you. At the beginning of the next round, all unused building tiles are removed and new ones are randomly placed out once more for purchase, along with more road pieces and a tower, if they were purchased in the prior round. The game lasts for either 10 rounds or until one player reaches the final space on their Population track. During these rounds players will continue to build and expand, carefully planning and zoning with the use of roads and towers to see who can create the most prosperous city. For advanced game play, you can add in the deck of Public Objective Cards. To do this, draw three cards randomly from the deck of ten. Each card requires something different, and bonus Victory Points are awarded at the end of the game based on who fulfills each of them the best. This might mean having the most monuments, or the most of a particular resource or building type, or having the longest road, etc. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅴🅽🅳 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🆂🅲🅾🆁🅸🅽🅶 Each city will be judged and scored on six criteria; or seven if you include the Public Objective Cards. Population – Score one Victory Point for each Ring their marker reached or passed. Least Produced Resource – From the three resources you gain through placing building tiles (and some monuments), players will receive Victory Points for only their lowest valued resource. Therefore, it is important not to let one fall behind the others. Monuments – Score one Victory Point for each Ring pictured on the Monument Cards. Natural Resources – Score one Victory Point for each visible Natural Resource square left on your map. City Districts – Score one Victory Point for each building tile that is surrounded on all sides by any feature other than green spaces. Loans – Players lose two Victory Points for every unpaid loan. Public Objective Cards – Award Victory Points based on the cards’ criteria. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " World Wonders " is a fantastic family-weight game that offers more than just the sum of its’ parts. While the highly detailed and thematic 3D wooden monuments are a joy to admire sitting proudly in your new city, the game does offer strategic depth and replayability; through the different maps, Public Objective Cards, and expansions. The game is surprisingly quick to learn and it only takes a couple of rounds before you are comfortable with all the mechanics and tactical decisions required to play sufficiently against your peers. However, even after two full plays, we did still catch one another making placement errors with certain tiles. It is important to pay attention to one another as you put tiles on the board ensuring proper placement is met. To help remind you of the placement rules, the game does come with three player aids that can easily sit on the table. The game feels streamlined and absent of any clunky mechanisms which slow it down or overcomplicate your actions. Therefore, we found the game to play relatively fast, particularly at the beginning of your turn when you have pockets full of gold and there are plenty of tiles to buy. However, the game can be slowed down by indecisive players who struggle to spend the last of their coins or who faff around looking for the perfect placement. The Rule Book is very well written, it is clear and features plenty of colorful illustrations and examples to explain the finer points. It is clearly a good example of how a rule book should look and function. One section I would have liked to have seen expanded though was that surrounding the Monuments. This could have been more detailed, particularly when it came to those that have more than one building component. This is certainly a game I would recommend to people who enjoy polyominos and collecting points through different achievements. Even though there is not a lot of player interaction, there is enough going on to keep you interested in what the other players are (or are trying) to do, and whether you win or lose, you’ll always have the satisfaction of admiring your own world wonder. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Arcane Wonders for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #TilePlacement #Territory #USA #ArcaneWonders

LOCATION: Huntington, West Virginia, USA Photo above is property of The LOST Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Lost Queen 📅 DATE PLAYED : June 3, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Exploration 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $26.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Queen Nefertiti, who ruled as Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, vanished from historical records. Recently, a team set out on a quest to locate her rumored undiscovered tomb, but there are reports that they did not make it through the night. It is now your team's turn to explore the tomb. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE All props in the room are absolutely perfect for the Egyptian theme, radiating an ancient and mysterious aura that is simply captivating! The stories were beautifully inscribed on either ancient scrolls or a weathered diary, adding to the enchanting atmosphere. Ancient symbols appeared all over the tomb, and by solving puzzles, we could uncover the solution to the next challenge. The majority of the room is non-linear, allowing teams to split up and conquer. We appreciated the diverse range of puzzles in this room, which also varied nicely in difficulty. One particular puzzle stood out as our favorite due to the special effect that occurred upon solving it. The final puzzle provided a thrilling experience as we raced against the clock, and the grand reveal at the end added a satisfying conclusion to the story. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We had to make an educated guess about the positioning of one of the solutions in a deduction puzzle where a clue appeared to be missing. Improving the cluing system by the GM could increase the immersion level of the game. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Egyptian themed escape rooms have long been a favorite among escape room creators due to the inherent allure of ancient mysteries and the sense of adventure they evoke. The idea of uncovering secrets from a bygone era, with the possibility of encountering an enigmatic and powerful force, adds an extra layer of excitement to the experience. The quest to discover the tomb of Queen Nefertiti, a legendary figure shrouded in mystery and intrigue, presents a formidable challenge to players. By creating an environment that is rich in historical detail and steeped in the aura of ancient Egyptian culture, the escape room creator aims to transport players back in time to an era of pharaohs, pyramids, and hidden treasures. The challenge is not just about solving puzzles; it is about embracing the role of an archaeologist on a quest for knowledge and discovery. If you are ready to test your skills, gather a team of like-minded adventurers and step into the world of "The Lost Queen". Are you prepared to unlock the secrets of the tomb of Queen Nefertiti? The adventure awaits! ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO Metered parking in back and on the street and a 4 story parking garage across the street Lobby with seating Merchandise for sale Food court on site Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank The LOST Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TheLOSTEscapeRoom #Exploration #WestVirginia #USA

LOCATION: Indian Trail, North Carolina, USA Photo above is property of Masterpiece Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Metro Mayhem 📅 DATE PLAYED : September 26, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 3-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $33.00/ pp (Min. 3 ppl required) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Evil genius Dr. Devastation is at it again! He definitely has something afoot to threaten Metro City. With Captain Goody Two Shoes away on other business, you’ve been brought in by an agent of The G.O.O.D.G.U.Y.S. to break into the Dr.’s lair, discover the plan, and foil it. Can you help the world avoid total annihilation before it’s too late? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The amount of thought and care put into the background music is above and beyond that of a typical escape room or what would be 'necessary'. It adds layers of fun to an already zany experience and resulted in more than one spontaneous dance party! The same is true for the various videos (and audio clips) that play during the course of the experience. They serve to drive the story along and also add an extra layer of immersion. Be sure and take a moment to appreciate the Evil Inspiration posters as well! The decor is bright and playful (a "pie chart" puzzle wink-wink) and even though the 'evil mastermind bent on destroying the world' theme is a tale as old as time, Uriah and his team have found ways to hit all the classic notes in ways that continually brought joyous smiles to our faces. Check your jaded enthusiast cloak at the door, put on your propeller beanie, and unleash your inner goofball! There is a bit of adaptive difficulty in the form of a bonus puzzle and some other minor modifications that can be done to make sure younger groups as well as newbies can succeed in thwarting Dr. D's nefarious plan. Masterpiece has a penchant for building connections between their rooms and fleshing out worlds that extend beyond a single story, and that comes into play in this room as well. The spacious layout and multitude of puzzles make this ideal for a larger group, but it is concise enough to be completed by a small team as well. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We did this room as a twosome, and found a few of the puzzles required us to repeat certain tasks quite a few times. However, this style of puzzle lends itself very well to larger groups, so everybody can participate and nobody is left standing around. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Of the five rooms we played at Masterpiece, this one has the most broad-based appeal. It is lighthearted (despite the potential for world annihilation) and the puzzles are highly approachable, making for a very satisfying kids' birthday party or corporate team building event. The payoffs and smoothly integrated tech will also satisfy more experienced players who are willing to let their hair down and be silly. Feel free to come in costume as your favorite superhero or villain! You'll fit right in and be all the more prepared for the role you must play in supporting Capt'n Goody Two Shoes. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Masterpiece Escapes has free parking right in front of their location. There is a good-sized lobby with drinks available for purchase. They have bathrooms available and bins in each room to store any belongings. You will need to walk briefly outside after checking in to get to this experience. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Masterpiece Escapes   for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #DaveBristol #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #MasterpieceEscapes #SciFi #USA #NorthCarolina

LOCATION: Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA Photo above is property of HomeTown Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Shady Lady Saloon 📅 DATE PLAYED : September 25, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Western 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $25.00/ pp (Min. 2 ppl) (Children ages 7 and under are free) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY The owner of the Shady Lady Saloon is out of town, but she’s been alerted that the notorious Richardson Brothers are heading to Hometown Gulch and planning to rob her saloon! She’s counting on you to break into her beloved business first and save her gold…before they arrive in just one hour! 🎯    HIT THE BULLSEYE The puzzles were a big hit in this room! While we’ve certainly played more difficult rooms, the challenges here were highly thematic and cleanly designed (for the most part). There was a nice variety and several really fresh ones that were a pleasure to solve. Shady Lady Saloon does a fabulous job of giving you a bunch of classic “Western” experiences. I never realized those were fantasies I wanted to play out until they were lived out here. It’s just a good time. The sets are not super elaborate but do a very nice job of setting the scene, and everything is elevated by the use of a number of very authentic-seeming pieces that are very rewarding to interact with. While some folks love searching, we appreciated that it was more restrained here. And what there is was thoughtfully done and very much on theme! It is rare that we laugh out loud upon finding something hidden, but Shady Lady provided that experience. 🧩   MISSED THE MARK There were a couple of minor tech glitches that briefly slowed us down. One recently changed puzzle had a bit of an arbitrary solution; however, upon discussion with the manager, I believe this is likely to be updated soon (Update 10/9/2024: According to the owner, this has been fixed). 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We had an absolute blast playing " Shady Lady Saloon ". It’s an example of elevating a common escape room theme through great design that blends clean puzzles with other experiential moments to create a very immersive game and multiple "A-ha!" moments. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, so it’s perfect for anyone looking for a lighthearted, rollicking good time. While there’s enough there for enthusiasts, the supportive GMs and light tone would make it suitable for less experienced players as well. It was our clear favorite of the games we played at Hometown (though newly-released The Island has tons of potential) and an easy recommend for anyone passing through the Charlotte area. ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking spots available in front. There is a small lobby, as well as an additional waiting area with seating. There are bathrooms, free lockers, and a water cooler available. They also have a small meeting room that can be rented out for birthday parties or other events. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank HomeTown Escapes  for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #HomeTownEscapes #Western #SouthCarolina #USA

LOCATION: Cayce, South Carolina, USA Photo above is property of The Final Door Escape Room Columbia Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Blackout 📅 DATE PLAYED : July 13, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Horror, Kidnapping 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-4 ppl (Ages 16+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $32.99/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY After getting kidnapped by the notorious "Columbia Killer", you and your friends wake up disoriented and trapped in a cold, dark cell. There's no light, and the only sound you can hear is the distant rumble of thunder outside. You're stripped of all personal belongings, and the eerie silence of the cell makes it clear that you're completely alone... for now. The only sliver of hope comes from the flashes of lightning outside, illuminating the room for just a few seconds at a time. A violent storm is sweeping across the area, and it seems like fate is giving you a small window to make your escape. The power is out, and with the Columbia Killer gone, you have no idea when he'll return. Time is running out, and the storm will only last for so long. You and your team must navigate the pitch-black room, find clues, and outsmart the trap you've been placed in before the killer comes back to finish what he started. The challenge is clear: use the few tools you have, rely on your teammates, and trust the lightning strikes to guide your escape. Every second counts in this tense race against time. Can you outwit the killer, or will you fall victim to his twisted game? Video above is property of The Final Door Escape Room Columbia 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room is played in near-total darkness, which adds an intense layer of realism to what you would imagine a true hostage situation to feel like in an abandoned house. The way light is used in this room design is both innovative and essential, immersing players in a way that many other escape rooms fail to replicate. It’s a design decision that enhances the atmosphere considerably, making the setting feel eerily authentic. The scarce use of light, often relying on flashes from the outside storm, adds to the tension as you navigate your way through the game. There’s also an initial interaction with an actor at the start of the game, and our game master did an outstanding job portraying the necessary character without giving too much away. The performance felt realistic and immediately set the tone for the rest of the experience. The actor’s presence contributed to the rising tension and made the situation feel all the more intense, which left us on edge right from the start. It was a wonderful touch that deepened the immersion and got our group engaged with the stakes of the game from the moment we began. While this is a game you could complete without diving deep into the backstory of the Columbia Killer, there are plenty of design and story elements scattered throughout the experience that encourage teams to uncover the narrative. For those looking for something more than just puzzles, the game invites players to become fully immersed in piecing together the dark history behind the killer. It's designed in such a way that some groups may find themselves genuinely invested in figuring out the complete story, adding another layer of immersion that makes the overall experience more gripping. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK In this room, obtaining an alternate light source happened fairly quickly, which made me wonder if incorporating a few more blackout-specific puzzles could enhance the experience further. Given the intensity and immersion created by the darkness, having puzzles that truly take advantage of this mechanic could make for a more engaging and unique gameplay experience. Stretching out the initial phase of the game where you are left in complete darkness could increase tension and better align with the overall theme of being a hostage in a blackout situation. The game itself leans towards the simpler side of escape room experiences, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it does mean that certain puzzles could be easily overthought by more experienced teams. One puzzle in particular was more of an observational challenge than a logic-based one, and it stumped our group for quite some time. The puzzle’s simplicity was deceptive, and its placement in the room design seemed slightly out of sync with the more intense atmosphere the rest of the game aimed to build. While this observation puzzle added variety, it felt like a bit of a roadblock that interrupted the flow, especially for teams more accustomed to puzzles requiring deeper deductive reasoning. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Blackout " is a wonderfully immersive experience that places you in a high-tension scenario where you are attempting to escape from a killer. The game masterfully captures the eerie atmosphere of a kidnapping, with dim lighting, minimal distractions, and an unsettling sense of urgency throughout the experience. One of the highlights of the game is a key element introduced at the very beginning, which plays a major role toward the end. It was an absolute blast to interact with and brought a sense of full-circle completion to the storyline. While the game could have benefited from more puzzles that require teamwork to solve in the dark, the overall presentation allowed ample opportunities for everyone to participate. The way light was incorporated into the gameplay was effective, creating an added layer of suspense. The balance of interaction, both in the dark and with the environment, kept the experience lively, even if some puzzles didn’t require total immersion in the darkness. For those who appreciate deeper narrative elements, " Blackout " offered a great example of how to integrate lore and history without detracting from the actual gameplay. It’s not a particularly difficult room, but its unique design and suspenseful setting more than made up for some of its more straightforward puzzles. Despite a few shortcomings, our group had an incredible time, and Blackout stands out as a game that players should definitely seek out for its atmosphere and distinct experience. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Crawling is required for at least one member of your team Strobe lights and low lights are used in this room (controlled by customer) Photos above are property of The Final Door Escape Room Columbia Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank The Final Door Escape Room Columbia for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MikeSchnurr # IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TheFinalDoorEscapeRoom #Horror #Kidnapping #USA #SouthCarolina

LOCATION: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA Photo above is property of Mystery Soup Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Sorcerer's Curse 📅 DATE PLAYED : February 4, 2019 🎬 GENRE : Magic, Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl) : 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $45.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Our next stop is in Rhode Island is at Lock & Clue Escape Rooms located in Pawtucket, RI. There is a parking lot available and plenty of street parking. They are located inside of a massive factory complex. But if you enter the 1005 Main Street entrance, there are signs leading directly to the door. Once you enter, you can see how spacious their facility is. The lobby/ waiting area has plenty of games & puzzles to keep you busy! There's also a check-in office where you will sign your waivers and register. The staff was extremely friendly and professional. We were fortunate enough to meet w/ the Creative Director & Co-owner to learn more about the company. They currently have 6 rooms available to choose from. One of the rooms was specifically developed for kids (ages 7-12). They also have a party room available for private events. The room that we were recommended to try is their newest one - "The Sorcerer's Curse". The minute that we started our game, we were teleported onto a movie set. The decor of the room was top notch! The level of detail that was incorporated into the set was amazing and the Gen-4 technology was outstanding! The one thing that we would suggest is the incorporation of more puzzles. For such a large space there could've been a little bit more to do. Overall, we had an amazing time and can't wait to try out the rest of their rooms! Photos above are property of Mystery Soup Escape Rooms (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 Lock & Clue Escape Rooms (previous owners) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Magical #Medieval #Adventure #LockandClueEscapeRooms #USA #RhodeIsland

LOCATION: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA Photo above is property of Mystery Soup Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Cellar II: Saul's Revenge 📅 DATE PLAYED : February 1, 2020 🎬 GENRE : Horror, Suspense 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl) : 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 3-10 ppl (Ages 10+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $45.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Public/Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY We thought our neighborhood was safe again when we escaped Saul’s dungeon and forced him from his home. A recent video just emerged and it seemed like “the butcher” has returned! We must check out his house for the safety of the community… 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Right when we entered the room, I felt a chill down my spine. The set design brought us into a horror film. The lighting was good enough to see the clues but also dim enough to be frightening. The eerie atmosphere made it really easy to create “jump scares”. Most of the time it was done by myself to me, my teammate to me, and “something else” to me. Great job everyone! The developer did an awesome job at building hidden elements in this room. We had many “wow” moments during our journey. This room had the best organ props we’ve seen in an escape room. It felt so real I had to thoroughly wash my hands after. We enjoyed the creativity of the puzzles that involved conquering your fears. If you want to solve the puzzles and escape, you must be willing to take that step. This would be a great room to help conquer and overcome personal phobias. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One puzzle was difficult to find, even with the clue given (we couldn’t interpret what it meant since we were unsure how the mechanism worked). We had to eventually use a hint. Size could be an issue for one of the puzzles since it had to be done in a pretty tight space, but most teams probably will have one teammate that could accomplish this task. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is a sequel to Saul’s Dungeon. Although ,we didn't play the prequel, we are pretty sure it was a chilling experience based on this game. Horror fans, you are in for a treat! As for scaredy-cats like me, I prepared myself with some strategy the night before. I thought if I just always put my back to the walls at all times, I should be safe! All I can say is… “best of luck”! 🔎 HINT Seriously... get in there!! ℹ️    ADDITIONAL INFO Street parking available (metered) Located on the 2nd floor (no elevator) Lobby area with seating available and merchandise for sale Water stand provided This game was played when owned by Lock & Clue (the previous owners) Photos above are property of Mystery Soup Escape Rooms Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Lock & Clue Escape Rooms (previous owners) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Horror #LockandClueEscapeRooms #USA #RhodeIsland

LOCATION: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA Photo above is property of Mystery Soup Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Vault 📅 DATE PLAYED : May 30, 2021 🎬 GENRE : Heist 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl) : 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $45.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You and your team of professional thieves have been tipped off about a precious artifact. The challenge is not only that it's located inside of a vault, but that it's owned by a local crime boss! You only have an hour to successfully pull off this heist before their return! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Heist games are usually fun because it allows the players to work as a team like " Ocean's Eleven " or " The Italian Job ". For " The Vault ", the storyline had a vigilante feel to it as we weren't just stealing from anyone, we were robbing a local crime boss. When you first walk into the room, you'll actually feel like you're in a real office. It doesn't feel like a staged escape room set design which made the game experience felt more real. We were anticipating seeing vaults during the game but were amazed by the authenticity and the sizes. There were some clever usage of items within the office that made us think outside of the box. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This is one of their older games and some props felt like they needed updating. It would be awesome if some physical puzzles could be added to the game that would allow us to use tools as thieves (for example: pick a door lock, lasers before reaching the vault, etc.). Some light or sound warnings would be great (especially towards the end) as we didn't feel the sense of urgency from a heist. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is our 3rd time visiting Lock & Clue Escape Rooms and each game that we've played has been completely different feel from each other. Check out our reviews on " The Sorcerer's Curse " and " The Cellar II: Saul's Revenge ". If you love films like "The Thomas Crown Affair" or "Entrapment", this will definitely satisfy the cat burglar inside of you. Snooping around an office with your team looking for ways to crack that vault open definitely has it's perks. There's a good amount of surprises in this room, so be sure to split up and make sure you examine everything! ℹ️    ADDITIONAL INFO Street parking available (metered) Located on the 2nd floor (no elevator) Lobby area with seating available and merchandise for sale Water stand provided Please advise that most of this game will be played in the dark with flashlights This game was played when owned by Lock & Clue (the previous owners) 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 Lock & Clue Escape Rooms (previous owners) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Heist #Vault #LockandClueEscapeRooms #USA #RhodeIsland