Hope End

Gameplay and props were very well thought out.

Spooky without being overwhelming scary

Staff was incredibly talented and friendly throughout the entire experience.

This is a room where the more you put into it the more you will get out of it. It really depends on your interactions with the Live actor/GM because, without your interaction they can't make the best experience possible. I was lucky enough to bring the best people possible for this that interacted with the Live actors a lot and made the experience a lot more enjoyable. I will say puzzles were a little bit above average in terms of creativeness. Set design fit the theme well but, there wasn't anything that really stuck out but, it was enough to push the narrative and have flow I would say. It really is just to complement the interactions you have with the Live Actors. Puzzles also had a good flow to them. I hate when puzzles don't really tell you how to solve them and you have to look around for some obscure thing that barely relates to your current puzzle. I can say with this room every puzzle told you how to solve them within itself which sometimes you can't say with other rooms.

Absolutely perfect. More than perfect. Even after I couldn't stop gushing about how well the world was build and the characters we interacted with. Very few games accomplish immersing you so deep into the story and I really applaud the team at Hope End for creating something so immersive.

Extremely unique. Reminds me of The Last Supper (play that one too if you haven't)

Plot was memorable, Live Actor and GM played their role so well. Made us feel like actual investigators trying to solve a mystery.

All the puzzles were easy.

I would say 6-8 but, no more than 8.

Some jump scares but nothing too bad. Live actor made me jump a couple times haha

Unmarked building. Next to a reputable tax accountant, and a less reputable massage parlor.

Hands-down the best cold-open, split start game I’ve ever experienced. The introduction was the absolute best, baffling, delightful nonsense I’ve ever encountered in an escape room company. Then the start of the actual game was natural, organic, and of course, immersive.

Wonderful use of space with plenty of clever reveals, elegant effects without being distracting or unnecessary, beautiful props, and truly breathtaking lighting, sound, and dynamic storytelling effects. All escape room companies should take notes. 🧐 🥰

Our guides/actors were stellar (Benjamin and Paris, I believe. ☺️🫶🏻) They were in character from beginning (and I mean, the BEGINNING) to end and their dedication to their roles and US were loud and clear; they treated us like VIPs.

YES. This game did a masterful job of handling typical “gameplay logic” and turning it onto its head. It was wonderfully refreshing! And of course there was the acting… well, scroll on to read that bit 😉

The story and integration of it into the experience were TRULY unforgettable. This was my 97th game and it shot to the top of my list. I’ve played rooms with actors, but this was the first room that I felt played ME.

The puzzles were very intuitive and logical. The only way you might struggle is through over-complicating and overthinking things. It is possible that your group might become scattered during moments of higher tension or uncertainty however.

Honestly, the room was a really wholesome mix of both, but I opted to say “high tech” because the reveals, solves, and effects were clearly sophisticated.

4 If you’re experienced. 6 if you’ve got a mix/that many friends.

The theme is largely a haunted house — inherently spooky. No jumpscares though.

Nothing overtly frightening or explicitly inappropriate, however, this room deals with some pretty heavy topics and members of the group may get separated from each other, so I would definitely only recommend it for a MATURE older audience.

I cannot overstate how magnificent these actors were. They commanded the room while making YOU feel like the star. From the zany and fun to the serious and conflicted, they led us through a rich and dynamic experience. The more I think about it, the more I love it. Complex. Personal. Intimate. Astounding.

There’s maybe one part where one (or more) of your party may have to crawl.

Very accessible. No conceivable issues except maybe mobility limitations.

Easy-ish. In a strip mall, but no big sign. Less easy than the surrounding businesses, but not hard.