Gozsdu Mission: Alchemist Mission (Budapest)

A Cosy Cabin

We will take you 100 years back in time to the room of a mining engineer who worked on a gold-making machine. Your task is to complete and test the forgotten alchemist method.

Gozsdu Mission is synonymous with Budapest escape rooms, thanks to its game White Mission. Of course we played White Mission and that was actually the first game we played at this venue. When we were there they had two games, but I believe they’ve actually opened a third now.

Gozsdu is in an interesting location. To me it felt like one of those streets that relies heavily on stag/hen dos and generally the ‘people looking to get wasted’ market. The numerous cash machines on the street probably backed up that theory. Fortunately, Gozsdu was rather quiet when we attended and we didn’t have to duck and weave around any boozy visitors.

So first things first, Gozsdu Mission was an interesting venue. It was down some stairs and then we found our GM hiding behind a computer at the bottom of the stairs. There were lockers where we could stash our stuff, and there was a toilet. I have never seen a toilet with so many warnings around it. Don’t flush certain items, fair enough. Don’t throw things in the toilet, obviously. No pooping in the toilet, ok that one’s a bit odd. “Leaving your pee on the seat costs 10€ (no joke, I’ll check)”, ummmmm. I guess that relates to the area they’re located in.

Fortunately with no-one needing a number two and no 10€ fine for our group, we were ready to tackle our second game at Gozsdu, Alchemist Mission. After a short break between our games, we were ready to get going. Our mission briefing, which was an A4 page designed to be a letter, was delivered in the waiting area for us to read. Once we read it, our GM opened the door and we were ready to get underway.

IMMERSION/ROOM DESIGN

Considering we had just played a room that was pretty much all white, and very bleak, Alchemist Mission certainly felt like it had gone in the opposite direction. The room had an old cabin type of feel with dusty floors, and lots of paraphernalia dotted around it. I’m not sure if the dust was a design choice or if hygiene was not a consideration.

The game space wasn’t huge and we did find ourselves getting in each other’s way at times, but there were still one or two surprises in store which was nice. I don’t think this room will blow anyone away with the design, but it was fine.

I can’t recall any noises being played to help us escape reality a little more, but I also don’t remember hearing too much from the outside world.

The room was the newest room open at the venue when we played so it was in decent condition. There were a couple of things that were perhaps looking a little worn down, but everything was in a condition that made it playable still.

PUZZLES

As you’d expect from any game involving ‘Alchemist’ in the title, there were some puzzles that perhaps shared a link to chemistry, but outside of that they generally revolved around; searching, observation, logic, following instructions, wordplay, and perhaps some light maths.

The puzzles didn’t feel particularly out of place although there was one puzzle that we managed to short-cut simply through luck/chance. It didn’t affect anything too much but it did mean that we released something earlier than we should have and threw us off a little. At the end of the game we had to ask our GM what we were supposed to have done to solve it and yes, we basically bypassed it as it was using either some glitchy tech, or was perhaps poorly designed.

Most of the puzzles resulted in combinations for padlocks although there were a number of items that were more physical in nature or triggered some tech.

GM/CLUE SYSTEM

I think this is probably the main area that let Gozsdu down for us. We never felt like we were overly welcome here and it seemed like we were a nuisance to the GM. I don’t recall needing any clues in Alchemist Mission but I have a feeling that if we did, we’d have been waiting a long time. Because of this, I’m not actually sure on the method for delivering clues, but I’d guess maybe over a speaker system.

The biggest disappointment was when we finished the game, and exited to the hallway only to be left standing in that hallway for a number of minutes before the GM finished a conversation with someone in the lobby. It certainly wasn’t another team or a paying customer, it just seemed like a friend had stopped by for a chat and that took priority over dealing with us. We decided to not wait around so just started getting together our things from the locker until she eventually came over to congratulate us on getting out.

ANYTHING ELSE

I think White Mission was ahead of its time, which is why people still talk highly of it. I don’t think Alchemist Mission will have the same reputation. It was an ok game but nothing groundbreaking and for us was let down by the hosting.

Success/Failed

Final Rating:

Team: 4 players – 27:35 taken

Address: Budapest, Dob u. 16, 1072 Hungary

Website: https://gozsdumission.hu/en/english/