Deadlocked Escape Rooms Reading: The Reading Witch

In my 2024 analysis of the Escape Room industry (www.linktr.ee/roguecolonel) I thought we would start to see a shift in game design to echo what was being done in broader Europe.  I didn't expect to see it this quickly.  This game have been in development for a long time, when I visited 18 months ago to play Time Machine, James was telling me then of his plans for this room and it sounded intriguing then.

I don't know if the historical basis is true but it feels like it combines elements of "The Woman in Black" with other classical ghost stories.  You are taking part in a TV show investigating the fore mentioned Witch and from the off things don't go as you might think.

There's an awful lot to like in this room, from the environment, to some fabulous touches of theatricality, some genuine jumps and so much more.  I hope that this is the start of the  paradigm shift the UK ER scene is looking for but if not then it is absolutely showing the way and I hope provides inspiration for others.

The game is creepy but not overly scary but has great signposting as even though it was a 120 minute game, I don't think we stood around at any point wondering what to do next.  James and Charlie have done a great job here and its well worth your time.

Superb room, with clever touches we’ve not seen before. Possibly the best we’ve done, and we’ve played all the TimeTrap ones in Reading.  Definitely the scariest room we’ve played too!

Amazing room - fully immersive from the get go (which is absolutely on brand for Deadlocked) which reminded me of some of the TERPECA rooms we have done in Barcelona.

This is a horror escape room BUT it has actual proper puzzles so you need to try and concentrate while feeling tense. The styling of the room is well done and the way you are introduced to the room means that the guidance from the GM does not break the immersion at all - it all makes sense. 

The story is great with top notch acting, a few moments of real terror on top of the continuous sense of dread. There is a lot to do and there is some crawling involved, but it is well padded and spacious (we are both over 6ft and had plenty of room) but make sure you are suitable dressed for this.

Not for the faint of heart but, as someone who doesn't like horror rooms (I know...) I am so glad I played it. Don't let the horror theming put you off if it's not normally your thing.

So much fun, I wish I could delete it from my memory and play it for the first time again.

(Play the Time Machine while you are there - it's a fun room with some clever ideas that I have not seen elsewhere)

My new favourite room! Brilliant theming and immersion! So much to do, the time flew by, and the ending was pure Deadlocked! A definite ‘must play’ room and worth every penny!