Mr Pepper’s Toy ShopThe Cipher Room St PetersEscape roomIRLThis was my fiftieth room, and I am so glad I travelled interstate to experience ‘Mr Pepper’s Toy Shop’. The props, set design and storyline provided a rich foundation to the experience, allowing the puzzles to propel you along to the terrifying conclusion of the room. It was incredible — there’s a reason this room ranks so highly.
La RébellionThe Cipher Room St PetersEscape roomIRLThis was such a stunning, top notch experience. Cipher Room deliver memorable escape experiences, and ‘La Rébellion’ was no exception. Each puzzle and room flowed beautifully into the next, and as with their other St Peters room, ‘Mr Pepper’s Toy Shop’, this room offers a jaw-dropping finale.
Sweethearts Ice Cream ParlourThe Cool SpaceEscape roomIRLAnother stunning set from The Cool Space! We were fortunate enough to test the game prior to its release, and we thoroughly enjoyed what we saw. Fun retro pastels and pinstripes of yesteryear greet players as they step into the ice cream parlour and from there, the cool caper begins. From the rock ‘n’ roll music to the retro-futuristic Mix-a-tron 3000, it’s clear that a great deal of time and effort went into the design of this experience. The puzzles were a healthy, varied mix of easier and more layered ‘a-ha!’ moments, with many cleverly tied into the narrative of ‘Sweethearts’. Puzzle-focused escape room fans will thoroughly enjoy some of the game’s unique puzzles, we certainly haven’t encountered them anywhere else. There’s something for everyone in The Cool Space’s new experience — it’s a sweet time!
女王と国のために [For Queen & Country]Studio Escape NipponbashiEscape roomIRL‘For Queen & Country’, simply put, is an incredible escape room that holds cinematic moments for any player lucky enough to experience it. Wickedly funny, surprising and wildly imaginative, ‘For Queen & Country’ delivers golden-era ‘60s British spy bravado and gimmicks thick and fast. The puzzles transcend the standard types to focus on making the narrative cinematic, with the players always in the spotlight. I can’t sing enough high praises—if more TERPECA nominators and voters travelled to Japan, Studio Escape’s experiences would rank high on the list.
ExtractionThe Curium ExperienceEscape roomIRLFrom the ambitious scale of ‘Extraction’ to the multitude of unique props, The Curium Experience confidently stakes its claim as Australia’s biggest escape experience. ‘Extraction’, from start to finish, is a big, bold, off-the-wall adventure. Players break into Area 51 and some truly wonderful and bizarre events take place as they move across a diverse collection of rooms. The designers have meticulously crafted the experience to keep the energy high from the moment ‘Extraction’ takes off to its frantic end. It’s a spectacle, and it’s exciting to think there’s still so much more to come from The Curium Experience.
Area 1: The PortalProject Immersive Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLI cannot recommend this room enough. The immersion starts before you even enter the building, and the interactions within the escape experience were SO, so good. Wickedly so. One of my favourite escape experiences to date! Unique puzzles and props found throughout the rooms that deepen the narrative and puzzle flow. It even has an exciting ending to the experience. I’m looking forward to playing anything they open!
Area 1: Nuclear EnrichmentProject Immersive Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLWhat an absolute delight! Project Immersive are broadening the storytelling within their Area 1 world, and the run of accompanying puzzles is wonderful. Prepare for an exciting and unique ending that hints towards the future of immersive escape room experiences!
SeanceThe Cool SpaceEscape roomIRLA masterclass in single room escape experiences, ‘Seance’ is all the more impressive when considering the fact that this The Cool Space’s first build. Gorgeous, textured aesthetics surround the table while a wonderful variety of materials are presented within ‘Seance’ to solve a varied collection of puzzles. Having played ‘Seance’ over a year since opening, we benefitted from the continued iterative efforts designers Daniel and Josh pour into the experience. More complex puzzles teach players and allow them to build mastery intuitively. The use of controlled lighting bolsters the experience, helping form a wonderfully different sit-down escape experience.
IntrudersMission Escape George StEscape roomIRL‘Intruders’ is an experience that stayed with me long after leaving the venue. Mission Room Escape’s acting, sets, and manipulation of the environment in ‘Intruders’ absolutely blew my mind. As an immersive, theatrical escape room, ‘Intruders’ is lighter on puzzles than Mission’s other experiences — and the game is all the better for it. The smaller collection of puzzles within this immersive experience felt closer to mimesis than those in most escape rooms in Sydney. As a team of two, moving between the sparse areas of light felt tense and frightening. Each door was opened cautiously, and every second spent isolated was truly felt. The use of multiple live actors ensures players watch the cinematic scenes from perfect vantage points. If you can stomach horror, run to play ‘Intruders’. It’s a truly stellar immersive experience and an outstanding example of how theatre and escape room puzzles can be combined to create something genuinely transcendent.
The Keeper And The Fungus Among UsHeadlock Escape Rooms OnlineEscape roomVirtual Having the chance to play ‘The Keeper and the Fungus Among Us’ before it ends later this month was a real treat. The music, the seamless cutscenes that blended perfectly with the live moments, and the humor throughout made it a standout online escape game that truly deserves the accolades it has received over the past few years. While it’s sad to see the game go (for now), it’s reassuring to hear that Joel plans to preserve it in some form for posterity. What excites me most is how the game maximizes the remote nature of the experience and utilizes mechanics and charm that would be impossible in an in-person escape room. I hope more games like this will emerge to continue the artistry of online escape games.
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