The UK Escape Room Blog
I love a pirate game, I’m not ashamed to admit that. This could possibly be my favourite pirate game that I’ve ever played. The puzzles, audio, GM, atmosphere and game design all pulled together to create a wonderful experience. Every little detail had been considered and perfected to ensure that nothing felt out of place – even the ending… ESPECIALLY the ending.
It was a long time ago that we played the precursor to The Tomb 2, The Tomb (original naming), and I’d say this game was an improvement on the first. Great set design, good immersion, and fun puzzles (well all except one)
If you’re in the mood for a little Tower of Terror nostalgia, this game may just be the one for you. With spot on theming, satisfying puzzles, and just a hint of theatricality, The 13th Floor is another great addition to the games already on offer at Escape Rooms Cardiff
Now we understand what the fuss is about, and we need to plan many more trips to Macclesfield to play their other games as and when they’re open.
If I could say one thing about Case Closed and The Murder of Max Sinclair, it’s that this isn’t your usual escape room. But it also isn’t your usual detective investigation either. Whatever it is, it’s 90 minutes of pure fun.
Deadlocked have upped their game and The Reading Witch had that feeling of horror games we’ve played in Athens and Amsterdam. Ok, the space is much smaller but they used it well and the live action element takes it to the next level. I can’t say that this is the scariest horror game in the UK, but is it the best horror escape room in the UK? Possibly.
I’ve visited plenty of laundrettes in my life, but I think this might be the first time I’ve ever actually had fun trying to escape from one. Dirty Money is another excellent addition to the already fantastic games available to play at Knockout, and in Reading in general, especially for fans of a more traditional escape experience
I think Puzzled could be a little hidden gem in the Valleys. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye out and are looking forward to going back to play their new games when they open.
Do I regret playing this game? No. Do I regret making it our last game in Amsterdam? Yes. Wake Up! wasn’t a bad game, it just doesn’t stand a chance with the other games on offer. If you’re desperate for a game, or perhaps a warm up game, then it’s not a terrible choice. But for the money, there are better options available.
The Anatomist is one of those games that you could probably class as a ‘traditional’ escape room. It probably won’t blow you away, but it’s likely to give you a good time and help you feel like you’ve lived some of Edinburgh’s ‘darker’ history. There aren’t a huge amount of games in Edinburgh, but if you’re looking for games to play while you’re in the city, then this isn’t a bad shout.
From the beginning, straight through to, well, the end, The End was nothing like what I expected, and delightfully twisty. DarkPark themselves describe The End as a mix of escape room and immersive theatre, and honestly, I can’t think of a better way to describe it
It’s easy to see why Molly’s Game has received so much praise since its opening: The game is beautiful, there’s really no other way to put it. I found it to be a satisfying fusion of story and puzzles, all wrapped up in an absolutely breath-taking set
The best way to describe The Dome would be to call it a spectacle. And I’m inclined to think that’s the reason this game has been considered by escape room enthusiasts to be one of the top three games in the world for the last five years. However, taste is subjective
This game had some great moments, some cool tech, and some entertaining jump scares. But I’m not sure it’s the best that the Netherlands has to offer. We enjoyed the first half of the game, but ended up leaving feeling a bit flat thanks to the second half.
Corpse Inc. is possibly one of the most interactive games that we have played that isn’t a straight up horror experience. Full of both humour and adrenaline, as well as satisfying puzzles and a twisty narrative, it’s a game that’s worth paying a visit to amongst all the other world-class games in the area.
The Architect is Sherlocked’s first game, and one of the first games in The Netherlands, having opened its doors in 2014. Despite its age, the game holds up well, with clever puzzles, an intricate storyline, and some truly outstanding “Wow” moments
There’s a reason everyone is talking about The Escaporium in general, and Area 51 ½ in particular, and it’s not just because people love aliens. Area 51 ½ is charming, beautifully designed, and full of puzzle perfection.
Normally, we at Review the Room do not mesh well with games themed around the jolly holidays, but Christmas Advent-ure doesn’t feel like your typical Christmas game
Operation Moonshine was a lovely game with solid puzzles and a set that felt ‘right’. It’s a game that starts off small but soon opens up into a larger space with an abundance of puzzles.
I don’t know what I was expecting from Crux Codicillus (other than crocodiles, which it definitely does not have), but what I got was a thoroughly satisfying who dunnit mystery in an absolutely stunning building.
Yes, there’s more to Halifax than just the bank and the Haligonian is the perfect place to learn about it while having a great time solving puzzles!
This game is clearly a step-up for Prodigy on set design and the tech they have integrated into the experience. Ok, one or two puzzles annoyed us, but we still enjoyed our time in The Lost Temple, and it was nice to see them make a more challenging game that enthusiasts can get stuck into.
Alongside Christmas rooms, Gord and I have a, shall we say, “history” with magic rooms. (We typically crash and burn in spectacular fashion). Potions and Peril was a delightful little exception to that, with fun puzzles and a lovely whimsical feel.
I enjoyed Cursed Waters. At the start it felt like there was a lot going on but it all came together well and also gave me one of my most enjoyable escape room moments – ok it was short lived, but the joy it brought me for that short period of time will certainly stay with me.
I had high hopes for this game because of the Stranger Things connection, and what we found was a lovely crossover between that and The Thing. Good set design, satisfying puzzles, and wonderful music made for a fun time.
This game worked out at just over £4 per minute that we were in it, and if you ignore wasted time then that figure rises closer to £8 per minute. A premium price for an experience that just felt a bit lacking and frustrating.
We’ve played a fair few games that are Stranger Things themed, but very few have gone to quite the level of detail in set design that Rhondda Escape Rooms have. With a detailed set, decent puzzles, and lovely owners, I’m happy to say Strangest Things is probably one of the most fun things to do in Tonypandy. Would we return to play their other games? Certainly.
Stay in the Dark in a word: Unmissable. There aren’t many games that I would replay, but this is one. The more I look back on it, the more I realise how much I enjoyed it. Sadly it’s closing in May 2024 but if you get a chance to play it, you must.
I would guess this was one of the earlier games by Other World. It’s still a fine game, but perhaps showing its age in places. One or two twists, and a convincing set were ultimately let down by a weak ending.
My favourite theme is a temple, and I’m always excited when a temple game lives up to the possibilities the theme provides of creating a true adventure. Journey to Xibalba does exactly that, and provides (up to) 90 minutes of pure joy.
We’d not had the best luck at this venue, and this game didn’t feel like the best that Trapp’d have to offer. It was worn down and looked very tired in places, and some major tech failures didn’t help us to have the best experience.
Trapp’d can generally be relied upon to deliver consistently decent games (with one or two exceptions), and The Lost Temple of Yumiko fits that bill. Fans of games with a more physical/tactile element will certainly enjoy this one more than others though.
It’s nice to find an original theme for an escape room, and also nice that this girl’s name was not part of a horror experience! Scarlet was a delightful game with some wonderful moments. If I could just arrange that memory wipe, I’d play it again in a heartbeat!
The thing that makes the games at EO Escape Rooms so great, Scary Tale included, is simply that they’ve done the basics right. This game is everything an escape room should be: cool set, a narrative that ties the set and the puzzles together, and loads of solid content. When you combine those things you get a game that is just, simply, a joy to play.
This was one of those games that just seemed to have the perfect flow to it. Everything made sense, everything was a joy, and our short time in Karma Club was possibly the highlight of our day. The world needs more games like this!
Castaway was a delightful game, full of content and lovely moments of nostalgia. But the real star of the show is the set, making us feel like we never wanted to leave!
I’d like to think that we’ve played enough escape rooms to know when a room is good even if it doesn’t click with us. Chaos at Calamity Mine is a good game I’m sure of that, but it was just not the game for us.
If you love a high tech game, you’re likely to love Critical Mass. There were a few things that made me love it a little less than Pathogen, but that could just be me being picky.
If you’re an escape room enthusiast (or an owner) and are fascinated by ways that escape rooms can be run to be pretty much fully automated, then 5 Wits is a must play. Ok, the puzzles got repetitive and annoying at times, and if you were too quick and a team was ahead of you then you’d have to wait. But if you can get over that, then these are interesting games to play.
This is a game to play if you want to see an amazing set. Over the Falls was a visually appealing game and the story, flow was good. We didn’t click with some of the puzzles so felt like we were playing catch up, but somehow we managed to make it out in time.
From what I remember The Extraction got the second most votes in the TERPECAs for a game at Crypto Escape and that’s probably fair. We didn’t get on with the puzzles, but the set design and story was pretty impressive. It’s hard to make a game that is perfect for everyone and I’d guess that many people will play this one and love the puzzles – each to their own.
Set design was once again superb. Crypto Escape have really mastered the art of building escape rooms. We found the puzzles got a little repetitive at times, but we still enjoyed Below Zero and it’s worth playing just for the tech and the experience.
Although Cursed Temple isn’t as highly decorated with awards as some of the other games at Crypto Escape, this was my favourite of the three games we were able to fit into our visit. Of course, I might be biased thanks to my love of temple raiding games, but I think it had more to do with the solid, satisfying game play, underpinned by a decent storyline.
The Acid Bath Murderer is hard to quantify. Part escape room, part history lesson, and part true crime drama, perhaps the best way to describe it would be to call it an Immersive, Narrative-Driven Puzzletale. Whatever you call it, it’s a perfect combination of puzzles and story, culminating in a new sort of experience that is unlike anything else we’ve encountered so far, and one not to be missed.
If you’re a fan of The Simpsons, then The Thompsons could be a winner. We didn’t gel with the puzzles, but that could just be us.
The Graveyard was a solid game, with challenging puzzles, an immersive and beautifully designed set, and a good amount of atmosphere. In short, while The Graveyard is unlikely to “wow” enthusiasts, it is a perfect example of what an escape room should be.
Ok, I see what all the fuss is about. We loved our time in Servants of Sleight and the less we say about it, the better your experience will be. Just go and play it, it’s a delight.
I knew next to nothing before heading to Legends Escape Rooms, but I was pleasantly surprised. Moonshine Cabin was fun, fair, and filled with some unexpected things. It’s a shame we only had time for one game at Legends, especially if their others are of a similar quality.
In hindsight, we should have just listened to the reviews. We found our time in MindHatter turned us into the Mad Hatter rather than leaving us in Wonderland. The puzzles were frustrating, and the ending was very flat.
Scorched is a decent game that offers everything I expect from an escape room: an enthusiastic host, reasonably immersive set design, and fair, albeit few, puzzles. With the game lacking in content, however, it felt like it was over almost as soon as it began.
Smugglers Secret was a total joy to play. While we played the Pro Version and found it to be exactly the right balance of challenging and fun, I feel confident in saying that the Family Version would be a perfect introduction to escape rooms for the little ones, and no matter which version you choose, it’s an fantastic activity if you need a break from the beach.
Escapism Plymouth have delivered another solid and satisfying game. With the dynamic difficulty (i.e. extra puzzles) in Forged, this game is a sound choice whether you’re an experienced puzzler, or looking to try your first game.
Wrecked was a fun game, with enjoyable puzzles and a good flow. The first games we played as Escapism Plymouth were good, but it looks like they are always looking for ways to improve.
Despite being an older game, Revenge of the Sheep is still in very good condition and not showing its age at all. Puzzles were solid, the tech was impressive, and set design was the high standard we’ve come to expect. If you’re looking for escape rooms in London, then clueQuest is always a contender and any of their games are a good choice.
Plan 52 is clueQuest’s first game, and while it is no longer anything groundbreaking, it still holds up as a solid game that is a delight to play, making it enjoyable for enthusiasts and perfect for first time players.
Cheese Robbers has a lovely premise and is very family friendly, with bright colours, some entertaining moments, and of course, scalable difficulty. We didn’t click particularly well with the game, but that was possibly more to do with us than the game. Either way, we still had fun stealing the cheese.
Parallax is a perfectly acceptable game, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend enthusiasts playing it at Center Parcs simply due to the price
Redbeard’s Revenge is jam packed full of puzzles, and is just plain fun. Despite the vast amount of content, the game is family friendly and totally appropriate, and achievable, for puzzlers of all abilities, from escape room enthusiasts to the total newbie.
This is one of those games where you will play and then want to play again just to go back and see what you missed. Every single item in this game has been hand-crafted for the world they have created and the attention to detail is incredible
I am not sure I’ve ever had this much fun at the mall, not even when I was 5. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, but totally fantastic, to do in Syracuse, you should look no further than The Museum of Intrigue.
I can see why people praise this game. It’s got good set design and the puzzles all make sense. The little ‘extra’ at the end also gives enthusiasts something to aim for, and I’m sure this would be a hit for players of all ages.
If you’re looking for a hardcore puzzling session in Brighton, this probably isn’t the game for you. However, if you’re looking for a space filler, a warm up, or an introduction to escape rooms, then this certainly would fit the bill.
I can see why Ram Raid is an enthusiast’s favourite. There is a lot to do in this game, but you don’t have to do it all to be successful. This game will likely keep you locked up for most of the 60 minutes, and you’ll be non-stop running around solving some quality puzzles.
I’d probably class this as quite a traditional escape room, with some traditional but satisfying puzzles. It starts off dark but soon lightens up and becomes a fun place to explore.
This wasn’t the hardest or scariest of games, but all the puzzles clicked and we flew through it. Probably not a challenging room for experienced players, but it was a solid and fun game that we were glad to have played
Despite being a very much ‘done’ theme, Banged Up managed to avoid a lot of the clichés and provided just the right level of whimsy for some good light-hearted fun. We weren’t in this game for a long time (completed it in less than 25 minutes), but we will remember our time fondly.
I would love to play Ice Tiki again, even though we know how to solve the puzzles, the experience was just amazing. The time we spent in this game was like one big party and it was the perfect end to our holiday. Please please please can we get more games like this in the world!
We played this game on a whim and we’re glad we did. There was nothing mind-blowingly special about it, but it had fun puzzles, some cool tech, and a clear ending – although that ending could easily be improved with just a few minor tweaks.
I’m not a huge fan of prison rooms in general but this one felt just a bit too rough around the edges. We spent more time being frustrated and lost in this room than we did having fun. It’s nice it is available in English now, but it’s not one that we’d recommend to others.
This game was a surprise of our Athens trip. I wasn’t expecting much, but, thanks to its original set and puzzles, it was a joy to play. I would have liked there to have been more to it or perhaps a stronger ending, but this game just went back to the main reason we play escape rooms: fun.
I feel bad for Woman in Black as we played it the day after we had played Chapel and Catacombs so it perhaps didn’t wow us as much as it really should have. But it in its own right, it is still an incredible game with a huge set that I really enjoyed.
We really wanted to like this game, but instead it was our least favourite game of all the ones we played in Athens. It had potential thanks to the fun set design, but due to poor puzzles and a lack of signposting it is not a game we’ll be recommending anytime soon.
This entire experience truly felt like we were in a live adaptation of a Resident Evil or Silent Hill video game. It. Was. Incredible.
In a city full of world-class escape rooms, Chapel and Catacombs stands out and was nothing short of incredible. I guess there’s a reason why it’s currently ranked by enthusiasts as the #1 game in the world. While I hate to add to the hype if I were asked, “What should I play in Athens if I only have time for one game?” There is no question, it would be this one.
Wake Up was a visually impressive experience and I can see why horror aficionados love it. I think we had been spoiled by other experiences so this one didn’t grip us as much as it possibly should have, but it is still a game we will likely never forget.
I think if this game was in the UK it would probably be more impressive, but it’s surrounded by world class games in Athens so it’s likely a little overshadowed. We had a good time playing The Dark Side of the Elements and I fell in love with the ceiling and some of the cool tech they used.
I have never experienced anything quite like El Exorcista, and I think that goes for the rest of the team as well. We were, quite literally, dropped into the middle of The Exorcist and I have never felt more immersed in a game
This game felt like more of a traditional live actor horror escape room rather than some of the others we played, and that’s not a bad thing. The puzzles were solid, the story was good, and the set was suitably terrifying
We really wanted to love this game, and in a way we did. We loved the tech, we just found the gameplay to be a bit lacking and we ended up more frustrated than anything else
The Music Academy is one of those games that keeps on going. When we thought we were done, there was more puzzling to be done! We haven’t played many three hour games, but Paradox Project are surely the masters of this domain, what an experience!
If you want a short review, then I’ll simply say The Bookstore is a beautiful game. The puzzles are perfect, the narrative is interesting, twisty, and ever present, and it’s all housed in a beautifully designed, quirky space. Athens may be known as a destination for excellent horror games, but those certainly aren’t the only excellent games you’ll find here.
While the sequel to The Mansion is more highly thought of, it would be wrong to skip this game in favour of only playing the second. The Mansion in its own right is a well-thought-out, fun game with a strong narrative, and an immense number of surprising and satisfying puzzles.
The puzzles in this game really clicked with us, and we quite enjoyed the theming too. It’s nice to play a room that perhaps has a darker side without being a physically dark room. More rooms with decent lighting, please.
This is classed as the easiest game at this venue, and it may be, but I’m not sure. It was a fun game with cute set design. Ignoring the slightly dark undertones of the story, I could see this game being a family favourite.
Not the hardest of games, but we had a good time in Legacy. The puzzles ranged in difficulty and type and the openness of the game allowed us to split up and do our own thing. A good first game to start off our Escapism Plymouth binge day.
The Missing is the epitome of “Classic Escape Room.” The set build is decent, with fun and engaging puzzles that are sure to delight those new to escape games, and please seasoned enthusiasts.
Escape from the Room have created a game here that should be enjoyed by not only the general public, but also enthusiasts, which is not always an easy feat. It’s great to see a growing trend where escape rooms are designed to keep you in the game for as close to 60 minutes as possible.
This game is arguably on the easier side and experienced teams will likely fly through it. But as a stop-over game, or a family game, it’s probably set just right. The set design was lovely, the puzzles made sense, and it made for a fun (albeit short) experience.
Prison X was pretty much your standard prison escape type of game, but with a slight twist at the end – oh and a washing machine, because, why not? If you’re in St Ives and looking for a game to play, then this more traditional style escape room could help you escape the busy streets below
This room is probably ok for the market it is intended for, and most people will probably love it. For some reason it just didn’t click with us and I’m not sure why
You can’t come to Cornwall and not play a pirate themed escape room. We found the Secrets aboard the Jolly Roger, and had a good time doing it. The room won’t wow you, but it was an enjoyable time and most of the puzzles were fair and enjoyable to solve.
Considering the theme was ‘Detention’, I can’t quite work out why, but this game was a delight. The puzzles were well thought out and the game flowed well. I think it helped that the room felt quite new and clean, but this game has cemented the fact that I think Dreadlock may be our favourite venue in Cornwall.
This is a game that is sure to turn beginners into enthusiasts. The set design was beautiful and the puzzles were not the most challenging, but were fun.
Thanks to the excellent puzzle flow and creepy ambiance, I thoroughly enjoyed The Haunting of Mount Clifton Manor, but what makes it even more impressive is that it is the company’s first game. I’m looking forward to seeing what Prodigy Escapes do next (particularly as it’s rumoured to be my favourite theme.)
There’s no point avoiding it, this is a game designed for beginners and it shows. As enthusiasts we weren’t challenged in this game but we still enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a game to try and convince friends (or family) that they really should play an escape room – this is the game you want
This wasn’t a bad game, and in places it was fun. Unfortunately the one GM for two games decision is what let our experience down. I understand that this is probably due to financial reasons but we’re yet to play at a company who runs this way and offers a better experience than one GM for one game.
Another example of a beautifully assembled game by TimeTrap that was a joy to play. The puzzles were great and on theme, and the room itself was wonderful to interact with. Don’t worry if you didn’t play the prequel to this game, you’ll still have a great time.
Age of Magic almost certainly wins the prize for most beautifully themed magic room I’ve played thus far. On top of that, the puzzles were solid, making the entire experience simply enchanting.
Hell House is possibly The Panic Room’s most ambitious project to date, and it is quite a sight to behold. If you’re planning a visit to Gravesend, I would add Hell House to the “Not To Be Missed” list.
If you’re looking for a game for stag/hen dos, this is it. This game obviously has a target market and I imagine it does really quite well for that market, I’m not sure what enthusiasts will think about it, but credit to Panic Room for doing something different.
My favourite Sondheim musical is Sweeney Todd, so of course, my nerdy little musical-loving heart was in heaven in Mr Todd’s. The set was beautiful, the puzzles pleasing, and the story stuck very closely to the one I know very well, making this game a delight to play.
I’m not normally a huge fan of horror/live-actor escape rooms as they seem to just be dark for the sake of it, but Needlenose was good fun and had a good sense of adventure. In terms of set design and build, it felt like a step up from their earlier games and I’d imagine this is a very popular game around the scary season!
We enjoyed our time in the Quick-E-Mart, but it just felt a bit short. We were an experienced team, but for a 90 minute game, we didn’t expect to get out in less than 40 minutes. The experience was fun, just a little too short lived and left us wanting a few extra puzzles to bulk it out.
This game feels like it was made for the surroundings it is in. It won’t wow you, but nothing felt out of place. Puzzle wise there was nothing too complex, although we found one of the search puzzles a bit sneaky, and another puzzle had too many options and made it too easy to get distracted.
Of the two games we played at Eureka Escapes, Death by Prescription was my preferred. There were a number of satisfying puzzles, and very little ambiguity which can sometimes lead to frustration in escape rooms.
I enjoyed Eltham Escape’s previous temple themed game, but The Temple of the Forbidden Idol has definitely surpassed its predecessor. The Temple of the Forbidden Idol was filled with satisfyingly chunky and tactile puzzles, and just enough adventure to thrill my temple loving heart
This game was a joy to play and was beautifully put together. The puzzles were fun and the game had a little bit of magic that made it a wonderful space to be. If you’re a fan of the Disney experience, get booked in!
The story felt like it was missing something in this game, but the set design was spot on. Some questionable tech as well as some sneaky searching left us feeling a bit confused at times, and like we were guessing more than solving things.
Unsolved Mysteries have raised the bar for what I expect from an escape room with The Cabin. With satisfying puzzles and a surprising human element, The Cabin managed to be infinitely more immersive than a simple “serial killer” themed game
Atlantis ticked every box on my “Perfect Escape Room” list and then proceeded to blow my already high expectations out of the water (pun intended). In fact, I may even have new tick boxes to add to the list after our visit to Broadstairs. Honestly, if I were to pick a favourite game in the UK (possibly on the planet), it’s currently in Broadstairs.
Captcha Code is a brilliant way to spend an hour or two exploring the charming town of Broadstairs, and slots perfectly into the interconnected narratives of The Network and WunderWaffe Operation Quartz. But more than that, it is an exceedingly clever, and exciting game full of delightful surprises and pleasing puzzles.
This game was a long time in the making, but I’m pleased to report that the wait was 100% worth it. The Escapement have created a game here that will surely go to the top of people’s ‘Top 10’ lists, we need to rejig ours, as this is firmly up there for sure.
We left it a long time before playing this game, and we shouldn’t have. The puzzles were logical and fair, our GM was great, and we had a very ‘Happy’ time in this Institute.
Astro Quest is the rebirth of Press Start – and it works. The puzzles were much more enjoyable, the story made more sense, and the set dressing was good. It feels like this game now has something for everyone and it’s sure to be a much more enjoyable experience (once one puzzle is tweaked).
I’ll admit, I am somewhat biased, being totally and automatically in love with almost any game that gives me an opportunity to live out my Indiana Jones fantasies, but Explorer’s Diary is about as close to perfect as a game could get. Beautifully designed, both aesthetically and in terms of game play, this game was a joy to play, and my new favourite at Hounds Escape. Not only is it not to be missed if you’re in the area, but it’s worth making a special trip for.
Everyone knows Brighton has great escape rooms, but if you’re in the area then it’s definitely worth stopping by Worthing. MindWorks surprised me with the quality of this game, and it was a lovely way to end a day of quality games.
There’s a reason Pier Pressure are so well thought of amongst escape room enthusiasts, and Modrophenia highlights all of those things. Funky sets, perfect puzzles, and an immersive atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with any of the games here, but Modrophenia is one not to miss.
Loot the Lanes contains a real sense of awe that is often lacking in escape rooms and is a true testament to the team at Pier Pressure. Everything about this game is first rate and I can easily see why this game is consistently rated as the best, or one of the best in the UK. It’s a must play.
This room was a let down for us thanks to an unfair placement of a handcuff key, and this really tainted our experience. The set design was decent for the most part, although the final ‘reveal’ was pretty much apparent from the start which was a shame.
The smoke in this room was set to 11, dial that down a bit and I think we’d have had a more enjoyable experience. Saying that, the set design for Depth Charge was pretty spot on and the puzzles didn’t feel out of place
If you’re planning to play only one game at Carmarthen and you’re struggling to choose, look no further. The stronger narrative combined with more tactile challenges made Lunar Base Alpha not just my preferred game at The Escape Game Carmarthen, but also my preferred game across both venues.
We didn’t click with this game, but we still appreciate that it was well designed and had a good sense of adventure. I had low expectations for this venue, and was pleasantly surprised. If you’re in the Tenby area then this venue is worth checking out
It was a nice change to play a Wizard themed room that simply wasn’t a Harry Potter rip off. The set design in this game was spot on and they managed to fit in a few surprises, along with some enjoyable puzzles.
I probably wouldn’t recommend The Tenby Asylum if you’ve never played an escape room before, but for enthusiasts that are looking for a challenge and don’t mind a jump scare or two, then this is the one. The set was impressive, but even more appealing were the puzzles.
I wanted to love Wild West, but unfortunately it left me feeling just a bit flat. However, I wouldn’t let that stop you from playing. Despite my issues with it, Wild West was the strongest of the games at The Escape Game’s Swansea branch, and there were a few moments of pure puzzling joy.
I can see why this game has such a low escape rate. Darkness, lack of signposting, and puzzles that just didn’t seem to make sense or always fit the narrative. We left this hostel feeling frustrated and wondering if we should have just quit to became the latest victims.
The Escape Game’s Alcatraz is a standard prison break. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun though – the puzzles were fair and engaging, with a few unique twists, and perfect for those new to escape rooms.
Our dislike of Prison Van escape rooms was not changed with this game. It felt like signposting was limited, some poor choices were made on puzzle design, and generally we just felt frustrated at our time in the van.
Coco Loco was a delight for pretty much all the senses, and is a perfect family friendly escape room in Cardiff. Just when we thought the game was over, Exitus surprised us once again! Often you’ll get a card, or a badge to take away from an escape room, but that’s not good enough for Exitus – what a treat!
If you find yourself in Cardiff, it would be a crime not to stop by Exitus. You can’t go wrong with any of their games, but The Curse of Senutep is the perfect choice for large groups or challenge seeking enthusiasts.
The Wizard’s Apprentice is a game that needs no hesitation to book. With solid puzzles, an immersive atmosphere, and actual moments of magic, this is one magic school I was very happy to attend.
I love it when a game is a lovely space to be in, not just because of the set design, but because of the puzzles too. Criminal Record was fun from start to end and the puzzles perfectly complemented the set. Credit to 11th Hour Escapes for making a murder mystery fun again!
Victoria’s Last Challenge is the epitome of classic escape room, with solid and logical puzzles that are sure to thrill new escapees and please enthusiasts.
Underground 2099 has some cool moments and a good sense of adventure, but I’d like a little more signposting and definitely more light to make this a truly fun experience.
I wish this was a 90 minute room, simply so I could have had more time to enjoy the space. This game was challenging but I loved every minute spent in it. Best game in Bristol? I think so.
I can see why Nautilus is the go-to recommendation for Bristol. Strong set design, solid puzzles, a great sense of adventure, and a bit of fun along the way make this a game that we will have no hesitation in recommending
It’s always nice to set a new room record, not just for bragging rights but because it shows that a room clicked with us, meaning the puzzles were logical and fair. Couple that with some good set design and some entertaining jump scares, and Séance is a fun game to play and one we would recommend if you’re in town.
The Barber Shop Mystery was a pleasure to play, with a lovingly crafted set and thoroughly pleasing puzzles. Of the games at U-Escape this is the one most suited for larger teams, but really, it’s great for everyone!
Psycho Surgeon is a fun game with plenty of creep factor for those that like a darker game, and plenty of satisfying puzzles for those that care more about the puzzles than the atmosphere.
Easily our favourite game at U-Escape. Franksy has a unique theme, with unique puzzles, and great set design. This is by far the most challenging of games at this venue, especially if you complete it on the hardest setting, but it’s great fun and if you’re in Bournemouth get it booked!
This room felt like it was set up in a rush just so they could get their doors open. Sparse set design, lacking puzzles, frustrating puzzles, and a very anti-climatic ending meant we left just feeling a bit flat. This game has a premium price tag, but it was not a premium experience.
Speed is actually one of my favourite films, so to play a game that has taken inspiration from one of the greats was actually a great deal of fun. Escape the Bus was a bit of a surprise, and I found that of the two games available at Escape Down the Rabbit Hole, it was my favourite.
Games in the South West seem heavily targeted to the passing tourist market, so enthusiasts are unlikely to be challenged. At £60 for a team of two, this is not a cheap experience and it certainly didn’t feel like it warranted such a high price, but we had fun, and (other than the first) the puzzles made sense and were logical.
D-Day for Devon was definitely the highlight of the day during our time at Devon Escapes, with puzzles that clicked and a game that flowed, not to mention a nice set and an unexpected twist as we approached the finale.
Possibly the most impressive set (at least early on) at this venue, but thanks to one puzzle we found this game a little unsatisfying. I’d probably rate it as the second best game at Devon Escape but it is still worth playing if you’re in the area.
We entered this room expecting it to be easier, but we were certainly mistaken. An error on our part made this room much harder than it should have been. But the puzzles were decent, the theming was adequate and we had fun – so that works for us.
We really enjoyed the first Maxwell Mysteries game, but we enjoyed this one even more. The puzzles clicked with us, the printing and cutting wasn’t a chore, and the story and general quality of the game made it an instant ‘must play’ for us.
Because of the short lifespan of Christmas rooms we can understand companies not making them as refined as their other rooms. Saying that, National Elf Service had a decent story, authentic 90s set dressing, and one or two puzzles that brought a smile to our face – and that’s what it’s all about.
We hoped to finish on a high at Random-Rooms, but I think The Old Hospital was our least favourite game of the day. One puzzle just felt like a massive leap and that caused us to end the game with more frustration than fun.
The Cell has a unique twist on an otherwise familiar theme. In all, it was a decent game, with fair puzzles, but was ultimately a bit of a let down with an anticlimactic finish.
For a room called ‘The Dragon Room’, it felt like it was lacking something, and I think that would probably be a dragon. Two big puzzles slowed down the game for us and kinda killed the buzz, up until that point we were enjoying it, then it just became a bit frustrating.
This room certainly lived up to its name, it was very random. We clicked with the puzzles and found it to be an easy game, strangely it was probably the game we enjoyed the most at Random-Rooms.
This is a game for beginner players and I must admit that having paid £50 for a team of two we felt pretty short changed at completing the main game in 15 minutes. Yes there was a secondary bomb but that didn’t feel like part of the game and was more of an afterthought.
I’m a sucker for a story, so Witch Way Out?! was my preferred game at Dreadlock, with decent puzzles and just a fun atmosphere, intertwined with the story. Whichever game you choose, Dreadlock are well worth a visit if you’re in the area… or you could always play two.
If you’re an enthusiast looking for a challenging room, then play this one on Genius level. This is a challenging but fair game and despite feeling like we were going to crash and burn multiple times, we thoroughly enjoyed our time averting the Nuclear Nightmare.
In a way this felt like it should be a hard room as there was a lot to do, but it clicked with our team and we got out in super-quick time. It’s cosy in places but really opens up so I’d imagine that bigger teams will probably still find things to do.
Of the games that we played at Housetrap, across both venues, Seance was my favourite. With a spooky atmosphere and a few jump scares, the real highlights for me were the moments of supernatural activity, and the surprises that came with it. Plus, the puzzles were pretty good too
This game would probably be a good choice for a family if you’re looking for an escape room near Bodmin, enthusiasts also may enjoy it, but for us it just didn’t click. The game had a cute feel to it but the puzzles weren’t our cup of tea.
Despite the odd setting in Gnome World, we were pleasantly surprised by Tumbleweed. It had good set dressing, solid puzzles, and nice and open gameplay, the fact that it was 90 minutes was also a bonus. If you’re in Cornwall, this one is worth a detour
We normally crash and burn in Christmas games, but this one clicked more than normal, although we still did have our moments. This is a lovely, family friendly game, and perfect for getting you in the Christmas spirit (even if you play in November).
This game is unlikely to challenge enthusiasts, and if you’re a fan of story you may want to look elsewhere. But, if you just want a fun, unpretentious game that is all about the puzzles and nothing else, then this is a good shout.
Hounds Escape impressed us with their debut game, and their second may be even better (I can’t decide – it would be like choosing a favourite child if I had any). If you’re looking for an hour filled with amazing scenery, fantastic puzzles, and a whole lot of laughs, you won’t go wrong getting yourself over to Hounds Escape for a little Southern Discomfort.
The magic added something to the immersion. Nethercott is possibly still my favourite, and Mutiny might still be Liz’s, but objectively SpellCraft might be one of Tulleys best. The magical elevator taking us places, and then revisiting other rooms, and the twistyness of everything gave it a level of mystique
The set of Into the Reliquary is truly something to behold, and there are certain moments throughout the game that we are unlikely to forget for some time. The puzzles didn’t wow in the same way as their surroundings, but still made for a fun game, although that was somewhat overshadowed by a moment or two of what felt like legitimate danger.
For us, there was a bit too much going on in this game which meant we couldn’t focus on what we needed and ended up missing key things. DarkMaster are certainly up there with the best for their set design, but I think the puzzles left us wanting a bit more.
The Mystery of Loke Lake is a solid game, with a nice linear flow and solid puzzles, making it a good choice for escape fans of all experience levels
This is an amazing game that is sure to get your adrenaline going, and possibly keep it going for nearly the full hour. There are sure to be puzzles in here that you love (and some you’ll probably hate), but all the puzzles are fair, the set design is great, and this is guaranteed to be an enthusiast favourite – and could be the game to get newbies addicted.
Cypherdyne v1.5 may be Cryptology’s first game, but it’s also is an excellent example of everything an escape room should be: clever, exciting, and most importantly – fun. It’s perfect for new players and enjoyable for enthusiasts. With this as their first game, it’s no surprise that Cryptology has become a venue everyone seems to be talking about.
This is a room that would be perfect for those new to escape rooms or seasoned escapers. The puzzles were fun, the room was solid, and the sense of exploration was spot on. With different ‘win’ levels, it works for everyone regardless of experience level.
Dreamscape is totally unique, a total blast, and absolutely rammed full of things to do. It is a perfect game for teams that are looking for a challenge to test their brainpower.
We had heard good things about Tempo in Bath, and I’m pleased to say this game lived up to our expectations. Great story-telling, solid puzzles, and a really fun, and at times, whimsical set, makes this a definite reason to visit Bath.
I don’t know who designed Victor’s Lair, but I think it needs a little more work. It’s not a bad room, it’s certainly visually good, but the puzzles and flow felt lacking. If they take feedback on board and are willing to make adjustments then I think this could be a game that we would recommend in Bath.
Virus Tinkerers was a game where everything fell into place for us and we loved our time in the lab. Fun puzzles, solid design, and nice touches as a nod to the scientists involved in the Tenovus charity – this is a must play game in Cardiff.
A really strong first game by a new company and we’re sure we’ll be back to check out their other game soon. The Portland Heist had clever puzzles (don’t overcomplicate) and good story and set design. This would be a fun game for both enthusiasts or ‘regular’ people, especially families.
Cardiff Castle is by far the prettiest of all the games we’ve played at Escape Rooms Cardiff, and possibly the prettiest we’ve played in Cardiff itself. It’s a solid game that will be fun for enthusiasts and great for newcomers to escape rooms, plus it’s a perfect tie in if you’re planning to visit the game’s eponym while you’re in the area
We really wanted to like this game but we found the narrative didn’t seem to fit the game and the puzzles weren’t enjoyable to us. I’d imagine some players will click and blitz this game, but unfortunately this wasn’t the game for us.
The Legend of Miyalock seems to be the shining light in the ClueHQ collection. Admittedly we haven’t played many ClueHQ games, but Miyalock is a cracking game and one that ClueHQ can be proud of.
Don’t wait for a special occasion to play this game, get booked in now, you most definitely won’t regret it.
We loved the attention to detail in both the game, and the waiting area. The room itself had touches that were historically accurate, and the reception had a poster of the Titanic that was signed by the youngest survivor of the disaster.
We destroyed Forsaken, completing it in 23 minutes and escaping with the room record. It wasn’t a hard room but I can see why people may struggle, especially as it is so dark. I don’t know if bigger teams get more torches, but one per person would be nice. If you’re a fan of horror rooms and like a live actor, then you’ll probably get a buzz from Forsaken.
Drakon was our least favourite game at Trapp’d Wellingborough, but that could have been because of the reset error which threw us off. Considering we completed it in 34 minutes even with that error, I don’t think this game is likely to challenge teams, but it is still good fun. If your Trapp’d GM provides torches for your team then you’ll probably have a more enjoyable experience – if not, you best get eating your carrots.
Credit to Trapp’d for doing something different with this room and the set design was spot on. It would have been nice to have seen a few more puzzles as the space was massive and could take them, but it was still an enjoyable time under the sea.
The Candy Shop is the best of the rooms at Angle Escape and shows that they are improving with each game they build. Darkness and lighting was still an issue but that would be easily solved by providing more (decent) torches.
The Getaway firmly sits in the horroresque category for escape rooms, but is more creepy than scary. It’s dark and probably needlessly so, but out of the three games we played at Angle Escapes, this one falls firmly in the middle of the three for enjoyment.
The Victim is, I believe, the earliest room they have at Angle Escape, and it does show. As we played their other games they improved in quality. If darkness and lack of signposting doesn’t bother you, then you may enjoy this, but for us we just didn’t get on with it and left feeling rather deflated.
The Guardian of the Gallery doesn’t feel like your average escape room. You can tell that this is built by an enthusiast who wants to push boundaries and create something different. This room is challenging, yet fair, and will likely be a firm favourite on the enthusiast scene for a long time to come.
If school was this fun, I’d probably be a doctor. This room was a joy from start to end thanks to its clever puzzles and lighthearted design. Was it as fun as Shimmy Shimmy or as impressive as Guardians? Probably not, but it was very close!
If I had to pick a game at Want to Escape that was the most “traditional” in the style of escape rooms, it would be Conspiracist, and I loved it because of it.
I’m a sucker for rooms that play on 80s nostalgia so it was probably a given that I would like this game. If you’re looking for a light-hearted game, then for sheer fun you’ll be hard pressed to find something more appropriate than Shimmy Shimmy.
This felt like a game of two halves for us, we loved the first half but struggled in the second. Either way, this is a solid game with a massive space to explore!
This room will most definitely be a family favourite. If you’re in the area and are looking for a game to play with the family, then this is it. Likely to be fun for all ages and experience levels, Rhyming Room is worth it, even if it’s just to be impressed by Tilly Tonka’s intro!
A massive space makes this a perfect game for larger teams of either enthusiasts or families. Some very clever puzzles and a great way to play out a classic who-dunnit.
If you’ve played Coming Home at one of the several venues it’s available at, you might be tempted to give Robot’s Return a miss. Don’t. Despite the similarities in the stories, the games are entirely different, and Robot’s Return is a delight, both in terms of its clever puzzles, and its sweet little robot.
My favourite games are those that completely immerse you in the world around you, particularly by forcing players to perform “real-world” tasks, and make you feel as though you are the star of your own film. Reactorvate did this, and more, and has firmly embedded itself in my mind as my favourite game at Escapologic’s Leicester branch (so far, at least).
Sometimes we just don’t click with a room, and that doesn’t make it a bad game, our brains just weren’t wired correctly for this game. It was a very pretty room and the puzzles were tactile and interactive, but so far, Chronos is at the bottom of our Escapologic list.
I really didn’t know what to expect with The Gateway, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Just the right level of darkness, no frustrations, and a good flow to the story, well done Escapologic – great fun!
As always, these reviews are own personal opinions, but if I were pressed to name the best game at Unescapable, Mary would be my selection (although my favourite was Tommy). With pleasing puzzles, a great atmosphere, and a whole lot of fun, if you’re having trouble deciding which game to play at Unescapable, you can’t go wrong with Mary. (Well, really, you wouldn’t go wrong with any of them.)
A fun room that had a good sense of exploration, but perhaps play Tommy as a warm-up for the other games here. Our game was tainted by over-eager clueing by our GM, and a laborious first puzzle, but we ended on a high and that’s the main thing.
A pirate themed room, but not as you know it. Surprise awaits you when you enter this room, and then you’re taken on a wonderful journey as the story develops.
Edith has a reputation amongst UK enthusiasts that’s not undeserved. Your tolerance for terror will ultimately determine if this is one that you’ll love or leave, but it is without a doubt one of the best horror experiences we have played in the UK (so far), and struck a nice balance between horrifying and humorous
I loved Cave Escape from the moment I stepped into the reception area two years ago to play Carfax, but Monuments has completely blown me away. Not only was this game one of the highlights on our nearly 60 game road trip, but it ranks among my favourite Top Ten games I have played to date
It’s no surprise that someone in Nottingham finally created a Robin Hood themed game – It really was only a matter of time. Robin of Lockskey was the game I was most looking forward to on this visit to Escapologic, and it did not disappoint. Highly immersive, great puzzles, and totally adventurous, this is a must play game for sure.
Possibly one of the most visually stunning games that we have ever played. Ok, the puzzles didn’t particularly click with us but that won’t stop us recommending this game. Make sure you stretch before you play, you need to be quite mobile as you navigate around the ship.
Epi-Centre is a good room but probably not the first one we’d recommend at Escapologic. If there was less ‘clutter’ and better torches, we probably would have enjoyed this game more. Although saying that, we did enjoy the crazy ending.
If you’re booking a trip to Nottingham, make sure you don’t miss out Escape Stations. Their lobby may not yet be as refined as other venues in the city, but their first game is solid and is an enjoyable experience
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live a world like in the movie ‘Divergent’, then you need to play both Utopia and Dystopia, back-to-back.
Will you choose to play Dystopia as a standalone game, in succession with it’s brighter and more futuristic sibling, or pit yourself against an opposing Utopian team? The choice is yours, but whichever you choose, you’re in for a treat.
Spellbound is a mission, especially for a team of two. That’s why it’s normally recommended for 3+ players. It is achievable for a team of two, but it’s full on, with loads of puzzles and content to sift through – but from the very first puzzle, this game is a hoot!
Dystopia and Utopia seem to get all the love at Make Your Escape, but The Signal is certainly worth a play, and ideal for those new to escaping. The Signal was also the first (I think) game in the country to present players with an existential dilemma that will directly impact the outcome of the game. What choice will you make?
Never have I ever seen this many puzzles crammed into a room. UI-55 isn’t your traditional escape room, but if you’re in the mood for puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles, mixed with an insane amount of fun, you can’t go wrong with this game.
With excellent set design, fantastic game flow, and satisfying puzzles, Bedlam stands out amongst its peers as my favourite game at Compendium. (Okay, maybe it’s tied with UI-55, but that game is an entirely different beast, and not quite your traditional escape room.)
A nice and bright room that felt very different to the other offerings at Compendium. This is a large space that could handle bigger teams, and has some really satisfying puzzles. Good fun.
A creepy room with good set design and some nicely challenging puzzles. Perhaps a bit gruesome for the family, but those of you who seek out horror rooms will likely enjoy (especially if you get the live actor version)
We enjoyed Gem Runner in Manchester, and we had the same feeling in Rawtenstall. A fun game that will remind you of all the things you first loved about escape rooms.
It’s been so long since we played Entrance Exam that I can’t really confirm or deny the rumours that say Dragon’s Heart is even better, but I can confirm that Dragon’s Heart is definitely superb and well worth the trip to Rawtenstall.
Yet another fun room by Lucardo. We’d been holding off playing the online avatar version of this game as we wanted to play it in real life, and we’re glad we did. We enjoyed Corruption a bit more than Safe House, but this game is unlikely to disappoint.
Lucardo have hit it out of the park once again. Corruption was full of fantastic puzzles, immersive touches, and all surrounded by a fantastic set. Prison in Manchester used to be my favourite Lucardo game, but this one may have surpassed it.
Although Lockdown are new to the escape room scene, they have brought three strong games to the table, with (minor hiccups aside) The Ministry being a highlight of the venue. If their first games are any indication of their skills, I look forward to seeing what comes next!
This room had some good moments and certainly threw a few surprises our way with some theatrical elements that we weren’t expecting. With the exception of one puzzle, we enjoyed this game but I feel confident that this puzzle will be tweaked to make it better, so if you play, you may not have the same frustration that we did.
Perhaps on the easier side, The Lodge would be a great entry level game for those thinking of trying an escape room. Even enthusiasts should have a good time as the puzzles are decent and the theming is spot on.
If Disney made an escape room, this would be it. Ignoring the fact that the game is great and beautiful, there are so many easter eggs lovingly placed in the room that it is like an extra puzzle to spot and identify them all (we missed many)
Nebula was easily our favourite room at Adrenaline, and if this is a sign of things to come then they’re a venue to watch. This room really clicked with us and we found the puzzles a joy to solve and the room a pleasant place to be
Of all the games at Adrenaline, this is probably the one I would recommend most to the enthusiast community, or I suppose anyone up for a challenge. As far as kidnapping/serial killer themed rooms go it is well done, but what really makes it special is the bonus level if you have time to spare and are up for testing your skills
With solid puzzles, some fun with science, and one rather amazing thing to lend weight to the time travel theme, Lab 3436 had me feeling like a genius when we escaped.
This room certainly felt like a labyrinth, with twists and turns meaning we didn’t know which way we would be headed next. With decent puzzles and a good flow to the game, we enjoyed our time in the Labyrinth
Despite struggling with this room (we were tired), we absolutely loved it. From the start to the incredible ending, this game had everything and more. This room is a real gem in the escape room industry and must be played by everyone.
Tomb Raiding Adventures are perhaps my favourite type of escape, and The Lost Tomb at Extremescape sits amongst some of the best I have ever played. While I can’t really choose which of the three games at Extremescape is the “best,” this is without a doubt my personal favourite
It’s very easy to see why Extremescape have the reputation they do. They took a simple theme and made it something special. A great sense of adventure, solid puzzles, and a beautiful build, top marks Extremescape, and thank you!
Great puzzles, lovely design, and some fun extras made this a game that we were sad to have finished. Be careful though, this game could turn out to be expensive, I think the Disney love is back and it’s time we booked another holiday to the happiest place on Earth.
Vault Squad had one of the most unique openings to a standard “heist” theme that I’ve seen, and the amuusement it provided (particualrly when we tripped up) set the tone for the entire game. If you’re in Loughborough, skipping Deadlocked Escape Rooms would be a mistake
I don’t know if it was because we were tired or hungry, but we struggled to click with this game. It was pretty and impressive, but the puzzles, particularly the search element, just left us feeling deflated.
While Boiling Point is probably not the game that I would be most likely to recommend to anyone that only had time for one Break Escape game, it was my second favourite of the four we played at the venue, and would be my recommendation for those that love a decent puzzle game, provided you don’t mind a slightly odd story line.
If being terrorised isn’t your cup of tea, then Nerve Klinik is probably one to avoid. However, if you’re a fan of scare attractions and puzzles, then step right up – the doctor will see you now.
We should have performed better in this room than we did, but it was still enjoyable and this would be a great room for family groups to play, even enthusiasts should have a good time
The perfect game to end our visit to Top Escape Rooms, No Place Like Gnome was fun from start to end and was a beautifully assembled room with a lighthearted and family friendly feel to it.
I am overdue for a visit to the dentist, but I don’t think The Dentist at Top Escape Rooms is the best place for a check up. But if you’re looking for solid puzzles and a few thrills and chills, then it might just be what you’re looking for.
Considering this started life as a box game, it was much more than that and ended up being one of my highlights of the day – admittedly I have a soft spot for pirate games. Sea Quest was a fun game, well hosted, and satisfying to play.
It’s no surprise that Top Escape Rooms are claiming Jingle Joyride is proving to be one of their most popular games. I think after the year we’ve had, we could all use a little Christmas Cheer, even in the midst of summer, and Jingle Joyride truly was a joy to play
It would be impossible to talk about Captain’s Treasure without using the words delightful, clever, joyous, or perfection. If you are lucky enough to live close enough to Swindon to hire Captain’s Treasure, pick your date and book it now. No really; Book now
The games by Co-Decode seem to be under-the-radar due to them being Print and Play, but really they are gems waiting to be discovered. Digging in Disguise, thanks to the improved interface is our favourite Oldervik game so far.
Humbug Hijinx was a sweet little game (yes, that was totally intended.) It’s a little clunky, but there are some solid puzzles, and even better, you’ll find an extra treat waiting for you upon completion.
Based on actual(ish) events, Tunnelling Through Time combines a bit of time travel with pleasing puzzles, and the magic of the movies to deliver a digital escape like no other. With 100% of the proceeds going directly to The Brunel Museum, I can’t think of a better way to have fun, learn something, and support a great cause; can you?
Too much chocolate, or not enough, meant that we struggled with the puzzles in Operation E.G.G., but I could see other teams getting through it in no time at all. Likely fun for all the family, hide chapters around the house and make your team work for it!
While I did enjoy Contraption more when we played in person, the online-avatar adaptation was still great fun, and well worth considering for your next remote escape.
Thanks to the adapted gameplay and story, this game translated really well to the online world. Escapologic are perfectionists and that shows in everything they do. It’s great to have more UK based avatar games coming online, this would be a good choice if you’re looking for a fun avatar game.
We really wanted to like this game but found the puzzles really let it down. It could be that the puzzles just didn’t click for us and you may enjoy it. If you do play this game, let us know how you get on.
The Panic Room Puzzle Book Experience was similar to other games of a similar nature from The Panic Room, and had a few puzzling highlights, and a few tricky moments. Just remember: Don’t Panic!
Escapers looking for a tangible play at home game that won’t break the bank and isn’t an Exit box would do well to look at the range of Puzzle Books from The Panic Room. The Book of Grimm had some solid puzzles and kept us entertained for well over an hour, while providing a nice dose of nostalgia for some favourite childhood stories
We had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this game. The idea is great, but we struggled on a few puzzles. Either way, if we’re going away for a break sometime, I could see us taking a couple puzzle books with us
Can you have wholesome family friendly zombie fun? Apparently you can at Improbable Escapes. Unless of course, you’re concerned about a few severed limbs. I have little doubt that Cure for the Common Zombie would be better in person than remotely, but even online it was still good fun.
I think we could all use a little more love in these trying times, and whether you choose to play Mechanics of the Heart on Valentines Day, or not, the message is the same, and a perfect way to share the love with those you care about.
Unique, funny, surprising, clever, and occasionally shocking, Pursuit of the Assassin Artist was something I didn’t even realise was possible, let alone needed, in an escape game. If companies continue to create games like this, online escape games will persist long after we’re allowed to play in person once again. And I for one, will welcome it
We’ve enjoyed all of the Print+Cut+Escape games from clueQuest, and Prison of Memories – Part 1 was no exception, with its clever puzzles and high production value. Now, to patiently wait for Part 2…
If you are looking for a festive game that is suitable for the whole family, full of satisfying puzzles, terrible jokes, and of course, mince pies, look no further. B.R.U.C.E. Saves Christmas is a perfect game for a socially distanced holiday gathering
Does the perfect Christmas game exist? Well, I can’t say for sure, but if it isn’t, then The Hot Chocolate Incident comes pretty close, and I can’t think of a more perfect way to get into the holiday spirit
Genesis is another solid offering from Clue HQ, presented in the same format as the earlier games in the series. If you’re on the lookout for something that can be played remotely with ease, you can’t go wrong with any of games in The Hunt for the Clueminati series.
On Course for Kantawe is certainly a mission, with four to six hours of gameplay, and is definitely one for those that are up for a challenge. If you haven’t already played A Jewel in Jeopardy or Operative Onboard, start there. If you have, well then, what are you waiting for?
Hounds Escape have managed to take everything that I’ve loved about other venues I’ve visited and games I’ve played and put them all under one roof. Questionable Ethics is a superb game
Paradox Parlour’s first play-at-home escape game is as excellent as their first physical escape room, and The Disappearing Diamond is not to be overlooked when planning your next game night. I can only hope that there will be more Maxwell Mysteries to come in future.
Our experience of this room was equal parts frustration and enjoyment, I’m not sure which won out in the end. A few minor tweaks to the game and I think it would be a lot better. Bring your search A-game!
Steam Punk is a decent game – good for escape room newbies, and worth a visit for enthusiasts if you’re in the area anyway. It started out as a good game, but quickly became a bit frustrating
If you’re a fan of dinosaurs and escape rooms then this is a room you must try. A beautiful set, decent puzzles, and a really fun ending made our detour 100% worth it!
Extinct is a must-play game. From the moment you start, it’s an adventure, straight through to the heart-pounding conclusion. With an awesome set, tactile and pleasing puzzles, and an intricate narrative, Extinct (Escape from Jurassic Island) is everything I want an escape room to be.
Prison break rooms are probably one of the most common themed rooms out there, but this is one of the better ones. Quite a search heavy room at times, but the puzzles were fair and the signposting was decent
Diamond Dogs has shown that it’s true you should never judge a book by its cover, proving that a heist game can be adrenaline-fuelled, immersive and exciting; full of twists and turns, inventive puzzles, and with a strong story. TL; DR – this game is fantastic
While The Music Box isn’t my favourite game from Lock & Code (that honour goes to Dead on the Hour), it’s a solid game. I’d be more inclined to recommend it to escape room newcomers, but even from an enthusiast standpoint, it’s worth a go if you’re in the area.
Homecoming takes place in a massive space and plays out in a mostly linear fashion. You’re unlikely to be blown away by the set, but you may see a puzzle or two that you haven’t seen before.
It’s incredibly important to be able to correctly identify the various creatures that go bump in the night, and know how to respond accordingly. With excellent Halloween theming, family friendly content, clever puzzles, and beautiful artwork, clueQuest’s Halloween Survival Escape Training is a delightful way to to get into the mood for the Spookiest Time of Year
There is no doubt that this room is going into both of our Top 10’s, it was great. Great is the word to describe it, great puzzles, great design, great hosts, great fun!
If you have kids who want to try out escape rooms (from home), then this is 100% the one you should try. It’s beautifully assembled, has fun puzzles, offers a mental challenge and has delightful physical interactions. Why didn’t this type of thing exist when I was a kid?!
With a catchy theme song, immersive narrative, wacky humour, and clever puzzles, not to mention achievements to unlock and a nifty completion certificate, there’s nothing not to love about The Movember Virtual Escape Room
A good use of tech, and two tools/props that were very satisfying to use will give us something to remember this room by. A couple of ‘trial-and-error’ puzzles are ones we’d rather forget.
clueQuest have added another excellent play-at-home option to their already stellar collection. Humanity 2.0 continues the narrative begun with Stolen IQ, and takes the series through to its conclusion
This was our first post-lockdown physical escape room, and it was a good one. Escape from the Room have upped their game and we would have no problems recommending this room
Ignoring some questionable accents, this was a fun game and arguably the best online game we’ve played by Hysteria so far. I could easily see this game being a family favourite
Part 2 of The B.R.U.C.E. Project was a fun game and provided a sense of closure to the narrative that began with Part 1
Phase One lacked puzzles and felt like a warm up act for something bigger. Phase Two was the headliner, and delivered on the earlier promises
This was a really fun room and is very reasonably priced. With great signposting, clever puzzles, and a really fun set, it is worth doing! Get it booked before it is gone!
This game was as fun as it was beautiful and is an instant favourite of ours. The use of technology to push forward the story was inspired and something we haven’t seen before in a room. This is one room that we would recommend without any hesitation!
A few frustrating puzzles and a weak clue system meant that at times we were annoyed and our enjoyment waned. However, looking back at this game we can see that some puzzles were actually quite clever and our perseverance paid off to make a mostly enjoyable experience
This game improved on the first and those subtle changes made for a smoother experience. If you’re looking for a print and play that is slightly different to the rest, then this is it
CSI: Stranglehold was the strongest of the games in the CSI series from The Panic Room (that we’ve played), and was reminiscent of a detective/murder mystery live escape game, making me strangely nostalgic for one
This was a good game, but it could have been great. We felt like it ended just as it was getting going and felt a bit miffed when it was over. It’s definitely worth playing as it is beautifully put together and is a wonder to behold, but I wouldn’t set aside much time to complete it.
This game put puzzles and fun ahead of everything else and created a really fun, family-friendly game. The websites are rough around the edges but functional and everything worked as it should. Well done Get Lost!
Fans of Astra and Chronicle won’t be disappointed by the latest offering from Clue HQ, and if you’re looking for a digital multiplayer experience that also manages to be non-linear, look no further.
The Haunting of Harlequin House is the most complex of the Clue Cracker online games filled with more intricate and multi-layered puzzles. This, plus the slightly more sinister theme, may mean it’s one to skip if you often play with very young children, but definitely not one to miss if you don’t (or once you’ve put them to bed if you do)
Deadlocked don’t do things by halves, and The Cyphstress is a work of art, with beautiful design, clever and complex puzzles, a strong narrative, all subtly blended with the mythology behind Siren Craft Brew
A fun room but probably one of the easier games by the Panic Room. With decent theming, storyline and puzzles, it will keep you entertained for a little while
With lots of evidence to work through, decent puzzles, and a solid ending; if you want a game that will make you feel like a detective, then this game is a good shout.
Mansion Impossible is a fun, family-friendly way to spend an hour or two. With a lovely little homage to live escape games that made me giggle with delight, this was my second favourite of the digital games on offer from The Panic Room, but it only just missed out on being my favourite.
My Dearest Emily is easily my favourite of the online offerings from The Panic Room. With a lovely story, a bit of history, trickier puzzles, and some beautiful illustrations, what’s not to love?
Chronicle took the strengths of Astra, and improved on any weaknesses. If you haven’t played any of The Hunt for the Cluminati series yet, you’re missing out
If you’re looking for a game to introduce someone to the world of online escaping, CSI: Grounded is a good choice, with a few “easy win” puzzles, bolstered by a few more difficult tasks to keep things interesting
ClueHQ have done a great job in providing an online escape experience that teams can all participate in at the same time and solve puzzles simultaneously. With a couple of tweaks to how you interact with the puzzles it would be pretty close to perfect
clueQuest have turned the difficulty up to 11 for this game and that will likely give you love/hate feelings towards it. We loved it and it kept us occupied for nearly 2 hours, which for £12 is a bargain. If you want a challenge, give it a try!
In terms of difficulty this is a step (or five) up from their other online experiences but it still features the same quality of story throughout, and has puzzles that will give your brain a good workout
If you’re looking for a game to dip your toes into the water of virtual escape rooms, look no further! The Disappearance of DJ McDee is a great way to try out the format before committing to Clue Cracker’s paid games (which are also highly enjoyable.) And yes, the song is really catchy
With a well thought out story, great puzzles, and beautifully curated parts, The Network gets you as close to immersion as possible for a play at home game.
While playing this game, one of our team proclaimed “this is the most like a real escape room experience we have had so far”, and to be honest I think it is a good call
On the easier side for enthusiasts, but perfect for the family. All in all, it’s a great intro to remote escaping and scratched a little bit of the escape room itch we’ve been feeling – and there was a dinosaur!
Eltham Escape Rooms have clearly upped their game in terms of set design with this room, aiming for full immersion, with an impressively decorated set and the more tactile puzzles, allowing the game to become a true adventure.
Take a pinch of Bewilder Box, a dash of Eltham Escapes and mix it together with a healthy dollop of fun. Throw in a perfectly blended use of technology, and you have the recipe for a great time.
A solid game that was incredibly well priced at £12 for the print at home version. Puzzles ranged in style and difficulty and many were actually similar in style to those that one would find in a live escape experience
If you haven’t already been convinced to try The Insiders, I don’t know what else I can say. It is without a doubt the best play at home game we have taken on to date. The Insiders is surprisingly immersive, incredibly clever, and just downright fun
We enjoyed Imaginarium, and loved Station X, but Pudding Lane is by far one of our favourite games on offer at TimeTrap, cementing itself a place in Liz’s Top Ten Escape Rooms list
Despite not being ‘blown away’ by this room, it was an enjoyable experience and kept us engaged well. Take your communication ‘A-game’ with you and you’ll have a good time.
The Tomb had promise to be great, and it probably once was. For us, it needed some TLC to bring back those past glories. Still a room that will be a hit with the kids
Is it the most amazing game I’ve ever played? No. Is it fun, and a reminder of the sort of experiences that I had at the start of my escaping career that made me fall in love with this crazy hobby in the first place? Absolutely
Strikeforce isn’t likely to win any awards for design or creativity, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this room to teams looking to play for the first time. It’s a solid room, but I do think that your GM could make it or break it for you. Fortunately, ours made it
A bit run down in places and we think it used to do more than it currently does, CSI will keep you busy and isn’t a bad way to spend your hour, but one puzzle needs ‘fixing’
We chose Incognito’s Secret Lair to be our 200th room, so no pressure. This room had a good mix of puzzles and we can easily see this being a family favourite (equally good as a two though!)
With an impressive narrative driving the game forward, tasks hinted at what might have befallen the Citadel. Strong puzzles, great GMs and strong narrative, The Citadel was incredibly enjoyable.
We can’t say enough how much we loved this room. We never felt like we were playing a game, it actually felt as though we were saving War-era Canterbury, and the epic conclusion here is one not to be missed!
Going into this room I didn’t expect it to be my favourite at TimeQuest, but it was. The outside-of-the-box thinking and the heavy search element made this very enjoyable for us, and the attention to detail was also refreshing.
One of the most impressive aspects of the games at TimeQuest is the sheer amount of physical space devoted to each game, and Saving Operation Neptune was no exception. It would be possible to fit at least two games in the space given to Neptune
This is a very different offering to the others at TimeQuest and those looking for a tech heavy room that mostly steers away from padlocks should be in their element
We have absolutely no reservations adding The Curse of Curawood’s Garden to the list of rooms that would be enjoyed by players of all ages, young and old alike. Play it, and get lost in Curawood’s world
A massive step in quality over the earlier games at Escape Hub. Inbound has great set design, good puzzles, and a wonderful journey through the streets of ‘York’
The weakest of the games we played at Escape Hub. With some much better games on offer in Maidstone, and at Escape Hub itself, I would suggest that teams keen to play all of the games play this one first and move on to better options.
This wasn’t a bad room, and we actually had a fun time (especially with the ending). But with a few too many padlocks and a little too much wear-and-tear we feel like this room may be slightly past its prime.
Hypnos is darker than their other room but has interesting and challenging puzzles. A number of padlocks around the place but a good use of tech breaks them up nicely and keeps it engaging
Great fun for adults and kids, but between the theme, the set, and the types of puzzles and tasks throughout The Game, this room is one of our top picks if you’re looking for something the entire family can get involved with
Perhaps we’re biased because Get Lost’s room always seem to ‘click’ with us, but we thoroughly enjoyed this room and thought the set design was very impressive. Always love a uniquely themed room!
For us, this room felt like an odd crossover between Jurassic Park and a zombie film – and it worked! Good puzzles in a variety of styles and great set design to boot
With only 60 seconds to fix the time machine, this isn’t your ordinary room. Technically a 90 minute experience, sci-fi fans will likely find lots to love about The Time Machine (we did)
Motel California is a fun room at a company run by enthusiastic and passionate owners. While there is nothing stand out about this room, we enjoyed every minute we spent in it.
Whether you’re an escape enthusiast or it’s your first time, if you’re looking for a two-player game in London, or just looking for something a bit outside the norm for date night, you can’t go wrong with Jet 2 Space
A room that won’t blow you away (no pun intended) and is very padlock heavy, but if your observational skills are on point then you’ll likely have a good time.
We haven’t done many but this was the best ClueHQ room we’ve done so far. Good room design and only one annoying puzzle, not a bad way to spend an hour
A few too many red herrings and generally puzzles that just didn’t click with us meant that we didn’t particularly enjoy our time in this prison van – but that’s the idea of prison vans, right?
A fun room that’s a full-on assault on the senses! We had a great time in Carnevil and particularly enjoyed the more physical aspects of the room. Possibly one of our favourite ‘Panic Room’ rooms.
Probably the best of the games at Red House (both locations), but a weak ending with annoying puzzles made this a train we were pleased to get off
The theming for this room was fun but weak puzzles that were easily bypassed and a lack of atmosphere took away from the excitement we should have experienced, and one GM for multiple rooms is never a good way to go.
A very traditional room which suffered from the usual GM issues and some potentially glitchy tech. We completed in 25 minutes even after being slowed down by issues
A room with a solid premise but ultimately the execution was lacking. Couple that with a distracted GM and it doesn’t make for the best experience
A lovely Christmas room that is sure to be fun for all the family. Mostly traditional but with a strong ending, it’s a perfect Christmas room!
Good set design and a mix of puzzles that has plenty to keep you going. We felt let down by our GM but if your GM is on the ball then you’re sure to enjoy your time in ‘the den’
We loved Battle for Britain and although this room didn’t quite reach the greatness of that room, it’s a good room which we thoroughly enjoyed. Puzzles were logical, it was fun to be in, the ending was strong and the hosting was spot-on
The Adventure Begins is a fantastic game with clever puzzles, a great set, and some really fun moments. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this room to teams that are trying to find their first escape room or to enthusiasts, particularly those that want to try their hand at their first room as a team of two.
People often visit Salisbury due to the proximity of some ‘large standing rocks’, but ditch the rocks and make Live Escape your destination, you won’t regret it.
The Monosphere probably won’t be winning any awards, but we found it enjoyable. What we were most impressed by is how Trapp’d have managed to keep it so clean given the amount of white in a room located next door to Molten Creek Mine!
Yet another fun room from Trapp’d, not their best, but equally not their worst. Be prepared to get dirty so make sure you don’t do this room before a night out! A fun use of tech and on-theme puzzles made this an enjoyable room
A fun room with strong set design and a good story to follow. Families (particularly kids) will love this room! A bit of wear-and-tear that needs to be fixed, but we enjoyed it regardless
We wouldn’t recommend Dead on Arrival to someone that has never played an escape game before, but we enjoyed it, escaping in about 33 minutes, which leads us to conclude that the puzzles are sound, and it’s worth giving it a go.
A good warm-up room for enthusiasts or a great family room. On the easier side so enthusiasts will probably fly through it, but it’s enjoyable and has some nice design touches that we haven’t seen elsewhere
Having found ourselves often frustrated in Stranger Things, The Black Diamond was a wonderful change of pace with logical puzzles with clear sign posting where required and an enjoyable finish
A fun room with some nice 80s touches. Decent puzzles but ultimately let down by red herrings and an over abundance of sign-posting. A few tweaks to the puzzles, and perhaps the clue system and this could be a great room
This room won’t blow you away but we did have fun, just not as much as at their other location. The star of the show was the vault itself, the room was an acceptable way to spend 30 minutes
I would encourage enthusiasts to tackle this in smaller groups, or some of the team will likely find that they miss out on much of the action. However, the linear structure, and the more traditional escape room-style logic and observational puzzles make this an ideal room for new players
If you’ve done rooms at Escape Peterborough before then this room will be nothing like them. They’ve really upped their game with this room and the only rival for it there is The Cabin. Good theming, decent puzzles (although padlock heavy), but swash-buckling fun
Even standing in the hallway, it’s clear that the set design for this game is leagues above the games we had played here previously. The Cabin is a solid, well thought out room, and worth playing if you’re planning to visit Peterborough.
The Damned has firmly staked out its place as a horror room, but with friendly owners you can probably tone this down if you’re not a fan of jump scares and live actors. Ignoring the horror bits, it’s a solid room with flowing puzzles and fun from the very start to the end.
This felt like the weakest of the rooms at this location. It could really do with a refresh as it is very worn in a number of places, but if you like the 80s then you’ll probably have fun.
Tricky Escape’s Magic and Mystery clearly has elements inspired by a certain series about a young wizard, while still managing to be original, and is a well-themed, family-friendly room
In a market filled with 60-minute games, Pathogen is one of the rarer 90-minute experiences, and it certainly sets the bar high. The game was highly immersive, with excellent theming, and clever puzzles
A ’fun’ take on the rather grim Sweeney Todd story. Decent puzzles, good design, and a good flow. We struggled, but we’re not really sure why
This room was much better than we expected and as a creepy (not really horror) room, it was good fun. The only bit that was lacking was the ending. I’m sure it’s not easy to make exiting into a corridor fun, but it was just a bit anticlimactic
A beautiful room (in places) but the generally weak puzzles let it down. A confusing journey and too many red herrings made us more annoyed than anything else
This room was the highlight of the day for me. I know VX2.0 seems to be getting more love right now, but this room is fun, traditional, and just generally well put together
You’ve got to give Trapp’d credit for what they’ve done with this room. They’ve tried to do something different, and they have. If it wasn’t for a jumpy GM we’d have probably enjoyed this room more than we did
Yes, Abigail is creepy, and there are a few attempts at jump scares, but this, for us at least, was not a true horror experience, and was more of a well done paranormal themed room
We loved this room and enjoyed every moment in it. It’s a cracker of a room and even in a team of five there was plenty to keep us all busy
The key selling point of this room is the darkness. Take that away and you’ll be disappointed. But as it is, it’s a room that’s worth doing just to really test yourself. Try it, you’ll be surprised.
I was impressed with Extraction. It was a fun, and interesting If the first game from the Extraction Room team is anything to go by, if they decide to expand and design more games, I can only wait with anticipation to see what they come up with.
Sub Terra was a delight from start to finish. With a strong story that’s reenforced by a fantastic set, and great puzzles, it has firmly secured a place on my list of Top Ten Favourite rooms (to date). If you haven’t made the trip to Co-Decode yet, what are you waiting for?
This was a straight-up horror room, there’s no denying that. But the puzzles flowed and we had fun, even with the live actor tormenting us at every turn. Horror fans will love it
When it was new this was probably a decent room. Unfortunately in its old age it has lost its way and become a bit frustrating. Couple the frustration with tired props and it’s good it’s set for retirement.
A decent room that is definitely good for beginners and has enough fun to keep you going. Decent puzzles and theming made for an enjoyable experience.
Pressure Point seem to have nailed developing games which manage to have not just good game play, but take you from the beginning, through to a peak, and finally a good, solid ending
A solid room where you’re trying to barricade yourself in rather than escape. I preferred their other rooms but this was still a good room with decent puzzles and a solid ending.
Pressure Point have designed a special game, full of humour and clever puzzles, with a fantastic set and fun music, and we’re just sad that we can’t play it again
This was a fun experience, but for us at least it wasn’t worth the money and was over-hyped. Sherlock enthusiasts will probably love it, escape room enthusiasts will probably find it like Marmite.
Pier Pressure have created a room that is 100% fun and if you like some classic old school tunes, you’ll have a great time. Fun puzzles and a top soundtrack will give you a time to remember.
‘Difficulty by Darkness’ is how we’d describe this room. In addition to the darkness, the game felt as though it had a number of red-herrings, with several things in the room that we never did find combinations or keys for
Sadly, this room just didn’t live up to our expectations from the Sub; it was fun to play, and while there are no obvious problems with the game, it just lacked any sort of wow-factor.
A fun room, with solid puzzles but was unfortunately let down by a truly terrible clue system
A room that’s strongest point was it’s theming, it does well to include relevant props and decor that help immerse you. Tricky at times but doable, this was our preferred room of the three at this venue
We don’t normally detour to venues with just one room, but as we’d heard good things about Jail Break at Clue Cracker we decided to make an exception and swing by Tunbridge Wells – it was worth it.
Fun puzzles, a beautiful set, and a story that keeps you guessing right up to the end – get to Faversham and do this room! Certainly one of the best wild west rooms around!
This is one of those rooms that is difficult to review. It’s a good room, but I didn’t overly enjoy it and I’m not sure why. Give it a try and make up your own mind
Templars possibly ranks as the hardest room we’ve ever done. We’ve seen other teams getting decent times so it obviously just didn’t click for us. Give it a try if you want a challenge
Out of the three rooms at Adventox this is by far the weakest. Feeling tired and dated it could do with a bit of a revamp. Couple that with weak puzzles and it’s not a room we’ll be recommending unless you’re really desperate for that escape room fix.
Tucked away in a mall overshadowed by Westfields, ‘Haunted’ by Adventox was our favourite room at this location. Solid set design and a fun flow – it’s worth checking out
Alcatraz was a solid, enjoyable game, but it ultimately fell a bit flat for us. It’s tough to put a finger on exactly what it was; whether it was the ending in general, or just the fact that it wasn’t quite as much fun as their other room, ‘Haunted’
Mission Breakout’s website proclaims their games to be the most immersive in London. While the set and integrated puzzles certainly lend weight to that claim, we don’t feel like we can agree
This room promised a lot but ultimately fell flat in many areas. Perhaps one wow moment in the entire game but even that couldn’t help this room rank higher for us.
This room instantly went into our Top 10 and it will be there for some time. Strong puzzles, hilarity, and wonderful GM, this is a room not to miss. Flash Gordon for the win!
A really fun room that encapsulates the spirit of Alice in Wonderland perfectly. Puzzles on theme, set looking great, generally just a good room all round
TimeTrap have created an excellent experience with clever puzzles, excellent set design, and a massive amount of fun. I’m only disappointed that it took us so long to make it to Reading; Station X is one not to miss!
This is one of those rooms that you enter and think you know what you’re getting but then it finds ways to surprise you and fill you with excitement. On the surface it looks like a simple room but behind the scenes there is a lot of tech working hard to keep you on your toes
There are no less than four ways this game could end, depending entirely on the choices made by the players, which could cause many to have a love/hate relationship with this room, and some might find that the existential dilemma created for them by the room is perhaps the most difficult aspect.
In places this was a very hard room, at times it was frustrating, but in the end it was fun. A lot of time was spent on immersing you in the story, and the ending was something a little different
This room certainly won’t give you any surprises, nor will it wow you, but it is still a decent room. For us though, this was the weakest of the rooms at Lucardo (Manchester) – but they had set the bar high.
Due to bad experiences in the past we tend to stay away from magic themed rooms, but this one has restored our faith. Now we need to head to the Lucardo Rawtenstall branch to check out the sequel!
A prison break is nothing new theme-wise, but this game was immersive and realistic and on a completely different level to not only to other similarly themed games, but also everything else on offer at Lucardo.
With the types of puzzles and the design choices, I would say this game is perfectly suited to small groups of enthusiasts (perhaps those that want to try their first room as a two) or larger groups of new players.
Gem Runner is heavy on the ‘traditional’ escape room puzzles, with plenty of padlocks, codes, and searching and is not a tech heavy room. I could easily see this being a favourite with family groups, or even two person enthusiast groups like us.
We got possibly our quickest ever escape time in this room, partially because the puzzles just clicked, but also because there wasn’t that many of them. A fun room but don’t do it in a large group or you may not have much to do
This is a fun room, although arguably on the easier side. If you’re in the area anyway, you’ll have a good time, but don’t go with a large and experienced team
Lock & Code rooms won’t blow you away but they are solid rooms that will give you an hour of fun. Dead on the Hour was fun, and at times challenging, but once again we left Lock & Code with smiles on our faces
Costumes, puzzles, and one of the nicest owner/GMs you’ll ever meet. We preferred The Rig but Sacred is a very good room and has plenty to keep you occupied
Carfax is a great room and it excelled in room design. Surrounded by the natural stone walls of the cave, the rest of the set was used to enhance this already impressive setting
“Like real-life Indiana Jones” that’s what we were promised. It was certainly an adventure through a dark, creepy crypt, but luckily for us (and Indy) there were no snakes
This is a fun room, but due to how linear it is and the lack of puzzles we probably wouldn’t advise it for large teams, especially if those teams are experienced. It’s definitely a room to give a go though as it is visually impressive.
This room is not one for the faint hearted and if you’re of a nervous disposition it’s probably one to avoid. However, if you want a room that it a bit different and will not only challenge your mind but also your bladder control, then give it a go!
Like most of the rooms at Escapologic this was a linear room with very strong set design. Don’t get distracted by all the funky items and you should be fine
You’ll be hard pushed to find a room with a better story, and you definitely won’t find a better setting for a room. This room lived up to it’s impressive venue and is well worth a visit/detour
This room won’t blow you away but if you want a solid room that will give you an hours entertainment, then this is that (added bonus: free sweets!)
Howitz is gritty, grimey, dimly lit, and full of jump scares and some really creepy toys, but if I were to give it a rating like a movie, it would receive a PG-13.
This room delivers something that you probably won’t have seen anywhere else. No spoilers – a fun room with some very impressive room design and definitely one you won’t forget
The rooms at The Bewilder Box are more than just escape rooms, they are experiences where everything works together to immerse you in their world. Each time you think you know what to expect they do something different, wonderful, and unexpected.
If you’re like us, and putting off a visit to Bewilder Box, stop right now, and find the time to just do it! The Bewilder Box Initiative instantly became a favourite of ours
Another beautiful Tulleys room but ultimately let down by reset issues. Give the room a try, but probably wait a while for them to get it running smoothly – we should have waited.
Enthusiasts shouldn’t struggle with this room and probably won’t find anything they haven’t seen before in terms of puzzles, but it’s worth doing if for no other reason than the final challenge.
A fun room but generally nothing exciting to reflect on. Probably a good beginners room but enthusiasts will have seen better.
The compactor had a very industrial feel, and was certainly visually impressive. There were a few surprises here and there, which kept things interesting, but generally it didn’t live up to expectations.
Get Lost Dover currently have three rooms and each is fun in their own way. This was my least favourite of their rooms, but don’t let that fool you, it’s worth doing and does enough to keep you on your toes
Have you ever done a room where every puzzle just clicked for you? Like you were in the mind of the room’s designer? That’s exactly what happened for us in this room and we enjoyed every minute of it
Our first room at Get Lost Escape Rooms and it set the bar high for the others. This room felt like we were experiencing a Resident Evil in real life. A fun game from start to finish
This is a fun room with a slightly different twist to most escape rooms. We weren’t a big fan of the format, but like Marmite, you’ll probably love it or hate it
Do you ever put off doing something because you really want to do it but you feel that the expectation may not live up to the hype? That is why it has taken us so long to do Battle for Britain, now I wish we’d done it sooner!
A short and arguably easy room that should probably be a 45 min experience rather than 60. A pretty average room with above average GMs but a weak ending. We expected more from MacGuffin.
I loved this room, I really did. Retrogaming memories are my weakness and this room exploited them to the max
Everything in the room was on theme, and puzzles were logical. This is a fun room, that although perhaps a little ‘home-made’ is still worth the visit
A great room with welcoming hosts and a very good GM. Faversham is beautiful, but this room really makes it worth visiting
If you’re lucky enough to get a good GM then this is a solid room and one we would happily recommend to enthusiasts
If things were running smoothly this is probably an ok room, particularly for children or new players. But if you’re an enthusiast I think you’ll find this room rather lacking and one to avoid.
While we did escape, it was only just managed, and we were left feeling a bit deflated, due to both the quality of the puzzles and the attentiveness of the GM
This room is massive, and while we successfully completed it as a two, this would definitely be well suited to, and fun for, a larger group.
Lacking in backstory this room makes up for it in the excitement it delivers at all points. Easier puzzles but good for all ages (except maybe the really old).
This room has almost everything I look for in an escape room: beautiful set design, clever puzzles, enough narrative to drive the game forward, and just a bit of humour
According to Tulleys’ website, this is the easiest of their rooms. I would tend to agree, and think it would be an excellent choice for both enthusiasts and newcomers, alike
Probably the third best room at Tulleys, strangely we found this one harder than Nethercott Manor despite this being classed as easier by Tulleys
If you’re looking for a corporate team building exercise then this is probably a good room. If you’re an enthusiast then it isn’t
Tulleys have clearly spent an inordinate amount of both time and money to make this an experience that you are not likely to forget, and it has certainly paid off
Don’t wait to be passing by Swindon to do this room. Make it your destination, it’s worth it!
We thought their other room ‘Spacescape’ was great – this was better! A solid room with an impressive ending
The team have clearly put a lot of thought into this experience, and Exodus is one not to be missed.
A tech heavy room that has a very impressive ending. One of the many rooms that is worth doing in Margate
Even when you’re receiving the briefing for this room you know it is going to be something special. This isn’t just a 60 minute experience, this is a game changer.
This room is beautiful, it really is, and when a room uses genuine artifacts there is no doubt you are in for a treat
AI Escapes are really going for full immersion with Project Delta, and have spent a lot of time to truly bring you into the world
If you’re in Big Bear you should probably get out in nature, but if the weather is bad then this is a great room to do.
A friend had recommended Big Bear as a must-see so we thought this was a good excuse to go.
Some great wow moments and so much fun all around. Definitely worth doing!
Although not the best room at this location, it is still the second best room we did in Palm Springs
Our third and fortunately final room at Escape Palm Springs was ‘Bank Heist’
A room that tries to hard to be special and has a very strange GM setup. I’m not sure this room ever had any ‘magic’
‘Titanic’ where you have to find the last hidden life boat before the ship goes down.
Everything just works in the way it is meant to and you find yourself just moving from one puzzle to the next without a care in the world.
If Red Giant is anything to go by, the company may well be setting the standard for the future of escape rooms.
If you’re in Los Angeles and there is a room that has been ranked number eight in the world then really it would be rude not to try it out.
Just around the corner from Disneyland is Mission Escapes, and what better than to do an escape room after Disney closes?
We heard this was the scariest room in LA, we discussed if this was actually something we wanted to do. I’m glad we did
Every single puzzle involved a padlock in one way or another, I don’t mind a good padlock but this took that to the extreme
Despite this room being a little creepy, it is in no way scary so I wouldn’t let that put you off.
This room didn’t feel up to the same level as the other Panic Room rooms, and although it was fun, we left feeling a bit flat
A great introductory room for inexperienced players, or a nice little warm-up / cool-down after a long weekend of full length escape rooms.
For our final room of the day, we found ourselves back at The Panic Room’s Gravesham Market location, but this time outside, in a prison van!
Don’t be fooled by the theme, this room will give both families and enthusiasts entertainment, and is challenging enough for both.
Although this room is creepy, and it certainly is creepy, I wouldn’t really call it a scary room and it is definitely fun
Of the rooms that we completed at The Panic Room, this was (in my opinion) the most beautifully designed room
£5 per team 10 minutes of your life = a wonderfully relaxing alternative to a traditional escape room.
While Enigma is lacking the WOW-factor of other rooms at The Panic Room, it is still a solid, and enjoyable room
What a room! This room is not just a must-do room in Gravesend, but definitely one of the top rooms in the country.
A solid room, which enthusiasts and new players alike will enjoy. A lot to do for a team of two, but plenty of space for larger teams
Although not the most advanced or impressive room in The Panic Room’s arsenal it’s still a solid room and one that’s definitely worth doing.
Dino Land was the perfect way to kick off an entire weekend of escapes, and lived up to all of my childhood dreams of visiting Jurassic Park.
If Operation Escape start taking feedback on board then I think they could have a chance at survival in an already tough market, if they don’t then I fear they won’t be around for much longer.
The hardest part of this room was quite possibly the searching. Just when I thought we had looked at everything, we would discover a prop that hadn’t been used before and discover yet another piece of a puzzle or a key
We were on for a record time, then we encountered a puzzle we couldn’t solve, but apparently kids can!
A fun room that is perhaps past its prime and they need to do some maintenance to get it running as it should.
This was a really enjoyable room, a little bit rough around the edges in places but had a good mixture of finding things and solving things.
If you like more traditional rooms, or want an introduction to escape rooms then this is a good room to go for. We didn’t rate their other room in Yeovil but this one was the standout winner of the day.
This room is probably a love/hate type of room and I’m sure some people will love in. In fact looking at TripAdvisor you can see that many people do, but for us it is one that we’d advise our friends to avoid.
I saw that Phobos-17 was closing down at the end of the year and as it had such positive reviews we just had to fit it in before it went, so we did.
A slick operation with a solid room and good story to follow. Not cheap, but worth it.
This 45 minute room shouldn’t be a hard, but for us it was. If you’re looking for a slightly different Christmas room then this one is a lot of fun.
This was a really enjoyable room, but no real wow factors for me. It isn’t particularly scary, just a bit dark
With a background in Thorpe Park Fright Nights you’d expect this to be a scary room, it isn’t. It’s creepy but I wouldn’t class this as a scare room (or it wasn’t when we did it)
What this room lacks in space it makes up for in fun. As soon as you’re in you’re working on puzzles, then you’re on the tube with more puzzles, then you’re off the tube with more puzzles, and just when you think you are done and home free, there’s another puzzles!
A fun room, and one that may be a little easy for enthusiasts, a good challenge for beginners, but a great room to do regardless.
A mediocre room let down even more by a terrible GM.
Our first experience with Omescape and turning up at this dodgy looking building just north of King’s Cross did nothing to put our nerves at ease, entering the waiting room did even less for that!
Credit to Adventure Rooms Cardiff for trying to introduce different technology in the room, it is a great room and definitely one to do if you’re in Cardiff.
If this beta test was anything to go by then this is going to be a hard room but good room. Very different to the other rooms we did in Cardiff
A decent but linear room that was challenging in all the right places, unfortunately let down by a terrible clue system
Not a bad room and there are definitely better in Cardiff, but if you need a room to do then this is a decent contender
A well designed room with puzzles arguably on the easier side. Probably good for beginners or anyone you want to get addicted to escape rooms
A hard room for inexperienced teams who aren’t confident on their communication, and annoying for experienced teams who like good rooms
A solid room but make sure you are comfortable working as a split team and are happy with your communication skills
As mentioned, the room was visually appealing, but some of the immersion was lost when the technology failed.
Despite being billed as one of the company’s more challenging rooms, we breezed through this room as a team of four, obliterating the current record and topping the leaderboard.
Despite the sheer volume of puzzles, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this game to newbies, provided they have a larger team. For enthusiasts, it’s a solid room and a good choice if you like a plethora of puzzles.
This room is light on backstory, but you definitely leave the outside world and become absorbed in your puzzle solving. At times a challenging room, but always fun
There isn’t much to this room and it’s very much what-you-see-is-what-you-get but we found there was enough in there to keep us occupied
A strong room with impressive set design and puzzles we’ve not seen anywhere else.
I was expecting something that was more of an escape room combined with a history lesson. This was not that, but it was still good fun, although we did definitely start to feel the pressure towards the end!
The area this room stood out on was not the puzzles, but the set design. They did a good job of avoiding the readily done ‘split-start’ system and have made a truly enjoyable game.
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