clueQuest: Plan 52 (London)

The clueQuest OG

It is up to you and your team to investigate this risky matter and learn the identity of the double agent. But be careful, Mr Q has confirmed that the traitor has managed to reset the security device of the facility! From the moment you set foot inside PLAN52 you will have just 60 Minutes to learn who the double agent was and deactivate the device before the entire facility detonates.

One of the most frequently asked questions in the various Facebook groups dedicated to UK Escape Room Enthusiasts is: “What are the best games in London for a team of two?”, followed swiftly just by “What are the best games in London?” Whenever one of those questions is asked, it’s almost inevitable that either the first or second reply will involve one or more of the games at clueQuest, and with good reason.

The location is reasonably central, and quite convenient, with the venue located just a ten minute walk from King’s Cross. But the reason clueQuest get so many recommendations, is that (in my opinion) they have a good selection of solid, engaging, and varied games that all have an underlying sense of both adventure and whimsy. The games are the perfect balance for groups of all ages and abilities to play. Not only that, but the venue have multiple copies of every game, making it an ideal choice for larger groups as they can split up, but still play the same game (ideal for birthday parties and of course, corporate team building events.) Not only that, but one copy of every game is available in an accessible location of the building, so no need to worry if one or more of your party are less mobile than others.

Ever since we played Operation Black Sheep, and later cQOrigenes, we have been meaning to return to the home of Mr Q to complete the set, but the timings were never right. However, one day we found ourselves in London with an afternoon free, and it seemed there was no excuse not to pay a visit to the mouse, and his arch nemesis. We began our visit with Revenge of the Sheep, and then, after a fantastic dinner at German Gymnasium, we returned to clueQuest to finally play their very first game.

After another warm welcome to clueQuest, we retreated to one of the many sofas to wait for our host, Greta.  Since we had already played one game at clueQuest that day, we received a slightly shortened health and safety briefing once she arrived,  just in case we forgot anything while we were out having dinner. But with the formalities out of the way, it was time to make our way to the safe house to learn the real reason we were there. (Which was to save the world, of course.)

IMMERSION/ROOM DESIGN

Inside we found sparsely decorated set, but it still kept with the design we’ve come to expect from clueQuest, for although there wasn’t much furniture or set dressing, the room was still decorated with a riot of colour and some funky artwork. We quickly set about exploring our surroundings, and found ourselves on parallel puzzle paths, with the inevitable choke points.

Despite its age, we found a story unfolding within Plan 52 as we progressed through the game. The ambient music helped to drown out the outside world, and gave the game an atmosphere. The pacing of the game was just right, and it seemed to build and intensify, as it reached a climax and finally, a satisfying conclusion.

PUZZLES

When I think of clueQuest games, I think of solid puzzles, whether these are in their physical games or their Print and Play style tabletop games, and Plan 52 lived up to that expectation. The puzzles were varied, logical, and just tricky enough to keep us thinking, while still being well sign-posted… once you know what you’re looking for. Being an older game, there were a few padlocks, but there were also plenty of more interesting locking mechanisms, as clueQuest like to put a technological twist on their games.

I don’t want to give too much away, but I will just say that the puzzles we encountered were a joy to solve, thanks in part to their very logical execution. Teamwork and communication are a necessity in this game, as is a keen eye for observation, and the ability to conduct a thorough search (normally the one thing we’re terrible at.) But the ability to think both logically and laterally will be a team’s biggest asset here.

GM/CLUE SYSTEM

In reception Greta handed over and helped us test our Walkie-Talkie very snazzy “Q-Municator” to ensure that if we ever ran into any trouble on our mission, help would be at hand. On the off chance we were struggling with the Q-Municator, however, help could also be displayed on screen.

Greta was an excellent host, and clearly attentive. Shortly into our game, she discovered that we were struggling with something that should really have been quite simple, and checked if we had found a necessary thing in one particular part of the room. When we informed her that we hadn’t, she realised that there must have been a reset error, and quickly managed to rectify the situation with minimal disruption to the game. We were very grateful for the timely intervention, as it helped to avoid any frustration, and it does go to show what a difference great hosting can make.

ANYTHING ELSE

Plan 52 is clueQuest’s first game, and while it is no longer anything ground-breaking,  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.

Success / Failure

Final Rating:

Team: 2 players (escaped in 43:28)

Address: 169-171 Caledonian Rd, London N1 0SL

Website: https://cluequest.co.uk