Barcelona, Jan 2025
Bajo Zero was a game that I thought illustrated just how far standards have risen in escape rooms over the last decade. It’s not far off ten years old, and when it opened it must have been quite a standout. In 2025 it’s still a fun game with lots to enjoy, but doesn’t have the same impact or wow factor that it must once have conveyed.
The premise is that you’re going on a high-tech fully automated helicopter ride to the Himalayas, during which surely nothing will go wrong. Ironically, the helicopter section that might once have been the memorable highlight of the game for many players was I thought the weaker part of it. It’s a cool sequence, but as with many situations where a game wants you to operate complex machinery, it’s a bit too procedural, too much based on following the instructions given to you.
The larger part of the game is more traditional in style, while still being thematic – some puzzles were just there to open locks, but others fit into the goal of rescuing ourselves in more or less realistic ways. We blasted through a lot of the puzzles at speed and it’s mostly the more themed and physical ones that I found memorable; what I enjoyed most about the room was the solid puzzle design and the set design, which did a great job of evoking a snow-bound shelter.
One door opened before it should have, and there were some signs of wear and tear, but for us it was mostly still in good condition and worked as intended.
Bajo Zero was a room we included on our Barcelona schedule because it was in the right place, and had a slot at the right time, to fill a gap. On that basis it was thoroughly worth playing; there are lots of locations where it would be the top game in the area. That’s not the case in Barcelona of course, and with limited time there are plenty of games I’d point you to ahead of this one; but it’s entirely worth catching if it’s convenient to do so. 
