Emma Macedo

FANTASTIC! This has got to be in my top games I have played and what a brilliant game to play for my 90th ever game. 

They are sure correct when they say the experience starts as soon as you enter the building (luckily they still allow you to use facilities first) but yes you enter into the Village of Quietmere straight away. After a clever and different little briefing, the game began and the immersion was there from the get go. I'm not usually a fan of games with live actors or scary rooms and whilst this wasn't particularly scary, having the games master actually popping up and being part of the game was a first and I really loved it. The puzzles were a good mixture of padlocks, tactile puzzles and automated mechanisms and the whole time I felt fully immersed in the setting and story.  Without giving too much away, from very early on we experienced some really clever parts to this game that we havent come across before. The themeing and attention to detail was brilliant throughout and you can clearly tell a lot of time and consideration has gone into the design and build of this 90 minute game. We completed the objective with 4 minutes to spare as a team of three players and at the end had a great chat with our host about the game itself and how it has compared to other experiences, but like I said, this one is definitely up there as one of my top 10. Thank you and congratulations Escape Reading on an amazing game! 

During our weekend trip to Ipswich we booked to play Raiders of the Stormy Sea as well as Crash Landing. I love how both the games were very different in the sense that Crash Landing was a game with zero padlocks but they were both great fun. This meant that all puzzles solved here were on an automation system of something opening or something else being revealed. The Spaceship themeing was quite basic but also everything served its purpose and fitted well with the storyline. I found this game easier than Raiders as although there was still a fair bit to do, it was quite linear which was good for a small team (2 of us) as it meant we weren't stood around waiting for one person to solve something before we could move on. There were of course puzzles that could be solved independently and some that were quicker with 2 working on them. Despite there being no padlocks the puzzles were a good variety that required different skills eg, pattern recognition, word and language, deductive logic, basic math, tactile skills and keen observation (without giving anything away). There was a nice bit of adrenaline once more at the end of this game and we completed it with some minutes to spare too.

Brilliant hosting once again as a company, this time from Zophia our games master, and on completion of the game it was lovely chatting to her and the youngest son of the family business who told us more about some of Cluetopia's other ventures.

We have done a few pirate themed games but this one felt different. Lots of padlocks and some were quite time-consuming to solve due to the codes not necessarily being obvious which was the correct order. Great themeing though and we had a lot of fun playing this. Despite playing 70-90 games over the years, this was still a challenge for 2 people but I'm glad we took it on and I was impressed with our result. Even though we didn't collect as much as we could (tokens and treasure) we still completed the game with seconds to spare and I always love a mad adrenaline rush at the end! There was a lot of puzzles but a good mix of ones that we got pretty quick and ones that took a bit more head scratching! Great hosting from Natalia who was ready to help us with a hint when we got slightly stuck or off track and it was lovely to chat to her about other game experiences we have had too. 

First Pier Pressure game we have played since they took over Puzzalogical and we were not disappointed. Our games master, David,  was welcoming and friendly from the get go which always makes part of the experience. The game itself had a great storyline and a variety of puzzles to solve. A lot of time and attention to detail has gone into the room and we had great fun not only exploring and solving the mission but it was also nice to talk to our GM about some of the puzzles and how they work afterwards. As a team of 3 we completed Siege of Spellbreak Bank in a total time of 52:12 with no clues. I would definitely recommend this game to other escape enthusiasts aswell as families as we learned there were different difficult levels for this game with less complex puzzles for children.

A good storyline and theme with some clever puzzles. Nothing toochallenging in this one so we completed the game as a team of 2 experienced players with 0 clues.

A traditional style escape room with a variety of puzzles and riddles involved. We completed the game as a team of 2 in 48 minutes and it was my 84th escape game over the years.  Our games master was super friendly and not only gave us a warm welcome but also chatted to us for a while after about the making of the game and other games he/we had played. It was interesting to hear that this room was built on a smaller budget (as the company is a charity) but it was still, in my view, a successful game with some great themeing. We did not run into any broken tech or puzzles (unlike another newly built game we played recently) so its clear that time and effort has gone into making sure it runs smoothly, providing a positive experienxce for players. We were only given a couple of hints throughout the game which we asked for when we became stuck. There was no in-game screen with a timer or for clues so clues were done via walkie-talkie and we were given a stop watch for keeping time; a nice little touch there which linked with the story brief at the start of the game. We would definitely recommend this game and look forward to returning when the new room opens too.

Played Blown Away with a new group of friends and had a great time. Fantastic hosting from our friendly and enthusiastic games master, and a successful escape with just over 10 mins left on the clock. We worked our way through the variety of physical puzzles (no padlocks may I add), activated the 'extended version' of the game and deactivated the bomb whilst enjoying our time inside.

Potential for a good game given the plot line, however I thought the actual themeing of the room was very similar to other local games. I didnt feel that there were that many puzzles either in the room and unfortunately we were off to a disappointing start when one of the puzzles we had done correctly but it didn't register so the GM had to come in to give us the object that should have been released. For some of the puzzles/clues there wasn't a logical link so the GM was often giving pointers on the screen, even though we did not ask. This took away from the gameplay. In the 2nd room, it was absolutely freezing which made it hard to enjoy and after the GM said he would have had to come in to reset the heating. All in all, I did not find the game very immersive, and the ending waa very anti climatic in comparison to the other 80+ games I have done. This is a shame as there are 2 more follow on stories to play coming in the future at this venue. 

After completing all of the other Basingtoke games at Exciting Escapes and whilst still waiting for Disappearing Duchess part 3 we took on the Christmas game Operation Naughty or Nice. As with all of this brands games, there are lots of padlocks; a mix of numerical and normal key locks. Most of these are signposted (also like in previous games) with little pictures to give you a clue where to get the number or key from. We managed to solve all the puzzles with only a few nudges on certain things from our games master. It was an enjoyable game with a festive twist on theming but no massively outstanding puzzles. This was my 80th game so getting a 5 star rating there has to be something really impressive - whether thats in a puzzle or how immersive the game is. None the less, I'm glad we played it befire it transforms back into the game 'a hidden past' which was our first ever game we played at the venue.

Our first escape room abroad and it did not disappoint. There were no language barriers in completing the game or with communication with our games host who was super friendly and definitely helped make the experience very immersive.

The storyline was different to anything we'd played before and the variety of puzzles and themeing was spot on. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone wanting to try an escape game abroad and if we ever go back to Gran Canaria I would certainly consider playing the other game available to play. Without giving anything away it was a lot of fun!

A very different concept of an escape game where although the main objective is to escape, its also a points scoring game. There is so much to do in this room, so once you've completed the main objective, you can use up as much or as little time ranking points on the vast array of mini games. The use of technology in the room is very clever and they have a whopping 70+ puzzles to solve, some hidden in plain sight, some a little more challenging. As a team of 3 we scored 10431 points and to date the highest score was 11000 something. So we were pleased with that. We solved 27 puzzles in total which may not sound like too many but the GM said that was really good for a team of three people.

I liked that our GM also showed us some of the other puzzles after our game had ended and a but more about how the interactive touch screen system worked.

A fabulous game which I reckon you could definitely play more than once as you'd likely end up solving different puzzles to a previous visit with so many on offer.

After reading a bit online about how the Robin of Lockskey game was different to a lot of other escape games it was definitely one I wanted to try. We managed to secure a booking albeit later than originally planned earlier in the week for a Friday night. The staff gave a friendly welcome and ita clear the venue was popular as lots of other teams were waiting in the reception to play the other games (which escapologic has a lot to choose from). Without giving too much away, the room was immersive and included no padlocks that needed unlocking. The first was quite typical of other escape rooms in terms of first appearance to the eye. But one you get started you soon realise how much engineering has gone into this game and thats one of the things I enjoyed most about it. You do need to have decent mobility for this room as it is a multi-level room, (you will be fooled if you are thinking there's just a few stairs!) We completed the game in 45 minutes (one of our quicker times and I have done around 70ish rooms) and although the ending felt a little abupt, the construction and use of some of the puzzles/mechanisms personally made up for this. I would definitely come back and try some more of the games here if I was to travel up north again and would recommend others checking out the games at this venue.

I've wanted to play this for a while and had been recommended it by a few people...it did not disappoint! A truly magical and immersive game with some clever and unique puzzles, I had a lot of fun playing this one. The attentions to detail and the logic behind some of the puzzles show a lot of time has been out into the games build. There were a couple of instances where we solved things with a bit of fluke but also need a couple of hints in the correct direction for some of the puzzles. We also solved a bonus puzzle which added to the magical feel of this room. Without giving too much away, there are lots of interactive parts, special effects and some wow moments. I would definitely recommend playing this room. I've done a couple of wizard/magic themed rooms now and this is up there with one of my favourites (and bare in mind I've done around 70 rooms). Also, I liked that it wasn't just another remake of a Harry Potter kind of game. It was more magic, not wizard school. Thank you to Tabby, our games master, who was friendly and chatty before and after the game and got a great group shot of us on completion of the game. It always helps when you have an enthusiastic GM who is passionate about the game and their role. 

We played the newest edition at trapped in fiction and the one we've waited 2 years to play after the great time we had playing forbidden room of fun back in 2023. This time we stepped into the world of Peter Pan, found the pixie dust, and rescued all the lost boys... and with 15 minutes to spare. It was definitely worth the wait to play this immersive game. When booking you have the option to alter the difficulty level and in hindsight we should have gone with the more difficult level however that's easy to say once you've completed the room with time left over. The theming throughout was amazing and you can tell a lot of time has been put into the immersive decor and clever puzzles. There was lots to do and I love that there were few padlocks too. Some puzzles could be solved individually whilst others definitely needed collaborative teamwork. I'm excited to see what the future holds for Trapped in Fiction based on both the games we have now completed here.

I have done a few pirate themed rooms over the years so I wasn't sure how similar this one would be. There was a good story line behind the game and a variety of puzzles to be solved. It wasn't too challenging but was fun none-the-less. We also visited the board game cafe, which is attached to escape room, before our game. This was a fun extension of our visit.

I have now played all the games (minus the VR ones) at this venue. I enjoyed it but it's certainly not as good as their newer games (Alien Encounter and Pharoah's mystery.)

Unfortunately, our games host wasn't the most enthusiastic or chatty, which is a problem we have had at the venue previously. Although this didn't hinder our game performance it also didn't really add to the experience as a whole.

The game itself was fine; your standard prison type theme/story. It's a little unique in the beginning as the team is split into 2 separate cells. Communication is key to solving this area and getting out of the cells quickly so you can maximise your time working together to solve the rest of the puzzles and complete the game. There are a combination of puzzle types in this room, but nothing more hightech. Think your classics - keys, combinations and electromagnet releases. There were a couple of puzzles that weren't solved entirely through logic - one instance where I solved an anagram purely by guessing the word (not sure if this is how it's supposed to be done or not) as well as some occasions where trial and error work to get correct combinations. This may not be noticed by those who havent played many games but when youre quite experience its a little annoying not knowing why something is the way it is. I wouldn't say it was a bad game in any terms and I'm glad we played it. I believe it was a better game than the vault, however I would recommend Pharoah's Mystery and Alien Encounter if you wanted a more exciting or challenging game at this venue.

I was really looking forward to returning to Escape Plan to try their latest game Pushed for Time after playing 'The Adventure Begins' last summer and I was not disappointed. On arrival, we were greeted by Sarah, who was actually our games master last time and surprisingly she remembered us! This is very different to the other games on the premises that are all ww2 themed but I very much enjoyed it. The theming and attention to detail throughout was great and the use of the time travel machine is an exciting addition to the experience. In terms of puzzles there are a mix of padlocks, tech and tactile/mechanical puzzles, so this all provided variety as we worked through the game. The mechanical puzzles were something I praised in our last game so I was pleased to see these had been included once again. The storyline was a fun one to play as we had a couple of objectives to complete as well as simply 'escaping'.

I really appreciate the thought that goes into the gameplay here at Escape Plan and would recommend anyone paying a visit.

Another fantastic game by Puzzalogical!

Being a 75 minute room there was obviously quite a lot to do in this game, however we managed it as a pretty experienced team of 2. It was super immersive and depending on the choices you make throughout the game there are different endings/outcomes to the final narrative. I won't give too much away but a lot of fun was had and you can tell how much time and thought has gone into making this game standout from other companies. There are quite alot of tech related puzzles along with some other types that are more tactile/logic based. The theming and set up is really clever and really makes you feel like you are crew on this spaceship. I hope Puzzalogical make more action packed, amazing themed games like this and the Pharaoh one in the future.

Had heard good things about Paradox and the storyline of this game sounded very different to most common games you are likely to encounter. This was our first visit to Paradox Palours, we played as it was my birthday and I would definitely return to try the other games based on this experience. The puzzles were cleverly linked into the story and were mostly technical based but the interactivity of the AI in there definitely adds a new dimension to the game. Playing as a team of 3 was probably just about right as there wasn't a huge amount of puzzles, but some just took a little more figuring out. The space isn't that large but likewise is fitting with the theme and didn't hinder the game (with a small team). I really enjoyed my visit and would like to thank our games master too, who made us feel welcome both before the game and after.

We were deliberating playing The Chapel after our success on Gold Rush however were a little put off as I'm not a fan of scary games. We thought we may aswell play it whilst we were there as we had travelled to come here in the first place and luckily we were able to adjust the scale of 'scary' before entering the room. The puzzles were much harder in here compared to Gold Rush, but again the themeing and hosting was spot on. A unique clue system is given in this game which did mean a fair bit of going backwards and forwards to receive the clues but it was clever how this system was incorporated into the storyline. I spent most of the game (despite modifying the scare level) being terrified by the jump scare moments which distracted me from focusing on solving the puzzles. Unfortunately we did not successfully complete the game but it was still fun, and again, shout out to the excellent games masters for providing this fantastic experience.

This game had great theming and a variety of puzzles that all fitted the story line as well as getting our brains cranking. It was fun to play and the staff at the venue were very chatty and welcoming. We then booked straight after to play their other game 'The Chapel.'

We managed to get a booking for The Dungeon of Doom at quite short notice. I had previously played a few Clue HQ games in Birmingham and hadn't had any bad experiences from this franchise.

Our team of 5, ranging from a couple of teens through to adult, hadn't played any games altogether before but had had various degrees of escape room experiences.

On arrival, we were briefed as a big group with other teams playing the other games on site and then taken to our games by our games master. Unfortunately there was a group of children there for a birthday party so the reception area was rather noisy and possibly if you were there as first timers listening to padlock instructions etc could have been difficult in this set up. But not a problem for us. Our games master didn't really tell us the back story of our game just that we had to be separated into 2 groups for the start - the prisoners and the team. This was a concept I've only ever done at one other game before so made the beginning of the game challenging. She also mentioned there would be a lot of padlocks in this game. We managed to complete the room with around 5 minutes to spare. However, not much can be said for the variety of puzzles as the game consisted ENTIRELY of padlocks, meaning it was just a case of solve a 3/4/5 digit number or find a key and use it on the corresponding padlock, rinse and repeat. Most of the padlocks where colour coded although there were some where we had to try the code on multiple locks til we found the correct one, so not particularly logical in that sense. We were given support through the in-room monitor and sometimes were given hints when we hadn't asked and weren't particularly stuck.

On completing the game and exciting the room we waited for our games master to meet us, she then took our photo but we had no debrief unfortunately.

Overall, still a fun game and another successful mission to add to the ever-growing list.

Loved this game! Unfortunately we didn't have the best experience last time we played a game at Puzzalogical but this time round was so different and all for the better. Right from our games master meeting us down in reception and having a chat about past escape experience etc I could tell we were in for a good time.

Unlike last time, our games master (Maz) actually gave us the safety briefing followed by the story introduction for the game - in full character may I add. This is also great as it gets you in the mood for whatever your mission may be.

We were also encouraged to get into character by wearing our explorer hats throughout the game! Thank you Maz for all your enthusiasm during our visit.

There were lots of different puzzles in this room and not a padlock in sight! (Another things I love about games as it tends to make them much more creative.) Many of the parts were different to other escape rooms I've previously played and the overall theming and story was super immersive from start to end. Playing as a team of 5, was a good number as some things we all did altogether but other parts we split up into smaller groups so everyone felt involved and there was lots to do in the time. I think it would be tricky as a team of 2 (depending on how experienced you were.)

We managed to successfully complete the game in 56 minutes 21 seconds and being my 58th game I feel that it had the right level of challenge without feeling too impossible.

I look forward to coming back to try Prison Break and the new game once it's ready!

Had wanted to do this game for a while and it lived up to my expectations. Great theming and a good variety of puzzles. Although our games master said at the start we could have as little or as much help as we wanted, I feel he guided us quite a lot towards the end when we hadn't asked for it which I think is why our finish time was quite short. Despite this it was still an enjoyable experience and different to a lot of other games I've previously played.

We booked this game quite last minute but managed to get an afternoon slot during half term. Our games master was welcoming but not particularly enthusiastic about the game or his role, to the point where there was no introduction to the game or story,l before we entered the room - just the safety briefing in form of a video.

Upon starting the game it took us a while to get going and the things we found to start with - their uses weren't obvious. Unfortunately, quite early on we discovered a vital part wasn't where it should have been so were directed by our games master where the 'spare' was in the room. Then on using this piece how intended, it got stuck and hindered us getting keys from a locked part of the room so again the games master had to intervene by opening this locked area manually. He commented saying that's rare for that to happen (so it's clearly something that has happened before and they haven't done anything to stop it from happening).

On we went with the game, eventually found our flow and the puzzles definitely got better toward the end. This was a shame as we probably spent the first half guessing things because things weren't always very logical.

Despite this I'd like to go back and try the other 2 games - the mix of puzzles was good, as was the themeing of the room, I just think we were unlucky with our games master who could have set the scene a bit better and been more chatty before and after the game.

The Mac Trio took on Archimedes Inspiration most challenging game - project Delta. This was a 100 minute game and unfortunately we didn't quite make it out but, boy - it tested us and I'm glad we got to play it before the venue closes in a couple of weeks time. It was quite different to most of the escape rooms I've played and a lot of thought has clearly gone into the narrative and creation of the game. The game is very narrative based and you must pay attention to all the details and your surroundings to help you complete it. There are NO padlocks of any kind in this game which proves rooms can be done without then and also makes a change as your brain has to think differently to solve the puzzles involved. If you want to try this room, be quick as they are closing permanentently on the 12th February.

This was my second Breakout game I've ever played and now I have realised why the 1st wasn't very memorable. This game had potential to be better but similarly to Vacancy in Chester, the Emporium was a game that heavily relied on padlocks. For newer escapees this may suffice but for experienced players there doesn't provide much variety or excitement in solving puzzles etc. It was also frustrating that for a couple of the number sequences it wasn't obvious which order to use the numbers in. This took away from the game, in my opinion as I like things to be a bit more logical. 

Theming was ok, host was very enthusiastic which helped set the scene.

Overall, a fun game but probably more suited to newer players to the world of escape rooms.

After playing the Enchanted Mirror some years back, we were ready to explore London once again, this time in hunt for the Cheshire Cat. We didn't take too many pitstops this time round and the weather was definitely not on our side but we did about 6.17 miles of walking and managed to get to the end of the trail where we found the feline.

Some of the clues were harder than others but I don't think we ever strayed off the trail completely.

I just couldn't get into this one. Some of the clues and puzzles didn't seem very clear on what you had to do. And it took us a good 10 minutes to even get started. Another one of the not so great ones by the Escape Hunt franchise.

A really fun game for a range of players including a 9 year old who had never done an escape room before but he got just as involved as us adults. A mixture of puzzle and I really liked some of the more technological systems used for locks, makes a change instead of padlocks!

A lot to do in this game hence why it's a 75 minute one. 

Really good game and great host too.

If you were ever into the film franchise Jumanji I'd recommend playing this game!

A really fun game different to a lot of others I've played and a mix of puzzles.

Another fabulously themed room by TimeTrap with great puzzles and an immersive story. We didn't quite get out in the 60 minutes but I love that TT allow you to go over the standard 1hour. This was a fun game with lots for everyone to do.

A room that was not to difficult for a team of 2 with a few really unique puzzles I've not seen in other games before and I've played a few now. Yes, there are science experiments involved but don't let this put you off if you're not too into science! 

My mum and I stumbled across this company on the internet after we had exhausted the majority of our other local escape rooms. 

Being my 53rd game I was looking for something a little different and the Forbidden Room of Fun certainly did not disappoint. Our games master was welcoming and the game themeing and story was equally great. We completed the room as a a team of 2 (with 5 minutes bonus time) and it was good that we could set the level of difficulty before beginning. I think larger groups would also enjoy playing this game as there is a fair bit to do.

We are looking forward to trying Escape the Chop at their other venue.

Unfortunately chapter 2 didn't live up to chapter 1. Some parts were particularly hard and also in the first area the lighting was very poor so was very tricky to do the padlocks.