Election DayAppleseed AvenueEscape roomOther Election Day by Appleseed Avenue is a bold and refreshing take on escape rooms, blending crime-solving and even an autopsy into a whimsical puppet-filled world. It felt like stepping into an old-school CSI video game, scouring evidence, evaluating crime scenes, and piecing together clues to crack the case. With a generous 100-minute runtime, the game gave us plenty of time to immerse ourselves in the beautifully designed sets, which were so charming and full of personality that I didn’t want to leave. The humour was adorable, the characters were delightful, and we found ourselves laughing throughout the experience. That said, I did wish there were more spaces to unlock as we progressed, as this could have created additional moments of surprise and adrenaline. Some of the gameplay leaned heavily on screen-based tasks, which, while appealing to some, made the pacing feel slower for me at times. There’s also an intriguing detective-room cabinet with numerous compartments that only opened a few times. This felt like a bit of a tease and is a missed opportunity for more interactive reveals. Still, these are small critiques of what is ultimately a creative and highly enjoyable escape room experience. Election Day is an impressive debut and one I expect will quickly become a must-play for escape room fans visiting or living in Los Angeles.
