DarkPark Zoetermeer

This is without a doubt a brilliantly odd game. I was keen to play from seeing how little most reviews of this game gave away, and given the previously high Terpeca rankings, despite being a general "scary room coward". Unsurprisingly, "The End" starts with a funeral parlour and a coffin and then... it goes in a direction that I would be amazed if anyone can predict. At times scary, at times funny, at times thrilling, and the whole experience tied together by a live actor who is a crucial part of the story. Fantastically weird and I loved it. 

As a non-horror lover, I did not end up finding this game that scary (less so than Honeymoon Hotel at the same venue in fact) and if the horror tag puts you off, it is worth persevering with the initial scary moments as the game is in fact very manageable and the pay off is worth it. 

DarkPark's oldest offering at this venue - it has a suitably "classic" escape room feel with quite a few puzzles and rooms to work through. Although there is no live actor, they do ramp up the tension and consequently I did find there was a couple of moments where I was indeed scared. Managed to solve one puzzle entirely by accident (and from speaking to the host afterwards it is a puzzle that people struggle with, so perhaps not a bad thing). I was certainly keen to work to escape within the time limit by the end! Given it is a few years old, it has stood the test of time well. 

If you’ve ever fancied being inside an episode of Black Mirror, this is the game for you. Interestingly unnerving, dark and weirdly touching. 

The most impressive story I’ve seen in an escape room so far. Loved getting to understand what was happening and how that developed in an exciting way. The puzzles were very creative (if a little long in places) and were woven into the narrative beautifully. Our host for this game was very very good at giving subtle hints as needed. 

I’m so glad that there wasn’t an actor in some of these spaces; even without they felt really creepy and unsettling let alone if someone was there with you. The set for this game is brilliant, the moment of realisation of what’s happened is grim and clever. The puzzles are hugely varied and in-keeping with the theme plus had some great aha moments / reveals to go with the solves. 

A really impressive set on the smaller end of the games we played in the Netherlands (which means still very big)- loved the immersive intro. One puzzle in particular was scary but really clever and fun at the same time. Lots of creative use of the items you’d expect to find in an orphanage and a clear ending that tied off the story well. 

Such an interesting game and is somewhat strange by design. Puzzles were good if not some a little tedious. The feel and story telling however carries the game along and the sense of tension. There are some very cool set pieces and interactions. Still worth playing even if an older game. One person in our group voted this their favourite!