A whole lotta fun, with prizes to be won (kinda)
You’re the contestants on the last ever episode of the smash hit 90s TV game-show, Trapped For Cash… the only show where solving puzzles can earn you big money!
In this unique twist on the traditional escape room format, can you escape the final round to walk away with the cash? Featuring everyone’s favourite AI game-show host, Rich Goldman!
We’d been wanting to play Trapped for Cash for a long time, a really long time! It never worked out as Liz could never manage to join me when I was in Brighton for a conference, plus it is listed as a minimum three player game. Fortunately, the escape room gods were looking down on us this time, as Liz was able to join me in Brighton, plus Mindworks were very accommodating and allowed us to play as a team of two.
Worthing often gets overlooked for the perhaps more appealing, Brighton, but it’s a very quick train ride to get between the two and we made sure that we finally fitted in time to play at Mindworks again (we’d previously played Smuggler’s Ruin, and Mission Berlin (Deutschland ’89 when we played it)).
Unlike Smuggler’s Secret, the entrance for Trapped for Cash is not in the shopping centre itself, but around the back on a side street. We missed it the first time we tried to find it, but a quick double back and we spotted the ‘Studio 26’ sign on the door – and we knew we were in the right place!
At our allocated time, the producer and also our GM, Olive, greeted us and welcomed us inside. We were escorted up the stairs and into the waiting area (the green room, perhaps?). This waiting area had 90s ephemera everywhere and plenty of items that helped set the scene that we were going to be on a real-life gameshow. If you grew up in the 90s in the UK, and watched prime-time TV, then there will be a lot here to bring back those memories.
After a lovely chat and briefing it was time for us to get out time in the lime-light. Olive escorted us into the studio, and before we knew it, our crazy and 100% wonderful time in Trapped for Cash began!
IMMERSION/ROOM DESIGN
I must admit, the thought of being on TV is something that makes me physically ill (not Liz, she loves being on TV), but if being on TV is even half as much fun as being on Trapped for Cash, then I’d do it in a heartbeat. As I’ve never actually been on TV (other than when I was very little and I believe telling a news crew how I liked Police Dogs), I can’t really comment on how authentic this was – but to be honest, even if it wasn’t authentic, I don’t care – I loved this game, and this set.
Trapped for Cash is one of those games where you don’t have to complete everything to win, and just when you think you know what you’re doing, there’s a huge curve ball and the game takes a massive turn. Glorious
Oddly there was so much going on in this game that I can’t actually remember if there were ambient noises, music, or total silence when we were playing. I’m going to assume there were some form of noises, and I’m sure I remember having a boogie to some classic tunes at one point – or maybe I was being delusional.
This game could easily have been overwhelming due to all the puzzles that needed to be completed, but it was designed in a way to be drip fed. This helped to keep the game ticking along nicely while always knowing where to go next and what you were working on. As a team of two, this was perfect. If you are in a larger team, then you’ll have to work together a little more than we did.
PUZZLES
There is no doubt about it. This game has puzzles for everyone. If there is a puzzle type you love, or perhaps hate, there is a good chance that it will be in this game. The best thing is that all of the puzzles felt like they were in some way inspired by those cheesy game shows that we all grew up watching – a huge nostalgia hit!
I could just list some game shows and you’ll probably get an idea of the types of puzzles you may find; blockbusters, bullseye, the generation game, the crystal maze, and plenty of other wonderful easter eggs. Unfortunately for Liz, being a child of America, many of the references went well over her head (she still enjoyed the puzzles though).
When I finally sat down to write this review I was looking at my notes. Sadly they weren’t very helpful for this section as all I wrote was ‘so many puzzles, literally everything’. Helpful. I should point out that some of the puzzles did involve colours, so if anyone is colour blind, they could struggle in certain areas. But other than that; searching, observation, logic, dexterity, touch, maths, skill, and wordplay were all present.
Of the puzzles we encountered, I would say there was only one that I didn’t enjoy as there wasn’t really much skill or puzzle about it, it was just a large time-sink. The order in which the puzzles are revealed are apparently random, and we just happened to get this one first so it gave us quite a slow start to the game. Still fun, yes. But just a bit slow and frustrating.
When puzzles were solved, and some were multi-step puzzles, they mostly resulted in codes for padlocks, but don’t be mistaken, this game has A LOT of really cool tech in it.
GM/CLUE SYSTEM
Have I said how great Olive was? No? Ok, Olive was a delight! The world needs more Olives, especially the escape room world. A good gamesmaster can make or break a game, and Olive took our experience to the next level. I don’t really recall needing any help in Trapped for Cash, but I have no doubt that Olive would have been on the ball if we did, as she was able to give a very thorough debrief after the game.
If we had needed help it wouldn’t have just come from Olive. Instead any help would have come from the AI/Host on a screen in the room. I gather this host could also mock us if they felt so inclined! The clues would have been spoken out loud, but clues cost money from your final prize fund. So if you’re saving for a speedboat, make sure you use the help wisely!.
ANYTHING ELSE
With venues like Bewilder Box and Pier Pressure in Brighton attracting all the attention, little old Worthing and Mindworks often get overlooked. But no more! With Trapped for Cash, Mindworks have firmly put themselves on the escape room enthusiasts’ map, and all enthusiasts should get booked in!
Trapped for Cash is one of those games that makes you fall in love with escape rooms all over again. This game is chocked full of pure joy and delight, and no trip to Brighton or Worthing will be complete without coming on down to Trapped for Cash.
Success / Failure
Final Rating:
| Operation | |
| Puzzles | |
| Room Design | |
| GM/Clues | |
| Excitement |
Team: 2 players – 50 mins and £173,877 won!
Address: 26, Guildbourne Centre, Worthing BN11 1LZ
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