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Reviews

Reviews

Batman™: The Dark Knight Challenge

Batman™: The Dark Knight Challenge

Escapology - Lynnwood

  • Escape room
  • IRL
For as exciting and hard-hitting as Batman could be as an escape room, Escapology plays it safe and keeps it... boring. The set is decent at the beginning and end, but very much lacking and unconvincing in the middle. The puzzles are generally underwhelming, especially given the opportunity of using the IP in cool ways. Kids would probably enjoy this game, but Scooby-Doo is even better and kid-friendly. Otherwise, I would recommend Murder on the Orient Express over this game
Prestige

Prestige

Finest Escape - Nürnberg

  • Escape room
  • IRL
My goodness, this game was such a treat. The story, the set, the theatrics, and the puzzles, this game has it all. Even the intro leading you into the room was epic. This game could easily be a TERPECA Finalist this year. Watching the movie is not a must, but it might help you understand the complex story more easily and get an extra boost of excitement when you see certain things in this room. This game has my highest marks in every facet. Do yourself a favor and play it. It's playable with 2 experienced players; I wouldn't go above 4. We played with 3, and it worked very well.
Das Magische Archiv [The Magical Archive]

Das Magische Archiv [The Magical Archive]

Team X

  • Escape room
  • IRL
We played this in the "mystical-dark/creepy" mode. This game is pretty different. There are fewer puzzles than in a normal game because of some unique presentation and things you must do as a team. I liked how the set was utilized, and the actor made a big impact on our experience. Although you will not find gore, jump scares, or total darkness, it was a far spookier game than I had expected going in. Some areas of the game require outside-the-box thinking, which is where it thrives. Overall, it is worth playing because you don't see games of this format all that often.
Haunted House

Haunted House

Escapology - Lynnwood

  • Escape room
  • IRL
The game is above average compared to the other Escapology experiences I have done in the past. The set is good, the story is fine, and the puzzles are generally interesting. Much of the game is light management, as you are only given 1 lantern, at least it is a bright one. With this lantern, you can actually cheat a puzzle by having too much light. They attempted a cool moment that came far too quickly to an end. I would not play with more than 3, the rooms at Escapology Lynwood are small and linear. Overall, it is okay, but I would recommend visiting the nearby Kryptoscape instead if possible
Tesla's Laboratory

Tesla's Laboratory

Conundroom - Downtown Park

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Overall, I liked Tesla. 4 seems to be the best group size. The hint system is the GM walking into the room, which breaks immersion. I enjoyed some of the mechanical elements, but not so much the brute-force or button-pushing puzzles. The set looked nice, leading to some great team photos. I appreciated the unique doors, making fun transitions, but then you are forced to go back to the start for an audio clip. It breaks the flow significantly. It is worth a play, especially with the reasonable price point.
La Cathédrale Oubliée [The Forgotten Cathedral]

La Cathédrale Oubliée [The Forgotten Cathedral]

Escaparium - Laval

  • Escape room
  • IRL
The set is world-class and grand. It was impressive and spacious, and generally well-utilized. One puzzle we had a major disconnect, and we struggled greatly, even with hints. The opening was incredibly memorable, and there were special moments throughout. The credits at the end were also unique and nicely capped it off. The experience is spooky and eerie, but not here to cause terror. I enjoyed my visit to the Cathedral, but this was not as impactful as their other games for me, and I preferred others at this location
L'Île perdue de la Reine Vaudou [The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen]

L'Île perdue de la Reine Vaudou [The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen]

Escaparium - Laval

  • Escape room
  • IRL
At its core, this is a pirate game. No shocking twists or turns in the story, but a wonderfully executed pirate game. Many things you might think "I wish a pirate game had X", show up here. The finale did not pack a punch as we had expected, and the game was on the easy side, finishing with 30 minutes left. The set is downright fantastic, although we had some noise bleed with the lobby construction happening, hearing buzz saws and groups walking by. Once the lobby is complete, I would not expect this to be an issue. If you have experience, take your time, explore the set and story, and enjoy your time on The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen!
Ctrl Alt Reboot

Ctrl Alt Reboot

Escaparium - Laval

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Wonderful set and story. The vibes were on point, and I really enjoyed our companion. There was one "thing" that was repeated several times that I personally thought interrupted the pacing and didn't do much for me, but others in my group really enjoyed it. The set was huge and had satisfying puzzles the entire way. Some things were never explored that I really wanted to, and the finale is not an element I particularly enjoy. Objectively, though, this is still a phenomenal experience
Le choix du barbier prev. Le Barbier [The Barber's Choice prev. The Barber]

Le choix du barbier prev. Le Barbier [The Barber's Choice prev. The Barber]

Ezkapaz

  • Escape room
  • IRL
I got a little lost in the story, and one puzzle in particular we really struggled with. The actor interaction is fun and well done. Most of the puzzles were enjoyable and satisfying, but the second act was tough. It was too difficult to hear what was happening, and I got totally lost in the story. I really did not know what was happening after we left. It did not click for me, although the first half was a lot of fun!
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