August 2019

- Overall rating:
Crackit Bolton: Boot Camp

A fun game but, of the three experiences at Crackit, this felt the weakest. In part that’s the theme but mainly it’s because the puzzles are a bit too long/difficult for the format. Definitely try the other two first and play this one once you’re more experienced!

- Overall rating:
Escape the Yellow Sub (Liverpool)

A fun adventure, but I couldn’t help but feel that they’ve under-delivered. The thematically confined space doesn’t make up for the lack of exploration and, while the puzzles are good fun, a lack of signposting for a few of them meant that all too often we were left wondering where to go next.

- Overall rating:
Pier Pressure (Brighton): Loot the Lanes

A beautiful room that’s a joy to spend time in. The puzzles are well-presented, there are moments of theatre at several points and there’s a clear finale that makes the game end on a high.

- Overall rating:
Paris Escape Review: Majestic Escape Game (Atlantis)

A beautiful game with a magnificent sense of discovery and some cool centrepieces. If you’re the sort of player that wants clear instructions on how to proceed, then I think you’ll be frustrated but, if you like to explore and hypotheses, then I think this game will be right up your street.

Paris Escape Review: Lock Academy (Tres Cher Lock, Revolt and LA Confidential)

A review of the three games at Lock Academy, Paris. Revolt was my favourite, with an unusual theme, fun puzzles and an experience that improved with each step forward. LA Confidential had a relatively mundane start but improved significantly and had one of the most stressful, frantic (and enjoyable!) finishes I’ve experienced in a room. Tres Cher Lock is a game that’s worth playing, but it’s merely good in comparison to the other two – a strong start in what on the face of it looked to be a pretty ordinary room wasn’t quite matched by the end sequence.