The Lost Temple

Fun but can be tedious as well. The Good: Interesting, in-depth, and sometimes challenging puzzles. The Bad: Some puzzles are tedious with multiple levels of "arts & crafts" that need to sometimes be more precise than is easy to do while rushing. Things are spread between multiple screens meaning a lot of clicks back and forth on the interface. No communication options for remote players, we used discord. Video clues restart every time you enter the section of the puzzle. Some puzzles are more scavenger hunt in the numerous sections to click on and many need viewing several. The Ugly: The interface does its job, though a lot of back and forth between views, and numerous layers deem of hitting the back button or going down a long path to the destination. There is a list of interactive things you have found ("locks") but they aren't clickable, so you need to navigate to them again for each attempt. Numerous PDF/Printout clues have a line on the side saying to use the hint to see them assembled if you do not have a printer, but we never found these. The hints are only on "locks" and start form a pre-set list of clues until finally offering you the solution. No hints we found had images. If you leave the area of the hint, going back starts then from the beginning, which is fine given there is no other way to back to previous hints. Hints will be the same list even if you have already done most of the steps (annoying but understandable). More annoying is several new unlocks give you a page number from a printout (which you can click on and view) but no reference to it being different from what is show on the screen (some were additional "arts & crafts" needed for a future puzzle in addition to the item picked up for a different "lock"). Overall though an interesting and challenging experience. I would do similar again just would need to be in the right mind set and likely have someone in the same room with me not just over a remote chat/meeting.

Crazy puzzle gauntlet! This was a challenge in terms of prep and then brainpower. Nothing is watered down about this experience. I might recommend shelling out for the pre-printed materials if you don’t have a printer, as the digital PDF didn’t quite cut it for my teammate. Well worth doing, but be warned: This thing is a beast!!!

For my literal first experience with an escape (and a virtual one at that!) - it was definitely challenging! The puzzles did require some arts-n-crafts (cutting, folding, and taping paper into 3d shapes to use as props to solve), but the theming was very on-par for what I expected. I'd say 1 part Indiana Jones, 2 parts Lovecraft, and 1 part The Mummy: a fun blend of Depression-era folks meddling in things they probably ought not be meddling in! There was actually a jump-scare (you'll know it when you hear it; the bones don't lie) which while unexpected provided a few laughs. I appreciated that we weren't penalized for using hints (which we did need a solid half-dozen of, give or take). I do think that having the Game Leader as the only one whose input functioned to unlock the locks and advance the puzzles was a hindrance; might have been better if my partner and I were in the same physical space, which kinda defeats the purpose of being able to play remotely. Overall, a fun first experience, but would definitely consider it a challenging escape due to the reliance on symbolism and finicky runes in the puzzles.

Fun, but their other online game Floor 13 was a lot stronger story wise and puzzle wise. There were some great puzzles, especially the final puzzle. A lot of set out though.