TheEscapePuzzler

Reviews

Reviews

Zemsta Umarlaka [Deadman's Revenge]

Zemsta Umarlaka [Deadman's Revenge]

DreamScape - Escape Room

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Dead Man’s Revenge was my first experience playing a TERPECA-winning escape room, and it did not disappoint! Our attention was seized from the moment we were summoned by the GM, and we remained enthralled throughout the entire experience. I had reservations about the presence of a live actor, having had limited exposure to this in the past. I must say that it definitely added an extra dimension to the gameplay and increased immersion. The sets are wonderful, the audio and special effects were masterful, and the hint system was inspired. A fantastic mix of varied puzzles kept us on our toes, with one particular challenge towards the end requiring lots of clear communication. A special mention for our GM, who also doubled as multiple characters in the room. He was funny, terrifying and fully embraced his roles. He really made the experience for us. Dead Man's Revenge is a MUST play if you are visiting Poznan, and has taken the number one spot on my personal escape room rankings. If this is the level of quality to expect from TERPECA-winning rooms, then I will definitely be seeking more of them out.
The Murder of Max Sinclair [prev. Case Closed]

The Murder of Max Sinclair [prev. Case Closed]

Case Closed Edinburgh

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Ronan (our GM) jumped straight into character for our briefing, which took place in the cafe, before taking us through to the room. His improvisation skills were second-to-none, as he questioned if Detective Clueless was related to a certain DJ Clueless - one of our characters from our playthrough of their other room, Radio Nowhere. As we stepped into the room, we literally felt as though we'd entered a film noir. The ambience was incredible, heavily utilising dynamic lighting and music throughout to enhance storytelling. As with Radio Nowhere, this room is broken into "acts", with each requiring that you correctly answer a series of questions about the investigation. The answers are written on a questionnaire sheet, which you post through a letterbox in the room. If the answers are all correct, the lighting will change and you'll hear a voiceover aka your "internal monologue", which unlocks the next stage of the case. Once you've successfully completed all of the acts, you'll discover the identity of the murderer and face a final challenge. Our first task was to identify aspects of the crime scene that didn't add up, which was a great test of our observation skills. Compared to Radio Nowhere, The Murder of Max Sinclair leans more into puzzle-solving, as well as deduction. As such, you can expect to find more traditional puzzles and locks, alongside the murder mystery elements. It felt like a full forensic investigation, in which we tested blood, searched for hidden messages, compared handwriting and listened intently to cassette tape recordings. All in an attempt to find key pieces of evidence that would lead us towards the killer. The experience manages to pack in a significant number of tasks across the 90 minutes, with plenty to share out across a larger team. Before our visit, we were delighted to learn that The Murder of Max Sinclair had been announced as one of only 7 UK-based TERPECA 2025 finalists. Having now played the room, we can totally see why. It is a real treat for fans of the noir/detective genre and a great fusion of escape room, murder mystery and immersive theatre. It was an absolute joy to play and I cannot wait to see what Ronan dreams up next. A full review of the games on offer at this venue can be found here: https://escapepuzzler.com/case-closed-edinburgh-uk-feature/
The Morrison Game Factory

The Morrison Game Factory

PostCurious

  • Escape room
  • Tabletop
The Morrison Game Factory is a triumph. Brimming with nostalgia and bags of heart, the charming story is unexpectedly moving and ‘the feels’ linger long after the final credits. The puzzles are fun, varied and perfectly woven into the narrative. Achieving such high production value at an excellent retail price is a real credit to the team; there is no question that it is fantastic value for money. I’m excited to see what Lauren Bello dreams up next and can only hope that this isn’t her last PostCurious collaboration. I cannot recommend this game highly enough and I am labelling it a Must Play. Read my full review here: https://escapepuzzler.com/the-morrison-game-factory-review/
The Escape Lodge

The Escape Lodge

Overnight Escapes - Cornwall

  • Escape room
  • Other
Nestled in the beautiful countryside just outside of Bodmin, Cornwall, is a small holiday park surrounded by lakes and fields. 99% of the park comprises ordinary bungalows and villas to rent. Hidden among these is a seemingly normal bungalow that has been converted into a puzzler's dream. I understand why the team decided to call it The Escape Lodge. 'Escape room' is still the most recognisable label for a time-limited experience that requires you to solve puzzles to progress. The difference here is that the aim isn't to escape, but instead to recover $1m worth of stolen jewellery that has been locked away within your accommodation. Instead of 60 minutes, you'll have until checkout to uncover as many hidden items as you can. For some, the term Overnight Escapes conjures up nightmarish scenarios where live actors jump out from under your bed, or shutters slam down, and you cannot step foot outside until you solve the puzzles. Experiences like this may exist, but in this case, it couldn't be further from the truth. The lodge is a cosy holiday home that just happens to contain lots of padlocked boxes and clues hidden in plain sight. You can leave and enter whenever you want, and you can put as much or as little time into puzzle solving as you desire. We had an amazing stay! Nothing beats being surrounded by beautiful countryside for me, and with both coasts so easily accessible, it’s the perfect base to explore Cornwall. If puzzling through a lodge full of creative puzzles sounds like your cup of tea, make sure you check it out. Just remember to get some sleep, because once the puzzles get into your head, it’s hard to put them down. Read the full, detailed review here: https://escapepuzzler.com/the-escape-lodge-overnight-escapes-review/
Sub Terra

Sub Terra

Co-Decode Live Escape Games

  • Escape room
  • IRL
An exceptionally well-designed room that leans fairly heavily into tech, but in interesting and innovative ways. Attention to detail with the theming is second-to-none, and every part of the room is in mint condition. It really shows how much care has gone into maintaining the venues high standards. The puzzles flowed brilliantly, with excellent signposting and some unique elements we haven’t come across before. I enjoyed how tactile a lot of the puzzles were, although nothing was particularly physically challenging. Gameplay is a mix of linear and non-linear, so expect to have to split up at some points. We certainly found that everyone was busy at all times. To ‘escape’ you need to complete a handful of core objectives, with any extra time left available to pick off the remaining optional challenges. This set-up works really well, and allows faster teams to solve the extra puzzles, while accommodating those with less escape room experience. Overall a fantastic room, that you should definitely add to your wish list!
You Plonker

You Plonker

DreadLock Escape Rooms

  • Escape room
  • IRL
We had a lot of fun in this room, which had a unique theme based loosely around a popular UK TV series, Only Fools and Horses. No prior knowledge of the show is required, but there are plenty of nods for fans to be found throughout the room. The puzzles were varied and interesting, relying on good communication and observation skills. There were tactile elements, a little maths and some funky glasses! A small ‘live actor’ element added to the thrill, as we raced through to the finish. So glad we played it!
The Reading Witch

The Reading Witch

Deadlocked Escape Rooms

  • Escape room
  • IRL
To say I was apprehensive about my first horror room with actors is an understatement. Playing at night, the day before Halloween and with an unfamiliar team made the experience even more unnerving, but... WOW! What a room… Hats off to the team at Deadlocked, who have crafted a truly memorable experience that had my pulse racing and my brain in overdrive. The perfect blend of theatre, escape room and horror, without skimping on the puzzles. The acting is superb, the sets atmospheric and the puzzles were really fun. The extended runtime really allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the gripping story, although the time still shot by very quickly. I can totally see why this room was rated number 1 in the UK at the TERPECA awards this year. I only hope that more rooms of this level continue to emerge in the UK!
Radio Nowhere

Radio Nowhere

Case Closed Edinburgh

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Our experience with Radio Nowhere started before we stepped into the room, when we were given a clipboard of information to review at a table in the cafe. This gave some key details about a murder that had taken place, along with instructions on where to start when we entered the room. A short while later, we were led into the main Radio Nowhere HQ, and given complete control of the airwaves. We beamed at each other as we caught sight of the studio set-up, with its funky lighting, tape deck and microphone. The game is comprised of several acts, each of which requires you to complete key objectives to progress. These are delivered in the form of a questionnaire that is posted through a letterbox into the room. Once you've managed to answer all of the questions, you post these back through the letterbox and await the outcome. If all the answers are correct, the lights will dim, and some audio will be played that progresses the investigation. If incorrect, the questionnaire will be posted back through the door with the wrong answers highlighted. The first task we were given was to identify potential suspects. As the game progressed, we were then tasked with establishing motive, means and opportunity for each of these, with the ultimate aim to uncover the murderer. The most impressive thing about this room is how personalised it is. It's been designed to allow the GM to adapt to the players' strengths and weaknesses. We definitely weren't as comfortable as some might be with the role-playing aspect, which was toned down in the second half of the game. You can live your best life as a radio host, taking listener calls and unlocking new nuggets of information. Or you can focus more on uncovering physical clues throughout the space. I was surprised at the joy of finding new cassette tapes hidden throughout the room that allowed us to unlock new songs to play on the radio station. There were some fun interactive elements, such as an old computer, a mixing desk and a radio that you can tune to different frequencies. There is also an LED listener count display that updates in real time, based on how much engagement you have with the audience. Radio Nowhere is unlike any escape room we've played! Part murder mystery, part immersive experience, it took us out of our comfort zone and surprised us in fun and unique ways. The incredible personalisation really elevated the experience for us, which was in no small part down to our incredible GM Ronan. I honestly cannot recommend it enough. It's superb! A full review of the games on offer at this venue can be found here: https://escapepuzzler.com/case-closed-edinburgh-uk-feature/
The Locktopus

The Locktopus

Knockout Escape Rooms

  • Escape room
  • IRL
An innovative, technological and puzzle-focused game that challenges players not just to escape the room, but to score as many points as they can. You are pitted against an AI system that you interact with via a large touch-screen table in the centre of the room. Once you press ‘initiate’, you gain access to the eight ‘tentacles’ - or puzzle streams - that you need to complete to earn points. There are over 75 puzzles to complete, but there is no expectation to complete them all. Some puzzles are required to progress through the game and unlock the door, which can happen well before the 60 minutes is up. The beauty is that once the door is open, you can choose to play on and complete optional challenges. This means you always get a full hour of gameplay. There is a steep learning curve at the start, but once everything falls into place, it really is a lot of fun. Resource management is key, ensuring you communicate and work effectively as a team. Some puzzles require you to work together, while others can be solved individually. There are no physical padlocks to open; the only way to progress is by using the touch screens available. A satisfying green flash and ‘ding’ sounds when you solve a puzzle; in some cases, this may change something within the room. The sci-fi theming is brilliant - think ‘Alien’ - and we marvelled at the use of everyday items to create such an impressive space. Charlie and James, the owners, make a point of building their rooms from as much recycled material as possible, which is really impressive. This room won’t be for everyone, but if you appreciate a puzzle-heavy, fast-paced room that is light on story, you’ll love it! We left feeling completely exhilarated. We were also delighted to hear that we’d taken the all-time #1 spot for a team of three, which was completely unexpected. One of the cool aspects of this game is viewing your stats at the end. There are different achievements you can unlock throughout the game, and it also tells you how many puzzles you solved. Hats off to the team at Knockout for an exceptional room!
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