HOUNDS – Immersive Experiences: The Acid Bath Murderer Live Experience

Lets get this out of the way now, this is not an escape room.  If you go in expecting the same experience that you got with any of their previous games then you will be disappointed.  To be fair to Hounds, they do list it separately from their other games.  This is more of a walkthrough experience with some puzzles bolted on.

This experience walks you through key periods of the famous murderers life and you accompanied at times with a tour guide (I don't know how else to refer to them).  The theming of the areas is excellent and the puzzles are all in keeping with the theme.  The Live Actor was similarly excellent and she handled my improv well.

The end is almost a dramatic presentation of the stories end.

The theatricality was exceptional, but the puzzles felt (certainly in one area) like an afterthought in a couple of cases.

This game almost feels out of place in Crawley, this should be in the West End of London, it's almost the London Dungeon but taken up a level.  Hounds have created something exceptional here, it won't be for everyone (I'm not sure it's really for me) but I enjoyed the chance to experience it.

If this was "Escape the Experience" then it would get a solid 10 but its not so I have awarded the score I think appropriate.  Elements are exceptional but it's not what you might be expecting.

I think I need to explain this ranking with some words.

5/5 for execution of what they went to deliver.
5/5 for hosting, as always with Hounds.
4.5/5 for set.

I think it is clear from all the advertising that this is not an escape room, so why 3/5?
It has some okay puzzles, but you puzzle for a few minutes and then stand around to hear the story, or interact with the actor (which can be amusing, again 5/5 for the GM). It didn't feel like the flow worked. The conclusion was different, but I left feeling "was that it?" and that this type of experience is not for me.

I want my final words to be positive again - knowing you are going into part-immersive-theater, part-history-lesson, with a few of puzzles - if you WANT this, you will really enjoy it. If you are expecting the next step up again in Hounds' puzzle experiences - well this is not it - it's clear it is not it - so more fool you. This rating is based on it's escape-room-y-ness.

Hounds have really created something special with this experience. It's not a traditional escape room and will require you to move along at a slower pace in order to soak in the rich atmosphere and narrative. However the puzzles are as strong as you'd expect coming from Hounds and the theming/immersion is second to none. They have once again outdone themselves and have created something that is literally perfection. It's got a really nice, creepy atmosphere with some cracking dark humour. However, it's not too scary (though there are certainly plenty of jump scares throughout - just nothing too bad). Overall, it's a phenomenal experience that is well and truly one of the most spectacular rooms i've ever done. New #1 for sure!