The Show Must Go On - CLOSEDNext Level EscapeEscape roomIRLA cross between an escape room and an audio play, The Show Must Go On is one of the most unique formats we’ve experienced. The game cleverly alternates between story-driven audio segments and puzzle-solving, giving each space to shine without stepping on each other. It creates a really smooth flow where you’re either fully immersed in the narrative or locked into solving with clear purpose. The theming is excellent, everything feels intentional and grounded in the world, and the puzzles all make sense within the setting. There’s a great mix too, from classic search elements to more logic-based challenges, with both high-tech and low-tech components working seamlessly together. The live Gamesmaster interaction is a standout. It fits perfectly with the theatre theme and adds an extra layer of immersion and fun without ever feeling intrusive. This isn’t a traditional timed escape room, but the experience runs beautifully at around the hour mark. Innovative, polished, and genuinely different. This is a must-play for anyone looking for something beyond the standard escape room formula.
MetamorphosisThe Cipher Room St PetersEscape roomIRLMetamorphosis is a brilliantly designed post-apocalyptic bunker experience packed with clever puzzles and impressive tech. The room makes excellent use of space, including vertical movement that keeps the layout feeling bigger than expected. Puzzles flow naturally with the story and deliver satisfying “aha” moments without feeling unfair. We escaped with about 5 minutes remaining using two hints. Another fantastic room from The Cipher Room.
UndetectedNarrow Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLUndetected is one of the most hi-tech rooms we’ve played. The space is packed with clever gadgets, touch screens, hidden tech, and seamless mechanisms that keep the experience feeling slick and modern. The puzzles are mostly linear but flow really well, mixing logic, coordination, and satisfying hands-on tasks. Everything fits the theme perfectly, and the room never breaks immersion. We escaped with about 5 minutes left after using one hint near the end. A solid, fun, tech-heavy experience — perfect for teams who love rooms with minimal padlocks and lots of cool toys to play with.
LaunchNarrow Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLLaunch is a clean, well-themed room with a smooth mix of low-tech and high-tech puzzles. Everything fits the story nicely, and the puzzles feel purposeful rather than random. It leans slightly toward the linear side, making it great for newer players, families, and smaller teams. We escaped with about 16 minutes left after using one clarification hint. Fun, polished, and easy to recommend for anyone visiting Penrith.
The Witches CurseScram Escape Rooms Church StEscape roomIRLOur final room and visit at the Church Street outfit, fresh off completing The Pharaoh's tomb, our team probably went in a little complacent. Unfortunately we did not succeed in time, but we were fortunately afford extra time to finish up and savour that moment. The Witch's Curse is arguably the best room aesthetically out of the Church Street venue rooms, and definitely leaning more on the harder side. I would estimate we were approximately 85-90% completed before we ran out of time with a team of 3, so would probably recommend 3-5 people to take on this adventure. Theming is excellent, every puzzle felt it belonged as part of the story and theming was very strong. There are no traditional padlocks style locks but instead there are a lot of locks with hidden mechanisms which particularly suited the theme as things appeared to happen “magically”. Overall great experience, awesome venue and another traditionally Scram-like room.
The Pharaoh’s TombScram Escape Rooms Church StEscape roomIRLOne of the last rooms for us to do at Scram in Church street. Was a fun, albeit slightly smaller room than what seems to be the industry standard these days with just the two rooms. Puzzles all seemed to make sense in relation to the theme and true to Scrams overall theme there was barely a traditional lock in sight. Overall scenery and theming were nice, but you could definitely tell the room was dated. Props were on the tired side and could definitely use a little refresh. I would say a medium in difficulty, good for an average escape roomer.
Sweethearts Ice Cream ParlourThe Cool SpaceEscape roomIRLSaturday the 13th had us taking on the much-anticipated and highly regarded Sweethearts Ice Cream Parlour. After the massive impact of Seance, it was clear Daniel and Josh weren’t here to muck around in the escape room scene. I’m happy to report this room not only lived up to the hype but even exceeded it. The multi-linear design really enhances the flow, especially for a team like ours that loves to divide and conquer, there’s plenty to keep everyone busy! Everything felt fresh: the layout, décor, props, and especially the vibrant colour scheme, all showing the level of thought and care that went into creating such an immersive atmosphere. I can confidently recommend this room (and this company) to anyone looking to experience some of the best Sydney has to offer!
PlaguedScram Escape Rooms PenrithEscape roomIRLIt had been a while since I last visited Scram Penrith (having done The Sorcerer’s Secret), but this time we took on Plagued. Our Gamesmaster Jess (who also designed the room!) welcomed us with a friendly smile, and that warmth carried through the whole experience. The set design is stunning — everything fits perfectly in theme, creating a suspenseful atmosphere where you’re constantly expecting something to jump out (and maybe it does…). The dim lighting adds tension without ever feeling frustrating, and there’s no shortage of puzzles and tasks to keep everyone busy. Difficulty-wise, I’d call it a Hard-Medium. With three of us, we just scraped through with seconds left on the clock, using teamwork and a couple of clutch solves to make it out. The finish was something special, and we left buzzing.
CirCurseLabyrinth Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLSaturday night’s adventure took us back to Labyrinth, where we tackled another of their rooms. This was my fourth experience at the venue, and it’s easy to see why we keep returning. From the staff to the rooms and the way the Gamemasters run things, Labyrinth consistently delivers an excellent overall experience and it's clear that we never have a dull or unpleasant moment. CirCurse was a lot of fun, even though it’s on the older side compared to some of the rooms we’ve played recently. Despite that, I felt fully immersed as if we were stepping into the circus world rather than standing in the middle of busy Parramatta. The props, lighting, sound design, and puzzles all fit perfectly within the theme, each one enhancing the immersion and pulling us deeper into the experience.
The Unplayed Melody - CLOSEDMission Escape Pitt StEscape roomIRLMission Room Escape have cooked up an absolute doozy with their newest room, The Unplayed Melody. True to Mission’s signature style, it leans heavily on mechanical interactions — solve a puzzle, and you can expect something to trigger or shift. But what sets this one apart is the beautiful backstory woven through the experience, which carries real emotional weight from start to finish. Like most of Mission’s rooms, this is a fairly large experience, spanning several spaces — and each one is cleverly designed and visually stunning. The aesthetics are on point, with nothing out of place. Every puzzle feels purposeful, feeding into the story and elevating the journey. Difficulty-wise, I’d rate it easy to medium. It’s very accessible for newer players but still packed with enough content to satisfy even the most seasoned escapers. All in all, an extremely well-executed room.
Ex LibrisNext Level EscapeEscape roomIRLThe theming in this room is exceptionally well done. Every detail feels intentional, and the props make perfect sense within their spaces. The puzzles are seamlessly woven into the environment, avoiding the common pitfall where challenges feel tacked on simply for the sake of having puzzles. Adding to the experience, we were fortunate enough to have Aaron as our game master — the same host who guided us through The Game back in November 2023. He was sensational then, and nothing has changed. Aaron brings an infectious enthusiasm to his role that truly enhances the overall experience. As with all the game masters we've encountered at Next Level Escape, his passion and energy play a huge part in making their rooms so memorable.
ZenLabyrinth Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLThe room quality was solid, though, given its all-white aesthetic, a fresh coat of paint in certain areas wouldn’t go amiss. The story was perhaps a little vague—some of our team felt like we were mental patients, while others weren’t entirely sure of the backstory. Zen is a linear room with a strong task-based progression. The puzzle flow was smooth overall, though we did hit a couple of roadblocks that required us to use Labyrinth’s five-hint system. Once we got into a rhythm, we powered through the remaining challenges and escaped with 12 minutes to spare. Overall we had a lot of fun, at times all four of us singing and dancing along.
Paris EscapeSocial Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLOur second visit to Social Escape once again did not disappoint. After being greeted by our wonderful Gamesmaster, it wasn’t long before we were off to Paris. This time, we returned with a team of three and a bit more confidence—though we ultimately ran just three minutes over time before completing our experience. I’d describe the difficulty as medium, though our team was just a little off today. According to our data printout, we spent more time on the easier clues while breezing through the harder ones—something we’ve noticed tends to happen when we revisit rooms that lean on the easier side. That said, the theming in this room is fantastic. A high level of detail has been applied to the design, and every prop makes sense within the space, all while maintaining top-tier quality. The puzzles all worked flawlessly, with clear solutions that never felt misleading or confusing. There’s a well-balanced mix of high-tech and low-tech puzzles, with many of the high-tech elements cleverly hidden within the environment. Despite falling just short of the time limit, we had an absolute blast and can’t wait to return for more!
Mrs Claws - CLOSEDStrange World Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLAfter hearing about Strange World and the growing popularity of their inaugural room, Mrs. Claws, we were nothing short of excited to give it a try. Even though Christmas was long over and we were well into January, this room still delivered a festive and immersive experience that held up exceptionally well. From the moment we walked in, we were transported by the music, the scent of gingerbread, and the overall theming, which perfectly captured a blend of fun Christmas vibes with a creepy twist. The production value was outstanding. From the cozy wooden cabin atmosphere to the colourful objects, twinkling lights, and eerie props and ornaments, every detail aligned seamlessly with the Christmas horror theme. It was clear that a great deal of thought and effort had gone into the room’s design. The puzzles offered a nice variety, all fitting well with the theme and story. Opting for the scariest version of the experience, we encountered some well-executed jump scares that kept us on edge throughout. The room featured multiple areas and crawl spaces, plus an exciting and memorable final section. However, while these sections were cleverly designed, they weren’t particularly large, so our group of seven occasionally felt a bit cramped. Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with how Tanner and Will have pulled off their first room. Mrs. Claws showcases their creativity and attention to detail, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for Strange World Escape Rooms!
RansomSocial Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLWe absolutely loved the way Ransom unofficially began—it was such a unique and creative touch that set the perfect tone for the adventure ahead. While the experience is largely non-linear, there were a few bottleneck moments where we had to regroup, which provided opportunities for us to collaborate even more closely. The theming and props were top-notch, with every puzzle feeling logical and seamlessly integrated into the space. The room itself was visually impressive, showcasing great attention to detail in its design and layout. Ransom’s standout feature is undoubtedly its puzzles and game flow. With just the two of us, we were constantly on the move, working to solve a wide variety of challenges within the 60-minute time limit.
The CabinThe Cipher Room NewtownEscape roomIRLThe theming in The Cabin is absolutely next level. As self proclaimed escape room enthusiasts, I often found myself wondering around taking moments just to soak in the atmosphere and appreciate the intricate details of the set. From the moment we stepped inside, it felt like we had been whisked away from the hustle of King Street in Newtown to a secluded cabin in the woods. The immersive blend of sounds, lighting, and props completely transformed the space. It's obvious that an immense amount of thought and craftsmanship went into every element of the room. When it comes to puzzles, The Cabin delivers a fantastic variety. What really stood out were the handmade puzzles—many of which we hadn’t encountered before, even after completing close to 50 rooms! That’s a rare find for seasoned escape room players. There’s an impressive balance of low-tech and high-tech puzzles, with some really clever mechanisms woven throughout. It’s worth noting that this is not your typical family-friendly room. The Cabin leans towards the eerie and creepy, but rest assured, there are no jump scares. It’s more about building a sense of suspense and atmosphere. I’d rate this room as quite challenging. Our team did end up utilising a few hints to make it through within the 60-minute time limit. As always, the game masters at The Cipher Room are always ready to offer guidance and aid in any way possible.
TorquayElude Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLWalking into Torquay, I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "Wow." This room is absolutely beautiful, and without giving anything away, you must play this room to experience how truly gorgeous this room is. Fresh off playing Perpetual Motion, which we thought was challenging, Torquay definitely ramps it up again. Darren and Julia gave us a heads-up that we needed to be on our A-game to tackle the numerous puzzles in Torquay. The puzzles were challenging, unique, varied, and fun. More than once, we encountered puzzle elements we had not seen used anywhere else, which is rare these days. Thanks to subtle signposting, we were able to focus more on solving the numerous puzzles rather than figuring out which combination or answer went where. With a bit of bonus time added—something we greatly appreciated as it allowed us to savor our sense of accomplishment—we managed to get through this beautiful room. Julia met us afterward and spent a lot of time with us in our debrief, discussing the room, their future plans, and escape rooms in general. We loved this and will definitely be back.
Perpetual MotionElude Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLPerpetual Motion was a linear escape experience that truly tested our team. The layout, props, and setting were absolutely amazing and looked fantastic. The room is well-designed and features puzzles that are as clever and challenging as any of the best escape rooms in the city. Although Perpetual Motion is more of a low-tech experience, this suits the room and its spaces perfectly. The flow of the room is well considered, and there were several puzzles unlike anything we have seen in other Sydney rooms. Additionally, the service provided by Darren and Julia was exceptional. After we escaped, with a bit of bonus time added, Darren spent time with us in the debrief, going over puzzles, explaining different aspects, and discussing areas where we got a bit caught up. You can tell and appreciate their rooms are built and run by enthusiasts and we can't wait to go back for the remaining 2 rooms.
CurioEscape Rooms CanberraEscape roomIRLAfter finishing the masterpiece that is The Vault at Escape Rooms Canberra, our Gamesmaster kindly got us moving straight into our next and final room, Curio. Once again, Escape Rooms Canberra did not miss with Curio. We had the same Gamesmaster, so we knew we were in capable hands, as they were nothing short of friendly and courteous. Entering the room, you are instantly captivated by the beautiful set. The props, puzzles, and overall immersion make you genuinely feel like you are part of the show unfolding before your eyes. The immersive experience was enhanced by great lighting, sounds, and the quality of the build. The puzzles in Curio are linear in nature, but teamwork is essential to solve particular puzzles. The final stage of the game requires team members to be separated to complete the puzzle. There was a great variety of puzzles in this room, with a mix of high and low-tech elements and a nice use of magnets. Overall, Curio is a really good room and after escaping with about 18 minutes remaining, this room easily made it into my top rooms of all time.
The MineRiddle Room CanberraEscape roomIRLHeading back to Riddle Room to take on The Mine was a thrilling experience. This was my 42nd room overall, the 8th room in Canberra, and the last, but certainly not least, at Riddle Room. Once again, we were met with top-quality staff who were nothing short of friendly and accommodating to our team. Riddle Room uses a unique method of communication for Gamesmastering, utilizing a version of the "Voice of God" system. Responses to our questions are displayed on a monitor that also keeps track of our time. I quite liked this approach as it minimized miscommunication. However, the only drawback is that in a multi-room escape, you have to make your way back to the first room to see the monitor. That said, you can tell The Mine is one of the newer rooms around. The set design feels fresh and new, and the aesthetics are beautiful. At points, you can definitely feel like you're stuck in an abandoned mine. True to the majority of Riddle Room’s other rooms, The Mine sticks with their linear approach. While linear escape rooms usually aren't our strong suit as a team, the depth of the puzzles on offer meant that our team of four all had plenty to do while helping with the same puzzles. The puzzles were strong, made sense in the space, and there were plenty of them in what was essentially a 2-3 room escape. Luckily, we managed to scrape through with all but a second to spare. As with all the other rooms at Riddle Room, your Gamesmaster provides your team with a breakdown of your times at certain intervals, which is a nice touch I haven't seen implemented almost anywhere unless we asked. Overall, I would rate The Mine as my favorite from Riddle Room, with The Hotel following very closely behind. The team had a lot of fun, and we will be eager to return if/when any more rooms open up!
