Spellbound

I really wanted to like this room as it was like being transported to the set of hocus pocus. However, there were so many technical difficulties that we couldn’t do the room. We asked for help multiple times without anyone to respond. Therefore, we walked around aimlessly praying that the mechanisms and stars would align for us. It is beautiful, everything they do is, but I wouldn’t say it was worth it.

This should have been our first game of five games of the day. We had to swap this game with another one so that the staff could do some maintenance on the room (no big deal). Upon entering the room, we were amazed by the set! Unfortunately, our inattentive and unhelpful game master along with what appeared to be a malfunctioning puzzle (possibly the one they were “fixing” earlier in the day?) led to our failure. There was also a clue sheet in the room so faded that it was nearly impossible to read, making a straightforward puzzle take forever to solve. Wish I could give this room a heart, but the game needs some maintenance.

Started off our day here with a bang. This room is extremely immersive, well spaced out and non linear enough for a group of four. Maybe the actual best puzzling of any room we did at this location

This was a very cool game. Some of the tech didn’t work for us, but we were still able to get around it and it didn’t take much time from us. Great atmosphere and design.

Spellbound was the second game we played during our day at 13th Gate. As we started, I had a sense of deja vu. I HAD played this game before at Mindspark in Tempe 7 years before. (In fact, in my review of that one, I lamented the fact that the team I was with didn't get very far back then and I hoped to revisit them someday), so I did get to experience closure. (Also, my memory is terrible, so I can assure you that I playing a similar game 7 years prior helped ZERO because I recalled NOTHING.) I loved Spellbound in so many ways. The set is beautiful (both outside and inside the cabin) and the puzzles were really nicely done. There's a nice flow which starts off linear and then changes to non-linear and then back. The plot was fantastic and integrates magical puzzles seamlessly. It's magic so lots of tech and the clue system made use of an animatronic cat straight out of Hocus Pocus which kept the immersion tight. Spellbound had one big issue that ALL of 13th Gate's games have. These are 60 minute rooms that really need to be 75 minute rooms. There's a LOT of puzzling to be done. With a group of 4 of us that didn't get stuck too much, I'm pretty sure we ran over and they let us keep going. Come to 13th Gate for pretty much any & all of the games here. Spellbound is a must-do unless you did this elsewhere. This company is worth the 90 minute drive from New Orleans. If you are coming out, plan to spend the whole day there & do all of their games.

Great take on witches and wonderous things as you explore the cabin to uncover the secrets of who brought you here. The only reason that this isn't a heart is that there was just one puzzle at the end that didn't feel as rewarding to solve.

I liked a lot about this room. The first two parts were fantastic but I wasn't the biggest fan of the last room. Might have been because it had a few mechanical issues and the game master had to come in to fix it. Which dampens the experience.

If you get the nostalgia hit from references to Hocus Pocus Disney edition, this is the room for you. The rooms at 13th gate all have impressive set design, and as a general rule, it seems as if the puzzles could be a waste of time without the feeling of a satisfying solve. For this room, I would actually say that I was more satisfied by the end than the other rooms. The puzzles were straightforward, although non-linear and not always a clear shot to the answer. There were a couple of puzzles that didn’t work for us right away, but our game master was attentive. Speaking of game masters, I liked our game master for this room because she was actually paying attention to our game play. She would give us hints when prompted, and would gently nudge in the right direction. Game masters in this escape room location could make or break it, and she made it for me. Solid room and I think highly of this one, even though I would still give it a like because of the puzzles themselves.

If you love the look and feel of the Disney film Hocus Pocus than you are going to fall in love with the game Spellbound. Like all games at 13th Floor, Spellbound does a beautiful job of immersing you in the space. The puzzles were enjoyable and the mission was a lot of fun for our group.

A solid room - there was 1 puzzle where we did what we needed to do but it didn't work the first couple times. I really enjoyed the room timer- I love how it added to the atmosphere rather than just being a timer/screen