LOCATION: Barcelona, Spain Photo above is property of Lock-Clock Escape Room Barcelona Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Secret Service 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 24, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Espionage, Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 4.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-8 ppl (Ages 18+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: €21-23/ pp (pending on team size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Barcelona, 1970. Agent RT, the most esteemed spy of the secret agency, has mysteriously disappeared. He suspected a mole within the organization but vanished before revealing his findings. Your mission is to infiltrate his office, secure the confidential information, and uncover the truth to protect the agency and the country. Video above is property of Maximum Escape Barcelona 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE From the moment we entered the secret agency's office, the set design immediately took us in the experience, bypassing the usual escape room lobby. It was exhilarating to dive straight into the game. The room's decor is rich with information and puzzles, offering a spacious area for exploration. For seasoned players, it's a true puzzle paradise. We relished the diverse array of puzzles packed into this one-hour adventure. While the room isn't heavy on high-tech elements, the devices included seamlessly integrate into the storyline. One device, in particular, significantly heightened the excitement and adrenaline once activated. The room provided plenty of close-up analysis and information, truly making us feel like spies and detectives on a mission. Given the abundance of puzzles, the creator ingeniously offered players the option to skip one puzzle towards the end while still being able to escape. This clever approach felt like a bonus puzzle, subtly woven into the storyline. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We had the answer to one puzzle, but the input order was unclear. It would be beneficial if the order were marked more clearly. The final action we had to take to escape was a bit confusing. We believed we had solved the more challenging escape method, but we didn't realize we also needed to complete the other version as well. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This game is really spacious and perfect for large groups. With its abundance of puzzles, it's ideally suited for bigger teams, as many puzzles involve multi-step components and require effective communication. The generous size of the rooms allows for plenty of movement, making additional teammates a valuable asset. If you're passionate about puzzles, this game is a rare find in Europe, where many games focus more on set design. As enthusiasts from the States, we thoroughly enjoyed the challenging puzzles, feeling completely satisfied with this "puzzle feast", especially with just the two of us. We eagerly anticipate returning to try their other games! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO We suggest taking public transportation and walking as this location is in a small alleyway Restroom is located inside the game Lobby with seating You may only enter the game at your booking time so if you arrived early you may need to wait outside for awhile Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Lock-Clock Escape Room Barcelona 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 #LockClock #Thriller #Spy #Espionage #Born #Barcelona #Spain

Photo above is property of Lock Sock Studio Company: Lock Sock Studio Game: Escape From Mystwood Mansion Country: Sweden 🇸🇪 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Mystery Date Played: May 15, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 90-120 Mins.) Price: $16.99 (Steam) O/S: Windows 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 As a delivery driver, you enter Mystwood Mansion to deliver a package, and the door suddenly locks behind you. Looking around, you notice a note on the table: "Dear visitor, welcome to my abode of mysteries...". As you navigate the numerous rooms, you realize that someone has set up a sequence of puzzles and challenges designed to prevent your escape! Video above is property of Lock Sock Studio 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" offers a gentle, welcoming 3D art style. Rather than using traditional eerie or dark horror themes, it incorporates rustic wood paneling, elegant tiling, bookshelves, and plants. The vibrant and cheerful settings give it the feel of a relaxing puzzle session rather than a horror escape room, despite being monitored by security cameras throughout the mansion. I especially appreciated the meticulous attention to detail in the set design. Photos above are property of Lock Sock Studio 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" is a first-person, point-n-click escape adventure game where players navigate rooms, uncover hidden compartments, and solve various codes and logical puzzles. It's described as cozy and charming rather than genuinely spooky, featuring delightful scenery. The game is brief and uncomplicated, with a typical play-through taking under 3 hours, or up to 4 hours to reach the true ending. As for navigation, you use the arrow keys and your mouse to interact with the environment. The game offers a basic set of moves, such as crouching, jumping, and interacting. There is no inventory system; you are limited to using the one item you carry. However, you can scatter items and notes either on the floor or the furniture for examination. The tiered hint system is very intuitive, as it offers clues progressively to help you avoid getting completely stuck. There are 5 main stages, with a secret ending for those who want to fully complete the experience. Note: For the ultimate experience, make sure you carry "the package" with you until the end. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game's design resembled a real escape room experience, allowing players to inspect items from all angles. When discarding an item, players can choose to either place it or toss it, which can certainly save time when eliminating the unnecessary. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK In this game, there is no inventory for collecting or assembling items. You use each object individually, which can become tiresome. Throughout the game, there are many items available for inspection. To some players, this may feel like a series of red herrings in a physical escape room. Photos above are property of Lock Sock Studio 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles are inventive, satisfying, and logically coherent offering enough to satisfy enthusiasts while also being ideal for onboarding beginners. Most of the puzzles are specifically designed to lead to one solution: the number or letter combination required to unlock the numerous padlocks securing each door in the mansion. Much like an escape room, achieving success involves searching for the clues in order to solve the puzzles. This enhanced the experience, making it more engaging and interactive. Photos above are property of Lock Sock Studio 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" does an excellent job in providing a range of satisfying puzzles, all driven by an engaging story. It provides a short but enjoyable exploration of a charming, enigmatic manor house. I would have gladly explored and roamed around even without being locked inside! The rooms are filled with an engaging variety of puzzles, including some that involve opening a series of locks, common in escape rooms, and others that are more seamlessly integrated into the environment, typical of traditional adventure games. The difficulty level is perfectly balanced, complemented by an excellent hint system for those who might need a bit of assistance, showing that the developers aimed to present a great challenge without the risk of players getting truly stuck. Escape room enthusiasts and puzzle fans will thoroughly enjoy this game. For those who haven't experienced an escape room but are curious about their challenges, this serves as a fantastic introduction. "Escape From Mystwood Mansion" excels in both visuals and audio. The background music effectively fills the silence without being distracting. The mansion is designed in a way that makes it feel more like a living space than a puzzle area, with interactive elements that are relatively easy to identify. Although the game's theme is primarily cozy and lighthearted, it also includes an eerie element. As you progress, references to "Subject 83" might imply that Mystwood Mansion is a strange experiment involving players as test subjects. If you enjoy Scooby-Doo adventures, this is definitely the game for you! (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Lock Sock Studio 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. #BrandonChow #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #Mystery #LockSockStudio #Sweden #Steam

LOCATION: Winhall, Vermont, USA Photo above is property of Stratton Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Rube's Conundrum - Part 1 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 28, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Fun 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl (Ages 4+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $32.10/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Free the Rube. ‘Nuff said. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE A brilliantly original concept: We can’t believe we haven’t played a Rube Goldberg-inspired room before! The whimsical chain reactions are absolutely delightful to watch in motion once triggered. Be sure to warn one another before activating anything so nobody misses the action unfolding. Packed with interaction: Despite being a relatively small, single-room experience, there’s LOTS to do. The space is used incredibly efficiently, with puzzles and details tucked everywhere (including things to look at up high) while still remaining clear about what is and isn’t in play and which answers go with which of the many physical locks. Playful physicality: This room is super tactile. From unusual lock interactions to unexpected effects and hands-on mechanisms, it constantly encourages you to poke, prod, twist, and experiment. The dollhouse sequence was a particular highlight for us. It was creative, charming, and unlike anything we’d encountered in another escape room. We highly recommend making sure everyone gets a chance to play with part of that section. Whimsical aesthetic: The eclectic décor, exposed mechanisms, and delightfully derpy music all contribute to the silly, playful vibe of this game. Unlike many rooms where the “magic” is hidden, here the visible mechanics actually enhance the experience. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK A few visual distinctions could be clearer: Some shapes and colors were a bit more similar than ideal. We loved that, for some puzzles, symbols were used alongside colors to help with accessibility, but one particular puzzle lacked those additional indicators. Occasional gadget fiddliness: With this many moving gizmos and tactile elements, a few are bound to be a little finicky. A few interactions required more firmness or experimentation than we initially expected…but fortunately, a bit of determined tinkering usually did the trick. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you grew up loving "Mousetrap" and setting off elaborate chain reactions just to watch all the moving pieces work together, this room taps directly into that same sense of joy. You definitely do not need to know who Rube Goldberg is to appreciate the experience. The mechanisms are playful, tactile, surprising, and satisfying in a very immediate way. It totally brought out the kid in us. This is not a narrative-driven room (there’s virtually no story) or one with Hollywood-level scenery. But where it shines is in its whimsical handcrafted nature, tactile interactions, and playful celebration of Rube-esque contraptions. Even after playing hundreds of escape rooms, this one felt genuinely fresh and memorable. We loved it. It’s the more challenging of Stratton’s games, so probably not the ideal introduction for brand-new players. But enthusiasts, puzzle lovers, engineers, tinkerers, and anybody who enjoys hands-on interaction and mechanical creativity should absolutely give this one a spin. We left completely delighted and are already impatient for Part 2. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking around back, where you enter (though there is a sign on the side of the building facing the road). There’s a very small lobby with a bathroom. There are no designated lockers, but there are coat hangers and a small desktop in the room (and a corner you could use to put a backpack on the floor, if needed). No stairs required. Lovely, passionate owners who are great to chat with if you both have the time! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Stratton Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Adventure #Fun #StrattonEscape #Vermont #USA

Photo above is property of M9 GAMES Company: M9 GAMES Game: VEREDA Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Espionage, Thriller Date Played: March 20, 2022 Difficulty (based on 4 players): 4.5/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 90-120 Mins.) Price: $7.99 (Steam), $6.99 (Nintendo), $4.99 (App Store) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 You are a secret undercover agent that has been tasked with a top secret mission. Your objective is to locate a dossier that is heavily guarded within a small town and retrieve it. The contents of the dossier is unknown. However, it is extremely safeguarded and well protected by puzzles and contraptions to prevent you and anyone from accessing it. You are going to have to use all your knowledge and experience to complete this mission. Good luck! Video above is property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ We were all extremely satisfied with the graphics for "VEREDA". There was so much detail in the scenery and there was plenty of room to roam around and explore. I loved the gritty coloring of the set design. Everything was clean and clear and truly resembled a mysterious town rigged with puzzles preventing us from locating the dossier. The developer of M9 GAMES hid some easter eggs throughout the game so be sure to look at everything and see if you can find them! Photos above are property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "VEREDA" is a first person 3D escape room adventure filled with puzzles to solve. As you explore indoor and outdoor scenarios, you will collect items to add to your inventory along the way. To make things easier, items collected will automatically appear where it's needed. The background music fits perfect for the theme of this game and is not overbearing or distracting. This game can be played on your iPad/ iPhone or Steam (PC only). All of our team members played on Steam. In the control settings, you have the option to use the keyboard (WASD controls) for traveling and your mouse for directions or a joystick. Using the keyboard and mouse, it felt very much like a point-n-click game and it was quite easy to get the hang of once we started the game. "VEREDA" starts off in a room for you to familiarize yourself with the controls and hte functionality of the game before it even allows you to venture off outside. Throughout the game, there was a lot of space to move around and didn't require too much searching. VEREDA" is primarily a 1 player game, however, we decided to live stream our gameplay with our friends - Keith (owner of USB Escape) and Stephen (owner of Enigmailed) and solve it together. **SPOILER ALERT - Do NOT click the video below for it contains the answers and solutions. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There was approximately 10 stages containing 3-4 puzzles to solve for each one. Each puzzle was uniquely designed allowing everyone to experience a different type of challenge. For our team, we would say that the difficulty level was beginner-intermediate. Overall, "VEREDA" was a linear game that felt like a maze filled with puzzles created to prevent you from finding a top secret Dossier. There were a bunch of different locks and keypads to input your answer which was mainly done by using your mouse to point-n-click. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "VEREDA" is a really fun game that bridges the gap between traditional digital point-n-click games and video games. The graphics were clean and clear and really allowed us to feel like spy agents infiltrating a mysterious town. From the beginning, we knew that our mission was to retrieve a top secret dossier. What we didn't know was where it was, what it looks like, and what it contains. The mystery kept on building as we progressed through the game and got closer to finding it. I really hope that there's a sequel because the game flow was great and there's so much potential for a continued storyline. As mentioned, we all played on Steam using our keyboards and mice. If you decide to download the app and play on your iPad or iPhone, please let us know what you think. (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 M9 Games for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #SpyMission #Espionage #M9GAMES #VEREDA #UK #AppStore #Steam

Photo above is property of M9 GAMES Company: M9 GAMES Game: SUBNET Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: hriller Date Played: February 18, 2023 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 6.5/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 3 Hrs.) Price: $8.99 (Steam), $5.99 (Nintendo), $4.99 (App Store) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 In "SUBNET" - Escape Room Adventure, you play a government agent who finds themselves as first responder on the scene of a hostile terrorist takeover of the city's subway system by a group of elusive hackers known only as drkFORCE. They have planted a large bomb underground which they are threatening to detonate, and so you have been tasked with tracking down and neutralizing the explosive before it goes off. If you hope to catch them you will have to solve a complex series of puzzles that they have left in their wake to stymie your pursuit. Luckily you are not alone in your mission, and are aided by both the direction of your FBI handler and the guidance of your trusty AI helper. So pick up the trail, hit the streets, go underground, and follow drkFORCE down the rabbit hole, before it's too late. Video above is property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The game is played in first person perspective, as you navigate and explore through a 3D world of city streets and subway tunnels, looking for clues and interacting with puzzles and objects. It's supposed to be modelled off of and have the feeling of playing a real escape room, and the game does a good job of simulating that experience. It offers the fun of exploring the environment while at the same time presenting you with mysterious puzzles to decipher, which is the essential formula and backbone of every well designed escape room. The world looks good, not stunning but suitably rich and realistic, and sufficiently detailed to invoke wonder, and to make the all important challenge of distinguishing clues from within the larger environment an engaging endeavor. Comically, it became almost a rule, that although you might see many strange objects and details, if you see a number it is most definitely not a coincidence. The sequence of puzzles is generally linear in nature, each following and being gatekeeper to those that come after it. This keeps the game tight and fairly straightforward so that the player can mercifully focus on connecting one set of clues and puzzles at a time. The fun of the game is in deciphering your world, trying to make sense of the puzzle while you search frantically trying to piece together the disparate signs that may or may not have something to do with anything, wracking your brain to come up with a plausible connection and possible solution. There is not much narrative development per se, although with every solution you are at least moved one step closer to foiling the plans of drkFORCE. I also wouldn't describe the puzzles as exactly realistic, being largely only incidentally connected to the narrative and environmental realities. They are more of a transplant, inspired by the more clever puzzles you might find in an escape room. Nonetheless the game has its charms, and the gameplay is still suitably engrossing. Photos above are property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzles are heavily inspired by what you might find in a real escape room. They are generally your standard fare, but are admittedly well designed, and difficult enough to have made this reviewer don his thinking cap. It's evident that the creators tried to keep it varied and fresh throughout the game, and though the form is often repetitive the puzzles themselves have enough novelty to keep the player's imagination piqued. Exploration wise the game is self-contained and generally linear so that the clues can be reasonably traced back to the puzzles they refer to, which helps focus the process of deduction, but that is only once you do the fun work of finding and identifying them in the world itself. The puzzles themselves too are often mysterious and require their own kind of deciphering. Taken together there's a good balance overall between exploration and deduction, and enough ingenuity in the design of the puzzles to make the process of figuring them out both challenging and rewarding. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "SUBNET" is not groundbreaking, but it is a fun little game. A solid entry into the burgeoning field of escape room video games. It makes you wonder though if the escape room format is not but a little limiting to the genre in general given the possibilities exhibited by other mystery and puzzle games. Why limit yourself to the conditions of recreating a real escape room, when the platform allows you to create entire worlds, and other games demonstrate that it is possible - with great art - to mesh the narrative and mystery elements. It doesn't need to be this way, but it is, and the whole story in SUBNET is little more than a pretense to wind the player up for a good set of puzzles. All this being said, what the game does do well. The gameplay is smooth, the puzzles are well designed, and the game is challenging without becoming frustrating. You will enjoy the puzzles, though the seasoned escape room player may have seen some of them before. It's a satisfying snack of a game, and all in all I would recommend it if you're looking for a classic style escape room that can be played from the comfort of your own home. For future entries I would hope to see more of a narrative, and to try and incorporate this into the puzzles. Also, making exploration more interactive and more of a thematic event, as opposed to being more like searching for signs in a static environment. Playing reminds me just how important having an exciting and interactive world to explore is to the fun of doing an escape room. I hope people give this game a try and look forward to what M9 comes up with next. (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 M9 Games for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #AndrewWoods #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #EscapeRoom #M9GAMES #SUBNET #UK #Steam

Photo above is property of M9 GAMES Company: M9 GAMES Game: Art Heist Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Detective, Heist Date Played: October 22, 2023 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 7/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 45-60 Mins.) Price: $8.50 (Steam), $7.99 (Nintendo), $0.99 (App Store) 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 As part of the team discovering a long-sought-after painting, you are invited to the auction on an island accessible only by helicopter. Halfway through the night, you receive a call for help - the painting has been stolen. Navigate your way through this secluded, trap-laden villa and find both the painting and the people behind this heist. Be careful though, security is tight and it might take more than just a key to get through the next door. Video above is property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 "Art Heist" is as close to a digital version of a real life escape room experience as you can get. With a first-person view, walking around the area with the atmospheric background soundtrack had me immersed to the point where I found myself looking over my shoulder a couple of times. The point-n-click mechanic, coupled with the icons indicating either a puzzle to be solved or an item to be used, provided enough guidance to get through the rooms. However, you might have to try approaching different “suspicious” items from various angles, since you can only interact with puzzles or items upon the appearance of said point-and-click icons, and the icons only appear at a certain radius around actionable areas. Thankfully, the little adjustments I had to make while navigating the game did not take away from the puzzles. ** NOTE: please ensure that your network is stable while you play this game on Steam. The frame rate lagged a fair bit for me, so I had to play it on Medium quality and a smaller frame size. Photos above are property of M9 GAMES 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Here’s my short review of this section - thank goodness for the all-encompassing rule. And here’s my longer review of the puzzles - In physical escape rooms that run three or four sections, you can expect puzzles to run through two or even three rooms (e.g. you may need to backtrack in order to solve later puzzles). However, in a larger setting like in Art Heist, each section’s puzzles and the information you would need for the puzzles stay within that locked space. And I appreciate not having to remember what happened two rooms ago. One thing that I realised was how inconsistent the hints could be - each puzzle would have a reset button and at times, a hint button for when you get stuck. My issue was how not every puzzle would have a hint button, though to give the game makers credit, puzzles without hint buttons were relatively straightforward. What would have made the puzzle experience a little better was the provision of hints when we get stuck outside of puzzles - I was wandering around one of the sections, wondering what to do next with an incomplete puzzle and no door to speak of. Without a hint button to consult, I resorted to a play-through video to get unstuck. Photo above is property of M9 GAMES 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 I stand by my initial statement - this is as close to a digital version of an in-person escape room experience as I can fathom. The background soundtrack and the first person navigation system is already enough to immerse you for the next couple of hours. And if the variety of puzzle styles does not keep you on your toes, the bits of story in the environment will keep you curious. So, if you’re looking for a solo escape room experience that’s immersive, balanced, and with a good variety of puzzle styles, give Art Heist a try. Just make sure your hardware can support the frame rate and game size. (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 M9 Games for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JoelynAlexandra #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #EscapeRoom #M9GAMES #Detective #Heist #UK #Steam

LOCATION: Vernayaz, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape World Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Quarantine 📅 DATE PLAYED: March 7, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: 139 CHF - 249 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [46:00] 📖 THE STORY A toxic gas leak has triggered a full lockdown inside a medical complex hidden within an old military bunker. Following emergency protocol, the facility has been sealed and all systems shut down—plunging everything into darkness. However, a critical mistake has been made: the only antidote capable of neutralising the gas remains trapped inside. With oxygen running out, your team must navigate the quarantined facility, locate the antidote, and escape before the air becomes unbreathable. Video above is property of Escape World 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Much like Strategy, the biggest highlight is the authentic bunker setting. The real military infrastructure adds a raw and convincing atmosphere that perfectly suits the quarantine scenario. The rooms are surprisingly open and expansive, which allows for comfortable movement and makes the experience feel less restrictive and more exploratory. The use of limited lighting works very well with the theme, reinforcing the idea of a sealed and powerless facility. It adds a subtle layer of pressure without turning the room into a horror experience. The gameplay leans heavily into classic puzzle-solving, with a strong mix of codes, logic, and observation-based challenges. This makes it approachable and enjoyable, especially for teams who prefer traditional escape room mechanics. The objective is clear and easy to follow—find the antidote and escape—which keeps the experience focused and easy to engage with from the start. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The room is more puzzle-driven than story-driven, with limited narrative development throughout the experience. The environment, while authentic, is relatively minimalistic, which may not appeal to players expecting highly theatrical set design. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Quarantine" is a solid, back-to-basics escape room that benefits greatly from its unique real-world setting. It’s particularly well suited for players who enjoy traditional puzzles and a slightly tense, atmospheric environment without stepping into full horror. While it may not push boundaries in terms of innovation or storytelling, it delivers a consistent and enjoyable experience—especially for smaller teams looking for a focused challenge. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking is available in a public car park in front of the venue. There is a small lobby area where you have your briefing and debriefing. 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 World 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 #EscapeWorld #Adventure #Vernayaz #Switzerland

LOCATION: Winhall, Vermont, USA Photo above is property of Stratton Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Pinehurst 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 28, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Smokie’s bar, "The Pinehurst", is an ode to his favorite beer - "Schlitz"! Amongst all of his paraphernalia, his most prized possession is the first can of beer he ever had... a "Schlitz" he stole from his Dad, which started his lifelong obsession. Yet, tonight it has mysteriously disappeared! Smokie has shut the bar down until it can be recovered, and you are determined to find it. I mean, your favorite bar can’t shut down?! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We were not quite old enough to be hitting the bars in 1989, but we can imagine that this is just what your local dive might have looked like (if the owner was obsessed with "Schlitz"). We’re glad to no longer have cigarettes in the bars around here, but the copious matches, cigarettes, and cigarette machine definitely set the scene well. The various (we assume) authentic "Schlitz" memorabilia really helped to sell the story. The theme is integrated throughout the set. There’s also music from the jukebox that really brought us back, and many of the puzzles are also very thematic. The game starts in the restocking area, as you try to figure out the alarm code to get into the bar itself. They set this up nicely to introduce you to some ideas that will carry on throughout the rest of the experience. While there is some gating, much of the gameplay is non-linear. There was certainly a strong searching and observation component, with some rewarding connections to be made. Logic and physical manipulations are also key. It culminates in a nice meta-puzzle that draws on things from throughout the game. We’re suckers for tactile and physical manipulations and reveals, and "The Pinehurst" definitely delivered some fun ones. Before you begin, you get to pick the song that will play if you succeed. Hearing our selection (the 80’s classic “Wild Thing” by Tone Loc) come on was an awesome way to signal victory, kick off our own little celebratory dance party, and finish the game! 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We loved the silly, unique backstory to the room, but there is room for some narrative progression (who stole the "Schlitz" and why?!) and clarification of why you start by needing to figure out the alarm code. There could also be fun ways to incorporate the hint system into the story itself. There was one puzzle we got hung up on where we think the clue itself could be a bit more clear, but it also required us to do something that it felt like there were other indications that it would be a bad idea (we might break it). Talking to the owner afterwards, we understand why it was how it was, but we think there are options to smooth out the experience with this particular puzzle. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you’re out this way, "The Pinehurst" is well worth a visit, whether you are with family, friends, or other enthusiasts! Aside from some of the 80’s bar theme decor, we would consider this a family-friendly room (maybe ages 10+?), and you could bring inexperienced players to this one as well. We really appreciated the charm and playfulness of the game, the love the owners clearly put into it, the tactile interactions, and the feeling that we had really been dropped back into the 80’s. And, seriously, who doesn’t love being rewarded with their own personal dance party?! (Oh - they also gave us a teaser about the theme of their next room, and WE CAN’T WAIT! Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming announcements...) ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking is available right behind the building (next to the main entrance). Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this experience, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Stratton Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystery #DiveBar #StrattonEscape #Vermont #USA

We really enjoyed our conversation in this episode of "The Life Is An Escape Room Podcast" (w/ hosts - Christina Jeff & Eanes). We spoke about why communication is so important in escape rooms and how that actually improved certain parts of our lives. Listen to the interesting stories here (Audio: https://lifeisanescaperoom.podbean.com): The video above is the property of The Life Is An Escape Room Podcast #BrandonChow #podcast #interview #media

We were extremely grateful to be invited to chat with our friends from Amazing Escape Room and Bury The Hatchet on their new podcast platform - "Escape the Hatchet"!! The podcast above is the property of Escape The Hatchet #BrandonChow #podcast #interview #media

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers On December 9th, we were joined by the NBC CT Live reporters (Taylor Kinzler & Jimmy Marlow) to try to escape Escape Rooms Connecticut's newest room "The Asylum". We were very happy to spread our love for escape rooms and to be able to do it at one of our favorite locations was a cherry on top! Most importantly, the team really enjoyed it and we escaped with time still left on the clock! We hope to join them again for another escape room adventure soon! Check out our experience on the link below: FULL INTERVIEW - click HERE #CiciCao #Articles #ETRinthepress #escaperooms #escaperoom #escapetheroomers #weareontv #nbc #nbcct #nbcctlive #escaperoomsconnecticut #theasylum #horror #scary #eerie #creepy #taylorkinzler #jimmymarlow

LOCATION: Baarn, Netherlands Photo above is property of Escape Room Junkie Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Corpse Inc. 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 18, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE: €135/Group ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [68:14] 📖 THE STORY Your team is employed to break inside of a morgue to steal the remains of a deceased man. But there is a catch, the morgue has onsite security 24/7, so you need to assume the identity of an AC repair man, cleaner, or other employee in order to gain his trust and be granted access. Make sure not to act too suspicious or he might just kick you out! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game almost begins a head of time, when you receive an email explaining what to do prior to arrival, including a password to enter the side building. Having each team member be given a unique identity is quite unique and something I have only experienced in a couple of other places. It is a fun concept with real time consequences, because the people taking on those roles will have their own responsibilities and actions to carry out. Interacting with the guard was nerve wrecking as we had been informed earlier that if he gets suspicious of us then he would remove us from the game. As it was, we managed to keep his suspicions at bay and carry out our assigned tasks. But credit to the actor, he didn’t make our time with him easy, we often had to think on our feet in response to his questions and actions. The game provides a really engaging, high adrenaline, story arch that takes a real twist at the end. We were literally running for our lives to escape! The overall design, layout, and construction was very impressive and definitely resulted in a journey that was more expansive that we had imagined. Many genuine tools and items were used to make the experience as immersive as possible. The riddles were challenging and often promoted cooperation between team members. We appreciated that some of the puzzles could only be performed by the person taking on that specific role. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Nothing to mention here. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you like the idea of light role play and light interaction with an actor then this could be the game for you. The puzzles are not always easy, but this adrenaline filled escape room is highly recommended as a must play experience. We enjoyed everything about this game. In fact, it was our favorite room from a 24-room trip to the Netherlands. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking available on site There is lobby with seating area and lockers Wide selection of drinks available for purchase This game can be played in English & Dutch Photo above is property of Escape Room Junkie (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 Junkie 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 #EscapeRoomJunkie #Thriller #Baarn #Netherlands

LOCATION: Vancouver, BC, Canada Photo above is property of Find and Seek 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Curse of Madam Zita's Curiosities 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 14, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Occult 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 Players): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 45 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $33/PP (Adult), $30/PP (Child) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Working for the time traveling agency, Professor Magnus continues to elude us. This time, he has hidden a necklace in Madam Zita’s Curiosities shop that we must retrieve. Can we navigate the secrets of the shop and find the necklace before the portal home closes? Photo above is property of Find and Seek 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The props were high quality and well maintained. There were a few items that felt like we were the first people to use as well as a few props that we expected to have deteriorated over time which were still in great condition. The layout and décor of the room was marvelous. There were so many items in the curio shop but never once did we feel they were overly distracting. We knew what we needed to check out. The puzzles were not overly complicated, especially if you are able to make the right connections, but we found a lot of them promoted teamwork which allowed us both to be involved in them. There was a lot of tech used in this room but also some low-tech items which was a nice mix as the game seemed to flow as we went from puzzle to puzzle. The hint system was set up through a screen where the GM would type personalized hints and messages to us and not break the immersion of the game. Chimes were used through the game as well that the GM informed us on at the start. One would tell us if we solved a puzzle and something had opened while another would tell us to look at the screen as our GM would try to communicate with us. This was helpful to keep us on track. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We were on the final puzzle at the 45-minute mark and the GM was generous enough to give us an extra 5 mins to complete the game. There were a few times though, we encountered a puzzle and felt with an extra minute or 2, we could have solved it on our own but with time ticking away, we opted for a hint. If the game was 50 mins to an hour, we feel we would have been able to complete more on our own. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "The Curse of Madam Zita’s Curiosities" was a room designed with high quality and care. All the props and décor of the room were top notch and made for a fully immersive game. For experienced players, the puzzles were not overly difficult but with the tight timeline, you were always moving for sure. The game says it can hold 8 but it's definitely doable with 2 people. With the linear flow of the room even with 4 people, we found some of the puzzles would have been tough with too many cooks in the kitchen. Overall, this game made for an amazing adrenaline pumping experience. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Third floor of a shopping center Wheelchair accessible No washrooms, closest washroom is in the nearby food court Photos above are property of Find and Seek (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #FindandSeek #Occult #Canada

LOCATION: Kloten, Switzerland Photo above is property of Next Level Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝 ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Dark Memories of Elisa Doll 📅 DATE PLAYED: April 18, 2026 🎬 GENRE: Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl (Ages 16+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE: 195 CHF - 240 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [80:00] 📖 THE STORY In 1985, a young woman named Elisa Doll is admitted to the Technical Health Center in Kloten with a condition that defies all medical logic. Her body is slowly changing—her movements stiffen, her skin grows unnaturally cold, and with each passing day she becomes more doll-like, less human. Despite relentless efforts and every known treatment, the doctors watch helplessly as her condition rapidly deteriorates. With time running out and science pushed to its limits, the clinic turns to experimental methods and forbidden research, convinced that Elisa’s illness may originate somewhere far deeper than the body itself. What begins as a desperate attempt to save a life soon spirals into a chilling mystery—one that blurs the lines between memory, identity, and reality, and threatens to consume everyone who dares to uncover the truth. Video above is property of Next Level Escape Room 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Set Design & Immersion: The set design is outstanding. The game is highly expansive, making excellent use of multiple rooms that represent different locations, and even different periods in time. Each space feels purpose-built and thoughtfully crafted. From time-appropriate props to subtle special effects and immersive lighting, the environments successfully draw you in and make you forget the outside world. Importantly, the rooms are not just beautiful, but also spacious and functional, allowing players to move around freely without feeling constrained. The transitions between locations and timelines are especially impressive. The segues used to link these different realities feel natural and well-integrated, enabling a seamless journey through both the physical world and Elisa’s subconscious. It may be a less common point to raise, but each location is genuinely interesting to exist in. There is always something to look at, and the surroundings spark curiosity rather than feeling like filler. Nothing feels bland, mass-produced, or stale, everything feels intentionally placed. This attention to atmosphere and detail significantly enhances the overall sense of immersion. Story & Narrative: The true standout of the experience is the narrative. Everything revolves around a unique and compelling story that has you quite literally stepping into Elisa’s life and mind to understand what has happened to her, and how she might be saved. The journey feels personal, emotional, and purposeful. As the game progresses, information is revealed organically through audio recordings and discovered materials, consistently pulling you deeper into the world. It is clear that considerable thought went into the narrative structure, from the opening moments through to the conclusion. Nothing feels detached or unresolved; instead, everything comes full circle in a very satisfying way. Puzzles & Gameplay: The puzzles follow a linear structure and are carefully designed to work hand-in-hand with the story. Every task feels justified within the narrative, meaning your actions always move both the plot and the gameplay forward. Challenges include sorting medical files, recreating medications, organizing and reconstructing memories, and confronting a threatening entity. The puzzle variety is excellent, and many tasks are designed to encourage cooperation, with several requiring two or more players to be actively involved at the same time. This makes it ideal for team play and prevents anyone from feeling sidelined. Difficulty: The difficulty level is very well balanced. The game is accessible to players of all experience levels, yet it never feels hand-holding; something that can often plague heavily story-driven escape rooms. Progression is steady, allowing enough time to absorb the environment and appreciate the detail, while still requiring genuine thought, communication, and collaboration. It’s also worth noting that the Gamemaster can adapt the experience based on the team’s skill level, bypassing certain puzzles if necessary due to time constraints. This flexibility helps ensure that the overall journey and story remain intact for every group. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There is very little to criticize, as the entire experience is produced to an exceptionally high standard. However, if there is one element that slightly detracts from immersion, it is the fact that almost all props are fixed in place, unless they are directly required for gameplay. While this is understandable from a practical standpoint, making resets easier and reducing the risk of damage, it does slightly limit the sense of exploration. The environments invite curiosity, but at times you are reminded that interaction is restricted. Allowing a bit more freedom with non-critical props could elevate the immersion even further. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? The Dark Memories of Elisa Doll delivers a deeply immersive, narrative-driven escape room experience that excels in set design, storytelling, and thoughtful puzzle integration. With only minor limitations, it stands out as a premium example of how story and gameplay can be woven together seamlessly. A truly memorable journey that lingers long after the door closes. Photos above are property of Next Level Escape Room ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking is available on site There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and drinks available for purchase. The escape room is actually connected to a bar, which was no open at the time of our visit. The bar area is very large and well designed. Players are required to wear the provided slippers throughout the game, so make sure to bring socks with you. I do believe the slippers are washed after each wearing. This game includes a smoke machine, limited space areas, and a live-actor. Game language: German or English Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Next Level Escape Room 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 #NextLevelEscapeRoom #Horror #Kloten #Switzerland

Photo above is property of La Boîte de Jeu Company: La Boîte de Jeu Game: Backstories: The Emerald Wedding Anniversary Country: France 🇫🇷 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬 Genre: Espionage, Thriller Date Played: April 22, 2026 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommend 1-6 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Approx. 60 Mins.) Price: $16.95 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 As Agent Nyx, you have been tasked to infiltrate the Emerald Wedding Anniversary party of General Darcosa and steal a secret hard drive. Can you make the right choices and not blow your cover along the way? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ This game packs into a small rectangular card box, easy to bring on the go, with text, artwork and some perforated cards that obviously show off the game's mechanism. Inside, there are 148 cards in order and a folded instruction manual. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 This played like a point and click game, but entirely with cards. If you have any experience with puzzle card games, a quick skim of the rules is enough to get started. Beginning with the first card, the gameplay felt straightforward and intuitive. As we progressed, the cards built panoramic scenes of the environment, introduced objectives, and provided items to use. The standout feature based on the series name was the “Backstories” mechanic, where perforated action cards such as “Search,” “Discuss,” or item cards were placed on the back of a location or character card. When flipped, a small window revealed the outcome of the action and often directed us to new cards. We also enjoyed the overlay cards played on our character when using certain items, like the spy glasses. Like most point and click games, your actions change the game's ending, which we found had good variation. The game also included cutscenes with great artwork, presented in a comic style format, which added variety from the typical reading of the text. Some of these sequences played out like a “Choose Your Own Adventure,” requiring decisions that changed how things unfolded. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 We encountered only a couple of traditional puzzles with most of the game focused on figuring out what to do in each situation using the actions and items available. The game had a realistic tone to it with consequences to our actions. At times, people would either become suspicious of us or we would get hurt depending on how we chose to proceed. We ended up playing through the game twice because we died before completing the mission on the first attempt. In hindsight, there were clues along the way about what actions to take and what we should focus on. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "The Emerald Wedding Anniversary" was a unique way of playing a point and click game using only cards. The art was fantastic, the story was engaging, the actions and consequences made sense and overall was an entertaining time to play. We played with two people which seemed like a good number. The game says it can play up to six people but that seems like it would be too much, with everyone crowded over the cards and trying to make decisions together. This would be great for people who enjoy point and click games, love to play the spy or couples who want a night in. (If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #LaBoitedeJeu #PuzzlesByMail #Espionage #Thriller #France