Amsterdam, Apr 2024
My first impression of Escape World was of a rather chaotic venue, but I think that was the fault of the hen group who were on their way out. Once they’d gone and the staff emerged from hiding, it was a lot calmer.
The Golden Ticket takes inspiration from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; you must first find the eponymous ticket in the sweet shop where it’s hidden, then pass the tests of the chocolate factory.
This is a cute and brightly coloured game, all the more so as it progresses. There’s a distinct change of style partway through, with the earlier section feeling more ‘classic’ escape room in style, and the latter being a bit more physical: fewer codes, more buttons and interactivity.
I thought the puzzles were well designed but could use clearer feedback in several places. Specifically, there was more than one moment where we did something and were unsure whether we’d successfully completed the puzzle or not. In most cases I think there was in fact some kind of confirmation feedback, but not blatant enough for my observationally-challenged escape room skills.
I also suspect something near the end was a left-over ghost puzzle, in that what appeared to be a clear set of clues was never used.
Regardless – it was still a cheerful and fun room, prettily decorated with some sweet (pun intended) ideas. As an escape challenge it’s lightweight, and not one to prioritise if you’re a visiting enthusiast, but a reasonable choice if you’re trying to find a quick additional hour of escaping somewhere around the city centre. 
