Mr Pepper’s Toy ShopThe Cipher Room St PetersEscape roomIRLPlunged straight into my all-time favourites, Mr. Pepper's puzzles, in line with The Cipher Room's esteemed reputation, maintain an outstanding standard. They present a delightful mix of challenge and diversity, incorporating elements of hunt and seek for an added layer of enjoyment. The seamless integration of props into the room theming enhances the overall immersive experience. Despite its inherently dark theme, the game cultivates an eerie atmosphere rather than relying on outright fear. Unlike scenarios with NPCs jumping out at you, the focus is on immersing players in Mr. Pepper's world. While not shying away from well-timed jump scares, the overarching intent is to craft an engaging and immersive journey rather than relying on constant frights. There is one particular exhilarating moment throughout that creates a profound sense of euphoria, you won't miss it and I can honestly say I have never encountered anything like it before. Having completed this room, I wholeheartedly recommend it to fellow Escapers, encouraging them to explore the unparalleled quality that defines The Cipher Room.
La RébellionThe Cipher Room St PetersEscape roomIRLWow is the word that echoed through my mind multiple times at the conclusion of this remarkable experience. Meeting Marise, one of The Cipher Room owners, after completing my 24th escape room and our team's 21st outing was a fortunate bonus. Her generosity in discussing this marvel of a room left us immensely grateful. La Rebellion lived up to, if not exceeded, expectations. Crafted with the same meticulous attention as other Cipher Room creations, it boasted phenomenal theming rooted in a robust historical backstory. The level of detail was extraordinary, contributing to a truly immersive experience. The puzzles within the room were not just fantastic but also diverse, ranging from challenging to thoroughly enjoyable. Each puzzle seamlessly fit the space, displaying clever design and unparalleled construction quality. Among The Cipher Room's visually spectacular offerings, La Rebellion held moments that felt downright magical. It now firmly holds the top spot in my list, surpassing even the beautifully crafted Mr. Pepper's room. If there were a bucket list of escape rooms in Sydney, La Rebellion would undoubtedly be at the pinnacle. Thank you once again, Marise, for your time, and we eagerly anticipate the exciting future that lies ahead for The Cipher Room.
SeanceThe Cool SpaceEscape roomIRLSeance is not a room to be underestimated. After reading numerous outstanding reviews across various platforms, our team felt compelled to visit this new establishment and discover what all the hype was about. It marked my 27th room experience to date and our team's 24th. As advertised, participants are seated for the entirety of the experience. However, this should not dissuade you, as our team of four found plenty to engage with from beginning to end. Before entering the room, we were greeted by Josh, one half of the owners of The Cool Space. Having had prior experience with Josh at another company, we were confident that we were in capable hands. The theming was impeccable, with every puzzle seamlessly integrated into the storyline. We encountered well-timed jump scares and even experienced a surprising visit—without divulging too much detail. The entire experience flowed smoothly, providing us with a tremendous amount of enjoyment. After completing the room in about 50 minutes without any hints, we had an insightful conversation with Josh, who recognized our team and willingly delved into the intricacies of how the room operated. We were then fortunate to meet Daniel, the other half of the ownership team at The Cool Space. Both Josh and Daniel were enthusiastic about giving us a behind-the-scenes tour, showcasing more than we could have anticipated. It's an exciting new venture, and we eagerly anticipate what The Cool Space has in store for the future.
The SacrificeMission Escape George StEscape roomIRLI must say this room did not disappoint. It runs a very close second to my all time favourite of Mr Peppers. The sheer amount of content put into these rooms, the puzzles, the theatrics and the immersion was sensational. Not to mention it being one of the more scarier ones to date. 100 minutes to complete and we did so with a bit of time left in the tank, I can't recommend The Sacrifice enough.
The Marlowe HotelThe Cipher Room NewtownEscape roomIRLThe Marlowe Hotel immerses players into a captivating black-and-white film noir adventure, reflecting its purely black/grey and white aesthetic. The magic truly begins as the compelling story unfolds seamlessly within the fantastic theme. Despite being rated a challenging 5/5 on their website, our team, perhaps in top form that night, triumphed with over 10 minutes to spare, even with minimal hints. The Marlowe Hotel boasts a mix of low-tech and subtle high-tech puzzles, showcasing hidden lock mechanisms that add to the mystery as doors open almost magically. Each puzzle, though challenging, remains entirely solvable, contributing to another high-quality room from Cipher!
Mrs ClawsStrange World Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLAfter hearing about Strange World and the growing popularity of their inaugural room, Mrs. Claws, we were nothing short of excited to give it a try. Even though Christmas was long over and we were well into January, this room still delivered a festive and immersive experience that held up exceptionally well. From the moment we walked in, we were transported by the music, the scent of gingerbread, and the overall theming, which perfectly captured a blend of fun Christmas vibes with a creepy twist. The production value was outstanding. From the cozy wooden cabin atmosphere to the colourful objects, twinkling lights, and eerie props and ornaments, every detail aligned seamlessly with the Christmas horror theme. It was clear that a great deal of thought and effort had gone into the room’s design. The puzzles offered a nice variety, all fitting well with the theme and story. Opting for the scariest version of the experience, we encountered some well-executed jump scares that kept us on edge throughout. The room featured multiple areas and crawl spaces, plus an exciting and memorable final section. However, while these sections were cleverly designed, they weren’t particularly large, so our group of seven occasionally felt a bit cramped. Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with how Tanner and Will have pulled off their first room. Mrs. Claws showcases their creativity and attention to detail, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for Strange World Escape Rooms!
IntrudersMission Escape George StEscape roomIRLAn absolutely astonishing experience! This escape room is a thrilling blend of fright and amazement. Assigned specific roles, we were fully engaged with tasks that heightened the tension throughout. As the designated camera person, I found myself genuinely scared, leading me to abandon my role by the end. The narrative is compelling, complemented by outstanding live acting – the second we've encountered from Mission, and it lived up to our high expectations. The level of immersion is unparalleled. Words fall short in capturing the true brilliance of this room. I've already organized two more groups to undergo this incredible experience. Don't miss out—book it now!
The ArtefactNext Level EscapeEscape roomIRLThe Artefact was the second room our team of four tackled that night, and the 187 Escape Artists were still buzzing from our recent completion of End of the Road. After grabbing a satisfying meal at Stacked (just around the corner), we were fueled up and ready to dive in. Our Gamesmaster, Stuart, took on the persona of the cheeky AI Bot HAL, leading us on our next adventure. We started off a bit sluggish—I blame the hearty dinner we indulged in—but around 10-15 minutes in, we found our momentum and began making significant progress. While the room initially felt a bit bottlenecked, once we hit our stride, we surged ahead and finished with a strong flourish, escaping with about 16 minutes left on the clock. As always, the Gamesmaster played a crucial role in our experience, and in The Artefact, Stuart was no exception. We had a blast, sharing moments of pure hilarity as we danced, sang, celebrated, and laughed together. The theming was top-notch, and the puzzles posed a satisfying challenge, even for a semi-experienced team. The high-tech elements in this particular theme at Next Level were executed brilliantly, but they also cleverly incorporated some low-tech puzzles that seamlessly fit the theme. Next Level consistently delivers immersive and well-designed experiences, and we're already looking forward to our next visit to this exceptional establishment.
The HotelRiddle Room CanberraEscape roomIRLHotel was our fourth room at Riddle Room and my 39th overall. The atmosphere in Hotel is both thematically intense and dimly lit, creating an eerie experience. There are a couple of jump scares, but they are pretty tame and only add to the overall ambiance. The room boasts a plethora of puzzles, encompassing a brilliant variety of both tech and more traditional observation puzzles. The quality of the theming in Hotel is exceptional, reminiscent of the high standards seen in Cipher Room. We all felt like we had been transported to another place and time. The props all made sense in the space, and the sounds and lighting were perfect, as were the wall and floor treatments. The room design and the backstory are fantastic, continuing seamlessly throughout the experience. The puzzles all link to the backstory flawlessly, and all the spaces in the experience are well considered and well designed. Overall, Hotel is a fantastic room. It is an escape room enthusiast’s dream, ticking all the boxes that enthusiasts look for—off-the-charts theming and immersion, a strong storyline, and unique puzzles. We were thrilled to manage an escape with about 5 minutes remaining.
End of the RoadNext Level EscapeEscape roomIRLEnd of the Road is Next Level Escapes' newest room, and true to form, they never fail to impress. On a beautiful Friday night, it was our team's first of two rooms at Next Level, marking the 25th for the team and the 28th for me personally. Our Gamesmaster, Zac or Simon (one of whom was in training), set the stage before we entered the room, picking us up from the elevator already in character. His performance was absolutely fantastic, and we thoroughly enjoyed how well he embodied his role. At Next Level, we've come to expect that the Gamesmaster isn't just there to observe and guide; they're integral to enhancing the entire experience. Despite being their first day on the job, our Gamesmaster was phenomenal, exceeding our expectations with their performance. The room made excellent use of the available space. Despite being designated as a 75-minute experience, our team was exceptionally sharp tonight, managing to complete it in just 48 minutes. There was a wealth of activities to keep us engaged from start to finish. The theming was outstanding, with every puzzle and lock seamlessly fitting into the environment, ensuring a fully immersive experience. It's important to highlight that while the room may cater to newer escape room enthusiasts, it certainly shouldn't deter those with more experience. There was always a task or challenge available for each team member, maintaining engagement throughout. Once again, Next Level has proven itself with another top-notch, high-quality room.
