TheEnigmaCode

Reviews

@TheEnigmaCode
Morty score560
  • Escape rooms551
  • Haunts9

TheEnigmaCode

    Shawn Elisha Simmons (He/Him)

    @Wheaties@Shezzryl
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    La Famille

    La Famille

    Escaparium - Shawinigan

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    The owner was very kind to us and allowed us to play this game off time, which was super appreciated as this was one of my most anticipated games in the area. It more than lived up to the hype, with a strong set and a story that was very unusual for an escape room while being familiar at the same time. I really enjoyed the initial room and it’s distinct yet connected other portions. Like other escaparium games, the game design blends challenging puzzles and thematic interactions, although in this particular case the tasks themselves had a heavier tie to the story. Even smaller details, such as video produced for the room, was high quality and appropriate. Some of my favorite games blend conventional horror and adventure to create more accessible yet still unnerving experiences, and that’s how I would describe The Family. It’s spooky, thematic, and packed full of impressive set based moments and integrated puzzles, while telling a full story inspired by a famous film yet distinct enough to stand on its own. It would be worth driving to this location alone, but if you’re planning a trip to Quebec City from montreal this is perfectly in the middle. Do not skip it!
    Le Jour du Jugement [Judgement Day]

    Le Jour du Jugement [Judgement Day]

    Eliviascape

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Judgement Day tells a story that I have never seen in an escape room, especially as a horror story. It’s a disturbing, artistic take on a murder house, and it’s absolutely stunning. The atmosphere is as dark and foreboding as the bleak storyline, but like Abstraction this game explores a ton of other emotions. The expansive nature reminded me of Dutch escape rooms, and it’s narratively reminiscent of Molly’s Game in terms of genre and tone. The puzzles are more narrative focused compared to some of the more challenging moments on Abstraction, however, they all solve cleanly, have fun executions, and in a few cases feel terrifying in their urgency. As a note of caution, I do think this game could be triggering to some players due to the nature of its storyline and interactions, more so than other horror games (think Molly’s Game style of intense, human driven horror). It’s worth looking into it, but if you can stomach it it’s absolutely worth playing.
    The Observatory

    The Observatory

    The Gate Escape

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Abstraction

    Abstraction

    Eliviascape

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Escape rooms often mimic movies, either directly or somewhat thematically. I’ve played through games straight out of blockbuster horror films, or classic adventure film, but I’ve rarely played games that mimicked the newest trend of artistic horror so effectively. Abstraction is a horror story, but it’s also a vehicle for a beautiful and almost tragic thematic experience. It made me think, it made me feel, all while being horrifying at the same time. The initial set is already a kind of haunting environment, but as the experience evolves, the arc of the story takes this game to varied yet beautiful places. I will never forget how one puzzle in particular worked with the set, or the eerie sound design that imperceptibly told the story, or a particular scene that was something I’ve wanted to see for a very long time. This is also one of the most fluid games I’ve played, with next to zero snags and a rare tangibility to the ways we manipulated the space. Escape rooms have always been something of an art form, but very few reach this level of the actual feeling of an art house film. Abstraction is a rare gem and a beautiful experience.
    La Cathédrale Oubliée [The Forgotten Cathedral]

    La Cathédrale Oubliée [The Forgotten Cathedral]

    Escaparium Laval

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Forgotten Cathedral is one of the most cinematic experiences I’ve ever had with an escape room, right down to impeccable visuals and an utterly insane scale. Everything from the ceiling to the floor is fully designed and blended seamlessly into the puzzle design. The game design is absolutely excellent and very brisk in pace, while providing a nice challenge in certain moments. In addition, there is a story and a narrative arch supported within its detailed set, even down to smaller moments or interactions. This is absolutely one of the best games in the entire world, an experience that should be played by any enthusiast.
    Projet R.E.S.E.T. [Project R.E.S.E.T.]

    Projet R.E.S.E.T. [Project R.E.S.E.T.]

    Immersia Escape Games

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Project R.E.S.E.T. combined a truly unique mechanic with awesome environmental solving to deliver an experience I only dreamed about. The central theme was surprisingly poignant and thought provoking. Immersia used game design to tell a particular story with a message and they knocked it out of the park. I can’t specify, but it reminded me of my favorite puzzle game and experiencing that in real life was incredible.
    Marcheurs de rêves [The Dreamwalkers]

    Marcheurs de rêves [The Dreamwalkers]

    Cabinet Mysteriis

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Cabinet Mysteriis is a quirky escape room company with a distinctive flair for theatrical characters and unique interactions. Dream Walkers is their absolute best. The set, transitions, and characters in this game are absolutely incredible and play humorously with darker concepts while retaining a youthful innocence. There were several sets that were both totally original yet classic at the same time, fitting for a storyline entrenched in children’s fantasy. While the game is nonlinear and has quite a lot of steps, there’s clear threads in the gameplay that almost feel like mini games within the larger overarching structure, alongside excellently crafted meta elements. It’s very hard to find a game that truly restores the feeling of playing an escape room for the first time and this is truly a great example of that kind of wonder.
    Time Machine

    Time Machine

    Mad Machines

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    While Birth Machine is a innovative and singular take on an escape room, Time Machine presents a perfect execution of a more standard theme, with plenty of twists that make it stand out. The gameplay is much more diegetic compared to Birth Machine, which used the set-up for some rather abstract yet thematic interactions. The game demands teamwork, dexterity, and attention to detail, but not in an overwhelming or overtly difficult way. The set makes use of some unique theming and impressive transitions to create a solid subversion of the common time travel themes. While one interaction could have benefited from some clarity to avoid damage to the set, every interaction was interesting, fun, and fit perfectly in the strange world that Mad Machines created.
    The Mole of The Mountain

    The Mole of The Mountain

    Upside Down Escape Games

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Mole of the Mountain was a game I played in beta that immediately stood out to me as a masterpiece. This is a game made with a lot of passion, care, detail, and an excellent sense of humor. The puzzles generally require unique teamwork, making use of the environment in the ways the best escape rooms always do. More so than anything, Mole of the Mountain tells a unique story with a very deft hand. The plot commits to the bit, and goes in some very unexpected directions. The owners are incredible designers and seeing their trajectory (and knowing them for so long) has been absolutely incredible. Plus, if you’ve played with them long enough, you can notice a few interesting Easter eggs (be sure to ask for a quick tour after!)
    Birth Machine

    Birth Machine

    Mad Machines

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Birth Machine is a stunning, hilarious, and mind blowing immersive experience that stood alone in both theming and execution. From the very start, you’re lead into a detailed yet realistic scenes, solving crazy and racy challenges that never crossed a line into discomfort (which it definitely could have). From there, the game escalated and escalated into a series of tactile, bizarre, and extremely unique interactions, many of which I have never seen before. There were a few puzzles early on that were brilliant, but a little too subtle for me, even though this is probably a quirk of my particular play style. Nevertheless, this game starts with absurdity and just never lets up, leading to one of the best experiences I’ve had in an escape room. This is absolutely a must play for any enthusiast.
    Witch's Hollow

    Witch's Hollow

    Stained Hourglass Escapes LLC.

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Our visit to Witch’s Hollow was very last minute, but it was a worthy addition. Stained Hourglass is quickly becoming one of the best companies in mass, with both games excelling at tactile, epiphany-driven solves. Like The Boring Office before it, the puzzles in Witch’s Hollow are baked so deeply into the set and story, a perfect blend of puzzle solving and narrative-driven gameplay. While the world of the former was a little more unique, that isn’t to say this room was less spirited. The game is largely nonlinear and perfect for larger groups of inexperienced players (or small groups of more experienced players). My favorite interactions felt like being in a classic adventure game, with the set reacting in interesting and exciting ways. My only critiques are pretty minor. I would have loved some more small interactions to build up to some of the cooler interactions, just a little more linearity to create smaller progression as well. Another, which is also pretty minor, would be to funnel the solves into a some kind of meta puzzle, at least, something slightly more complicated than the finale (not that the final interaction wasn’t good, it could just be gated with a little more complexity). This critiques are analyzing the game from a more detailed perspective, and do not mar an otherwise shining example of immersive game design. I am dying to see what this company puts out next!