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LOCATION: Tampa, Florida, USA Photo above is property of America's Escape Game Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Caretaker 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 1, 2025 🎬 GENRE: Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $37.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY In the forests of Oregon, a former geneticist named Dr. Vermillion, who lost his license due to unethical experiments on humans and animals, has released a deadly threat. Once respected, Vermillion now seeks revenge by unleashing giant wolf-like creatures on Fair Oaks. Both military and law enforcement efforts have been unsuccessful in curbing the increasing fatalities. A recluse, referred to as The Caretaker, resides in these woods and requires your assistance to evade the imminent danger. Move quickly and silently, as his survival is at stake. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE As we entered the game, we were captivated by the fog, blue lighting, and nature sounds. These special effects made us feel like we were deep in the woods with something lurking in the darkness. The innovative puzzles at the beginning challenged us to think outside the box. We love feeling immersed in experiences that mimic real life. The props were perfectly aligned with the room's theme. I appreciate that ample flashlights were provided to the group, as the room is quite dark. Unlike other escape rooms that offer only one flashlight, this made the experience much more manageable. We encountered a "procedure" that activated something, which was a delightful surprise. It definitely had a "secret reveal" vibe. Most puzzles were straightforward with no red herrings. We felt the "urgency" as we completed the last puzzle, unaware of how much time remained to escape. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK At the beginning, one of the props was challenging to maneuver as it was quite loose. A prop used later in the game deviated from its intended purpose, causing confusion. We recommend removing the unnecessary elements to clarify its use. One of the clues were color-coded, which led to confusion as it was difficult to associate the input with the clue. The finale did not seem to have align with the storyline, leaving us uncertain about the success of our mission. We believed it was a rescue mission, but maybe it wasn't? Additional information during gameplay would enhance clarity. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Embark on an adventure filled with eerie allure and mystery in a fog-shrouded atmosphere that heightens suspense. The mist creates an unsettling ambiance, driving exploration despite the unease. Ideal for groups with diverse skills, the adventure emphasizes teamwork in "search and find" activities. Observers uncover items, while others solve riddles. For those less confident in searching, numerous puzzles cater to various preferences, ensuring everyone can contribute through critical thinking. As you navigate the foggy room, the woods beckon with secrets and challenges, igniting a sense of adventure. Dare to venture into the woods? Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking outside the facility Merchandise for sale Lockers available New game "active feet" available Can accommodate corporate events Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ** UPDATE - We regret to inform that "America's Escape Game (Tampa)" has closed. Disclosure: We thank America's Escape Game (Tampa) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #AmericasEscapeGame #Horror #Tampa #Florida #USA

LOCATION: Tampa, Florida, USA Photo above is property of America's Escape Game Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Shack 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 1, 2025 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $37.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY John's relationship with Jonathan and his mother, Mary, has always been unusual. After Mary's death, John moved into their house, turning the Shack into a storage area. Jonathan has always been curious about John's life before the war and seeks to discover the secret hidden deep within the Shack... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE As enthusiasts, we were thrilled by the abundance and variety of puzzles we encountered throughout the game. We thoroughly enjoyed the innovative method of discovering the light source in this game. One of the more challenging puzzles was a fun multi-step one that we solved, as the prop itself was uniquely intriguing, and assembling and disassembling it was a puzzle in its own. The "secrets" hidden deep within this room were expertly concealed by the numerous puzzles the storyteller crafted, perfectly complementing the storyline. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Adding more storyline at the beginning will clarify why we need to "escape" at the end. Currently, it's unclear if we're "locked in" and the reason for the "escape". The wording of an early puzzle was confusing. We were uncertain about how to "activate" the puzzle. We recommend rewording the clue for clarity. A photo clue was confusing because it's associated with another clue later in the game. Using a different image will prevent any confusion. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We played two games at this company, and this one offers a distinctly different vibe from "The Caretaker". Upon entering, you're greeted by a bright passageway, contrasting the darker atmosphere of the previous game. Initially, everything seems normal, but the storyline quickly reveals twists that keep you engaged and challenge your perceptions. As you progress, the plot thickens, and connections emerge...The game is filled with puzzles that require observation and critical thinking, which can be challenging yet rewarding. It would definitely help to divide and conquer especially if you have two players. Ready to figure out the mystery hidden inside the shack? Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking outside the facility Lobby with seating area Merchandise for sale Lockers available "Active Feat" experience available Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ** UPDATE - We regret to inform that "America's Escape Game (Tampa)" has closed. Disclosure: We thank America's Escape Game (Tampa) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #AmericasEscapeGame #Mystery #Tampa #Florida #USA

LOCATION: Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom Photos above are property of CryptX Escape Rooms 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Curious Case at Mcguffin's 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 22, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Detective, Film Noir 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £15.71-27.50 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Your group takes on the role of Detective working for a Hollywood Private Investigator. Contacted by one Ms Femme Fatale, your boss has chosen to go off to the country to watch her play golf instead and left you with her case. Retrieve a specific book from the bookshop of the famous McGuffin, who has fortunately gone out to the dentist and left his shop empty for an hour. This book contains all the sensitive data of a notorious gang so as you would expect, everyone wants to get their hands on this book. You can therefore be sure he has hidden it well - it won’t just be a case of locating it on a shelf! Can you uncover the secrets, locate the book and get out before you are caught? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Our briefing was detailed and contained the back story and all the information we needed to know for the room. On entering, the space is small, sparse and neat. But don’t be fooled! There is a great piece of music playing quietly as you play which adds to the atmosphere. The decoration is very in theme, rich and opulent with genuine antique furniture. Puzzles when you start are non-linear but change to linear - we were never left wondering what to do next, time was spent just solving the puzzles. The puzzles all made sense and were logical. Plenty of locks, codes, maths, physical, logic puzzles at all levels and a couple of nice bits of tech - catering for newbies, families and experts alike. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Nothing really to report, as it’s a great room and venue! One thing maybe I could maybe pick on if pushed is that the hint system is given via a modern computer screen in the room, which while of course very helpful and easy for the GM to implement, doesn’t blend into the theme as well as they could in this room (but it really does in their other room!). This is a relatively minor gripe! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Both players in our team had been to CryptX before and completed their other excellent room, Moriarty’s Academy, which has a non-linear “solve what you can in the time” mechanic and thoroughly enjoyed it. We went as a large group back then and half did Moriarty and the others McGuffin’s, so the two of us were very keen to come back and tackle McGuffin’s as well as the original team had only good things to say! It’s very clear that Jo and Kate, the owners love their work and the rooms at CryptX. As a film fan and having studied film, Jo’s passion for good storylines and rich backstories shines through. There are references to film, literature and history peppered through the room. The furniture and props have been carefully selected and you can see the amount of effort they have gone to to make it feel authentic. The room and venue are more accessible than some others I have been to. The initial space is small and doorways are narrow but everything is on one level and there are no obstacles to navigate. Anyone who loves film, books, detective novels, film noir, gangsters etc will love this room, but it really is suitable for all. We know a 13-year-old from our group was MVP in a group of 6 when they did this room and when my friend and I took it on we’re both keen puzzlers and worked very co-operatively on everything - it seems it works well for any group size! We escaped in 49.22 with just a couple of nudges via the hint system and having located the requested item, and spent the rest of the time talking shop with Jo - which you get the feeling he loves to do and would happily do all day! Jo and Kate have exciting plans for the future and I cannot wait to support them through them, as I can imagine they will create some very enjoyable experiences! Above photos are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Additional Info Plenty of parking onsite Not reachable by public transportation ** UPDATE - We regret to inform that "CryptX Escape Rooms" has closed. Disclosure: We thank CryptX Escape Rooms for providing a media discount for this game. Although a discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystery #Detective #FilmNoir #CryptXEscapeRooms #England #UK #Adventure

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Breakout Edmonton 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Secret Lab 2.0 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 12, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Secret Agent 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 Adults, 2 Kids): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $25/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY As special agents of CSF, you have been informed that a biological weapon is being created by Dr. Von Doom’s, a biological specialist. As you enter into the facility, a sensor is triggered and the lab has become sealed with you inside. An automated message comes overhead and says “Countdown begins 60 minutes until virus is released.” To save all of humankind, you must find the cure and escape! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Walking into the room, it was set up as an office and quickly immersed us into trying to discover the secret lab and antidote. The puzzles had a good mix of difficulty with easier ones that the kids could participate in and ones that the adults had to complete. There were some nice “Aha!” puzzles that the kids enjoyed solving as well as lot of props and tools to use. Each had our puzzling minds going “How does all this fit together?” followed by some satisfying solves. There was a nice reveal in the middle that fit nicely into the story. There was not a lot of tech in the room, but they were still able to use combination locks well and make the tech puzzles count. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One part of the room used darkness as a puzzle which was not our favorite. Flashlights were provided but we still ended up moving what we required into the lit area. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? The theme of viruses might be a little too real in today’s world but if you like being a special agent trying to find a cure, then this is the game for you. This is one of the first escape rooms in Edmonton and still holds up quite well. There was not a lot of tech but lots of things to search and hunt for. One tip for this room is make sure to look everywhere. There was one part in the room that did require navigating through a tight space so be prepared for that. 4 people would fit nicely into the room to get to see and try everything, but 6 people could also play this room with no issues as well. This is a great room for people who are new to escape rooms as an introduction room. This room was family friendly too for anyone looking for a fun afternoon activity with the kids. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Lot, Lobby Area Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ** UPDATE - We regret to inform that "Breakout Edmonton" has closed. Disclosure: We thank Breakout Edmonton for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Canada #Spy #Espionage #BreakoutEdmonton #Edmonton

Company: Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Language: English Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Type of Game: Digital Escape Games 💻 Date Played: 9/8/2020 Time: Approximately 90 mins Size of Team: Unlimited Price: £12.99 Photo above is property of Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Game: A Second Chance Genre: Suspense Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7/10 Today is the last day on the job before you officially retire. But you just received a mysterious text from an old friend. Are you able to catch this murder that got away before you officially retire? Once you purchase the game you'll be given a code to enter into a website. You'll also be given an optional music playlist and some starting instructions. There'll be a hint/answer page as well in case you get stuck. This game really reminded us of the movie "Catch Me If You Can." The killer kept leaving us breadcrumbs as if he/she wanted to be caught. As we followed the trails on the texts, locations, and conversations, we're able to get closer and closer to the the killer. This game used a lot of tools like Google Maps, search and find, social media etc...It made it feel like a real detective case. There was one puzzle that we felt needed outside knowledge. At the end, it really felt like an accomplishment to be able to catch the killer especially when its minutes away from our retirement! Photo above is property of Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Game: The Chair Genre: Prison Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7.5/10 You are a murder that's going to be sentenced to the death on the electric chair soon and your only hope is for your ex-cellmate Jessie to help you escape. Once you purchase the game you'll be given a code to enter into a website. You'll also be given an optional music playlist and some starting instructions. There'll be a hint/answer page and also a supplemental clue page. There's a total of 13 puzzles in this game and we suggest you pay attention and write down all the details that's been given to you. As you go through the plans on escaping the prison, there are obstacles presented to you in forms of puzzles and only when you know the right code will you be able to proceed to the next area. Puzzles ranged from deduction, math, Morse code, Google search, crosswords, etc...There were a few puzzles we thought needed outside knowledge or were too difficult for people that are not from the UK to understand. Eventually we had to use hints to get through those. There was also one puzzle we felt like would potentially need printing due to the design. A few other puzzles also were not as specific in terms of the cluing so we were able to achieve multiple answers. One puzzle will need you to dial a UK number so international players might have to use the hints to bypass this one. Overall we did like the story line and how it made us feel like we actually escaped prison at the end. The online portal was quite easy to use and the puzzles were all closely tied with the story line. If the creators are able to tweak the puzzles with our feedback, it'll have a better game flow. Try your luck and see if you are able to escape through these 13 obstacles to ultimately earn your freedom! We regret to inform this company has closed. Disclosure: We thank Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms for providing us with samples of these games. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOMers #EvadereVirtualEscapeRooms #ASecondChance #TheChair #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #prisonescape #electricchair #detective #murder

Photo above is property of Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Company: Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Game: Christmas Crisis Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Games 💻 Genre: Christmas, Mystery Date Played: 11/3/2020 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 4/10 Time: Unlimited (Suggested playtime 60-90 minutes) Size of Team: Up to 6 players Price: £12.99 Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. It looks like this year there won't be a Christmas without us. It's time to round up our team of Elves and help Santa and Mrs Claus with all their issues so we can save Christmas for everyone! We've played this game as two players over Zoom. We logged into the game at the same time with the same access code and right away our ears were filled with joyful Christmas tunes that immediately lit up a smile our faces. We strongly suggest playing with headsets if you plan to play with multiple players to avoid the echoes. As much as we enjoyed the music, it would've been great if an optional mute button was provided as we couldn't hear each other when we wanted to discuss about the puzzle elements. The music will eventually stop on its own after 2 minutes or so. Each web page will give you a puzzle and once you have the answer, you'll enter it below. If it's correct, you'll be allowed to go on to the next page. Do not hit the refresh button as you'll need to start from the beginning and reenter all the passwords again. In order to help Santa, we had to find him first. In this game, you shouldn't be afraid to look outside of the game for answers. Other than perhaps the first puzzle that gave us a few potential solutions, the rest of the puzzles were all straight forward and easy to follow. We really enjoyed the use of the characters (reindeers, elves, Santa, Mrs Claus, etc...) and items you would normally encounter during Christmas in the game. While solving puzzles we also learned a nice mince pie recipe. The puzzles were not extremely difficult but definitely a lot of fun to solve together. I could just imagine you with a cup of hot chocolate (with whip cream of course!) sitting by the fireplace enjoying this game with family over zoom during the Holidays. It definitely makes a great gift idea! We regret to inform this company has closed. Disclosure: We thank Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms for providing us with samples of these games. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOMers #EvadereVirtualEscapeRooms #ChristmasCrisis #HolidayGames #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #ChristmasEscapeGames #SeasonalGames #christmas #christmasgifts #gifts

Photo above is property of Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Company: Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Game: Operation London Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Games 💻 Genre: Spy Mission Date Played: December 4, 2021 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 3/10 Time: 60 Minutes Size of Team: Unlimited Price: £14.99 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You’ve been recruited! MI-10, a secret service within your government, needs your help in uncovering the mysteries behind three strange events that have happened around the last 24 hours. Your handler, Agent Rose, has provided you the file debrief and has put you in communication with the ground team, Agent White, to explore the London area. All you have to do is restore power to the city, reset the stock market, and find the missing scientist…sounds like all in the days work for the newest recruit! 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Operaton London" is another chatbox based game played on Evadere’s website. Much like Evadere’s other games you will be provided with a link and an activation code to access the game. In this game the goal is to restore power to London, reset the stock market, and find the missing scientist, but as you progress you will uncover there is much more than meets the eye. This game is intended as a collaborative game, so you are able to share the link to the game with your friends. I recommend using Zoom or at least voice chat to communicate while you play. There are two difficulty levels you can opt for, depending on your puzzling skills. For this review, our group chose the higher difficulty to play. Agent Rose and Agent White will communicate with you via a chatbox. There will be text and videos you listen, read, and watch during the game play. This game requires outside research and knowledge about the UK is an asset with this game. There were a couple times where I felt as someone from North America that I was a little lost but there is a hint system available for when you get stuck, which we found helpful. You will be exploring websites, pdf files, googling terms and clues that ultimately will give you number or letter answers you submit to Agent Rose and White in the chatbox to progress the game. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzling difficulty for this game was a little wide in spectrum. On one hand, some of the puzzles were quite easy from jigsaw puzzling, math problems, riddles, and google searches. It took us a moment to realize outside research was required but once we realized this it was enjoyable searching for clues. We were able to divide and conquer and I felt like a real spy as I accessed account and perused the data, looking for clues. Now the more challenging puzzles, on the other hand, required some leaps in logic and more familiarity with things in the UK. This will likely be a different scenario in the easier version of the game, but we felt more sign posting could benefit these puzzles. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Operation London" is a UK spy mission packed with mystery and moments that truly embrace what it means to be a secret spy. There were times where lack of sign posting created some issues but with a good hint system in place players can smooth these edges in order to solve the case. I would recommend this for those looking for a puzzle experience that has a little ARG element and who are looking for a spy mission. If you’re looking for something a little easier, you can also check out Evadere’s 80s themed trivia experience Cindy’s Bar or if you want something less spy mission, you can check out "The Chair" and "CA Second Chance"! We regret to inform this company has closed. Disclosure: We thank Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms for providing us with samples of these games. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JillianRaymond #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #Adventure #EvadereVirtualEscapeRooms #UK

Photo above is property of Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Company: Evadere Virtual Escape Rooms Game: Cindy's Bar Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Games 💻 Genre: 80's Theme, Trivia Date Played: December 4, 2021 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 2/10 Time: 60 Minutes Size of Team: Unlimited Price: £14.99 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 One moment you’re sitting in a boring conference meeting at work and the next you’ve woken up in a curious looking bar filled with people wearing leg warmers and jamming with the jukebox. You have no idea how you got here but as a lover of the 80s you cannot help but feel at home (unfortunately you left your Walkman at home!). Cindy offers to help you return back to your time but you need to answer a few questions on someone with knowledge of the 80s to obtain the seven tokens that will take you back to your own time. Do you know enough about the 80s or will you remain stuck in the past? 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Cindy’s bar" is a chatbox based game played on Evadere’s website. When you purchase the game, you will be provided with the link and an activation code that you will need throughout the game. I recommend copying it so you can easily paste it as you move through each token challenge. The goal of this game is acquiring a series of seven tokens based on various categories of 80s culture (film, fashion, music, food, toys, etc) that once collected can be used on the jukebox to help you return to your own time. This game is intended for a single screen use so to play with others, screen sharing is recommended on Zoom. You will need to have audio set up as there are quite a few videos to play during the experience. In the chatbox, Cindy will provide you with various questions to solve regarding the different categories. If you get the answer wrong, she will provide you with the answer and you move on. Spelling counts as well as accidentally hitting enter so be mindful and take your time. This game does not have a countdown. After you finish the questions/task, you will receive your token and will be pushed onto the next category where you are asked input your access code to verify before you begin the next segment. I found the use of video and gifs did an excellent job to enhance the 80s nostalgia. This game definitely leans towards a British experience but as a Canadian I had no issues. There are some bugs with the chat box, but they don’t prevent you from playing the game – ie. It says you got an answer wrong even when you’re right, but it provides the answer so you double check. I would have also liked the chatbox to have a bit more flexibility with its responses. As it stands it is more generic in its responses. With that said, if you’re focus is the trivia and camaraderie with friends, this does not really impact the gameplay. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 I found this game is not a puzzle experience per se. This game consists of trivia, video observation, math, timelines, and word play. In this frame of mind this game is not directed towards escape room enthusiasts but, rather, groups looking for a fun game night without having to go to a pub and squish in with people for rounds of trivia. I adding the searching games in videos to the trivia rounds to be engaging. I would say treat this like a true trivia experience to get the best experience, as in do not use google to find the answers (though it can be tempting). I would have wished it had puzzle puzzles in it but for a fun time with friends and I have fun digging through everyone’s collective memory of the 1980s. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Cindy’s Bar" is an 80s themed trivia experience that embraced the nostalgia in a way that was enjoyable and engaging. The ending was a little brief, but the cooperation element of this game really brought my team together. I recommend this game for people looking for a virtual trivia night together where you can drink, laugh, and dig through your memory of the 80s. If you’re looking for something with a bit more puzzling involved, check out their other games reviewed, "The Chair" and "CA Second Chance" for a bit more of challenge! *** We regret to inform this company has closed*** #JillianRaymond #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #Adventure #Trivia #80s #EvadereVirtualEscapeRooms #UK

LOCATION: Soham, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom Photo above is property of PerpleXed Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The curse of Captain Kraken 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 17, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Pirate 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl (Ages 10+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £20/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You are the only remaining members of your Pirate Crew having boarded someone else’s ship whereupon a terrible battle ensued. You avoided death, but have been captured and thrown into the ship’s brig to await your fate. But the bad luck doesn’t end there. The ship has struck something, and you hear the crew cry out that it is taking on water! She will sink in about an hour’s time but you get the feeling they will not be concerned with letting you out, and rumour has it the Captain is - well - cursed! Can you work together to save yourselves from going down with the ship?! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This unassuming venue lies in rural Soham, in the out-buildings of a family-owned Farm Park. On arrival, we wondered if we had come to the right place, as we got out of the car and went to say hi to some alpacas, who were watching us curiously. But yes we had, as a friendly face appeared to greet us and introduce themselves as our GM :) The escape room space is still in development so no outer signage yet, but the lobby is the cutest space with a sofa and table, locking cabinet for valuables and more, where we were warmly welcomed. Both of us stopped dead on entry and exclaimed “wow” at the same time, we were that impressed by what lay before us! After the standard “rules of the room” and the all-important background story (punctuated now and then by various neighs, baas and moos), we accepted our mission and entered the room. The first part of the game is to find your way out of the brig, and with very little of anything in there with you, well, you have to prove how smart you are! The rest of the “ship” is also extraordinarily beautiful - with amazing decoration, realism, a vast array of unusual and spot-on props, pictures and items. I honestly just wanted to admire it all but we had a job to do! The puzzles revealed themselves as we explored, quite linear in progress but with each step being logical and authentic. We admitted defeat and asked for one hint, which was given in suitable character, and confirmed that it was us not examining something well enough, and not the puzzle, that was the issue. There was something new to discover at every turn, and we had so many a-ha and ohhhhhh! moments throughout :) One particular piece of engineering we have never seen before, and plenty of surprises! We finished in good time (new top of the leaderboard!) but still felt we had a good long adventure and spent our remaining time admiring the props and the effort that has gone into the room. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We honestly had nothing whatsoever to say that was negative about this room or the venue. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We consider this an absolute must-play room, and totally worth making the trip to if you find yourself in or near the area. The venue itself is astonishingly beautiful - and fascinating, with a wide range of animals, kids' activities and more to be explored should you be able to spend more time there, which I heartily recommend! The room will delight anyone who loves Pirate, nautical and adventure themes, beautifully decorated immersive rooms, clever puzzles and hi-tech rooms, and also animals! From a small team of Escape Room enthusiasts turned game designers, this is an absolutely incredible first outing and just blew us away with the amount of thought, hard work, amazing aesthetics and brilliant puzzle design that they have produced. Marvellous. We can't wait to go back and play their second room which opens in September - check the website for more! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO The venue is only directly accessible by car (although from the train or bus into Soham you could walk - roughly 20-25 minutes and an easy walk). Car Parking is free and plentiful. The theme dictates a naturally dimly lit environment (which adds amazingly to the atmosphere), but can make it hard to see some things clearly. This said, the small lights throughout the room can be picked up and used wherever you want to see details, and the owner took our note on board to provide a brighter light for those who may want it. The room is all on one level but has tight spaces - the rest of the venue is on fairly flat ground and accessible. There is a cafe on site, open during the usual opening hours of South Angle Farm Park, and many other activities and attractions to take in while you are there, so leave time to take it all in, or make sure you plan to return! See http://www.southanglefarmpark.co.uk/ for more. If you need to play the room outside or normal opening hours, or last minute - they are open to discussing this. 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 PerpleXed Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #HelenBailey #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #PerpleXedEscapeRooms #Pirate #Adventure #UnitedKingdom #Cambridgeshire

LOCATION: Austin, Texas, USA Photo above has been provided by Project Panic 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Cabin Fever 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 9, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 12PPL 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $30/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: No We arrived at Project Panic Escape Rooms Austin which is the sister company of San Antonio Panic Room. Read our review of their "Prison Break" room to find out more about this location. Currently they have another location in Dallas. There is plenty of street parking as they are a bit more on the outskirts of Austin. This location is fairly new and you can tell from their brand spankingly clean lobby. They are still inputting more games here but currently they have three up-and-running: “End of the Lines”, “The Gallery” and “Cabin Fever”. Today, we are attempting their largest room which fits a max of 12 people with just the two of us – “Cabin Fever”. The storyline is that we are stuck in a fierce blizzard and we have to take shelter in a nearby cabin. But the old structure will probably not hold for much longer in this storm so we must find a way to call out for rescue. We did encounter a good amount of tech issues while playing this game which hindered some of our gameplay. We actually didn’t get out with us working on the last puzzle, but we believe we could have without these tech issues involved as it made the game very confusing. The review and difficulty level will be based on us overlooking these issues as if we played a fully functional and operational game. As we entered the cabin, we felt immersed right away with the set design. We were very amazed by the quality used on the wood, props, and especially the sound (we heard the wind was blowing the leaves outside and an actual storm brewing out there). The room is very spacious, and a big group would have a lot of fun in here spreading out and searching for clues. A few puzzles were linear but there were some moments different groups can solve things simultaneously. A puzzle at the end didn’t corollate with what was hinted on the answers which made it somewhat confusing for us and that one took some time. One of the mechanisms that we've encountered in the past at other locations was extremely hard to operate in this room. We think it may need to be repaired or replaced due to wear and tear. This also caused a lot of time for us even though we already had the right answer to enter. We really enjoyed the way some spaces were used in the set design. If the aforementioned puzzle and mechanism was adjusted, this room would've been really fun to experience. We can’t wait to return and give their new room a “spin” (*hint on the new room theme*) as we’ve never heard of this theme before! We regret to inform this company has closed its door. Disclosure: We thank Project Panic Escape Room Austin for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #escapetheroomers #etr #review #escaperoomreviews #escaperooms #escape #rooms #games #projectpanic #projectpanicescaperoomsaustin #cabinfever #austin #texas #tx

LOCATION: Crawley, United Kingdom Photo above is property of HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Questionable Ethics 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 1, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £34.95/PP (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The year is 1967. You and your team have been assigned a special task. Rumor has it, there is an abandoned Soviet facility performing experiments on civilians. You have to stop this at once. How will you infiltrate this facility... and more importantly, how will you make it out alive? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Instead of a normal presentation of the storyline or video, Hounds lets their gamemasters get in on the fun and express their creative sides. The stories might be a little different depending on which gamemaster you'll have on that day. This makes each experience for the players extremely unique. Depending on your team's skill level, the game could be tweaked without the players ever knowing it. We really do appreciate the fact that the creator's intention is for every player to see the ending and to get the full experience. The beginning of this game had a nice build-up in terms of intensity and served as a nice warm-up session as well. One of our favorite puzzles in this game was not really a puzzle per se, but something that really put us into the actual situation. We felt like characters in a spy movie. The set design strongly supported the storyline and provided a seamless flow of a "break-in" and "break-out" adventure. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We might have missed this during the gameplay, but I don't recall collecting any evidence or bringing anything out of the facility to expose their existence. So there's a bit of confusion as to what the completion of the goal was. Perhaps the ending could tie in with the title of the room more? 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Questionable Ethics" was unquestionably a suspenseful, yet entertaining experience. From being tested by an AI, to finding ways to infiltrate the lab, to ultimately escaping the facility, every scene was tied together by a perfect script. In the end, you'll also be surprised by the gamemaster with a score chart. You'll find out what you have missed, completed, and could have done. Are you ready to begin your mission? Photos above are property of HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Take the train to Crawley station and it'll be a minute walk from there. The facility is located in the town center with many coffee shops and restaurants nearby You'll need to walk up one flight of stairs to get to the lobby Lobby with seating and games and a bar Photos above are property of HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences (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 HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences 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 #HOUNDS #Mystery #Crawley #UK

LOCATION: Crawley, United Kingdom Photo above is property of HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Explorer's Diary 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 1, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Archaeology 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £34.95/PP (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY It is the year 1946. You followed the path of famous archaeologist Sir Benjamin Diggit (or just a page from his diary rather) and ended up in a cave in Peru. Will you be able to find the treasure that he couldn't? Or will you share his fate? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Instead of a normal presentation of the storyline or video, Hounds lets their gamemasters get in on the fun and express their creative sides. The stories might be a little different depending on which gamemaster you'll have on that day. This makes each experience for the players extremely unique. Depending on your team's skill level, the game could be tweaked without the players ever knowing it. We really do appreciate the fact that the creator's intention is for every player to see the ending and get the full experience. We were led by the gamemaster to what appeared to be the entrance of an archeological dig deep in the jungle. Once we set foot inside, we were transported to another location back in time. The puzzles were built around the storyline. First, we had to understand who was there before us, what happened to them, and how we can achieve what they couldn't. We really enjoyed the puzzles as they involved physical elements of the cave and props that we had to integrate together in order to find the solution. Normally, we don't really enjoy long translation puzzles but Hounds had an innovative way of constructing this multi-step puzzle to achieve the meta-puzzle for a phenomenal ending. I love endings with choices involved. I'm glad we chose the one that felt more dynamic (at least according to the conversation we had with the GM after). Regardless of which one you decide on, you'll definitely experience what felt like a scene from "Indiana Jones". Photo above are property of HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Other than one of the props being triggered earlier and confusing us on whether or not we had to complete it, everything else was spot on. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? In comparison to "Questionable Ethics", "The Explorer's Diary" definitely stood out a little bit more for us. The storyline, special effects, set design, and puzzles were all thoughtfully implemented into every inch of the experience. In the end, you'll also be surprised by the gamemaster with a score chart. You'll find out what you have missed, completed, and could have done. Definitely check out Hounds if you're in the Crawley area or just make a trip out here and you might just find the treasure you are looking for! Photos above are property of HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Take the train to Crawley station and it'll be a minute walk from there. The facility is located in the town center with many coffee shops and restaurants nearby You'll need to walk up one flight of stairs to get to the lobby (this room is located two flights up) Lobby with seating and games and a bar Photos above are property of HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences (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 HOUNDS - Immersive Experiences 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 #HOUNDS #Adventure #Archaeology #Crawley #UK

LOCATION: Crawley, England, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Tulleys Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Mutiny 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 16, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Pirate 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: £20-34/PP (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 💡 HINT: Look for short cuts 📖 THE STORY In the year 1672, your ship has just won a battle and is filled with bounty. You wanted to steal the treasure from Captain Starling after he goes to sleep so you can be free from his dreadful leadership. Can you do it in 60 minutes? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The décor felt authentic like you are on a real pirate ship. Set design was stunning and really pulls you into the scenes. Clever way of intertwining the smaller puzzles’ solutions into a final puzzle to construct. Not linear, so each player can have something to do separately. Space utilization for hidden elements were really pleasing to discover. Love the mixture of physical and mental puzzles. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One particular map in the first area felt a bit confusing as we thought it was part of the first batch of puzzles but not sure exactly what’s the relatability to the latter ones. Some puzzles were simplified according to the game master from a previous version of the game, but the puzzle that’s no longer in use is still visible in the room. This created confusion at the end especially when the puzzle pieces were still relatable. We think it’s best to either remove it or change it, so it doesn’t have a correlation The ending felt a bit less “wow” than Nethercott Manor. Create a hint system to take the immersion to the next level. Perhaps a device which the players can contact a pirate mate that’s on watch for us or a parrot friend? The game master intro could be more theatrical to the storyline and since the intro of the story began inside, it might make sense for the game master to do their safety briefing outside and just let the players enter the room and the game begins immediately as it felt like a duplicated intro with the game master in the room and then again on the TV. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We have played many pirate rooms before. This one definitely stood out for us. If you're an adventure seeker and love to construct items, you will love this room. The size of this room is quite large and can comfortably fit 4 people which is our recommended size. We were able to get out with ample time with 2 people but were very satisfied with the amount and variations of puzzles. Additonal Info There's a free parking lot right outside Easiest way to get there would be by car. Public transportation could be tricky as buses are usually not on time. Take a taxi from the train station instead. Drinks (including alcoholic) can be purchased at the front desk Diner onsite Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this room, please remember to let them know that "ESCAPETHEROOMers" sent you!) Disclosure: We thank Tulleys 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 #Tulleys #Adventure #Pirates #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Crawley, England, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Tulleys Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Dodge City 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 1, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Western 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 8.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins (60Min in room plus 30min briefing) 💰 PRICE: £72-208 (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY It is the year 2127. You are a member of the Notorious "Barn Door" Gang and you have just fallen into the hands of the local sheriff in Dodge City. There's no hope for you here. The only way out of this hellhole is to rob the town's bank and escape. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We enjoyed the separate start at the beginning as there were several communication puzzles that involved a unique way of transporting items to each other. The way a prop was used in this room as a "key" to activate or open items fit perfectly with the theme. This game gave a very clear objective as to what players had to do in order to get out. The systematic way of "collect and complete" was utilized in this room to eliminate the need for a timer. At first glance, you might think this room is only going to be played in a narrow space but you'll be surprised by the hidden areas that will slowly open up as the game progresses. The set design had a "Western saloon mixed with a touch of steampunk" look. Since the game was set in the future, it made sense to have some futuristic machines. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was an area in the game where we could clearly hear the GM chatting which took away from the immersion. One of the puzzles required us to know what certain items were called in the British way. Perhaps an added clue could be provided for foreign players. There was a sound puzzle that was a bit finicky and ambiguous in terms of the starting point. A machine towards the end was difficult to control. We weren't sure if it was intentional or if the prop needed some maintenance. Some sound or light alerts would be great for items that had opened as we had to be informed by the game master a couple of times. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Have you ever wanted to be a cowboy? "Dodge City" will let you become the baddest bandit in town! This is a difficult room for two people. As enthusiasts, we took a bit longer than 60 minutes to complete the game. There were a ton of puzzles and a bit of search and find as well. If you are looking for a challenge and perhaps some Gold as well, this might be your lucky day! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Ticket includes free parking on-site Lobby area with seating available Food & Drinks available for purchase Merchandise available for purchase Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our interview with the owner to understand more on the development side of the game: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Tulleys Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #Tulleys #Western #Adventure #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Crawley, England, United Kingdom Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Nethercott Manor 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 16, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Paranormal 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 9/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: £20-34/PP (pending on the group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: No 💡 HINT: Don't Forget your simple algebra 📖 THE STORY Nethercott Manor has been abandoned for years, yet there seems to be something unsettling about it. Local folks have seen lights going off and sounds coming from within. We were sent here to investigate and uncover the secrets of this old manor house. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Set design was amazing. Right when you enter, you would feel chills running down your spine. Sound and lighting definitely helped to create the immersive experience. Great use of all the elements you can find in a manor. Good amount of variations of puzzles. Props were authentic and went well with the story line. Love the transformation from set to set and with each there were a lot of amazing hidden “wow” moments. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Create a hint system to make the immersion to the next level. Perhaps a device which the players can take in to contact a spirit and the spirit will answer them in a “spirited” tone? The game master intro could be more theatrical to the storyline and since the intro of the story began inside, it might make sense for the game master to do their safety briefing outside and just let the players enter the room and the game begins immediately as it felt like a duplicated intro with the game master in the room and then again on the TV. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room would be awesome to do with a big group. “Divide and conquer” would be the best strategy here. You need to be able to sustain a bit of spookiness but nothing “alive” is in there. There was a lot of puzzles for just the two of us to complete the room in 60 minutes. Also, the set design was so beautiful that we were mainly trying to enjoy it versus concentrating on the puzzles. The manager did inform us after the game that they usually leave some time in between each game so if you were unable to finish the game with a small group, they will still take you around the room to see what you’ve missed. This is a very nice gesture that they offer. They will also offer a discounted rate if you like to attempt the game again. Adventure seekers and paranormal detectives, what are you waiting for? Additional Info There's a free parking lot right outside Easiest way to get there would be by car. Public transportation could be tricky as buses are usually not on time. Take a taxi from the train station instead. Drinks (including alcoholic) can be purchased at the front desk Diner onsite Some players in this game will need to climb up & down a flight of stairs Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this room, please remember to let them know that "ESCAPETHEROOMers" sent you!) Disclosure: We thank Tulleys 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 #Tulleys #Paranormal #UnitedKingdom