Down the Hatch: Molly’s Game (Voorburg)

A beautiful, beautiful set

YOU MAY ENTER ANY GIVEN MOMENT…
BUT YOU CANNOT LEAVE UNTIL YOU FINISHED HER GAME !!

It is November 19, 1971 when doctor Dan Kowalski opens the door of his practice. It’s silent… his footsteps creak on the wooden floor as he walks to his desk. Just before he wants to sit down he hears a voice…

Not knowing what is happening to him, Dan becomes involved in an exciting and compelling game that demands the utmost from him.

In 2021, Down the Hatch and Molly’s Game appeared in the #3 slot on the TERPECA list, seemingly out of nowhere. (Although it probably wasn’t much of a surprise for players from The Netherlands.) Then in 2022, it was a battle between Molly’s Game and Lockhill’s Chapel & Catacombs for the top spot. That year, Molly’s Game just narrowly missed out and claimed #2. Then in 2023, Molly’s Game was triumphant, claiming the #1 spot on the list of best games in the world – at least according to enthusiasts, anyway.

That’s a lot of words to say that when we decided we were going to take a trip to The Netherlands, Molly’s Game was one game that we knew we weren’t going to miss. During the planning stages of our trip, we decided that while it was technically possible to get to Down the Hatch from our base in Amsterdam using the incredibly well connected public transport network, it would make our lives infinitely easier to also fit in other games if we were to drive. Thus, Molly’s Game became the first stop on the second day of our mini road trip. It did mean a very early morning, with a stop at a lovely little bakery on the walk to our car, but we arrived at Down The Hatch bright and early, ready to see just exactly what all of the fuss was about.

Now, I almost never know anything about the games we play before we arrive, but the font used for all the promotional materials I had seen led me to believe that it would be something entirely different to what it was. Prior to our arrival at Down the Hatch, I had been under the impression that the game would be related to a certain supernatural Netflix show that focuses on a group of teenagers and alternate dimensions. In actuality, it has no relation to it that I can discern, other than the decidedly ominous atmosphere (and a few key moments that feel more like an homage). Nor is this Molly’s Game in any way related to the film of the same name or the true story that inspired it. Instead it is its own, unique story. And there is certainly a lot of story to take in.

When we entered Down the Hatch, the shift from the beautiful sunny day to the darkened, but almost cosy reception area was slightly jarring. The porch leading to Dr. Dan’s practice was visible in the corner, but we settled ourselves around the tables in the reception area to have a bit of a chat with our host, and owner of Down the Hatch, Loran. We were made to feel very welcome, and could have chatted all day, but eventually, it was time to get on with the main attraction. With a shift in the lights, suddenly, the game was about to begin, Loran and reception faded into the background, a door opened and we were invited inside to play Molly’s Game.

IMMERSION/ROOM DESIGN

Immersion is a word that gets thrown around in an almost lackadaisical fashion when discussing escape rooms, but it’s rare to find a game that is truly immersive, at least, without an actor stalking you through the space with an axe. Molly’s Game is one game that breaks the trend and is actually immersive, and without the use of actors. From the moment the lighting changed and we approached the door to the doctor’s practice, I felt as though we had stepped through to an alternate reality.

The attention to detail in the set is nothing short of incredible, and I felt as though I had actually stepped inside a house, with multiple levels, and spaces to explore. The narrative is ever present, and intricately entwined with everything, from the decor to the puzzles, and even the clue system. Every little thing in Molly’s Game was present for a reason. There wasn’t a single puzzle that wasn’t tied to the narrative of the game, even if that tie didn’t become apparent until later in the game, and there weren’t any extraneous things that distracted you from the game you were there to play.

The sets, the sounds, and even the smells of Molly’s Game combined to create an incredible atmosphere, as we followed the path laid out for Dr. Dan. But it wasn’t just the physical set design that was impressive. Lighting and sound design were integral to the feel, helping to subtly guide us towards important things, or set the tone for how we should be feeling. And, if you’re paying attention, you are likely to feel something, as Molly’s Game sets out to evoke an emotional response from the moment you step onto the porch, straight through until you make your final escape.

PUZZLES

That said, the challenges we faced in Molly’s Game tested all of our senses and used all of our skills, but observation, and absorption of the story were key throughout. As with most narrative driven games, Molly’s Game was quite linear, allowing the complex narrative to unfurl with each task we completed. Although the puzzles made sense, both logically and within the context of the story, sometimes they felt a little drawn out and convoluted, with some feeling as though they went on forever. That didn’t stop the game from having some truly show stopping moments, and amazing reveals that made the team say “That was cool!” more than once, but it did set a much slower pace for Molly’s Game than we anticipated.

Often, once the door shuts behind us in an escape room, your reality becomes a blur of puzzles, with a frenetic pace as you race against the clock, solving the challenges you encounter as quickly as possible. If you play Molly’s Game in this fashion, you’re very likely to miss something. That’s not to say there’s a “right” way and a “wrong” way to play, but the game has been designed with the idea that it is something to be savoured, rather than devoured, and while you’ll finish the game if you just solve, solve, solve, you may find yourself somewhat disappointed when you reach the finale, and re-enter reality for your debrief.

GM/CLUE SYSTEM

(Almost) Every venue we visited in The Netherlands had one thing in common, and this was their approach to hosting. I have never experienced customer service in an escape room like we did in The Netherlands. Down the Hatch was no exception to this, and perhaps even took it a step further. You are not a customer when you play a game at Down the Hatch, you are a guest, and this is evident from the warm welcome we received from Loran (the owner, as well as our host) when we walked through the door, to the incredibly thorough debrief over a coffee that we received once we had completed Molly’s Game.

Clues felt intertwined with the narrative, coming from a disembodied female voice who delivered nudges where needed, and exposition where appropriate. As we progressed through the game, the identity of our voice was revealed, tying everything together in a very neat little package.

ANYTHING ELSE

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. But it also seems to be a bit of a love/hate thing, and I can certainly see how players that are purely focussed on puzzles may find the game to be somewhat lacking. Either way, it’s a game worth playing, and a game worth savouring.

Success / Failure

Final Rating:

Team: 4 players

Address: Populierendreef 966, 2272 HW Voorburg, Netherlands

Website: https://www.down-the-hatch.nl/