Escape from 20,000 Leagues

Warning: It was a while back that I played this room (about 5 years ago?) so there are many details I do not remember like specific mechanics or specific puzzles/solutions, but I recently found this app and thought it would be important to share the gist of my experience for those thinking of coming to play this room. Just keep this in mind as this may no longer be the case for this room or this establishment. Staff were so incredibly kind and inviting when we arrived, so it was a bit surprising that things didn’t go as well once we were in the room. Having the GM in the room in the corner on their phone during the entirety of the game felt really odd. The owner says this is a part of their business model and that is their prerogative. Our GM gave clues that just told us how to solve a puzzle in its entirety and he even walked up and solved the puzzles himself once or twice. It feels bad when you don’t understand a puzzle in any escape room, but it just hits even harder when you can see the GM’s frustration with your own eyes. I understand not wanting/not being able to have cameras in the room, but I was really not a fan of that pressure/feeling judged on my puzzle solving capabilities by the person who should be cheering us on to succeed. Honestly, most of the puzzles were really convoluted and difficult to piece together. The walls had gaping screw holes and one of the few electronics the room had didn’t work. They had a prop necessary to a puzzle on top of a high cabinet that I can’t see the top of if I wanted to (I’m 5’, but c’mon) when asked they said they do put it lower for groups of kids. The theme isn’t particularly unique, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I liked the artwork and the puzzles did try to stick to the sea theme. There was a couple puzzles that were interesting, but in general didn’t really wow me. We played with a group of 5, all of whom are enthusiasts and a lot of whom really have a great observant eye and knack for puzzles, but the puzzles did not flow well and oftentimes did not make any sense even after they were explained. I am a GM myself now (I was not when playing this room), so I understand that a lot of these things can’t be helped. Sometimes props/electronics randomly break on you, everyone’s mind works through puzzles differently, giving helpful hints can be hard, etc., but what really stuck with me most is that we just didn’t really feel supported as players and rather felt judged by our GM and some of the punishing puzzles.

We enjoyed this room. Game master is in the room with you to help when needed and helped a few times to steer us in the right direction if we were going off course with leading questions to help us get back on track. Several puzzles with a math/science focus.