The Alchemist

What do you even say? Incredible and world-leading scenic. Giant practical effects that hide a lot of technical prowess. Breathtaking. The puzzles themselves are not the highlight, though the interactions you do are tremendous. Must do in every way.

Filled with wonder, wit and whimsy, The Alchemist is a top game for a reason. While the puzzles were not my personal favorite types of puzzles or consistently top tier or creative, there were some truly notable puzzles and a lot of "wow" moments--particularly the end! The storyline was (a bit disappointed) average, but most puzzles played very well into the theme, and the set design was top notch. For me this was enough make it memorable, but for someone who cares more about story and puzzles, I'd temper the hype, which left me wanting a little more from a top (and most expensive) tier game. The highlights are many: a sense of whimsy and fun throughout, an optional "higher level" physical activity ("wheeee!"), a witty "assistant" that follows you throughout your journey, a gorgeous, dynamic set which evolves as you play, and an unexpected puzzle which I will remember for a long time (for those who've played it, it involves golden lines and "audio" ... I wish it had been used more than once - an entire game could've been built around this single concept, but sadly it lasts just 2 or 3 minutes! :) ) The lowlights: not every puzzle was consistently on the epic level that the rest of the room exhibited (or which many had hyped it up to be). For example, there are two puzzles which I will describe as "maze-like tracing" which could be found in any escape room anywhere.

Every single thing about this room was amazing. The hour passed by so smoothly. From the room introduction until the end sequence our team of 3 was constantly in amazement at the puzzles and expanse of the room. Totally worth getting to Amsterdam if you can. Totally worthy of being near the top of TERPECA. The location is super convenient in the middle of town.

We had an absolutely fantastic time at this attraction with our group of five—three adults and two kids (ages 11 and 14). The experience took us about 78 minutes, and every moment was filled with excitement and teamwork. What stood out most was how each of us, regardless of age, felt genuinely involved in solving the puzzles. It was the perfect blend of challenge and fun. The sound effects, lighting, and mechanical puzzles were all perfectly synchronized to enhance the atmosphere. We also loved the setting—located in the historic old stock exchange building, which gave the whole experience a unique character and charm. After reading glowing reviews before our visit, we’re happy to say it completely lived up to the hype. We highly recommend this attraction to anyone visiting Amsterdam—it’s a must-do for puzzle lovers, families, or anyone looking for a high-quality immersive adventure. The hint system was cleverly designed—a small, unobtrusive box that gave just the right nudge without giving too much away. The interactive AI robot-like device added a futuristic, immersive twist, and the production quality throughout was top-notch.

This room is unreal and not like anything I have ever experienced. I’m not even upset that we didn’t get out (we had 2 people and this room is difficult with just 2) but we wanted the experience, and boy did it serve. Even though we didn’t get to the last puzzle we still got a beautiful magnetic ending. Beautiful design, super attentive game master with clever ways of giving clues, challenging, and extremely immersive. 100/10 so glad I made time for this on my work trip to Amsterdam.

We LOVED this game. Everything about it was special. Moved it to the top of our favorites. The room was incredible. The ending was special. The GM Alex was awesome.

One 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!

Wow, wow, wow. The Alchemist is one of the world’s most creatively breathtaking escape rooms. Take my word for it: I’ve played over 200 games. If you are in Amsterdam and enjoy a challenge, beautiful sets, and immersive experience, The Alchemist is a must play. I would love to experience it again just to see the finale scene (which I won’t spoil for you here). The team at Sherlock has outdone themselves. I played all of their games while I was in town and The Alchemist stands far above the other two games, though I hear they are refurbishing the other two games soon.

Bonkers. Just bonkers. Man this game is MAGICAL. I can see why it’s the best in the world. Our GM was delightful, the set design was the best I’ve ever witnessed (and I’ve witnessed quite a few) and the puzzles flowed really well. The finale was the best I’ve ever experienced

Gorgeous room! Artisan level set with well integrated puzzles. Fully immersive and engaging environment.