Escape from the Red Room

This was our first experience at a Tokyo escape room, and boy, we had to reset our expectations. Having been used to the more immersive and narratively-based escape rooms in the West, this game was very different and extremely puzzle-centric. The room is quite simple, but the primary game mechanic was really impressive! Once you figure out how the room works, the rest is a race against time. We ultimately did not succeed, owing to an overly-difficult final puzzle. However, we liked the novelty of the room enough to give it a positive assessment!

Great room with some novel and exciting mechanics. While it’s true no language is required to solve the room, there was a language barrier with our game master that made it hard to receive promised hints. I also found the final puzzle, once explained, to be somewhat unsatisfying. Overall though I recommend!

Unlike pretty much every other escape room that we’ve done, this one contained no background story at all. We were placed into a red room and had to escape. That was it. Our game master, Kohei, also stayed in the room with us, providing hints and assistance as required. We booked as a group, so had a private experience. Just the two of us and the game host. This was a very simple, mechanical, not-too-techy type room. But what made this room shine were some puzzle elements we had never encountered before. Without giving away spoilers, the room design put these to excellent use.

This is a very unique room! We did not book private and I wish we would have. The game is very cool! It was a little tricky with the game master as they did not speak English which added an extra layer of difficulty. Overall it was a great room and I would recommend it!

A simple room, but great one. Really loved it, you don't need to speak/read Japanese to escape. Some of the challenges are unique.

So fun and so unique! One of the top tier escape rooms in my list, and Really one of the rooms where it will stay in your mind the way it’s designed, and clues were given in the form of gentle nudges which made it really fun instead! Would totally recommend this to anyone

This escape was one of the best we've ever done and unfortunately I can't give away any spoilers. All I can say is that there are only red walls and now what? Very challenging! The language barrier wasn't a problem at all because there are digital translators. Incredible! There are 6 slots available to play and it can be occupied by another group of Japanese/foreigners, for example. And this escape room has an innovative feature. Players can play together even if they don't speak the same language and they can help each other!

Great concept, with fun puzzles (minus the last - we didn't enjoy the theory) a little tired and a 40 min room was a bit of a waste of time! We wanted 60. No music and the GM was in the room with us 👎🏻

6/10 Alright, allow me to explain why this experience was a 6 out of 10. I’m more than certain I had an experience not a single player has duplicated in the many years The Red Room has been open, so buckle up because this will be more detailed than necessary. This is a public 40 minute room. You will be playing with local Japanese enthusiasts who do not speak English. Now this was fantastic news to me, for I’m running around Japan by myself and this allows me the opportunity to not only play with other people, but not have to pay for multiple tickets. This is also a double edged sword. Upon my arrival I’m told the 4 other players that were booked will in fact not be showing up. A solo experience it is then! Now here’s why this will forever be one of the more memorable rooms I will ever have the pleasure of experiencing. Having learned I will be soloing a “fairly difficult” room, I’m met with yet even worse news. I need to remove my shoes. At this point it’s 8pm and I have been walking around Asakusa nonstop for 10 hours. My feet are ticking time bombs. Alas, I reluctantly remove my shoes in replace of beat up crocs and hurry into the room to lock myself away with the furious aroma that emit from my feet like the martyr I am. Oh no no no, for I do not go alone. Now, if you are not fluent in Japanese, a game master will be present with you. In order to communicate you will utilize these clunky speech translators. Your game master will speak Japanese into this little device, you will listen to the translation, you in return will talk into this little device, and your game master will listen. It very much derails any sort of momentum you have in sacrifice of hints or knowing how certain mechanics work. So now, me and this poor woman are both trapped in this tiny red room with my harsh foot scent that does not waft, but cuts the nostrils deep like a Japanese knife. The smell is deafening, yet I see her force a smile through her discomfort. Even worse, through the entire experience there is no music. Just me and this unfortunate woman standing in silence, nostrils on fire, as I painfully struggle through every puzzle by myself. Now, this game requires a minimum of two because there are elements in which one player will have to physically move heavy puzzle pieces as another player has no choice but to watch. So there I am, watching this small girl who probably could be blown away by a gentle gust of wind, struggle moving these large puzzle pieces as I am forced to watch. There is no alternative. I. Must. Watch. This makers me feel useless. I’m not only forcing this game master into heavy physical labor, I’m also slowly suffocating us both. I finally manage to get through every puzzle finishing the game with 5 minutes to spare. I am relieved. She is relieved. I take my picture and take my leave. I currently sit on the public transit writing this review realizing I have over shot my station by 13 stops. This is much more important. Escape from the Red Room is simple. There is no story, the puzzles are fine, there is no high production value, it is as described. Escaping from a red room. But it will always have a place in my heart and lungs for how ridiculously awkward it was. I wouldn’t change my experience for the world. If you happen to be in the area, it’s worth playing. But don’t book a flight for it.

Loved this room haven’t done a room like this before and would highly recommend it! Language barrier wasn’t an issue and the game hosts were very welcoming and helpful. The room has some very unique and interesting mechanics that I wasn’t expecting could be done in an escape room. Definitely worth visiting if in Tokyo!