Martin W Payne

Some difficulty logging on to the game - Microsoft Edge didn’t seem to work but Chrome did, there could have been firewall issues too. But frustrating start - taking 20 mins for two teams to both get logged in. 

Once in, good game, very puzzle driven, requiring two teams and good communication between both teams. Played extremely well, with extra time being given when we were struggling with the final puzzle with a final discussion over which of two options we were going for. 

Great value for money and a pleasant afternoon spent “escaping”

A really good fun escape room - and a good representation online of a real life room. Good mix of puzzles and kept four of us amused through out.  Needed to switch into four separate laptops to allow us all to concentrate but worked really well when we did.

A nice video led introduction to this virtual escape room. It’s a point and click style search which was okay. The first puzzle did need relatively careful clicking though which didn’t seem to be required throughout (just one particular aspect). 

There are four rooms with puzzles in each. Seemed strange not be able to go back to the first room from the second, but very useful moving from third to second. 

The third room puzzle solved required another interaction which for 3 of our 4 (all separate laptops) players was fine but 1 took over five minutes to complete (that’s downgraded the score a bit as it just got boring). 

A nice three stage puzzle to end and another good bit of video.

Timings for finishing ranged from 58 mins to 1hr 2 mins simply because the cookies must be stored on each computer and not per the whole team. We were surprised at the sudden end but we’ve been playing online rooms relatively slowly. Would have preferred a bit more but it’s good enough.

Good value for money though, and a nice intro game for anyone who has yet to get into online escapes.

The third of Joel's boxes that we have played (and now need to wait for him to build another!) Our team was 2 households.

Have to say this was a bit hard for us to really get into - after about 25 minutes we felt like we hadn't really got anywhere but then we woke up, smelt the coffee, and completed the room in time. Think there was one prod in the right direction by Joel but expertly done by him.

There was one puzzle that we probably would have solved quicker had it been physically accessible by us but generally his boxed work well online and this was no different to the others we've played, just smaller.

I played this whilst the online game is in Testing and whilst providing feedback. I anticipate it will be possible to complete in half my testing time generally.

Set in a very close confinement room, this is a real room that has been translated to an online experience. As such there are a few things that don't quite work in some of the puzzles within - but sometimes you do need that physical touch and activity, and the team behind this game have tried hard to give some of that experience.

A nice mix of visual puzzles and a good sequence of events to follow.  An enjoyable game.

I played this game in during testing and was providing feedback - I reckon it is possible to complete in half the time I took! Some puzzles may have changed as a result of my feedback.

The game hinges around a murder in the Moulin Rouge area of Paris - so remember that for some of the terms in the game (which is English based). The theme works well in the game and does encourage a sense of 'time ticking' towards the end which is good for an online game.

Well worth trying out!

A really good theme and storyline in this one and some interesting puzzles make this a good all round virtual escape room.

There is an attempt at time pressure with the impending countdown of your character's retirement at the end of the day but this doesn't add too much pressure!  There is no encouragement or incentive to finish in any particular time and the advised game time is 90-120 minutes.

The puzzles include the need to use google search and maps, and the answers are all required in lowercase and no spaces in a freeform text box so that makes it easy to complete. 

There was one puzzle that stumped us but the clue sheet provided assisted. There was one puzzle that one household (we were playing two households on Zoom and not sharing screens) could not hear but the clue sheet was there for that - except the same team couldn't see the clue..... luckily the other household could! There was also a puzzle with, for me, an unexpected answer.

Overall a good mix of complex and easy puzzles and a nice story line. 

A good beginner’s game with 8 puzzles.  Looks good with cartoon character intro for each puzzle, and a nice looking presentation on screen with movable items where needed for the puzzle. 

Played on a single computer so didn’t test the multiple household / screen capability the site offers. 

A good introduction “room”.

Out in 53 mins but we weren’t rushing really.  Really liked the personalisation in the game and the interactivity. Some good puzzles and work has gone into making the puzzles work well and look good. Artwork on the walls was described as “Van Gogh” (at least it wasn’t all Picasso!). Liked the Christmas jumper too....

Another really good chapter in this continuing online puzzle complex. A good mix of puzzles to work on which are either getting easier or we are getting better! No hints needed this time....

Downsides are still the need to click multiple times on each character entry in the character dial locks (good to start but not every time).

Its a really nicely pulled together online package, worthy of the cost, and we are still looking forward to the next chapter.

Our first online avatar room and played as two couples in two separate locations on Zoom.

All worked well technically with a good starting overview around the room by the online avatar. Puzzles were padlock solving style but well presented and in an atmospheric room in the Conservatory of the game owner (other games are available in other rooms of the Game Owner's house). a nice mix of challenge - over thinking very much a possibility! - but all very solvable and well thought through. 

Perhaps at time the avatar prompted us towards the right solution by inadvertent movements, and perhaps at other times was too reluctant to assist, but overall it was a good mix. And allowed us to observe what was intended to be seen as thought we were in a real room.

So, as a first experience of an online avatar led room, the four in the team thoroughly enjoyed it, kept involved, and worked together to resolve the room. And we have immediately booked again for another room closer to Christmas.

Well done, Joel!

Another really good chapter in this continuing online puzzle complex. A good mix of puzzles to work on which are either getting easier or we are getting better! No hints needed this time....

Downsides are the need to click multiple times on each character entry in the character dial locks (good to start but not every time).

Its a really nicely pulled together online package, worthy of the cost, and we are still looking forward to the next chapter.

Looked at first question and researched what I believe to be the answer which appeared not to be accepted and did not give me any confirmation that it had not been accepted other than a blank page and a repeat of the password request.

Did not finish as the answer to one of the final puzzles was not accepted.  An earlier one required a capital letter rather then being case insensitive, and an initial question had to be answered correctly and remembered as it led to a page that was required to be searched against later (get the first one wrong and you are led to spend a lot of time looking for something that doesn't exist.

on entry, you are presented with a remote desktop and a Movember Puzzle Pack.  What to do? well, look at the puzzles, maybe play some music, chill, and reach out to a mo-bro or mo-sister who may have the time to join you on your quest to reunite 'T' with his "special" razor in time for Movember to begin (although, dates are meaningless really - but the game keeps track of your elapsed time, and the number of hints you ask for, and a few other things, whilst you try to help 'T' out in the Wexell Corporation.

A mix of video, Facebook messenger, external websites, and the remote desktop style means that this is a wide-ranging puzzle, designed to test your ability to crack codes, spot patterns, and have fun wondering what options to give Joey, T's long suffering partner! 

Deadlocked have upped the humour and made the concept slightly easier from Cyphstress and Insiders - but then 1/3 of the purchase price is going to Movember (charity) and its still good value for money at GBP15 for 90 minutes (approx)!

The team of three played in two households. For the sake of openness, I am submitting the review having been an observer of the team, as I had the opportunity to test the game pre-launch (as a solo player completing in about 105 mins)

Could not play this one.  It's listed as free, but the website advises there is a charge - but, more importantly, the following message is displayed on the website:
*Please note that you must be within 150 miles of our location to be able to play our online games.*
We worked with a writer to get these online games out quickly within our community while we were shut down due to COVID-19.
However, he has a territory restriction on the content of the games and therefore we can only allowed those within that territory to play.
Thank you for your understanding. Stay healthy and stay safe during this challenging time!

Didn't need to enter a code on the first one.  Use of Google Maps is required but doesn't tell you that (spoiler, I know!). Some nice puzzles

just four puzzles, all easy to resolve but needs ot be played on a computer ideally

Not too challenging, a nice coffeE break distraction!

Nice little point and shoot style game.  Always an issue with needing to work out what you need to do and there is no hint function. A distraction game, really, unless you happen to want a discount at their (real life) bar!

A delight to meet Dr Rs Hole (and his personal assistant, Jenna Taylor) and assist in Operation PRAT. A hard opening puzzle but worked through that and then the puzzles became either easier or more standard. Nicely worked, and a good ending. A good price for what you get. 

An absolutely brilliant game (the Captain's voice on the opening sequence is unmissable - oh, wait, err, I may need to declare an interest on that.... so set that aside....) that takes Deadlocked's previous online game, the insiders, fixes certain issues that made Insiders harder than it need to be, improves the user communication bot, put the puzzles into other social media sites and force you to use an internet search engine to develop your ability to read Greek (which is, after all, all Greek to me) and give you a two part game that can be completed in three to four hours for a stupidly low amount of money (GBP 10)... unless you pay for the upgrade that gives you beer too! Can't wait for their next one to come out ....

A really good fun online escape! Coming from a sitcom podcast (which I hadn't heard of before playing this game), the comedy comes across well and the puzzles aren't too bad either. A good mix of puzzles and a fun ending too.  Play the game, then listen to the podcast - and fingers crossed Apocalypse Period One allows them to develop a second game, or get ready to record their second series.   

Harder than the Egyptian Escape and Pirates Problem with 2 more puzzles as well, but more akin to an escape room.  Odd to ask you too look at a Chinese Takeaway in the Midlands - advertising there? - and another puzzle asked for a name, suggesting it was a location but actually is just a name. A bit of spell checking might be required too ("YOUR"...)

Good but not as educational as the Egyption Escape from the same company. All easy enough puzzles though so fun to play

Quite simple - the only frustration being unable to 'go back' to recheck an answer. Encourages the use of google and can therefore be informative / educational