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Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Company: Society of Curiosities Game: The Memory Stone Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Adventure Date Played: March 6, 2021 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6.5/10 Size of Team: Unlimited Time: Unlimited Price: $19.50/Month; $49/3months; $179/Yearly 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 One of our researchers, Clarence Gladstone, had gone missing! But right before her disappearance, she was able to find a precious artifact: the memory stone. Our consultant in the field, Victor Hallingsworth has tracked her last known location to the Amazon forest in Brazil. I hope with the information provided by the headquarter, you would be able to assist us at finding Clarence's whereabouts. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ I've never been disappointed by the quality of Society of Curiosities' games. You can tell they put a lot of hard work and personalization into each and every game that they produced. This one was no different. All the papers were aged by hand and if you look carefully, you'll even see the various coloration differences on them. The key is made from real copper and even has a faded ancient look. To keep the review spoiler free, you'll need to find out what other "surprises" came with this package on your own. On the surface, you'll see four "Do Not Open" envelopes, a key with a letter, and a small wrapped item. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 In this game, you'll be using items you've received in the mail, text messaging (this is optional as they do have an online communication portal as well), and other website resources. This is our fourth adventure with Society of Curiosities so we're quite used to their game design at this point. I really liked the added option of interacting with our field agent over the internet instead of text messages as sometimes the text messaging service could encounter some delays, We played this game entirely with the online interface and it was really smooth. As we initiated our first contact with the field agent, our first mission was given back to us through the text bot. It was quite clear on what we had to do next. Once we input the correct answer, the text bot will then narrate what they are seeing in the field along with website links that we might need as additional clues. Inputs sometimes needed to be quite specific but this is one of my favorite parts of the game. Sometimes I'll type in random things just to see how the field agent would respond. Make sure to play the game in sequence by following the instructions on which envelope to open when told to do so. Don't let your impatient other half try to open everything at the beginning of the game! There's a lot of really cool surprises waiting to be discovered and it's more fun to peel open the layers slowly. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There's a good mixture of ciphers and visual puzzles in this game. I love how everything that's considered as a prop became a useful tool during the solving process. The narratives paired with the beautifully illustrated pictures really painted the story in front of our eyes. Society of Curiosities never forgets their root (they were escape room owners prior to tabletop game designers) when designing puzzles. In this game, there were definitely moments I felt like I was playing an in-person escape room with the actions I had to take. My favorite puzzle had to be the tactile puzzle that we had to construct in the latter part of the game. It was such a cool piece that they made out of their own laser cutting machine. I was surprised by the details and colors that went on to the game piece. The utilization for it as a puzzle was also quite "dream-like". This piece is definitely going on my shelf of "cool board game prop display". Photos above are property of Society of Curiosities 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 This is yet another really fun experience with Society of Curiosities. Every game we always experience something new and they are constantly improving. I really appreciate how the designers thought of everything a player would need for a game. Make sure to hop on to their website portal before starting the game to get in the mood by turning on the embedded music and making the yummy themed drink! If you're not great at reading scripted writing, they have a typed version for you in the hint area. And if you are really lucky, you might even get the "real" field agent responding to you in real time! Make sure you have your comebacks ready as he/she is quite quick and clever with theirs! Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of these game: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 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 Society of Curiosities 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. #CiciCao #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SocietyOfCuriosities #Adventure #Canada

Photo above is property of Society of Curiosities Company: Society of Curiosities Game: The Posey Ring and the Chapbook Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Adventure Date Played: September 16, 2020 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6.5/10 Size of Team: Unlimited Time: Unlimited Price: $19.50/ Month; $49.00/ 3-months; $179.00/ Yearly It's been awhile since we've updated on Society of Curiosity because we wanted to give you an overview on all the mailers we've received after the first mailer, "Madok's Lost Treasure". If you signed up for their quarterly or yearly plan, a new adventure will arrive in your mailbox every 3 months along with a mini mystery and a skill-building postcard in between. The mini mystery for "Madok's Lost Treasure" came with a letter from Madok's fiancée, drawing of a compass, cipher key and a rendering of the antique coin that you received in the first adventure. As always, the adventure started with texting "Pippa" (you'll need to have either a US, Canada, or UK phone number) and you'll receive instructions on the next steps. Once you found the solutions to the puzzles, you'll need to submit them as text messages to "Pippa". In the text message, you may receive various links to other websites with useful clues and resources. We loved the consistency on the quality of their game contents. The aged paper, waxed seal and beautifully scripted letter really bought us back in time. Although this was a mini mystery, it was still a well designed multi-step puzzle that'll give you a fulfilling hour's play. The Skill-building postcard was a great way for beginner puzzlers to discover a new cipher and for experienced puzzlers to learn about the history behind a cipher they probably used in previous games. It was also a pretty postcard that you could savor as a keepsake. "The Posey Ring and The Chapbook" was the newest adventure from Society of Curiosities. In this mailer we received a locket, a chapbook, a constellation map, a card featuring constellations, a photograph, a map, and 3 envelopes marked "Do Not Open". Once again our instruction was to text "Pippa" to start the journey. This was a continuation from the previous adventure so do play them in order to get the full story. The first part of the game made us look through clues that was left behind by a secret society. They definitely embedded the solutions to the puzzles in a way that made it felt like it was design by a secret society. Brandon of course went to the only thing that didn't have "Do Not Open" written on it and started exploring the tiny package. Good thing this time he was supposed to open it in advance and we're glad that we discovered it early. The use of codenames and props definitely enhanced the secrecy of the society even more. After a few more complicated puzzles, we're glad to get a few breathers puzzles and as we solved those, our field agent opened up a whole new world for us to explore. Like always, we were surprised by the creativity of Society of Curiosities and having our real world be confused by the game world. Does this secret society really exist? If that's the way that we're allowed our entry, then we like to be enrolled please! As we started to open up the envelopes (when instructed), more surprises jumped out at us! Without giving away any spoilers, all I can say is, it felt magical. All the items had a purpose and before we did anything we always had to ask each other: "Should we do it? ok....I'm going to do it. Oh wow! Something is actually happening!". The use of digital world's visuals in collaboration with the mailer contents really made this game come together seamlessly. The way the final puzzle was designed reminded us of a puzzle we would see in a physical escape room. That was a nice "cherry on top" finish. The final mailer we received was the mini mystery for the adventure above. It contained a loose sheet of paper found in the alchemy manuscript and 4 paper samples. When you receive the manuscript, it might be hard to read some of the written words. If that's the case, refer to the website under the "hints" section for the translation. "Pippa" started our game after receiving our text. If you are familiar with alchemy, you might have a slight advantage on the translation section of this puzzle. This was probably our favorite mini puzzle out of the games we've played. It's not too difficult but full of "wow" moments. The meta puzzle gave us a satisfying closure. But till this day, there's still a mystery from one of the puzzles that we're still waiting for it's final "reveal"... Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 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 Society of Curiosities 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. #CiciCao #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SocietyOfCuriosities #Adventure #Canada

Photo above is property of Society of Curiosities Company: Society of Curiosities Game: Madok's Lost Treasure Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Adventure Date Played: May 19, 2020 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7/10 Size of Team: Unlimited Time: Unlimited Price: $39.00/ Quarterly; $149.00/ Yearly Society of Curiosities was created by a lovely couple who are puzzle lovers themselves. They played numerous games and even own an escape room on the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii! You can join the society by the quarterly program or the yearly program. They feel confident enough about their products that they will allow you to cancel anytime. Every 3 month, you'll get a new game in your mailbox (with 2 mysterious mailing in between). Although there may be some build up of the story line from the previous, you can play them independently. So feel free to join in the adventure anytime! "Madok's Lost Treasure" was their very first creation. My secret obsession when I was a kid was treasure hunting. When we got the mail in our mailbox, I felt like a kid again. The wax seal was a nice touch to the mystery we were about to unfold. From the aged paper stock to the type of envelope used, we felt the intricate details the creators wholeheartedly put into the game. You'll need to use some modern day technology tools (phone/internet) with this game. We enjoyed that concept since it made sense to dug up some intel first on where the treasure could possibility be before deploying our ground team for the mission. Some of the design elements of the game felt so real that we started to wonder, do these places actually exist? Shall we pack our bags and go dig up some treasures? There was literally a point during the game when we looked at each other and said: " Is this real?". This was definitely a fun journey Society of Curiosities took us on and now we're official a "curious" fan and can't wait for the next chapter! Photos above are property of Society of Curiosities Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 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 Society of Curiosities 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. #CiciCao #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SocietyOfCuriosities #Pirates #Adventure #Canada

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room NYC 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Houdini's Workshop 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 25, 2020 🎬 GENRE: Magic, Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY It's October 31, 1926 and Harry Houdini just passed away. Houdini was an illusionist and stunt performer famous for his escape acts. However, the world was always skeptical of his mystical abilities. Houdini was also known for taking part in seances in order to expose the fake and fraudulent. Clue Chase labs believes that the real reason Houdini was holding these events was to search for the only real source of mystic power in this world – The Artifact. Due to his death, we must ensure that any research or discoveries he made during his time on earth do not fall into the wrong hands. We must search his workshop and protect the artifact. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE One thing that we love about Clue Chase is the game master's commitment to their characters. Every employee at Clue Chase Labs is wearing a lab coat ready to send you on your mission right when you walk into the door. Prior to entering "Houdini's Workshop", we were briefed outside the room and had to find our way in. We always appreciate that extra step of having to figure out how to break into a room and then having to "escape" it at the end. The set design actually felt like an illusionist's workshop w/ props and devices from the 1920's. Every puzzle was cleverly designed to incorporate a bit of magic in them (the ending was our favorite part!). There was a good variety of puzzles in this room with a creative prop integrations. The utilization of our surroundings and approach to solving them was cleverly implemented. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We wish there were a bit more special effect enhancing the "magical" reveals when solving some of the puzzles. During the day when we played the game, the music was not working so we are unsure if there were alerts when a certain puzzle was solved or not. At times, we were having issues finding what was activated. Certain prop design felt more embellished than others. It would be great to upgrade those to match up to other prop standards. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Who doesn't love Houdini? You already know that this room is going to have a mysterious look and feel to it. It was nice to be able to feel like we had gone back in time to witness and uncover his secrets. This room is great for large groups that like to spread out and search for clues in an open setting. I'm sure at least one of you will leave the room with a sprinkle of magic in your heart. 🔎 HINT Try seeing things from their perspective. Photos above are property of PanIQ Room NYC (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 PanIQ Room NYC (formerly Clue Chase) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLEscapeRooms #EscapeRoom #PanIQRoom #Magic #Mystery #NYC #USA

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room NYC 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Pirates of The Bermuda Triangle 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 25, 2020 🎬 GENRE: Pirate, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The crew of the Hades' Plunder has locked the captain in his quarters and stolen whatever they deemed to be valuable except a stone which is believed to be the artifact. You must sneak onto the ship and help the captain get the treasure safely to shore before the ship sinks along with the artifact. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We love escape room games that allow us to start a game prior to entering the "room". In this case, we started off on the docks attempting to sneak onto the ship. The usage of lights and sounds really helped elevate the experience. Once on the "ship", we immediately felt the transformation. The set design really set the tone and allowed us to fully embark on our expedition. All the puzzle designs were cleverly constructed in a way that it required us to actually navigate the ship. There were quite a few unexpected surprises along the way. Much like the other games offered by Clue Chase, the story line was really unique and tied in with time travel and the search for the artifact. We applaud them for their ability to take popular themes/ settings and create an entirely different mission objectives. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was a puzzle that we felt the cluing was a bit confusing to follow. Some mechanisms felt like there was a delay with the activation. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? As you know, pirate-themed escape rooms are extremely popular and can become repetitive and unoriginal. What separates "Pirates of the Bermuda Triangle" from the other games is the completion of the experience from beginning to end. We started off on the docks attempting to sneak onto the ship, which led us to help the captain navigate our way to safely reach the shore for disembarkation. If you love story-driven adventures that really put you in the driver seat of your own movie, this game will definitely provide that immersive experience. Photos above are property of PanIQ Room NYC (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 PanIQ Room NYC (formerly Clue Chase) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLEscapeRooms #EscapeRoom #PanIQRoom #Pirate #Adventure #NYC #USA

Videos/ Photos provided by Clue Chase Company: Clue Chase Game: The Scarab's Curse Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Detective Date Played: 11/7/2020 Difficulty (based on 4 players): 4.5/10 Size of Team: Up to 6 Players Time: Unlimited Price: $40/ team 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 It is the year 1939. Everyone's busy filming the new movie "The Scarab's Curse" in the CC studio lot when suddenly the lead actress Veronica St. Clair died in the middle of an active sound stage. The police has the entire studio in lock shutdown so hopefully you will be able to find the murderer within the 30 cast members! 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 This game was designed with Clue Chase's own interface. It's a point-n-click game where all the members were able to login together and work on the puzzles as a team. The graphics were very detailed and beautifully portrayed a movie set back in the 1930s. We really liked the fact that each player was able to roam around on their own to gather clues and record what they've found. Eventually we're able to piece them together and work on a solution. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The game was divided into segments that sort of resembled scenes in a movie. Some "scenes" had a few puzzles that were non-linear so the teammates were able to solve them simultaneously but the final puzzle that led us to the next scene would always need the collaboration from everyone. This was great in the sense that if you did get lost during the scene, you'll eventually be able to join in with the others to move on to the next scene. The puzzles were not too difficult and a lot of them felt like clue finding (which stuck with the storyline). As you go through the game, you'll be presented with information that's useful to the current scene and others that you'll need for later scenes. Since you won't be able to return to the previous scenes, it's best to write them down or take a quick snapshot of the screen. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 The concept behind the game really reminded me of "Clue". As we found various pieces of evidences on the movie set and different statements from the cast members, we're able to eventually found out who was the culprit that killed Veronica St. Clair. Our recommended team size for this game is 2-4 people but you can easily play this game on your own. Good luck detective! (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 Clue Chase for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOMers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #ClueChase #TheScarabsCurse #OnlineEscapeRoom #DigitalEscapeGame #detective

Videos/ Photos provided by Clue Chase Company: Clue Chase Game: Mothership Over Manhattan Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Sci-Fi Date Played: 5/11/2021 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 5.5/10 Size of Team: Up to 6 Players Time: Unlimited (Suggested time Approx. 1.5-2 Hrs) Price: $20/ team 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 An expedition into space in 1993 brought back something from space that they shouldn't have. Soon after. Aliens invaded NYC. The only means of communication is through the underground tunnels. Our only hope is to activate 3 beacons in order to find what they're looking for. Hopefully it's no too late to save our city... 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Once you receive the link for the game, you and your teammates can log on together. Wait for all members to join before clicking "start" game. One cool feature about this game is that it'll save your progress automatically so if you can't finish the game in one shot, just log in with the same link and it'll allow you to resume from where you left off. Since there's no set time limit, you can play it in any type of way you like. As a bunch of enthusiasts, we were definitely eager to solve the puzzle as quickly as possible and completed the game without hints in 45 minutes or so. The game is synced so if one player types in an answer, the screen will reflect that for the rest of the players. If an incorrect answer was entered, the system will show who's the player that entered it and what the wrong answer was. You won't get penalized for wrong guesses but this option was great as it prevented the same wrong answers to be entered over and over again. The only thing I wish the game could have let us do is to be able to go back to the puzzles and review them again when the game is finished or even during the game. At times, one of our players would like to try an answer that they think is right and if it so happens to be correct, he doesn't really have time to explain as the game will push us forward to the next puzzle. Most of the puzzles given were images or videos but they are not interactive in the sense that you're able to click, drop or merge. It's best to keep your phone handy for this game as some clues gained along the way would be needed at a later time. It's much easier to snapshot a photo rather than draw or write them down. Lastly. an optional sound track is available if you like to play with some ambience music but we chose not to since communication was more important to us. 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There were a lot of puzzles in this game. They were a lot of fun since they varied in types. Some were easy to spot and we're able to solve it rather quickly and others took us time and we worked as a group to decode items separately. The variations of puzzles gave each player a chance to shine with their strength. If you're playing with a group, I would suggest having a designated solution input person. The issue I found while playing this game with a group of players is that some are going to be stronger puzzlers than others and if they are quick solvers, some other players might not be able to catch up or be able to understand the puzzle in time. Although the game suggested that Google might be needed, our teammates were full of useless (i mean useful) knowledge so we totally bypassed that part. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Regardless of the type of puzzle, I like how "Clue Chase" was able to connect them to the storyline. There were signals, alien language, various landmarks of NYC and more! Since we live in NY, it was extra close to the heart. I don't even remember when was the last time I took the subway so it was great to be able to see those colorful circles in the game. I can't wait to explore the city again but for now this is a great way to spend some leisure time at home. 𝔼𝕊ℂ𝔸ℙ𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔼ℝ𝕆𝕆𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕤 ℙ𝕒𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕟❜𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 Kobi R. The goal of the game is the save New York and we're a team led by a scientist. Science and tech are the common thread in the tasks, with a background story along the way. The story's presence isn't very substantial but the theme has it's impact and it really adds to the experience. In terms of difficulty, other than one Medium logic puzzle, all puzzles felt pretty straight forward and relatively easy. There are a few things I haven't encountered before that were pretty refreshing. A few cool things about the platform: You can see the different guesses made by your team members You see the correct answer at every stage you pass cons: You can't go back at any given point this is a linear game, I prefer mine to be non-linear almost no exploration needed Melvin L. Mothership Over Manhattan by Clue chase is played in the same format as their demo game and Scarab's curse. Basically, the game is a series of webpages that includes audio/video clues for you to solve a puzzle. You can try their demo game to see how the system works as the actual game is exactly the same. For Mothership, it was an improvement as the puzzles made more sense, though it was on the simple side. The good thing I like about their system is that you are able to see what your teammates' attempts are. Hence, even if you are on your own train of thought and wish to try something, if you saw that your teammate has already tried that, you know that you are on the wrong track. Whenever a correct answer is entered, everyone will be directed into the next page. This is the point where I disliked this system. It really depends on the group, but if you are playing this game and you have an 'alpha' who is in control, who likes to think of the solution himself/herself and just entered to 'check' if he is correct before explaining what he is trying, the rest might miss out on the puzzle as they will all be brought into the next page immediately if the answer is correct! There is no way to go back to check on the puzzle that means they will be losing out on the joy of understanding the puzzle. For my group, it wasn't really an issue as we were a group of enthusiasts, therefore, we were all about the same page, in the sense that we took roughly an equal amount of time to understand what the puzzle is asking us to do. My teammates also voiced out what they were trying and how they get it most of the time so we can follow along quickly. But this could be an issue for beginner groups as stated above. Overall, it is a fun little game to try, but I will recommend this for at most 2 to 4 people. (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 Clue Chase for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOMers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #ClueChase #MothershipOverManhattan #OnlineEscapeRoom #DigitalEscapeGame #scifi #IndependenceDay #alien #extraterrestrial #martian #ufo #abduction

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room NYC 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Wild West 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 15, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Western 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $22.00 - $34.00/ pp (pending on weekday/weekend) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes This escape room is a storefront, so it's quite easy to find. When you walk in, there's a small waiting area with a few puzzle pieces on the table. The game master will then show up to debrief you before entering your game. Once you enter the room, you will feel like you are immersed into a Western movie set and you are a cowboy trying not to get caught stealing loot from the saloon. Due to the dim lighting, we did miss some really obvious clues in the beginning. Once we got passed that, the puzzles were quite clear and linear to solve. We came across a puzzle which we felt most people could spot an easy way out and just guess where to place a certain clue piece. We informed the game master, so hopefully they'll resolve the issue. The props were well maintained and authentic. We didn't encounter any red herrings which we appreciated. We escaped with 15 minutes to spare with four people. We'll be back to challenge their hardest game "Perfect Crime" next time. Photos above are property of PanIQ Room NYC *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** #BrandonChow #IRLEscapeRooms #EscapeRoom #PanIQRoom #Western #NYC #USA

LOCATION: New York City, New York, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room NYC 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Perfect Crime 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 28, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Detective 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 8.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 7ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $22.00 - $34.00/ pp (pending on weekday/weekend) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Please read our "Wild West" room to get more details about this escape location. We are back to challenge their hardest room with our original four. This "whodunit?" room seems a bit plain for a crime room. If you like the board game "Clue", you would probably enjoy this a bit more. We didn't really follow the storyline much as it wasn't too clear on where the puzzles were leading us. There were a few puzzles that we got stuck on due to a malfunctioning of one of the tech pieces. We knew that because when we asked for hint, we didn't even complete the puzzle and the clue fell out already. It seemed as if it was manually done. Also our game master was not as attentive as the one we had last time. There were times when we asked for a clue that we had to wait for a few minutes with no response even though we repeatedly asked for a hint. There was one puzzle in there that was rather difficult and took some time. So maybe splitting up and working on different puzzles would be the way to do it. We were about 95% done, but could not figure out the last piece as it was a lockout safe so that definitely added the difficulty to the room. Overall, we definitely enjoyed the "Wild West" room better than this one. Photo above is property of PanIQ Room NYC *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** #CiciCao #IRLEscapeRooms #EscapeRoom #PanIQRoom #Detective #NYC #USA

LOCATION: Miami, Florida, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room Miami Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Haunted Hospital 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 20, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Supernatural, Paranormal 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 4.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl (Ages 14+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Hundreds of patients died from a deadly virus inside an abandoned hospital. You and your research team of virologists have been assigned to examine and determine the cause of death. Good luck... Video is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The start of the game really gave an eerie abandoned hospital vibe. The materials did reveal the storyline which explained the haunting (although the ambience was more eerie but didn't feel "scary") 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some props felt like they could easily be used as a puzzle but were just props. One really confused us as the clue indicated toward using a certain prop and it's also a functional prop but we didn't end up using it at all. One prop in the latter part of the game really spooked us just by being the reveal was disappointing. Although the theme is an abandoned hospital, some locks and props definitely need some TLC. We couldn't even read some of the letters. One of the puzzles required some searching to find clues but there's no indication to initiate a search so we ended up asking for a hint. There were definitely some logic leaps for some of the puzzle designs. We've given our comments to the location so hopefully those would have been implemented. There were a few items and a place where we had to look to that required a fairly tall person. I was unable to see unless I was standing on something. I don't think the unstable chair in the room was for this purpose so I had to rely on Brandon to solve that one on his own. The last puzzle felt a bit anticlimactic as we were greeted by our game master but didn't realize it had already ended. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? The backbones and storyline of this room is there but the puzzles need work. There are also great moments where a "haunted" vibe could be added to the room but is currently missing. This room to us feel like a more outdated PanIQ room experience as we've been to their NY location and we've seen the quality of the build and puzzles. We are super excited to see what the new PanIQ will be like in Florida as we heard that they'll be bringing a lot of brand new and high tech rooms to that location! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot in front of the facility. Small lobby area with seating and merchandise for purchase. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers *** We regret to inform this location has closed and this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website for their Miami Beach location*** (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 PanIQ Room Miami 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 #PanIQRoom #Haunted #Paranormal #Supernatural #Hospital #USA #Florida

LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room Chicago 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Wizard Trials 📅 DATE PLAYED: December 29, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Wizardry 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl (Ages 10+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $35.00 - $49.00/ pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You’ve been training as a wizard’s apprentice, and now you must prove yourself worthy of advancement by passing a test. Left alone in your master’s room, he’s given you a task: find his cat. You’ve got one hour to show him what you’ve got, earn his respect, and finally graduate to become assistant wizard. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE On your way into the room, each burgeoning wizard gets to select their own ‘magic’ wand. With assorted colors to choose from you can pick the one that speaks to you. Once inside, the decor is atmospheric and creates a convincing wizarding world. It’s easy to imagine a great wizard occupying the room, toiling away at the desk. The "Wizard Trials" includes a range of puzzle types, including a 3-D maze, pattern recognitionS, and audio (our game master mentioned there used to be an olfactory puzzle in the room, but they had to rework it due to Covid). The puzzles were varied and modern with well integrated technology. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK I have to work hard to find faults with this room, but there were a couple of puzzle mechanics that we stumbled over: There was one piece of the set design that we were completely convinced was part of a puzzle, but it wasn’t. We missed the clue on one of the puzzles (because we were unobservant apprentices, not because the clue wasn’t good!) and we were able to circumvent the puzzle by simply trying all the possible options. Also, we found the input on the final puzzle a little finicky, enough so that we second-guessed ourselves and asked for a hint that told us we were on the right track. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Absolutely, the wizard theme is enchanting, the puzzle assortment is fresh, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. We booked on the spur of the moment and none of our team had prior experience with this franchise so we weren’t sure what to expect, and we had a ton of fun. I’ll definitely go back and do other rooms at the Logan Square location the next time I’m in the neighborhood. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Street parking available. 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"!) Update: We also visited PanIQ Escape Room & Lounge Las Vegas and played "Wizard Trials" and "The Haunted Manor" in August 2022!! Disclosure: We thank PanIQ Room & Lounge Las Vegas for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JenMcPhilimy #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #PanIQRoom #Magic #Wizards #USA #Illinois

LOCATION: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room Atlantic City Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Medieval Madness 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 12, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Medieval 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl (Ages 12+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $40.00 - $50.00/ pp (pending on the day) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY A life of sin and immoral acts has finally caught up with you and for that you shall be imprisoned until judgement has been called upon you! However, the Lord believes that if you seek him in your final hour and free yourself from this imprisonment, he shall forgive you and set you free! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design of this room was top notch. When we walked in, we immediately felt like we were imprisoned inside of a dark dungeon. From the eerie lighting to the creaking wood under our feet, everything was made to give us a chill down our spines. Some of the props and puzzles really had the theme in mind and we actually felt like we were being "tortured". There was a giant physical puzzle that we haven't seen used anywhere in a room before. It took some time to finally unlock it but it was a nice touch rather than a normal locking mechanism. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There's three music puzzles in this room and it began to feel a bit repetitive after awhile. One of the music puzzles also felt difficult to relate to the picture clue as it's not very clear what it's depicting. The use of one of the props confused us as we didn't know it had to be pointed a certain way, plus the lights were quite dim inside the room. It would be nice to make this clue a bit more visible. There was one prop in the latter part of the game that felt like it should be used, but currently it's not doing anything. The finale needed to be a bit more impactful and also we needed it to connect to the storyline. What did we accomplish? We didn't know we finished the game until the GM just came on the microphone to congratulate our team which took us out of the immersion. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This has been our favorite PanIQ Room game so far. The set design accompanied the theme really well. We are big fans of eerie/horror themes (not ones with live actors) so this was right up our alley. The room is actually quite difficult and filled with puzzles. You can easily divide and conquer in this room and it definitely helps to have good eyesight. If you enjoy a challenge, bring your team to help you survive this dungeon! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Park at the public parking lot (need payment) across the street or the Caesar's Casino parking (if you have a membership card from them, it'll be free or else it's $10). Huge lobby with seating area and merchandise for sale. Lockers available for storage 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 PanIQ Room Atlantic City 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 #PanIQRoom #Medieval #Religious #USA #NewJersey

LOCATION: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA Photo above is property of PanIQ Room Atlantic City Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Zombie Outbreak 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 12, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Survival, Post-Apocalyptic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl (Ages 14+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $40.00 - $50.00/ pp (pending on the day) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The world is on the brink of extinction and the dead now walk the Earth! You and your friends are the last remaining survivors. Fortunately, you were able to find refuge inside of a barn. Inside, there is a motorcycle that can help you escape but you will need to find the keys, spark plugs and some fuel. But you don't have much time, the undead will find you eventually... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design was pretty on par with the "Medieval Madness" game we played here. I almost wished that they were able to utilize the upper loft area part of the set design for something. But other than that, it definitely gave us that rustic, farmhouse feeling. We liked that the intro was told by a voice actor instead of text that we had read on our own like at the PanIQ Room Boston location. It was nice that from time to time the voice actor would also nudge us or play into the storyline. Out of all the PanIQ Room games that we've played, we enjoyed the ending of this room the best. It actually gave us a nice conclusion and we knew exactly what we had to do in order to escape the zombies. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There's a really difficult deduction type of puzzle in this room. We spent almost 20 minutes on this alone. We had to eventually brute force it as there's no hints that the GM can really give or bypass the puzzle. One of the "puzzles" (more like a special lock) felt like we would need some type of prior knowledge. There should be at least a picture clue provided during the game instead of the players receiving it as a hint. Other than the two puzzles mentioned above that took most of the time, this room can be completed quite quickly. It almost felt like there wasn't enough actual puzzles so those were added time fillers. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? The puzzles in the room is pretty linear. Although some did require the two of us to work together, most can only be done with a single player (especially that really difficult deduction puzzle). It's on the easier side out of all the PanIQ Room games that we've played. I would recommend this room for smaller groups (although it's quite spacious). I mean it's only a two-seater bike after all. You wouldn't want to leave any of your teammates behind with the zombies, would you? ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Park at the public parking lot (need payment) across the street or the Caesar's Casino parking (if you have a membership card from them, it'll be free or else it's $10). huge lobby with seating area and merchandise for sale. Lockers available for storage 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 PanIQ Room Atlantic City 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 #PanIQRoom #Zombies #Survival #PostApocalyptic #USA #NewJersey

Photo above is property of MindOpus Company: MindOpus Game: Haunted Hotel Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Horror Date Played: January 15, 2024 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 6/10 Size of Team: 1-6 ppl Time: Unlimited (Approximately 2-3 Hrs) Price: $7,69 CAD/ pp 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 As a team of paranormal investigators, you've received a call from the owner of an old hotel, who claims that the establishment is plagued by intense paranormal activity. Your mission, as outlined by your contact, is to delve into the eerie premises and uncover the nature of the haunting. It's your responsibility to identify the type of ghost that lingers within the hotel and, ultimately, perform the necessary rituals to exercise it from the haunted confines. Video above is property of MindOpus 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The game is exclusively accessible through a web browser, and after acquiring an individual license from the website, players launch the game from their accounts. A step-by-step guide is provided, offering a comprehensive overview of what to anticipate during gameplay. Upon initiation, players are forewarned about the extensive number of tabs that will be open throughout the game. It mirrors a point-and-click adventure, necessitating navigation from one location to another, image to image, in the quest to uncover items crucial for puzzle-solving. The game is segmented into three parts, aiming to provide users with intervals to manage the multitude of open tabs. However, more time is spent scrolling through tabs than actually engaging in puzzle-solving. In nearly every location visited, there's an answer box prompting the input of words or strings of letters. An inventory system is introduced at the start of each chapter, serving as a vital tab to keep open. It instructs players on the keywords or phrases necessary for utilizing items in their inventory. Additionally, the inventory page may feature pertinent videos to aid in investigations. Accessing hints in the game is straightforward, with a designated button available when a puzzle is encountered. However, some pages assert that a puzzle cannot be solved in the current location, which proved less effective in guiding players on where and what to focus on during their investigations. Photos above are property of MindOpus 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Many of these puzzles resemble a point-and-click adventure game, requiring keen observation of the surroundings, association of items in the inventory, and connecting these elements. Notably, items in the inventory are often used multiple times in different locations. Given its observational nature, the ability to zoom in or enlarge photos becomes a crucial skill. However, there were instances in the game where the information needed to solve a puzzle seemed excessively small. This game is observation-based, and due to its nonlinear nature, it's essential to pay close attention. However, there's an issue with starting and stopping sequences not being telegraphed very well. While understanding how to solve the puzzle, there's a challenge in determining where or how to begin. Photo above is property of MindOpus 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Haunted Hotel" stands out among MindOpus's more challenging games, and its difficulty primarily stems from the intricacies of navigating the game. The requirement to have multiple tabs open, sometimes reaching double digits, proved more of a hindrance than a helpful feature. Playing the game with others also posed a considerable communication challenge, given the divergence of web pages or tabs. Despite showcasing commendable craftsmanship with impressive visuals, art styles, and videos, the puzzles, while more engaging than some, occasionally lack the captivating intrigue that truly elevates the gaming experience. It stands as a noticeable improvement compared to other offerings from MindOpus, yet falls short of delivering a consistently immersive and gripping challenge. Nevertheless, if you're in the mood for a spooky evening filled with puzzles, it could still be worth exploring for a unique and atmospheric experience. (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 MindOpus for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MikeSchnurr #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #Horrory #MindOpus #Canada

Photo above is property of MindOpus Company: MindOpus Game: AGEMI: Academy of Magic Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻 Genre: Fantasy Date Played: January 15, 2024 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 8/10 Size of Team: 1-6 ppl Time: Unlimited (Approximately 1.5-2 Hrs) Price: $7,69 CAD/ pp 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 One morning, as you awaken, you discover a letter patiently awaiting your attention. Upon reading its contents, the revelation unfolds—it's an invitation to attend a prestigious magic school. You are promptly assigned to one of three distinct houses, where your journey involves active participation in classes. Your goal? Accumulate sufficient points throughout the year to emerge as the ultimate victor. The question looms: Do you possess the magical prowess and determination required for this extraordinary challenge? Video above is property of MindOpus 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The game is exclusively played through a web browser. Upon purchasing the individual license from the website, you launch the game from your account. It provides a step-by-step guide, offering a clear preview of what to expect during gameplay. The user interface is remarkably user-friendly. The majority of the game involves contemplating the presented riddles or puzzles, solving them typically with pen and paper, and then inputting the correct answer into the designated solution box. The solutions may range from words and phrases to seemingly random gibberish. A helpful hint system is integrated, providing assistance when needed. Clicking on the associated button for each puzzle brings up a screen offering three nudges to steer you in the right direction. For those still grappling with a puzzle, a solution button is available. Clicking on it reveals the puzzle's solution and provides the correct answer. Photos above are property of MindOpus 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles featured in this game boast a diverse and challenging array. There's a well-balanced mix of logic and deduction puzzles, including audio and visual challenges that span a variety of types. For a specific puzzle within this game, a prerequisite of outside knowledge about fantasy creatures is essential. Unfortunately, the game lacks an interface that defines each creature, leaving players to rely on their own understanding. Considering the digital nature of the game, an in-game reference for these creatures would greatly enhance the overall experience. The unique aspect of this game lies in its approach to solutions. It exhibits a lack of uniformity, where answers can range from requiring an actual English word to deciphering a random string of letters. This lack of coherence occasionally results in perplexing dead ends and frustrating solutions, leaving players grappling with uncertainty. Many of the puzzles in the game are intricately tied to different classes within its fictional world. However, a significant drawback is the failure to fully engage players, often leading to less compelling gameplay experiences. Photos above are property of MindOpus 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "AGEMI: Academy of Magic", despite its professional appearance, lacks a compelling storyline and a sufficient number of intriguing puzzles to captivate players for an extended period. The gameplay is marred by numerous logic leaps, causing confusion and frustration when attempting to discern the correct solutions. While not all puzzles are inherently problematic, a considerable majority fall short in providing enjoyable play experiences. The game's concept involves multiple users purchasing separate licenses to play on their individual computer screens. Unfortunately, this structure hinders teamwork, as each player is unable to view others' screens or collaborate effectively. An early decision in the game involves selecting your house. Although the game asserts that this choice doesn't impact the overall experience, it appears to lack significance, leaving players uncertain about the implications of their chosen house. The game concludes with point assessments, but the purpose of these points remains unclear. Regrettably, growing frustration and annoyance with the puzzles proved to be a deterrent from further engagement with the game. Back-solving became a necessity to decipher the underlying logic of several puzzles. For those prioritizing puzzle-centric gameplay over narrative-driven experiences, this aspect of AGEMI: Academy of Magic may align with such preferences. (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 MindOpus for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MikeSchnurr #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #Fantasy #MindOpus #Canada