Paradox Project 2: Το Βιβλιοπωλείον [The Bookstore]Paradox ProjectEscape roomIRLOf the three games at Paradox Project, the Bookstore had the most impressive set with some fun elements and surprises. As well as the other games at PP, this one also offers elaborate, never seen before puzzles with great variety. Unfortunately, I got completely lost in the story, partly because it continued the story of the Mansion that I already had some holes in. I wish they kept the story lighter here. I very much recommend this room. Over all, I prefer Music Academy, but if you like puzzles, play all three of them. The right way to play these, is to come in rested, bring a coffee and snacks with you, no rush, no stress, be patient and celebrate the solutions.
Evil InsideBloodlines Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLI will always prefer an original story in original world. I think this game is making itself disservice by telling a story that we all know and competing that way with the other exorcism escape rooms. That said, this one was very well done. I think it's my favorite iteration of the classic Athens horror room. From the very entrance to the last scene, everything is in-world and cotributing to the experience (even the bathroom visit). They have some cool details connecting the real case to the escape room. The set is well done, the whole game has a certain aesthetic. Good puzzles here, some of them are on the harder side for a horror game, so I was glad I had some skilled puzzlers with me. Acting is great, especially the owner. Fun solo moments. This one is just the full package. I have to recommend Evil Inside. I think it showcases what Athens is about in the best way possible.
Paradox Project 1: Η Έπαυλη [The Mansion]Paradox ProjectEscape roomIRLThis one is the oldest at Paradox Project, but it still delivered some fantastic puzzles. Each of the three games plays a bit differently and offers different features. The Mansion is the most "traditional escape room". For me, the story became a bit hazy during, but I was still able to understand the main plot. It is 3 hours long and with this one we felt like it dragged a bit at the end. Over all, if you like puzzles, I would very much recommend this game along the other two. The right way to play these, is to come in rested, bring a coffee and snacks with you, no rush, no stress, be patient and celebrate the solutions.
The Last of UsMystic Corporation - Agios Dimitrios [prev. Get Out Escape Rooms]Escape roomIRLWhat a pleasant surprise! This horror game felt the most different from the others in Athens. It didn't have a very big set, but instead a detailed one. The tech was a bit more advanced than just pressing the right order of buttons. The intensity was slowly ramping up instead of jumping at you at the entrance door, and the theme was something I hadn't seen yet. Over all, this room just sat right with me, even though I personally can not care less about the series or the video game. It is a bit more physical, with some running being expected from the players. But the actors do adapt. I would very much recommend this game as a palate cleanser from all the creepy girls and menacing / abusive men.
Paradox Project 3: Το Ωδείον [The Music Academy]Paradox ProjectEscape roomIRLI fell in love with Paradox project and Music Academy was the highlight. It has one of my favorite puzzle sequences. Each puzzle is new with original logic, not only in this game but in all the PP games. Less than the Mansion, Music Academy focuses on fewer but harder puzzles, which I preferred. Everything is integrated in an authentic music school environment and story. The storyline here was my favorite of the three, but it is not what these games are about. It took us over 180 minutes, but they did such a good job creating content that kept us engaged for the whole time, that it did not feel too long at all. That said, Paradox project is not for everyone. These are puzzle heavy experiences. I would still recommend playing at least one when you're in Athens, even if you're not sure about your relationship with puzzles. Do it early in the day, bring coffee and snacks, take it easy, be patient.
The House on the HillLockhill - Nea IoniaEscape roomIRLI really don't want to add to the hype and everybody's expectations around this game. Let's just say it's my new favorite escape room and move on. It is unique. It has a beautiful set and lighting with a specific aesthetic, including the costumes. Great acting. The gameplay has some easy puzzles, but it's not about them. Beyond everything mentioned, there is something deeper going on, something personal that I think all of us can relate to, and that's the reason to play this game. Most of the room is not very scary until one part that will make you face your fears. Lockhill is very kind to its players, they provide groups with a mechanism to stop the game at any time, and they can also adjust to scared players. Therefore, I would recommend this game to everyone, even players who normally skip horror!!! Bring your earplugs here. One part of the game is very loud, but even the loudness here is justified.
Παρεκκλήσι & Κατακόμβες [Chapel & Catacombs]Lockhill - Nea IoniaEscape roomIRLLockhill has its own twist on Athens horror. Chapel & Catacombs consists of three different areas, they feel distinctive and each has its own restrictions and is occupied by a different character. We've had loads of fun interacting with the different characters while solving the game. I must say the set was mostly let down. The Chapel is impressive, but you spend most of the game surrounded by black walls. It felt run down, and it was very dusty. Someone even got a splinter. I understand that it would be very hard to detail every corner of a set on this scale, but I was expecting more after being in the beautiful Lockhill village. Lockhill has great in-character onboarding where you are able to use the bathroom, and you can ask for a lighter version or for a version completely without scares. Lockhill is also one of very few companies in Athens that provides safe word, which I appreciate. It makes me feel like they actually care about the well being of players. This makes me want to recommend this game to non-horror players / horror beginners. Over all, this room is fun, there are reasons to play, but I wouldn't say that it's an absolute must do in Athens now. ... Though it is a good intro for the House on the Hill.
Evil DeadFortis Fortuna AdiuvatEscape roomIRLSplatter and I didn't hate it!! This game is full of the Athens tropes, but it's probably doing the best job of making it feel justified and fresh. It's actually very well done, probably the best cinematics in Athens. The puzzles, the story and the set all hit the right spot - It knows what it is and it's delivering on that. Everything is also a bit ridiculous, therefore I did not find this one scary. Yes, this game is splatter and you won't leave dry, but the blood you are sprayed with is very concentrated so that it should be washable. Also, the space did not feel gross at all, you can't even tell where the splatter happens. That said, it was fun for once, I don't need more games attempting this. I'm also not the biggest fan of blood and gore in general, so that's my personal minus point. I would recommend this game if you are in Athens. It's also perfect for horror beginners. It is loud, so bring earplugs.
The NunVansa Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThis one was great fun. It is huge, and I enjoyed that it wasn't one note, the gameplay, the environment and the scares were changing while still following the same premise and not becoming something else. This one very much falls under the typical horror games in Athens. The puzzles were all right here. It's not the point of the game. One criticism would go to the set, which went from impressive to black walls. It also felt a bit run down after only two years. If you like horror, I would recommend this one, although I would not make it priority. For full experience, play in a team of three. If you are afraid, you can make it less scary by being the fourth or fifth one.
MaestroHorror ProductionsEscape roomIRLThis was the first game of my Athens trip, and it ended up being one of my favorites. Essentially, I would summer this experience up as an interactive, immersive, theatrical museum tour. It's an interesting twist on what is already going on in Athens. Instead of horror or puzzles, this experience is focused on telling a story around you. I also found this room one step higher in overall quality, especially the large detailed set combined with the cinematics and acting. I liked the puzzles as well, but keep in mind that they are very light!! So puzzle lovers won't be satisfied here. Yes, there are actors, there are unexpected appearances, the story gets dark, but I wouldn't call it horror. Therefore, I would recommend this game even to non-horror players / horror beginners. It's loud, earplugs are recommended.
ObsessedDark RiddlesEscape roomIRLI will start by praising the puzzles in this game, some of them were excellent. I also really enjoyed one physical challenge here that I have not seen anywhere else (nothing actually physically difficult or exhausting, just a bit scary). And the acting was great as well. Unfortunately, the set went from all right to underwhelming throughout, relying on darkness and fog during the second half. The story became so convoluted, that I had no idea what was going on at the end, we had to piece it together the next day. I also had an issue with the fire. I can normally overlook a candle in a game, but this one had two moments with an uncomfortable amount of fire. Now, I haven't seen the backstage of this game to judge how fire safe the game is, but it did not feel like these people had it completely under control. In fact, one of the moments is happening deep in a basement.
Hide N SeekBraniac Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLSecond game of my Athens trip and I must say, this one fell a bit short for me. A perfect intro, the set was above the standard for Athens, few fun puzzles with few nice cinematics for the start, but after that... The main portion of the game was just way too long and repetitive. The gameplay stalled, the scares became annoying, nothing new or interesting was introduced until the finale. I don't think this room is bad, but I wouldn't prioritize it. Also this one is loud, earplugs are recommended.
1627Escaperoom GroenloEscape roomIRLHidden gem. I had no clue what to expect and that's the best way to play this room. Everything felt very authentic, the setting, the puzzles, and the story that's tied to the actual location. Don't expect anything huge or flashy, but the quality here is undeniable. It is very different from other games in the Netherlands and so the drive here is worth it.
Are You Lost?Your EscapeEscape roomIRL"Are you lost?" did a great job at set design, storytelling and effects. Unlike the other games at this location, this one was not so rich when it came to square meeters, but the way the set unraveled was very smart. It also didn't go so dark with the story. This experience is only running on tasks and easy puzzles. And yes, there was room for improvement in the gameplay, but puzzles are just not the point of this experience. It offers something else, and I think that's also a valid style of escape room. So if you are looking for puzzles, maybe you can skip this one. But if you are looking for an adventure, then this is the right place.
I can hear youEnteredEscape roomIRLIs this game well designed? Yes, very much. Did I enjoy it? I can't say I did, I was too scared. From playing the majority of horror games in Benelux, Germany and several in Athens, this was the scariest of them all. Now I must say my teammates did not find it as terrifying as I did, so it is subjective. I also don't want to detract anyone from playing this, just make sure you have some brave teammates, because this is not an "everybody wins" horror game. In fact, it's the opposite. So maybe if your team is really scared, consider the story mode, although you will miss part of the mastery that's going on there.
Corpse Inc. 2Experience Center BaarnEscape roomIRLI must say they really nailed the feeling of exploring an abandoned mortuary. From the onboarding to the very last second, it is a full experience. I didn't play the original Corpse Inc, so I was not aware of the spaces inside, which added to the immersion / chaos even more. The tension in the beginning was through the roof. It got easier throughout, but they did an excellent job at not letting us get too comfortable. The biggest flaw of this experience are the puzzles. Some fit the story, others are too escape roomy and feel out of place. I wish they leaned more into realism here, because everything else actually feels real. I love that the Netherlands has another big horror experience, after losing Stay in the dark and now the Asylum.
Operace Scala [Scala Operations]Operation ScalaEscape roomIRLI really enjoyed how this game connected the location, setting, and a piece of Brno's real history. It felt real and authentic. The actual gameplay, however, felt much clunkier. Most of it revolved around observation and making connections, but there were too many red herrings in the environment, which often left us confused or focused on irrelevant objects for too long. There were fun puzzles and tasks as well.
Jack the RipperPraterHauntHaunted houseJust a very old-school haunted house that surprised us with its scale, length, and some fun elements at the end. While I enjoyed experiencing what haunted houses were like 30 years ago, I’d love to see there a revitalized, modern scare attraction on this scale in the future.
Mumifiziert [Mummified]Open the DoorEscape roomIRLReally fun game that prooves that you don’t need a lot of space for a good experience. The puzzles are the main reason to play this room and we’ve had so much fun solving them, especially in the first half. It is a two person game so choose your team-mate wisely because they will make a lot of the expeirence. I very much recommend this one, it might be my new favourite in Vienna.
JumaniacFinal Quest Escape GamesEscape roomIRLQuite a unique room that might be worth checking out. The set was surprisingly nice and detailed. Parts of the game are a bit physical, which I enjoyed. There was a unique and ambitious approach to how individual players interact with the game, but the execution of it was rather inconsistent. The game also didn’t flow very well. It often felt like we were stuck, so I was surprised to find out we've still had five minutes left at the end, it felt like we must have been behind with so much downtime. I guess the confusion is a part of the intended gameplay, It's just not my favorite style.
![Paradox Project 2: Το Βιβλιοπωλείον [The Bookstore]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/fba6d50a-40fb-440f-b277-db056d725725.jpeg)
![Paradox Project 1: Η Έπαυλη [The Mansion]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/d239b754-8fbb-4339-b795-42b74ae62385.jpeg)
![Paradox Project 3: Το Ωδείον [The Music Academy]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/407ac41a-f718-4125-820f-57f0f7666598.jpeg)
![Παρεκκλήσι & Κατακόμβες [Chapel & Catacombs]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/0855dcf0-1ad4-496c-abdd-f8f4e681ba4a.jpeg)
![Operace Scala [Scala Operations]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/c50d6da1-6b13-40da-b0ca-02bae5d1e0ae.jpg)
![Mumifiziert [Mummified]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/dcff51fb-9387-4818-bc3f-deac6dc7739f.png)
