I feel like the less I say about The Shrewsbury Express, the better. Just know that it was exceptionally fun, fair, and well worth a visit to Level Up for. It was also, for lack of a better word, totally bonkers – in all the best ways. I’ve played a great many escape rooms now, but only a tiny percentage have left me wondering, “What on earth just happened?” upon their conclusion.
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The Immersive Experience Network Summit ’25 – Worth it for Escape Rooms?
In 2024, ERIC re-emerged, like a phoenix from the flames, this time partnered with the Immersive Experience Network. We weren’t able to attend last year, but when ERIC once again returned to the IEN Summit, this time with a dedicated program stream, we debated long and hard about whether to attend, after all, it’s not cheap. But Escape Rooms are now part of the Immersive Experience conversation, and they deserve to be heard.
The Lift Escape Rooms: Lock and Rock (Brighton)
Lock and Rock was a good game with a fun vibe, thanks to the rocking playlist that accompanied us along the way. The game is an ideal choice for larger groups, thanks to the space, but totally achievable for smaller teams as well.
Enigma Quests: Escape Arcade (London)
Enigma Quests’ Escape Arcade was very good fun, and an excellent choice for groups, large and small alike. But it isn’t an escape room, and those looking for a purely puzzle experience or a traditional escape room experience are likely to come away disappointed
Enigma Quests: Inventor’s Odyssey Through Time (London)
There’s not much to say about this game really. I wanted to love it, but I ended up just loving that it ended. The ‘wow’ feature was cool, but we’ve seen it done better elsewhere, and the lack of signposting left our team frustrated.
Enigma Quests: The Billion Pound Heist (London)
We had high hopes for this game, but left with more questions than answers. I would imagine non-enthusiasts may have a good time, but don’t play this game if you’re looking for a challenge, or for logical progression.
Enigma Quests: World of Witchcraft and Wizardry (London)
Enigma Quests’ World of Witchcraft and Wizardry has a beautiful set, and a couple of clever puzzles, but something was lacking from the experience, and left us feeling just a little flat after. It’s not a bad game, and with a few tweaks could be a good, or maybe even a great game.
Hotel Veloria: Lost and Found (Volkel)
Lost and Found is a stunning example of a classic, narrative led escape room, bursting with story, and some rather exceptional and complex puzzles. My only regret about the experience is that we only had time for one game on this trip, and missed out on the other games on offer at Hotel Veloria.
Escape Boats: The Inspectors (Galway)
Each game we played with Escape Boats (both Dublin and Galway) seemed to improve on the previous. The Inspectors had a great wow moment and some clever puzzles that we hadn’t seen before.
Escape Boats: SOS (Dublin)
Of the two games aboard the Zorg Ella, SOS was my favourite, combining an immersive set with great puzzles, and some excellent physical story telling
Escape Boats: Convicts (Dublin)
If you search anywhere for ‘best escape rooms in Dublin’, Escape Boats is a name that you’ll see everywhere, and I’m not surprised. Convicts was a lot of fun, and the added novelty of being on a boat will certainly make it a winner for many.