marydoll

Reviews

Reviews

The Shrewsbury Express [prev. Snowbound Express]

The Shrewsbury Express [prev. Snowbound Express]

XscapeNow Shrewsbury

  • Escape room
  • IRL
This game has it all. This was my 69 year old mom’s first escape room with actors (she’s done plenty before) and it was the perfect introduction for her. She says hands done it’s the best room she’s ever done. I’d say it’s one of the best, if not THE best UK room I’ve done, at least in a long, long time. The mix of interactive elements, actor elements, puzzles, set, story - I absolutely loved it. A real, sparkly, weighty hidden gem of a game. A huge thank you to the team behind it.
CREW

CREW

Co-Decode Live Escape Games

  • Escape room
  • IRL
This is a really cool experience - harder than I thought it would be high was a nice surprise - there were parts that really test the noggin. We played as a two so had to take over some of the other roles which was fun, but more challenging. It’s a different concept from other escape rooms and is prefect for team building for small teams where communication and attention to detail is key. It’s clear that husband and I need to work on reading details and improving our specificity of instructions. The point scoring system and replayability factor makes this experience more unique than most - would definitely recommend. Excellent hosting by Alex, and as other reviews have mentioned - the bathrooms are outstanding - make sure you peak into both.
K.O.N.G. Protocol

K.O.N.G. Protocol

Escape Barcelona 2 3

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Husband and I booked a trip to Barcelona to sample some of the new TERPECA high ranking games. This game was a new entry at number 10 so we were curious. Oh my word. Go and book this game. Travel to Barcelona as soon as possible to play this game. This game has to be played to be believed. Behind each door was wow moment after wow moment - you will jump, laugh, and squeal with both terror and delight. I cannot praise this highly enough - everything about it is unbelievably brilliant. I wish that Men in Black memory erase machine thingies existed so that I could go and play it again.
Ye Old Lock Inn

Ye Old Lock Inn

Ctrl Alt Esc

  • Escape room
  • IRL
This was our favourite of the games that we played here - the build quality and set design were very good, it is an interesting concept with a variety of puzzles and several bits that made us chuckle. Puzzles are mainly observation based and rely on communication. There is a clever take on a padlock to unlock different elements; this, along with the GM actor are very appropriate for the theme and time period that the game is set in. I would recommend that you don’t wear shorts as there are several bits of crawling and my knees aren’t what they used to be!
Behind Number 7

Behind Number 7 - CLOSED

Ctrl Alt Esc

  • Escape room
  • IRL
I’ll start by saying we played two other games at this location and enjoyed them. However, we really didn’t get on with this particular game. There are two main elements to it, and while we knew what we had to do, it was really not clear how to do what we needed to do. Some more subtle signposting would go a long way. For example, you gradually find and unlock a load of stuff but it’s not clear or very intuitive what you should be doing with it. It was very much ‘try all the things’. As much as I hate to say it, I would not recommend this particular room at this venue. It is supposed to be difficult but I feel this is just because the many many puzzles don’t flow particularly well. Sometimes an escape room just doesn’t gel with the players’ train of thought or way of working, and this happened here. Frankly, we got bored and mentally gave up, which is something I NEVER do in escape rooms. I’m aware that lots of other people like this room, it just wasn’t for us. The other two rooms we played here were good fun (Detention and The Olde Lock Inn), and I wish in hindsight that I’d booked Quik-E-Mart instead of Behind Number 7.
Paradox Project 1: Η Έπαυλη [Paradox Project 1: The Mansion]

Paradox Project 1: Η Έπαυλη [Paradox Project 1: The Mansion]

Paradox Project

  • Escape room
  • IRL
If you visit Athens and are planning to play some escape rooms, Paradox Project has to be on your list. The Mansion is the first of the games and the first chapter in the story. The space is huge and packed full of puzzles so if you are used to games that are bigger on experience and horror and light on puzzles, as many in Athens are, you will definitely have a mental workout over the 3 hours that you are inside the space. This probably isn’t a game for first time players either. The escape rooms at Paradox Project are the longest I’ve ever played but the time flies by as there is so much to keep you immersed and busy. We were offered a break half way through but kept on going. You are permitted to take in refreshments and eat/drink as you like, though only in the central space in the house. The bathroom is available at all times too which is handy. I loved this game - it was the first in a long time that really made us stop and think and work things out. You need stamina and adrenaline, failing that, caffeine, to get you through to the end, especially if you are a group of two like we were. Totally worth it, I wish there were games like this in the UK.
Παρεκκλήσι & Κατακόμβες [Chapel & Catacombs]

Παρεκκλήσι & Κατακόμβες [Chapel & Catacombs]

Lockhill - Nea Ionia

  • Escape room
  • IRL
This is an unbelievable experience. As others have said, it is definitely more of an experience than a typical escape room. If you go into it expecting lots of well lit puzzles you’ll be disappointed. Go into it with an open mind and try and enjoy what unfolds before you. You won’t have any choice but to be fully immersed in the story. You can’t visit Athens and not experience this game - it is an absolute must-play. If you are of a more nervous disposition you have a panic button and an option to tone down the experience if you need to, I thought about it a couple of times but I’m glad that we pushed on and completed it, albeit slowly, in full game mode. What the team have created and execute here is spectacular, I don’t think that there is anything on this level in the UK.