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LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA Photo above is property of Escape Room 66 Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Inksidious 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 4, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $90.00 - $245.00 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [36:35] 📖 THE STORY Enter a mind-bending world like you've never seen in this Cup Head inspired fantasy thrill. Your mission is to solve the mystery of the missing Cartoonist who has fled the yolk of his overbearing and oppressive publisher. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The theming for this room is so cool, I am a big fan of Cup Head artwork, so the décor really hit the mark for me with bold and vibrant artwork and props. Subtilty hidden, you may discover humorous and mischievous written messages that’ll make you laugh, as well as clues for future puzzles. It was refreshing to see that this game doesn’t take itself too seriously and was designed around promoting a fun experience for the players. Another factor that makes this room stand out for us was the beauty of its simplicity. Here is proof that a room doesn’t need expensive tech and gadgets to offer an immersive and satisfying time. Basic, yet creative props, and a number of simply constructed puzzles that utilize a whole bunch of padlocks, come together to harmoniously to provide a concise escape room. Dynamic and interactive puzzles also push the immersion and enjoyment of this room further. They match the theme perfectly, and really have you searching the room and playing around with all the props accessible to you to see if they can aid your mission. The accessibility of the game is really good, I think it will appeal to players young and old, experienced and new to escape rooms. There is nothing convoluted in the room, everything is logical and the level of difficulty is not particularly high. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There is very little we would have liked to see more of in this room other than a couple more team-based puzzles and perhaps more development to the story. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Inksidious" is a very worthwhile experience no matter what your level of expertise with escape rooms is. It has a uniquely fun theme, silly and interactive puzzles, plus, if you’re good enough, you might even get yourself some free candy! Although the room does allow up to seven players, I would discourage such large numbers as all of the puzzles can be solved solo. I was glad we played as a duo and expect other experienced players would feel the same. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. There is a car park, however it is all private parking. Free parking is available on the residential streets either side of the escape room. There is a small lobby area with comfortable seating and fun aesthetic. Wheelchair accessible game? Disability friendly? Yes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure:  We thank Escape Room 66 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 #EscapeRoom66 #Detective #California #USA

LOCATION: Barcelona, Spain Photo above is property of Neverland Escape Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Conquest of Troy 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 12, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 70 Mins. 💰 PRICE: Є38/pp (2 ppl), Є28/pp (3 ppl), Є23/pp (4 ppl), Є22/pp (5 ppl), Є21/pp (6 ppl), Є20/pp (7 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [64:18] 📖 THE STORY In ancient times, Troy was one of the most coveted cities in the Mediterranean for its riches and strategic position. However, when their prince abducted the Greek princess, Helen, from Sparta it angered the Greek people who were willing to go to war with Troy. The Greek king, Agamemnon, has a challenge for you, his most faithful warriors. You need to find a way to sneak into the great city of Troy and open its gates under the vail of darkness, allowing the Greek army to enter and capture the city. Be quick, dawn is approaching! Video above is property of Neverland Escape 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE As soon as you step into the building you are transported to another world, an ancient land, full of intrigue and wonder. Here, even the entrance area (where we store our belongings) is decorated and becomes part of the game; once you are ready to begin you are instructed to complete a simple action in order to let the gods know you are ready to begin. The doors leading to Troy open and we find ourselves outside the city gates. Everything from this point continues to be extremely well detailed with huge props and only the highest material quality used in the construction of the huge space. Everything from the ceiling to the floor is in-keeping with the ancient theme, as are the locks and other props. We loved the level of immersion achieved, which is also heightened by a good balance of light and sound. Despite an obvious amount of tech behind the running of many of the puzzles it was well hidden and enhanced the immersion rather than hindering it. The puzzle selection was thematic, with designs that were incorporated to progress the story and make sense to where you were within the city. The puzzles were also really intuitive and interactive, having us move around the space to use information from one location somewhere else, utilize found objects in interesting ways, and even shoot a bow and arrow! This is definitely a dynamic game. The room plays really nonlinear, so we were able to split up and tackle different puzzles quite frequently. Of course, teams don’t have to play like this, if they prefer to stick together in order to experience everything the game has to offer. The rooms are all large open spaces, so bigger teams will not have any trouble being able to explore comfortably, without tripping over one another. We enjoyed the novelty of not seeing the game master at any point until the end of the game, when she comes to greet us (and take our money!). We found this allowed us to dive straight into the game and avoided the tedious safety briefings that often precede most escape rooms. Our postgame photo looks epic! Not only do we have the Trojan horse behind us, we also got to dress up with cool props to look like real Greek warriors. Not enough escape rooms place enough emphasis on being able to take memorable photos that you want to share, but here they do it very well. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We didn’t find any big misses in this game. It was a really enjoyable and immersive experience that kept us busy and entertained from the go. So, the below point is really quite minor. We didn’t find any big misses in this game. It was a really enjoyable and immersive experience that kept us busy and entertained from the go. So, the below points are really quite minor remarks: Lack of truly cooperative puzzles. Our team always enjoys finding puzzles which really require at least two or more people to be able to solve it, and whilst the game certainly has numerous puzzles where teamwork is a benefit, we didn’t find any which forced us to work together. The audio from the game master wasn’t particularly clear and most of the time we had to ask her to repeat whatever she said. This wasn’t because of poor English or anything like that, we think it was just poor audio which clashed with the rooms background music. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We found Conquest of Troy to be one of the less spoken about games in Barcelona, so our expectations going into the experience were subdued. However, the game was really solid and I think it should be on more people’s lips. Aside from the really detailed décor and impressive props, the room has a solid and interactive set of puzzles which are well integrated into the theme. So, if you are someone who values quality puzzles of glitzy special effects then this is certainly worth a visit. Please note: Be sure to wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting a bit dusty/sandy. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. Parking is available on the residential streets around the escape room. There are bus and metro stations close by, which public transport an easy method to reach this location. Lobby – There is a small area to store your belongings when you immediately enter, which has been thematically decorated along with the rest of the game. However, the area doesn’t have seating and is not a waiting area. You will not be allowed to enter until your game time. Toilets – There is a toilet available, however you will not be able to access it until your game begins. "Conquest of Troy" can be played in Spanish, Catalan, or English. 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 Neverland Escape 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 #NeverlandEscape #Adventure #Barcelona #Spain

LOCATION: Luterbach, Switzerland Photo above is property of GAME OVER Escape Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Orphanage 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 2, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Spooky 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: 100-180 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [35:03] 📖 THE STORY Everyone knows about the strange old orphanage and the cruel experiments that occurred there. As a team of journalists, you approach the now abandoned site, with the sole purpose of uncovering what had happened to the poor children. You have one hour to collect as many clues as you can before the nun's spirit comes to find you! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We were impressed with the scale and quality of the build; it was actually larger than we were expecting and all the materials were of a high quality. There was also a good number of props to create an immersive environment and help deliver the story of what had transpired here. We certainly found out more about "The Orphanage" as we progressed. The rooms have an eeriness about them, despite not having any special effects, such as smoke and lighting, etc. However, that said, there were a couple of ‘surprises’ installed throughout the rooms which the game master freely used to create some fun jump scares. Of the three rooms at this location, we agreed that this had the most interesting set of puzzles, which also consisted of at least four cooperative tasks. Overall, each thing related someway to the story and our setting; another appreciated element. The rooms are spacious and are designed in conjunction with the puzzles, to have you moving back and forth constantly throughout. We found this gave the game a more dynamic dimension, plus we could enjoy the visuals longer. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We didn’t find any points worth mentioning in this area. Overall, this is a solid entry level escape room. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Even though it was the easiest of the three rooms we played at GAME OVER Luterbach, "The Orphanage" was the unanimous favorite. We found the puzzles to be the most satisfying to complete, both by the level of fun achieved, but also because of how they related to the story and environment. It was also the most immersive experience, with the jump scares being particularly memorable. Although advertised as a horror room, beyond the two of three ‘jumpy’ moments, there is nothing scary inside. The room is well lit and there are no actors involved. Therefore, players worried about the horror factor need not be concerned; this is definitely a family friendly space. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking is available on site. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating, lockers, and some cold drinks for sale. For the most part, this game is wheelchair accessible. However, I believe there is a small step to get into the last room, but likely a wheelchair could get over it with assistance from a team member. Photos above are property of GAME OVER 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 GAME OVER Escape Rooms (Luterbach) for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #GAMEOVER #Spooky #Luterbach #Switzerland

LOCATION: Barcelona, Spain Photo above is property of CinemaEscape Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Barum Dum 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 12, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 70 Mins. 💰 PRICE: Є59 (2 ppl), Є68 (3 ppl), Є80 (4 ppl), Є85 (5 ppl), Є95 (6 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [57:20] 📖 THE STORY After bloody battles against the orcs, the dwarves were forced to abandon the mines and their ancestral home at Barum Dum. They left in such a horror that the keys to mines were forgotten and lost to time. Ages have passed and the abandoned mines now show no signs of orcs or goblins. It could be the right time to return to try and find what was once lost, the key to the lonely mountain. Recover the key and help the dwarves return home! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This game’s biggest success has to be its décor and all-round construction; you would be forgiven for thinking you were actually in a real cave. There are floor to ceiling rock formations, giant dwarf statues, a grand throne, and many other large props that recreate the kind of imagery those who have watched the Lord of the Rings movies may come to expect. The movie-like set design is also aided by thematic lighting and sounds that further enhance the feeling of being deep within the ancient mines. The dwarves don’t allow easy access to their lands, their doors are protected by spells and mechanisms to prevent them from being opened by outsiders. So, you’ll have to work hard to open them and explore the mines. In order to do this, you’ll complete numerous creative puzzles, which we found to be really smart and enjoyable. There was more than one ‘ah-ha’ moment once we had figured out how different things worked. This is definitely a ‘think outside the box’ kind of game! We also enjoyed how interactive the puzzles were. There are lots of props to interact with in different ways; this is not the typical, find objects and put them in a certain order or location, setup. You’ll utilise the many items you find differently, and this was a clear indication of the room’s innovation. The intro video we watched before entering was professionally shot and produced, the only thing missing was the popcorn (lol). 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We didn’t find any big misses in this game. It was a really enjoyable and immersive experience that kept us busy and entertained from the go. So, the below point is really quite minor: Lack of truly cooperative puzzles. Our team always enjoys finding puzzles which really require at least two or more people to be able to solve it, and whilst the game certainly has numerous puzzles where teamwork is a benefit, we didn’t find any which forced us to work together. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? It’s surprising how little seems to be spoken about Barum Dum internationally; it doesn’t appear to be one of those rooms that people tend to mention when discussing the ‘must play’ rooms in the area. However, the game certainly delivers in many areas, mainly its puzzle selection and impressive construction, and so gets a high level of recommendation from us. We think the game will play best for groups of 2-4 and preferably you will have played at least five escape rooms prior, as it does have some challenging elements. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. Parking is available on the residential streets around the escape room. There are bus and metro stations close by, which public transport an easy method to reach this location. Lobby – There is a small cinema room with a locker to store your belongings. It is from here you get to watch a short video before entering the game. However, you are not permitted to enter the building until your game is due to start, so this is not a communal waiting area for multiple teams. "Barum Dum" can be played in English or Spanish. There are 3 Difficulty options that you can choose to play. Photos above are property of CinemaEscape (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 CinemaEscape for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #CinemaEscape #Fantasy #Adventure #Barcelona #Spain

LOCATION: Letchworth, England, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Agent Brains Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Jungle Jailbreak 📅 DATE PLAYED: March 8, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Prison, Military 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: £18-30/ pp (based on # of ppl and peak vs. off-peak booking times) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [26:13] 📖 THE STORY While on a mission in South America, you’ve been captured by mercenaries employed by the Agency’s enemies. Luckily, there has been some kind breach of their perimeter, and they’ve left camp to go deal with the situation. You’ve got to free yourselves from your cells and find a way to contact Agent Brains’ headquarters to arrange an immediate extraction before the soldiers return… 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE As with many prison-style games, this one begins by splitting your team into two groups. I have a love-hate relationship with seeing the team split up, but I found this one to work well. There are fairly even experiences between the two groups, and the team was quite quickly reunited. These kinds of splits are a great opportunity for communication and collaboration puzzles, which are some of my favorites. They also allow you to choose your groups in this case, so you can aim for somewhat even distribution of skill-levels. The unusual theming brings you aspects of the classic prison room or military game with the jungle vibe. To me, this is certainly a far richer and more appealing environment to explore, and it also lightens the mood a bit relative to a stark concrete scene, making it more family-friendly. The team at Agent Brains do a great job of bringing you into the jungle military camp, and blending these different classic genres together! I also appreciated the different feelings of each of the distinct spaces you encounter. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We totally appreciate that enthusiasts are not the bread-and-butter for most escape rooms, and I think this one would have broad appeal to a lot of groups! However, this game is one where it would be great to have some adaptive difficulty or extra puzzles that could be added in for larger or more experienced groups. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? As three enthusiasts with experience in split-starts, we found this to be the easiest game at Agent Brains and had our fastest escape, in just 26:13. I was left wishing things had gone on longer! Nonetheless, we understand this is not the norm, and it could be a great option for newbies who are 12+. While we still enjoyed the room, if you aren’t able to play everything at Agent Brains (which I support!), I’d recommend starting with Mobbery and Back to the Future. However, if you’re a fan of split starts, playing with a less experienced group, or just want a little time in the jungle, this could still be a great first choice! ℹ️  ADDITIONAL INFO Agent Brains Escape Games has two locations a few minutes walk apart. Their main one, where this game is located, is on a super cute little street in Letchworth Garden City, a short walk from the train station. There are lots of coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and other stores aplenty to check out and fuel up before or after your game. There’s a nice little reception area, bathroom (with some quirky branding), absolutely lovely staff, and hooks in the rooms for your things. 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 Agent Brains Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #AgentBrains #Prison #Military #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Azusa, California, USA Photo above is property of The Ministry of Peculiarities Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Hope End 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 25, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Ghosts, Murder Mystery, Early 20th Century 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-12 ppl (ages 12+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins 💰 PRICE: $45.00 - $67.00/ pp (depending on day of the week and # of ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY What is the story? It might well be an elegant ghost story. It could be a classic murder mystery. Or it might just be a simple real estate transaction. You'll have to take us at our word that it is worth coming in to decide for yourself. While there will be some spooky moments, there won't be bloody gore, loud noises, or other ham-fisted attempts at jump scares. Instead, the live actors will be your guides as the story unfolds and deepens, and you will need to ponder who you believe to be trustworthy, and who you believe to be…something else. As the story evolves and changes based on the group itself, each experience will be unique and the exact storyline will vary (though I assume some of the key points are likely to remain). 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Immersive theater is an oft-used term; sometimes it just means 'there's a live actor'. In this case, the entire experience was truly immersive, from before entering the building until after your evening's concluded. While the live actors are certainly a key component of this, there are many other contributing factors. The actors were excellent, staying in character regardless of our actions and moving seamlessly between improvisation, poetry, and script. The set and setting were thoughtfully intricate in every aspect. It seemed that no detail had been overlooked and each component had been designed and placed with utmost care. There was clever use of space that led to an expansive feel and some excellent surprises. The experience has excellent use of tech in a way that works within the old-timey context, and it all ran smoothly for us. The puzzles were varied - some requiring a bit of use of props and tools, others requiring a keen eye and sharp wit, all of them requiring a flexible mind. There was something for everyone in our group and enough parallel activity to keep us all busy. All the puzzles also made sense. There was never a sense of having to guess what the designers were thinking or intending. At the same time, they were reasonably challenging and intricate to keep even the most experienced members of our group engrossed. At times, we were so engrossed in our own tasks we didn't know what our fellow participants were doing, hardly even noticing whether they were still in the same room. The story and puzzles themselves were truly one in the same. There was never a sense that the puzzles were extraneous, or the story unnecessary. Such a seamless blend is truly rare, and always wondrous to experience. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK I think our daughter said it best: “How are you going to come up with anything for “Missed the Mark” for that one??” I suppose the fact that it had to end was unfortunate; although, the ending itself was both fully satisfying as well as a bit mysterious. If we had to come up with something, one or more players will need to make a choice that could feel fun or uncomfortable, depending on your team dynamics. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? I can think of few better ways to spend 90 minutes than in the company of the Ministry. Hope End is suitable for everyone 12 and up. While there is little that would be considered truly inappropriate, the subtle but spooky atmosphere, intentional pacing, and delicate nature of the decor requires a certain level of maturity. Unless your appreciation comes solely from completing speed runs and topping leaderboards, we are certain you'll find Hope End to be an unforgettably involving, entirely entertaining experience. We certainly hope we get to participate in another of the Ministry’s investigations at some point in the future! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Even before you enter, it's clear this is not your ordinary escape room. The website itself is full of character; be sure to have a look through their FAQs. Once you arrive, there is a flashing Billiards sign above the entrance. The only indication you are in the right place is a small Ministry of Curiosities sign on the door itself, as the Ministry needs to keep a low profile to prevent random passers-by from accidentally entering with the intention of getting a manicure or something similar. The Plaza in which it is located has plenty of free parking, and the waiver QR code is conveniently on the door so all necessary paperwork can be completed prior to entering the building (if you missed the email they sent or forgot to fill it out). The lobby is mysterious and magical, with countless antiques (as well lockers for your things). We appreciated the card catalog with info cards for many other area escape rooms - it is a credit to this industry that businesses are still cooperating to lift each other up, rather than competing to run each other down. Once you are greeted by your host, you'll find your adventure has already begun! 🔎 HINT Take your time. Look around. Interact with the characters. This is an evening to be savored, not conquered. 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 Ministry of Peculiarities 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 #TheMinistryofPeculiarities #Ghosts #MurderMystery #California #USA

LOCATION: Los Angeles, California,USA Photo above is property of Hatch Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Ladder 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 4, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 10/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $380.00 - $950.00 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The Ladder is like no other escape room in the world, nor is it entirely an escape room, but rather a fully replay-able immersive experience in which your choices and performance determine the outcome. Get ready to embark on a 50-year career at Nutricorp, an Omaha-based vitamin company with more than a few dark secrets to hide. Each decade you work there is represented by a different room, from the rockin’ 1950s to the less rockin’ 1990s. In each decade you’ll also work in different positions within the company as you climb the corporate ladder all the way to the top! Featuring a 90-minute runtime, 5 playable avatars, 8 different sets, and nearly a dozen different endings, The Ladder has been designed to blow your mind not once, not twice, but as many times as you care to visit. Will you play as a hero or a villain? Will you make your first billion or wind up penniless? And did you ever figure out what was in that mysterious pneumatic capsule? Well, you know what they say: if at first you don’t succeed…you’re probably a talentless hack. Or maybe you should try again… 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE I consider "The Ladder" to be a revolutionary concept in the escape room market, although I technically also wouldn’t call it an escape room, but rather escape room adjacent. There is no escaping required and no time to beat. You are playing against yourselves and your success (or lack of) will open new paths within the ever-evolving storyline. It is unlikely that any two games you play of this will be the same and the concept is designed to make you want to come back to try and better your previous ‘score’. The story writing is first class. As mentioned, there are numerous paths you can take and each decade begins and ends with video updates, which will differ from team to team, depending on how you play the game and the individual choices made. The acting and video production is also professionally made and just cements the whole experience as one of the most immersive games you’ll ever play. The theming of the five rooms was top notch. From the mundane and colorless 50’s, to the groovy 60s, and the tech driven 80s, each space is unique and filled with props to interact with. Although the hidden bonus room is not yet complete (we wouldn’t have found it anyway), it was interesting to hear about how you might work to access it and where it might be located – but our host, the game’s designer, wasn’t giving up his secrets that easy. Like with the unique labyrinth of storylines, the puzzles system is also like no other game I have played. Here, teams are challenged in two ways; with games and with puzzles. The games are designed to be played continuously and often with no way to fully complete them. These are your sources of revenue, the better you do, the more cash you make, and the more successful you become. Games are always highly interactive, requiring precision and teamwork to complete; how efficient are you at sorting letters in the mail room, or connecting calls? Each room contains three different games that you can freely choose between; play as little or as much as you like, the choice is yours! The puzzles, on the other hand, relate directly to the storylines, and like the games, are optional to complete. They are however, extremely well layered and complex. We were warned before the game that the chances of completing them on our first run through The Ladder were extremely low, and he was right, we managed to complete most steps in each, but never a single puzzle in its entirety, which was frustrating. One of the standout aspects of The Ladder is how important and instrumental teamwork is, it would be impossible for one player to dominate proceedings like with what can occur in typical escape rooms because of how demanding each game and/or puzzle is. When beginning each decade teams receive a list of the different activities available and it is then up to the team to decide how best to use their limited time (15 minutes) to achieve the goals. This means every player is vital to succeeding and will always have something to do! This is a fast-paced game that never slows down, not for one minute. After finishing we were afforded a little time to walk back through the game to ask some questions and pass on information to one another regarding elements we may have missed, since you are all likely working on different activities in the room. The game is also full of little easter eggs, so now was a good opportunity to ensure we had seen them all. The variable endings are a great addition and one of the reasons I am sure many people will return to play a second or even third game. Will you get married? Have children? Play the loyal company man, or turn evil? There are so many choices to unlock. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Although it is not possible to ‘lose’ The Ladder, every team will make it through to the end and see out the whole story, it did feel incredibly difficult to succeed. The puzzles, in particular (not games), felt near impossible to complete within such a short time period and some of the logic behind them felt a bit far-fetched. I think the idea is that on your first play you will learn ‘how’ best to attempt the puzzles so that you’ll have more chance of success on future visits. While we understand that the idea is to replay the game, for those who cannot afford to spend $95 a head for each run, or who just simply don’t intend to return, it can be frustrating to do so much for so little reward. We definitely felt frustrated by the level of failure in this part of the game. You need a big team. This both a positive and negative depending on how your team dynamics are, how many friends you have, and how much you want to achieve. For us we ideally like to play escape rooms with 2-4 people. In The Ladder, I would advise a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8. You really need to throw bodies at each game and puzzle for maximum success, especially the puzzles. We definitely wouldn’t play again with less than 6, because for us, we want to unlock new paths in the story, and unlock the secret bonus room, etc. Fragility. The Ladder had only been open a matter of days, yet there were already numerous games broken. The designer mentioned that due to how interactive and hands-on each task is, it is likely to stay that way in the future, with different elements going down from time to time. It’s not going to feel great as a player to be spending so much money on a game only to find important and/or fun elements in it are going to be broken. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Despite our frustrations with the difficulty of the puzzles this is still an epic game which is surely going to receive huge and deserved acclaim. The whole concept was a massive labor of love (and money), taking about five years from conception to completion, and even now they continue to tweak and improve things further. Our recommendation would be to play the game, taking it and its challenges as they are, without worrying too much about what ‘success’ is, and focusing more on enjoying the game around you and all the incredibly well thought out games you can participate in. Players who worry too much about completing the whole game will likely feel frustrated, unless they intend to return and play numerous times, which is certainly no bad thing, it is designed that way! Notes for a better experience: Bring at least 6 people Be organized, assign roles and stick to them READ all the signage to ensure you understand the instructions for each activity Stay active, the time pressure in this game is real! Understand that you are highly unlikely to see and do everything inside, there is too much to do and too little time to complete everything. This is another reason to return for future runs, on your next visit you can try different activities than those you did on the first time. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. Free parking is available on the residential streets either side of the escape room. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and some cool Hatch merchandise for sale. Photos above are property of Hatch Escapes (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 Hatch Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Adventure #HatchEscapes #California #USA

Photo above is property of The Mystery Agency Company: The Mystery Agency Game: The Man From Sector Six Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Detective Date Played: April 7, 2024 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 6/10 Size of Team: 1-6 ppl (Recommended for ages 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested 90 Mins.) Price: $65 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 When an unknown intruder at the Agency for National Intelligence is found lurking in a secure room for the most sensitive of documents, you know something big and strange is happening at this research facility. You have been tasked to investigate this individual and all you have to go on is a curiously locked case that was on his person. Your goal is to uncover his identity…but you may need to earn his trust to gain that information. Better get cracking! 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ The game comes in a beautiful package that already gets you in the mood for adventure. Once you open the box you have an instruction guide under the lid which is an excellent design feature. You start off with a newspaper clipping and a locked zipper case, but as you uncover the secrets you get the handle additional paper files, decoders, cards, maps, and more. The items are well crafted and feel like they are true to the game so it adds to the immersion. I have always been impressed with The Mystery Agency’s design quality and this game continues to follow the same high level of quality I expect. Photos above are property of The Mystery Agency 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The game starts with directing you to their website to log onto their server, which will have an introduction letter and the first clue. You will also have access to the hints on this same website. This book will direct you to additional websites so internet access is required. Once you have completed the game by uncovering the name of the mystery man, you input it on the website where the hints and introduction letter are and there is a quick text based epilogue to tie it all together. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles for this game are well developed and provide a variety to the experience with decoders, searching puzzles, logic, deduction, and more. The puzzles follow a linear fashion to some degree as you will need codes to unlock different parts of the case and websites. I enjoyed how each puzzle solution led to you cracking something open online and that there was a way to confirm whether you were right or wrong (a small green check mark appeared). It made each solution satisfying with an “aha!” I did find I almost bypassed a puzzle when I was playing because I wasn’t following the order, so make sure when you are confronted with a clue/new puzzle - do that clue first and do not set it aside or you will get lost. Overall, I felt the puzzles provided a good level of difficulty with satisfying solutions and they fit well within the theme of the game. I will say the final puzzle felt a little lackluster after everything went on but we still got satisfaction when we inputted the final answer. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 “The Man From Sector Six” is yet another example of the puzzle mastery of The Mystery Agency as the balance, immersion, storytelling, and puzzling that everything can get involved in. I feel this is a good example of a game that can introduce puzzlers and still draw in experienced ones. This is also a game you can reset and play again easily to spread the puzzle fun! I cannot wait to see what they create for us next! Promo: 10% off purchases of 3 or more games with code MULTIBUY10 (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 Mystery Agency for providing us with a sample of this game. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JillianRaymond #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #OneOffs #Detective #TheMysteryAgency #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Prague, Czech Republic Photo above is property of The Padlock Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Mission #53 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 7, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Detective, Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 99 Mins. 💰 PRICE: 2099 CZK (2 ppl), 2199 CZK (3 ppl), 2299 CZK (4 ppl), 2399 CZK (5 ppl), 2499 (6 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [65:39] 📖 THE STORY You are new cops investigating your first case with the help of a gnarly seasoned pro, who for the most part leaves you alone to get on with your first real test as police officers. Not everything is as it seems with this murder, there seems more to the story than you first suspect. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Our first surprise occurred before we even entered the game; after being politely greeted by the GM, she proceeded to bring down the electric shutters in front of the windows, effectively locking us inside, prisoners to the game. Then, projected on to a large white wall as a professionally filmed intro video outlining our mission. The acting was dark and gritty, our lead was a seasoned cop with a taste for the darker perks of the job. He might help us if we really need him, otherwise he’ll be propping up a bar somewhere. All in all, the video did a good job setting the scene, and having it projected so big made it feel more alive than if we’d just watched it on some small tv screen. This is one of those rooms that makes you instantly gasp and say ‘wow’ as you enter. Stepping inside, we were instantly transported outside! There were so many authentic details and materials used to recreate a dark alley, including real cobble stones across the floor. The immersion was definitely there from the first seconds and continued throughout. In addition to high quality materials, the game is also littered with special effects, our favourite was the method in which the designer chooses to transport us from one part of the city to another (no spoilers). This moment, once again highlighted how much attention they pay to providing a fluid experience and logical storyline. Talking of story; this game is all about great storytelling. As we progress, we learn more about the characters involved, such as their backgrounds and motives. This kept us engaged and provided the framework for many of the puzzles. The puzzles work in a mostly linear format, which as mentioned, play a vital part in the progression of the story. Despite being an older game, there are still some creative and unique tasks to complete. We enjoyed the balance of padlock opening, item searching, and tech based puzzles, that were all logical and in-keeping with the theme. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This is a really solid game with very little that needs to be done to improve it further. However, the game is looking a bit tired and worn in places, so upgrading some of those older or damaged props would be worthwhile. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is one of Prague’s top-rated games and for good reason. Like all The Padlock games there is a high level of attention paid to the game’s construction and storytelling elements. We found some of the puzzles to be quite testing (although completely logical) in places, so perhaps this isn’t ideal for a group of total newbies, unless you’re up for a challenge! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO NOTE: This game is at a different location to The Padlock’s other two games. Parking is not available on site. It is probably best to arrive with Uber or public transport. There are other escape venues within walking distance, so if you are in town for a few you may likely find yourself just walking between venues. There is a lobby area comfortable seating and a bathroom which is located inside the game itself. 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 Padlock 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 #ThePadlock #Detective #Mystery #Prague #CzechRepublic

Photo above is property of Smoking Revolver Games Company: Smoking Revolver Games Game: Murder in Rain Mané Country: Sweden 🇸🇪 Language: English & Swedish Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Mystery, Detective Date Played: March 31, 2024 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 5/10 Size of Team: 1-4 ppl Time: 30-45 mins. Price: Free 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 “Welcome, Detective, to Rain Mané, a small town on the outskirts of France, about 200 km from Paris. Rain Mané is celebrated for its rich artistic heritage and renowned art community. In this seemingly idyllic place, the truth needs uncovering. Tonight, you find yourself in the middle of a story where a crime has been committed. The year is 1926. Eleanor Leroy, a prominent figure in the art community, has been found dead. The police are overwhelmed by the motives surrounding the death of Eleanor. Considering your impressive past as a detective, you are appointed the role of lead investigator on this case. The police need your help figuring out who among the characters of Rain Mané is responsible for this particular crime. You need to trace the web of relationships, uncover motives, and get to know the suspicious characters who inhabit this town. Your tools include suspect profiles, their statements, a police report, and evidence material. The storm is brewing, Detective. And the truth awaits your intuition.” -From the case file Video above is property of Smoking Revolver Games 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 You're essentially given a case file - a snapshot of the case and its facts modeled after what would be something of a real police report - as well as other information that has been observed by the detective - that is you - in your own personal observation. From this you sift through the information, observe the images, think through it all, and try to narrow down the suspects until you've identified the one and only irrefutable killer. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 On the face of it there's a lot of information to work through, many motives to ponder, and many facts and circumstances to come to terms with. But upon conclusion I realized that for all the interesting information - and I liked the range of stuff presented to me, i liked the characters, i liked the details as it felt like a real case file - there really were only a couple facts that actually mattered and which could determine the killer, and these were simply given to you, and not something that you really had to deduce. This ironically may have been more of a mystery than the actual mystery itself. Where were the layers? The formula of any good mystery is that the player has to work through the information and make the necessary connections, and that in turn the mystery is revealed like the intricate peeling of a glass onion, as it were, a tightly wound and many layered mystery that only yields to proper deduction. But the mystery was very surface in the end, despite how much information we were presented with. Chalk this up to being a tutorial, but I have great hopes that the creators will come up with a much more complex deductive puzzle in their non-tutorial cases. See cases like the ones done by Cold Case Inc. for an example of a well layered mystery. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The bones of a good mystery are there. The writing, production, and scenario are all inspired. I believe we are just getting started with Smoking Revolver Games. I know this company, its creators, are just in their infancy, with lots of time to grow. The genre is not a new one, but it can always stand more novelty, and another inventive creator. I hope for their first big shot they will give us not just tease us with the appearance of a mystery - whose appearance they did very well - but drop a real engrossing and challenging yarn on us. (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 #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #SmokingRevolverGames #Mystery #Detective #Sweden

Photo above is property of Hatch Escapes Company: Hatch Escapes (Published by Arcane Wonders) Game: Mother of Frankenstein: Volume One (Prototype) Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Love, Mystery Date Played: October 31, 2020 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 8/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Suggested 1-6 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Suggested 10-15 hours) Price: $99.99 - $299.99 (Preorder now. Expected delivery Spring 2021) "This review was based on a prototype of the game. The actual product may differ." 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein) has left 3 books for her son. In this collection, you'll discover various challenge and puzzles she has left behind through hand written letters, jigsaw puzzles, mysterious objects and artifacts. Will you be able to follow the breadcrumbs and figure out how did the famous novel Frankenstein came about? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Our prototype game came in a small cardboard box. We only received Volume 1 of the game plus the start of Volume 2 (the 2D jigsaw puzzle part). When you purchase the game, you'll receive 3 locked books, loose documents, hand crafted letters, rotating rings, 2D jigsaw puzzle and a 3D castle of Frankenstein puzzle. You may also receive additional items if you've backed them on Kickstarter or if you got the plus or ultimate edition. Regardless of which game option you went with, you'll be amazed by the quality and ingenuity of the game design. 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Our prototype consisted of Volume one and the 300-piece jigsaw puzzle in volume 2. Volume one mainly described Mary's teenage years. It introduced all the excellent education her father was able to provide for her and therefore set a perfect stage for her achievements later on in life. We were also introduced to the poet she was having an affair with, Percy Shelley. The 15 hand written love letters were really pleasurable to read. I haven't really felt so emotional from a game until we played this one. The way Mary communicated her love and anger towards Percy was felt through her words. The puzzles were embedded so well in this immersive experience you almost don't feel like you're playing a game. Its as if you're watching a play and the puzzles were merely there to create a "secrecy" feeling of the affair. The prototype took us around 3.5 hours to play. We binged through it but didn't really feel tired at all. The story was too good to put down. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Volume one presented us with 3 assignments which was related to her education. We must complete poetry, music and astronomy. It was helpful that I had some music background but you can easily complete the puzzle without the knowledge from the clues provided. Poetry felt like the easier assignment out of the three. We did have to use a hint on astronomy. We liked the variations in puzzle types and the way they were designed made us feel like students again. There were hints available on there website but we felt that they could be more clear with a more extensive explanation (perhaps they'll revise it when the full game comes out). The love letter puzzle wasn't difficult but you'll have to like to read and be good at paying attention to details. The real challenging (but also the most fun) puzzle was the jigsaw. We haven't played one where it's in a circular shape and completed from inside out. The floor plan provided definitely helped. If you're clever enough, you should also spot something else that will help you in the right direction. We saw it midway and it definitely made the rest of the puzzle completion process much quicker. The final reveal was very satisfying. I really wanted to just frame that puzzle at that moment and never take it apart. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The prototype left us with a big cliffhanger moment. In volume 2, the story will take you to Castle Frankenstein in Germany. This is where you'll be using the 300-piece jigsaw puzzle that you've completed as a floor plan at a fancy ball in 1814. I wonder what could happen there? In volume 3, it's going to be even more epic! You're supposed to be constructing a 3D puzzle of Castle Frankenstein! This is where Mary learned from the famous alchemist and how she got inspired to write the first science fiction novel, Frankenstein. "Mother Of Frankenstein" transformed a table-top game into a beautiful immersive theater experience. Through the game play, we were able to feel emotions like happiness, sadness, surprise, confusion, empathy, accomplishment and more...The jigsaw puzzle was a perfect way to "piece" everything together and we can't wait to check out the final product! Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of these 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 Hatch Escapes for providing us with a beta sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #HatchEscapes #Mystery #Love #USA

Photo above is property of Hatch Escapes Company: Hatch Escapes (Published by Arcane Wonders) Game: Mother of Frankenstein - Complete Game Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Love, Mystery Date Played: May 13, 2023 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Suggested 1-6 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Suggested 10-15 hours) Price: $39.99 (Volume 1) $39.99 (Volume 2) $49.99 (Volume 3) $119.99 (Complete Game) $154.99 (Complete Game + Special Edition Novel) $179.99 (Complete Game + Special Edition Novel + Refill Pack + Hint Cards) "Previously we reviewed a prototype of Volume 1 - this review is of the official release and consists of Volumes 1, 2 and 3. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 (Volume 1) After her death, famous novelist, Mary Shelley, leaves a curious letter to her son Florence in her will - a letter encouraging him to unravel and puzzle through her life to uncover the secrets revolving around her renowned novel, Frankenstein. Filled with handwritten letters between husband and wife, poetry, jigsaws, music, and more, you, alongside Florence, will piece together the early life of young Mary where her story first began…as a woman in love with a married man. Inventory List for Volume 1: "Start Here" flyer with instructions and hint QR codes Letter from Mary Shelley Six foam boards with pop out pieces (red, green, and blue) Three envelopes labelled “Music,” “Astronomy,” and “Poetry” Inside each envelope contains different papers ranging from astronomy charts, famous poems and sonnets, and music sheets A solution envelope A card stack labelled “Hints” Photo above is property of Hatch Escapes 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 (Volume 2) Famous novelist Mary Shelley claims in one of her last letters she never could say aloud what led her towards her famous creation and she often feared the consequences. In a desperate attempt to connect with her son she leaves him a series of puzzles to show her side of the story. In Volume 1 we unravelled the blossoming romance between her and her soon-to-be husband Percy Shelley and what that led them to depart England and where but, alongside Florence, we now must dive into a place that planted the seed to inspire her famous work and uncover what happened that fateful night and the events that followed. Mary doesn’t make it easy, though, and we must solve puzzles and riddles to gain the vital truth and the revelations it will leave. No pressure! Inventory List for Volume 2: "Start Here" flyer with instructions and hint QR codes Letter from Mary Shelley A plastic bag containing puzzle pieces Two illustrations An invitation A dance card Mary's Research Journal Sign Up Cards Letter to Mary from Percy An answer card to fill out Letter from C Hint cards Photo above is property of Hatch Escapes 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 (Volume 3) After learning about the revelations that forced Mary to run, we now enter her final chapter. In this volume we fast forward years after she left the fateful place and the tragedies she faced on that journey…in turn uncovering what broke her and rebuilt her anew all that time ago. As you build the castle piece by piece you are encouraged to explore the steps Mary took in these hallowed halls and, once and for all, see what is the legacy of Mary Shelley long after her death. Inventory List for Volume 3: "Start Here" flyer with instructions and hint QR codes Letter from Mary Shelley Map of Castle Estate (you can also use the puzzle from Volume 2) A large plastic bag containing foam puzzle pieces Eight thick story book pages Twelve pages of cut-out for roof assembly Foam board labelled "Ramparts" An envelope labelled "Valediction" Hint cards Photo above is property of Hatch Escapes 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Each volume arrives in a separate board game box with a portrait of Mary Shelley emblazoned on the lid. There is a synopsis and review quotes on the back and side to entice you to pick it up. I felt the box was quite clean but I will note it doesn’t look like a book as Mary says in her first letter to Florence. Inside Volume One, you will find three sealed and coloured packets, labelled “Poetry,” “Astronomy,” and “Music.” In addition there is a letter from Shelley introducing her puzzle adventure to her son and I found it quite endearing and poignant. You will also find a series of foam boards holding round puzzle pieces that you will be assembling in the game later. Inside each of the coloured packets are a series of letters, poems, astronomy pages, music and more that all will help paint a picture of the relationship between Mary Shelley and her husband, Percy Shelley. In addition, there is a pamphlet with historical information on the novelist if you are interested - though it isn’t necessary to play the game. I found the paper quality of the items to be clean. They had an aged look to them which always grabs my attention and I felt the handwriting added to the experience without being illegible - and the story contained in them actually got to me at times! This game is definitely packed with a lot of contents that are sure to keep you entertained! The different puzzles are sturdy and easy to manipulate. There is variety to the components that engages audiences and detail that I appreciated like the illuminated manuscripts on Volume Three. I recommend airing out the plastic 3d puzzle as it does have a very chemical smell upon opening. In addition, there is also a manual guide with a QR code for hints and music but you also have physical hints cards in each box, which means you do not require the internet to plan this game! Any information provided about Mary Shelley is purely for those interested. 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 For Volume One, you are getting a taste of the greater journey by dipping your toes into the world. Essentially, you need to align the rings in order in order to unravel the location to where Mary and Percy left after the hasty departure from England. Each packet can be played in any order but I will say the letters contained can be read in a particular order (hint hint!). Each packet is self contained but once you have assembled the rings you will require items from different packets to solve for the final location. In amongst the puzzling, the letters will provide you with a window into the early life of Mary before she married and the affair that developed between her and Percy. I found them engaging and did an excellent job to draw players into the lives of these characters. Volume Two is set up for three stages of game play to be spread out as laid out in Mary’s letter. First is the assemble to jigsaw puzzle which took quite a bit of time (technically you could do this as the second stage as well but I did it first). The second stage has you tracking the movements of Mary, Percy, Claire, and another individual’s (spoilers if I give the name) throughout an evening using a series of papers left with logic based clues to determine where she went that evening. The final stage has us diving into Mary’s research journal to uncover why Mary left the castle of her friend so abruptly. Each dated entry contains a puzzle leading towards a clue to a message left by Mary for us to uncover the truth and boy was it fascinating. I like how this volume switched up the game play to continue to make this game fresh and interesting. I also found I was learning a lot about the characters too (in particular Percy Shelley sure does a 180 in character). I found the stages allowed me to break up the game throughout my day and provide good breaking points for players who needed to take a break and regroup. The ending has me very intrigued by the twist that is developing… For Volume Three, this is probably physically the most complicated volume of the three. As directed in the manual, this game is broken into three parts. First, you have to assemble the 3D jigsaw puzzle of the estate…sounds easy enough? This will probably be the most time consuming part of the game so be prepared. What makes this tricky is that you only have three angles of the estate depicted on the sides of the box to use as your guide. There are certain spots you will not see…BUT it is pretty easy to figure out. I recommend focusing on building sides before assembling and windows will be the easiest to start assembling.Overall I assembled it in about 6 hours as a mainly single player (my partner tapped out). After you have assembled the puzzle you must now turn to the roof (but first, go read the story on the illuminated pages). Now some of the roofs contain puzzles to go alongside them that will help you in part three. Use the roof pieces as clues. After you solve the puzzle you can assemble the roof - just be mindful of the correct folds. Finally, once the castle is assembled you follow a series of riddles encouraging you to identify different locations of the estate, once you find a corresponding symbol that matches the symbols on the back of the manuscript you are to open it up and follow its instructions. Each will guide you with another riddle until you reach the end of the road. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 I found the puzzles in Volume One to boast a pretty good variety for players and encouraged you to have more players, especially any players with musical background! I found these puzzles had a good balance with searching, riddles, tracking, pattern recognition, and logic. They require careful attention and being able to notice connections between objections/papers not always apparent at first. I found some puzzles were definitely more tricky for me and I think this lends itself to being a game for groups over single players. I also noted one puzzle needed anagramming without explicitly stating it did. Thankfully hints are an option and I love how much they encourage you to take one - you aren't meant to struggle for hours on one puzzle. Instead you are doing these to uncover a beautiful journey and story. In Volume Two, I really enjoyed how each stage provided us with a different challenge of puzzling from the simplistic (yet still challenging) jigsaw to the deduction based puzzling on the night of the ball and finally with the logic based puzzling in the journal that had a unique alchemic twist. This is a game tailored to having players really collaborate on each puzzle in this volume which shakes things up. I did wish the jigsaw puzzle image were slightly larger as trying to compare pieces could be blurring but it was a peaceful start to the adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the deduction puzzle because it provided an immersive story through sources to explore on top of tracking character movements. The research journey was a bit tricky for me with having to track between pages but the reveal at the end really captured the mystery of the game. This volume did an excellent job bringing together experienced and new players alike. No additional skills were an asset like music in the first one but, instead, talking through observations and patterns unveiled puzzles piece by piece. The variety to the physical components fully drew you in and I devoured this game over the course of a day. Finally, the puzzling in Volume Three is an interesting one. Admittedly I struggled the most with the roofs as they required a lot of visual awareness that I don’t have but the assembly of the jigsaw was actually the most time intensive - that is to say the 4-6 play time on the box depends on having a large group to work together. I found the array of puzzles were focused primarily on logic and riddles which I thought was an excellent choice after spending so much time building. The way the story was immersed in the puzzle and unfolded made for such an amazing experience. It really encouraged you to focus and observe the house which was honestly the star of the game. You will just need time and patience to work through it. I don’t want to spoil too much as this is the climax of the story but let me say it is rewarding but it will take time building up to it (ie. building the castle and roof). 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The ending of this journey provides a thought provoking sensation befitting of the famous novel at its core. The story was rich in narrative and the variety of puzzle and activity draws in all types of players. I will say I recommend this for groups as there is a lot to tackle here and discuss. I was invested and following Mary’s life this way is I think one of the best ways to provide historical fiction to audiences. The blending of story and puzzle is outstanding and players will be thoroughly impressed. I think this is definitely a game people should take a chance on if you love both jigsaw puzzles and escape game puzzles because it blends both beautifully. The only question I am left with is…what will Hatch Escape do next? Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of these 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 Hatch Escapes for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JillianRaymond #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #HatchEscapes #MotherOfFrankenstein #Love #mystery #USA

LOCATION: Prague, Czech Republic Photo above is property of MindMaze Prague Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Nautilus 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 8, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Steampunk Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: Off-peak: 2090 CZK (2-3 ppl), 2390 CZK (4-6 ppl) On-peak: 2290 CZK (2-3 ppl), 2690 CZK (4-6 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [33:57] 📖 THE STORY Professor Baron Emmanuel von Katzenstein und Kartoffelberg is a genius - an inventor, an adventurer, an explorer, and a madman. Very rich by the way. His letter reaches you, wherein the Professor asks for your help. Will you get to drive the submarine that the Professor used to hunt sea-monsters with? Or perhaps he wants you to continue his experiments to find a way to scientifically measure magic? Either way, you can be sure, an adventure awaits! Video above is property of MindMaze Prague 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Without doubt, this is my favorite Nautilus/submarine game to date… and I’ve played a fair few! The primary reason for making such a bold claim is down to the storytelling and adventure sequence. In all other submarine games I have played, we always seem to magically start in the sub at the bottom of the ocean; I’ve no idea how we got there! Here we begin in the professor’s office and have to figure how to get in the sub, then we have to actually ‘drive’ … ‘sail’ (?) the sub to our destination, and then get back in to finally make our way back home. It is a complete story with thoughtfully and successfully carried out transitions between each of the different spaces. For us, this was the game’s biggest success and I instantly threw out a ‘hallelujah’ when I saw it! The plotlines were not the only immersive feature; the room’s construction was also incredibly well done. An extensive number of authentic props were used, especially in the professor’s office, and very high-quality materials, which combined to give an excellent steampunk adventure. There wasn’t a large number of special effects (there could certainly have been more), but the ones implemented worked well and enhanced the experience. We found the sequence of puzzles to be well themed and played along with the story, particularly when we were inside the submarine itself. The game wasn’t always linear and it did provide ample opportunity for players to collaborate with one another when completing tasks. We particularly enjoyed trying to steer the ship through the treacherous ocean. The intro video was fun and well produced, the actor did a good job playing the zany professor. We also enjoyed the way he introduced us to the hint system, which was unique and quirky, in keeping with the rest of the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Our biggest grievance was that there weren’t enough puzzles, we wanted more! Particularly in the final room (no spoilers) which is kind of the climax of the whole story and yet it only had a couple of quick to solve puzzles. We wished there was more inside to see and do; I think we only spent about five minutes (or less) inside before rushing back on board the Nautilus. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is a wonderful family weight or beginner’s room. The puzzles were engaging and logical to complete, coupled with a compelling story. Experienced players may find many of the puzzles to be too simplistic, however the set design and sequence of events should still make it a worthwhile adventure. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. However, there is street parking in the surrounding area and a tram stop close by. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and drinks for sale. Photos above are property of MindMaze Prague (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 MindMaze Prague 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 #MindMaze #Steampunk #Adventure #Prague #CzechRepublic

LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA Photo above is property of Escape Room 66 Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Mush Room 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 4, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $90.00 - $280.00 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [36:35] 📖 THE STORY Lost and trapped inside a magical grotto filled with mystical creatures, you must sacrifice and work together towards escaping the clutches of the evil witch, before you end up being baked into one of her confectionaries! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Our game begins with a unique twist and immediate dilemma. One of us (me), is locked in a small cage with a challenging and potentially time-consuming path to freedom. However, a shortcut is on offer, but it comes at a price. We chose to ignore the shortcut, I was able to escape quite quickly, which was both satisfying and rewarding (literally, it gave us a bonus to use later in the game!). The room’s décor and construction could be a divisive topic, because although it is incredibly simple by design and rather minimal in terms of props and effects, it still has a whimsical charm about it. The bright colors and fairytale-like theming is welcoming and friendly, which is particularly good if you play with children. Most rooms today are typically built on a bigger budget and incorporate some kind of special effects, yet we were still satisfied with the environment created. We found all the puzzles to be intuitive and relatable to the room’s theming. Although this is a very low-tech room, we still had fun crunching through all the padlocks and interacting with the elements around us. The focus of the puzzles was obviously about being dynamic and tangible, we seemed to always be moving or manipulating something, like ropes, donuts, or fishing rods, which made the experience more memorable. (Sur)Prizes! This room was full of little sweet treats which you are free to nibble away on and take home with you, but you have to work for them, so the quicker you get through the puzzles, the more treats you’ll unlock. And who doesn’t like free candy? 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The game lacks any real cooperative puzzles. Even when you begin the game separated, that initial puzzle only requires minimal teamwork to complete. After this point, I believe it would be possible to complete the room solo. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is a room which will likely have a wide appeal, particularly for families and less experienced players. We played as a duo which was perfect for us, I wouldn’t have wanted to play with any more because of how simple and narrow the puzzles were. That said, the game is just downright fun, and if you enjoy the satisfaction of opening a bunch of padlocks then this is definitely worth playing. We had a great time, leaving with a smile on our face and a pocket full of candy! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. There is a car park, however it is all private parking. Free parking is available on the residential streets either side of the escape room. There is a small lobby area with comfortable seating and fun aesthetic. This game is wheelchair accessible. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure:  We thank Escape Room 66 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 #EscapeRoom66 #Fantasy #California #USA

Photo above is property of The Mystery Agency Company: The Mystery Agency Game: The Balthazar Stone Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Adventure Date Played: August 12, 2021 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Can be solved alone. Recommended for ages 14+) Time: Unlimited Price: £40 inc. VAT. Shipping for 1 game - £3.59 UK, £21 USA. 10% off purchases of 3 or more games with code MULTIBUY10 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Legend has it that a cursed stone lies locked inside an ancient treasure chest. To open it, you will have to journey to Sharkstooth Island with Elsa and unravel the mysteries that will help you to reveal the secrets trapped within. Can you find out what became of Elsa’s father along the way? It’s said that some people have been driven mad trying to solve this mystery and open the chest! Dare you try?!! 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ The quality of this set strikes you as soon as you receive it. The outer cardboard box is enticing, smart and sturdy. Upon opening it you reveal an ornate real wood chest which really does make you feel excited to crack it open and discover the secrets it holds. It is locked with a small 3 digit padlock and comes with its own illustrated travel tag. Also inside the box is a page from an old “newspaper” containing a news story and on the back an unfinished crossword puzzle and some small ads. That’s all you see until you crack the first puzzle, but after that the physical artifacts are of good quality, varied and plentiful! Photo above is property of The Mystery Agency 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 To get started you must enter a code from inside the box into the Agency’s website, and reveal your workspace containing your first clue, a hint file and a computer where it asks you for the answer (this felt a little bit “spoilerish” due to it revealing what you will be seeing at the end). Once you have opened your first clue though you are underway and once the chest is open, a selection of items is made available to you to continue the story and containing further puzzles. Below these - ANOTHER PADLOCK! Sadly our box had either not been glued correctly or had suffered a bashing, and the internal walls had collapsed a little, revealing some of what was hidden in the next compartment, but we tried to restore it without peeking too hard at what was contained in there. During the course of the game you will use physical clues, read notes, use maps and codes and access websites in order to solve the puzzles, unlock the secrets and make your way down to the very bottom of the chest where lies what you seek! There’s no real jumping ahead - although you are not led through the next steps, you will have limited information at each stage, so if it feels like you can’t progress with a puzzle, then you may not yet have all the information you need. So just put it aside and try something else. There is a fair bit of reading in the game and a lot of it is in either quite small or a cursive handwriting font, so get your spectacles on before you start! Once you have completed the game and provided the final solution, you get a digital certificate and, very kindly, a set of instructions for resetting the box, meaning as long as you don’t write on any materials and treat everything carefully you can re-gift this for someone else to enjoy. We found with a paper and pen handy we didn’t need to write on anything, although if you have the option you could make photocopies in order to give you something to work with. Photos above are properties of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There is a very nice mix of puzzles in this set, starting right from when you open the packaging, and all the puzzles seem to be in keeping with the theme of pirates, curses and adventuring. Some of them are more straightforward than others, but that’s preferable to them all being too easy or too hard. The hint system on the Agency’s website is very clever - giving you a file of all the puzzles you will be solving, containing 2 progressive hints and then the answer, with a very thorough explanation of how the answer is reached, so you’re never left wondering “but why?!”. After watching another solver complete this game and then reading the hints, we realized that we had gone about some puzzles in an entirely different way but had arrived at the same answer, which surprised us, and, if unintended by the creators then just an odd coincidence! All in all it took the two of us around 90 minutes to solve (not against the clock). 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 This was an amazing debut by The Mystery Agency, founded by Henry Lewis of the wonderful Mischief Theatre (for even more fun check out their plays, DVDs and TV shows!) We kickstarted the full set of three, so they worked out cheaper than they are now available for, but I feel that as long as you fully immerse yourself in the story and take the puzzles and adventure slowly, then this is great value for money. There were some known issues with the inside of the chest for earlier adopters, such as our box structure mentioned earlier, with broken internal walls or locks that had come away from their shackles. Be sure to take your exploration of the physical elements slowly and don’t use these as an opportunity to cheat! There are also some logistics issues for the deliveries but considering this is a new venture for a small team new to the market, its initial popularity and what with Brexit, Covid and other barriers to deal with, this is not surprising and some patience may be needed, but it is very much worth the wait. We can’t wait to see what other mischief we get up to in the other two titles from this group, and from the website, it looks like a fourth is already in the planning! (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"!) #HelenBailey #AtHomeGames #Puzzlebymail #OneOffs #Adventure #TheMysteryAgency #UnitedKingdom