The Other Side

I have mixed feelings about The Other Side at Fox in a Box Adelaide. The venue was easy to find, with a welcoming reception area that had games to pass the time and plenty of seating. Our game master was friendly, gave a solid briefing, and even stepped into character to set the scene, which really helped with immersion. The rooms themselves made a strong first impression — well-decorated, polished, and immersive without being cluttered or cheap-looking. The atmosphere was enhanced by music, a progressive darkness mechanic, and a sleek clue system where hints appeared visually on a screen within a minute of pressing the “panic” button. This setup felt intuitive and helped us stay in the flow. Gameplay, however, was a mixed bag. Some puzzles were logical and satisfying, but others felt vague or unclear, leaving us uncertain whether we had completed them or not. The increasing darkness added tension but also led to practical issues — one player with the torch could move ahead, while the other was left literally in the dark. The final section, in particular, was confusing; we needed more GM assistance than usual, and the ending lacked impact. Instead of escaping through a final dramatic moment, the conclusion felt a bit “meh,” with music playing but no clear resolution. Difficulty-wise, this is a hard room that I would only recommend for experienced players. Team size felt manageable for two, but it would probably flow better with 3–4 players (though more than that might become overwhelming). Despite the frustrations, we did enjoy ourselves overall — the set design, immersive atmosphere, and supportive GM carried the experience, even if the puzzle clarity sometimes let it down.