Sweethearts Ice Cream ParlourThe Cool SpaceEscape roomIRLI had the privilege of playtesting this room and it was so COOL (pun intended)! It has such an incredible retro set design and creative props. I love the unique theming—out of the 140 escape rooms I’ve played, I can’t say I’ve got to play an ice cream-themed adventure before! The storyline had a fantastic twist, and the puzzles were refreshingly original, with a few I’d genuinely never seen before. It’s also seriously Instagram-worthy—one look at the set and you have to play.
Deep Space: DivinityUkiyoEscape roomIRLFrom the outset, Ukiyo makes it clear - this isn’t just an escape room; it’s an experience. Think “choose your own adventure”, with rich storytelling, meaningful choices, plenty of dialogue, and a light scattering of puzzles. We were on holiday with limited time, so we took on a marathon session and completed The Crumbling Prince (Parts 1 & 2) and Deep Space (Parts 1 & 2) all in one day. Of the two, Deep Space was definitely my favourite. The stakes felt higher, the atmosphere more intense- and if you're a fan of films like Alien, Life, or any spaceship survival story, you'll love the immersive nods to those kinds of scenarios. It really captured that tension and sense of urgency in a way that stuck with me after.
The Crumbling Prince - Episode 1UkiyoEscape roomIRLWe were on holiday with limited time, so we took on a marathon session and completed The Crumbling Prince (Parts 1 & 2) and Deep Space (Parts 1 & 2) all in one day. Deep Space was my personal favourite for the level of player agency it offers- your choices shape the experience. That said, many consider The Crumbling Prince their standout, and it really comes down to personal preference. Crumbling Prince is artistic, surreal, and dreamlike, with beautiful aesthetics and a unique mechanic where each player wears a different mask and has a unique ability. It follows a more linear narrative path, and while you interact with the Prince throughout, your choices don’t significantly alter the course of the story in the way Deep Space allows. Part 1 of Crumbling Prince ends quite abruptly, raising more questions than it answers- it definitely feels like just the beginning of a bigger journey. I would’ve felt a bit unsatisfied stopping there, so I was glad we had the time to jump straight into Part 2, which made the experience feel more complete and rewarding. I’m intrigued to see how the story continues in Part 3!
ExtractionThe Curium ExperienceEscape roomIRLAn outstanding, high-production experience that is whimsical, adventurous and so much FUN! Highly recommend to all players, whether they be new or experienced at escape rooms.
Heart Of The MountainUltimate RealitiesEscape roomIRLNot your typical escape room! Heart of the Mountain boasts impressive high-tech, movie-set quality environments and realistic props. It’s an Indiana Jones-style adventure, with a focus on tasks, rather than traditional puzzles. You can see how much work has been poured into this creation, and it’ll be exciting to see where it goes and what further developments are in store.
The CabinThe Cipher Room NewtownEscape roomIRLAnother impressive room by Cipher, with a clever and personal ending. A smorgasbord of puzzles could be found in this room- from searching to physical to tactile - there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for horror/scary you won’t find it in this room. It’s only spooky/creepy in theme (just the way I like it though!!!)
EspionageThe Cipher Room NewtownEscape roomIRLAnother beautiful experience from Cipher! As always, the set design and props were visually stunning and thoughtfully curated. Like their other rooms, Espionage uses clever visuals and well-placed props to guide you through the puzzles in a natural and intuitive way. True to form, Cipher offers a rich variety of puzzles- diverse in type and style - ensuring there’s something to delight every team member.
RansomSocial Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLRansom has fantastic brain-teasing puzzles, decor and clever transitions that made for a very entertaining experience. As always, Mark was an incredibly friendly and approachable DM, with a perfect balance of guidance and encouragement.
Bellamy's BootySocial Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLFantastic set build and clever puzzles, with just the right amount of challenge.
Mrs Claws - CLOSEDStrange World Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLGood, chaotic fun! Mrs Claws is packed with fun puzzles and creepy elements, but it’s the personal touches and humourous character interactions that truly steal the show.
The Morrison Game FactoryPostCuriousEscape roomTabletopMy partner and I have played several tabletop escape rooms, and this one still stands out as my absolute favourite. At its heart is a beautifully crafted narrative that flows seamlessly through the puzzles and genuinely tugged at my heartstrings. Incredible work to evoke that kind of emotion from a tabletop game!
The Flaming PearlEclipse EscapeEscape roomIRLI recently completed the Flaming Pearl escape room with my partner for a special occasion, and we had an absolutely fantastic time! Having now experienced all of Eclipse’s escape rooms, I can confidently say that you can’t go wrong with any of them. The owner clearly pours so much heart and soul and creativity into each of these rooms, and Flaming Pearl is no exception. It is a valuable and unique addition to Surfers Paradise! From the moment you step inside, the room is visually exciting, with beautiful props and intricate details that seamlessly link together, and into the story. The puzzles themselves are fun and challenging, blending familiar games with creative twists. There’s just the right amount of challenge to keep you moving at a good pace. I highly recommend giving Flaming Pearl or any of the rooms at Eclipse a try. I can’t wait to see what the team at Eclipse comes up with next!
OrphanageQuest RoomEscape roomIRLOrphanage was a winning combination of visually stunning aesthetics and intelligent and creative puzzles. As someone who doesn’t tolerate scary/spooky escape rooms (and will jump merely at the sound of a drawer opening), I was pleased to discover that it was palatable even for the faint hearted! I’m so glad I was encouraged to give it a go. Our group went to celebrate my partner’s birthday and our GM (Lex) made the experience so much more memorable with his charismatic demeanour. Highly recommend!!!
Prison BreakThe Mindtrap Big BananaEscape roomIRLVery fun, realistic theming! This room pushes you to communicate and collaborate well. You’ll have to work as an individual and a team player to succeed.
Temple of DoomThe Mindtrap Big BananaEscape roomIRLIf you’re a fan of Indiana Jones then this is the room for you! Great props and theming, with plenty of puzzles to challenge you.
School of WizardsThe Mindtrap Big BananaEscape roomIRLAs a Harry Potter fan I loooooooved the theming of this room. Great puzzles with enough complexity to make more experienced escapees feel challenged!
HostelThe Mindtrap Big BananaEscape roomIRLNot for the faint of heart!! I did this with my partner a couple of weeks back and some of the jumps definitely spooked me! The theming is really cool, and the room is quite expansive so make sure you move along at a fast pace otherwise you won’t get through it all!
