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!
East
EO Escape Rooms: Scary Tale (Sudbury)
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.
EO Escape Rooms: Karma Club (Sudbury)
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!
EO Escape Rooms: Castaway (Sudbury)
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!
Cluetopia: Chaos at Calamity Mine (Clacton-on-Sea)
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.
Doomsday Escape Rooms: Critical Mass (Colchester)
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.
The Panic Room: The Tomb (Harlow)
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
The Panic Room: The Panic Room (Harlow)
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
The Panic Room: Strikeforce (Harlow)
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
The Panic Room: CSI – The Mafia Murders (Harlow)
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’
The Panic Room: Carnevil (Harlow)
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.
Cluetopia: The Damned (Clacton-on-Sea)
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.
Cluetopia: A Race Against Time (Clacton-on-Sea)
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.
Cluetopia: Magic and Mystery (Clacton-on-Sea)
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
Doomsday Games: Pathogen (Colchester)
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