Excellent, truly deserving of all the positive reviews. I will say that this leans more into immersive-theater-with-puzzles vs puzzles-with-an-actor, so you get what you put in. That isn't to say you have to go full LARPer with it, but if you're not into that kind of thing, you might get a little less out of it, that's all, as you are in-universe as soon as the door opens. Lean into it and live a little!
I was worried that all the reviews everywhere I turned on the internet would set an impossibly high expectation going into it; I was actually pretty nervous, because I worried I had sold my friends on an idea that wouldn't pan out. Turns out that Hope End takes those impossibly high expectations in stride and exceeds them, and now I am nervous because this was some of my friends' first escape room experience and it may ruin all others for them.
Gameplay elements made sense, and all the tech used in the puzzles felt appropriately in-universe. Each room in the experience had a reason for being there story-wise.
Set design is fantastic, there are some really well-made props and puzzle elements, they take such great care to make a memorable atmosphere that you would be hard-pressed to find any proof that thousands of people have walked through those halls.
Staff were great! They give 110% and it adds so much to the experience. The person who opens the door for you is in character from the moment they say hello, all the way to the end. It was incredibly impressive that they were able to perform at that level for multiple parties every day, because this felt like such a unique event thanks to them. They made jokes and poked fun all on the fly.
Particularly interesting or different
Yes
I will admit that I haven't done nearly as many escape rooms as I have wanted, and not nearly as many as some of the other fine folks on this website; but it's pretty clear that it is no small feat to create novel puzzles, and create novel puzzles with an interesting story and reason for doing said puzzles. Throw in live actors that have to react to multiple people acting in unpredictable ways, and you could very easily have something go wrong -somewhere-. But not here!
Plot is humorous and charming, and all the puzzles made sense within the story.
Taken by themselves, I don't think the puzzles are -particularly- difficult, but when you're working with 8 other people, the real puzzle is project management.
A few mechanical toys, but a good amount of sensors and speakers. There's also a screen in the final room that isn't for a puzzle, but does play things based on your actions.
We came in with 9 people total. I was actually worried that'd be too many, but it worked out fine. There was plenty of room for all of us, so they're not lying when they say they can accommodate 12 people. I think if you want a challenge, 4-6 people is good. 8 other people meant we could get 1-2 people working on almost every puzzle simultaneously, and I would kinda float around the groups as an extra hand.
The initial draw is humorous (you can see it on their website when you book) and once the proper experience starts, it does get appropriately spooky, but rarely straight-up scary. I think it toes the line really well. It's easy to throw jump scares and screams at you, but it takes real effort and dedication to create a set that functions with puzzles but also tells an atmospherically eerie story.
Two live actors, both great. That's all I can say without spoilers!
Physically active
Not at all
The location is a little... unassuming, but there are clear instructions when you book of how to find it.
It's in a strip mall, plenty of parking in their lot.
