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.
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.
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!
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.
The SacrificeMission Escape George StEscape roomIRLLoaded with tricks, narrative, and a satisfying range of diegetic puzzles, ‘The Sacrifice’ is one of Mission Escape’s strongest escape rooms and a highlight within Sydney’s collection of escape experiences. ‘The Sacrifice’ delivers its narrative across an expansive series of rooms, with many strong puzzles tied directly to the story. A few surprising room transitions can be found within the experience, alongside tasteful — albeit mildly scary — live actor interactions. This blend of narrative-driven puzzles, set design, room transitions, and live performance results in an enthralling escape game. Form your team of three or more players and begin your trek to find your missing friend…
The Marlowe HotelThe Cipher Room NewtownEscape roomIRLWhat a visually stunning escape experience. The monochromatic decor and the noir-style story delivery was so, so fun. Tricky, but not impossible, each puzzle was satisfying to finish. ‘The Marlowe Hotel’ is a great room!
Mrs ClawsStrange World Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLThe naughty cheek and charm of ‘Mrs Claws’ was a delight to experience. We experienced ‘Mrs Claws’ in its “Disney” (horror-free) mode and, while some minor scares still crept their way through the game, we tackled the experience without issue and thoroughly enjoyed the wild, quirky ride. The puzzle flow was smooth and clearly signposted. The narrative shifts and expands throughout ‘Mrs Claws’, and a pivotal decision is made at a certain point in the experience. A full understanding of the narrative certainly makes that choice easier. We were briefly stuck on what to choose, but we got there in the end. Some escape rooms feel like they could be experienced anywhere, or designed by any creator. ‘Mrs Claws’ is the exact opposite—the creativity of its designer forms the indelible core of the experience. It’s hard to imagine it could exist anywhere else, or another designer harnessing the wonderfully chaotic spirit of ‘Mrs Claws’. To see the experience in full flight, it is suggested that teams choose the full horror experience, but that’s not to say that the lighter, mostly scare-free mode isn’t fun—it’s still very funny with a mature sense of humour. See the team photo for proof!
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