Ghost PatrolTrivium GamesEscape roomIRLGhost Patrol told a heartwarming story through brilliantly designed puzzles, a beautifully constructed set, and well-timed audiovisual effects. I especially loved a tangible metapuzzle that perfectly translated the essence of a puzzle hunt into an escape room environment.
The AlchemistSherlockedEscape roomIRLOne of my favorite experiences of all time, escape room or otherwise. The Alchemist is magical in the truest sense, and it has some stellar puzzles and a compelling emotional arc to top it off. If you have the time and $$$, I highly recommend adding on The Lost Cabinet prequel for an even fuller experience!
Election DayAppleseed AvenueEscape roomOther Election Day combined puppetry and crime scene investigation into an experience that was equal parts clever, hilarious, and inspiring. By pulling learnings and techniques from numerous other storytelling mediums, Appleseed Avenue boldly redefined what an escape room can look like and how it can make you feel.
Birth MachineMad MachinesEscape roomIRLOne of my all-time favorites!! Absolutely brilliant and hilarious reinterpretation of the escape room format, where every single puzzle and interaction has narrative meaning, there's a unique playfulness to the environment and flow, and you'll experience some things you've never seen before... even if you've played many hundreds of escape rooms.
Time MachineMad MachinesEscape roomIRLBirth Machine often gets talked about more due to its unique theming, but gosh, Time Machine is 100% up to the same level, with top-notch humor, a truly unique take on a common theme, and satisfying story-driven puzzles. Very highly recommend!!
Het TestamentBaron BeeckmanEscape roomIRLEasily one of my favorite games in the entire Benelux region! The setting is remarkable, the puzzles are delightfully mechanical and tactile, and there's a certain feature that makes Het Testament particularly unforgettable. We were told we were only the third group of English-speaking players to ever visit, and we were only able to play thanks to a Dutch-speaking teammate. I fully understand the company's decision not to translate the game into English, but if you're visiting from abroad and can find a way to play this, you absolutely should go out of your way to do so.
ההתערבות [The Intervention]Escape CenterEscape roomIRLThe Intervention excelled in many dimensions. A sprawling set meticulously rendered each scene with stunning realism. Puzzles and story together drove forward our adventure with compelling, if at times ridiculous, reasons for our being there. Environmental ahas, puzzle ahas, and unexpected transitions were plentiful. Across all these dimensions, the pacing and flow was spot on.
Danse MacabreEfteling Theme Park ResortHauntOther Efteling's newest attraction absolutely knocks it out of the park. If we had the time, I'd have experienced this 2-3x more in a row — there's so much exquisite detail to take in. As a violinist, I have a special connection to Danse Macabre and loved how this world brought the music to life.
Galactic Beef: The Cosmic Adventures of Star CowDoldrick's Escape RoomEscape roomIRLUdderly brilliant! So much heart, soul, joy, and creativity shines through in this eccentric indie animated film presented through the escape medium. I can't remember when I've giggled and grinned this much in an escape room. The humor especially lands if you get the pop culture and stylistic references, though no outside info is necessary to enjoy the experience. Very satisfying gameplay - rather video game-y with an elegant logical tilt. This game inevitably won't be for everyone, but it's phenomenal relative to the unique format that it embraces.
Ministry of Lost Things: Lint ConditionPostCuriousEscape roomTabletopSO FLIPPING CUTE!! I've been a huge fan of every single Postcurious puzzletale, and MOLT is a particularly adorable and whimsical addition to their catalog. It's impressive how many ahas (and puns) they packed into a small package, with sky-high levels of meticulous design and enthralling illustration throughout. Highly recommend, especially as a more accessible (but no less satisfying) entry point to the Postcurious lineup. I eagerly await future MOLT cases!
![ההתערבות [The Intervention]](https://res.cloudinary.com/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/77a0af5c-f041-4c18-ad49-07fe4311d587.webp)
