Jen Wells (Get Wells Soon)

Having loved House of Escobar, we were really looking forward to this - slightly easier, it has to be said - room and it didn't disappoint. The same build quality we saw in Metro and Escobar was here in spades, with some lovely puzzles and a clever key reveal. The gameplay flowed really nicely while keeping the immersion leve high. An original-themed offering in Budapest's crowded market.

If there is any phrase that will get us excited about a room, it's 'puzzle-fest' and that is exactly what this game is. In the sense of a story, well, it doesn't have one. in terms of a fancy set... well, it's very impressive but it's not an immersive set in the sense that you'd expect from an escape room. What it has is an absolutely overwhelming number of puzzles to solve with a mechanism that ties it all together, and said mechanism is absolutely delightful. 

A tricky one to rate as an escape room because I'd argue it's more of a game as opposed to an escape room as such but that's not t say it wasn't enjoyable.

Now, we very much booked this for the theme - we do love LOTR and those who don't might not find this quite as fun as we did. We are therefore pretty biased, as simply the mention of hobbits automatically ups the enjoyment level for us. When I say it's a game, I do mean literally that - the primary method of play is with an interactive game board. It's difficult to say more without spoilers but it's clear that Mystique have really tried something different here that won't be for everyone.

This game had everything: the sharp design, the floorplan, the puzzles, the quirky use of tech and the immersion. There's a lovely mixture of puzzles in here, from audio puzzles (my personal favourite) to physical ones and they were all top drawer.

This was a difficult review to write, really, as the set for this game was absolutely stand-out, the way magic was incorporated was a delight and there were some enjoyable puzzles... however, the final stage of the room - while absolutely beautiful - didn't really continue the gameplay flow that we'd experienced in the first 70% of the game. We also had a couple of technical issues that broke the flow of the gameplay as well and it's a game that does rely on a considerable amount of tech.

Saying that, however, it's definitely worth a play, if purely for the set and a couple of genuinely magical moments.

A solid room with a really lovely set that needed a few more puzzles to really hit the high notes. It's a nice game, however, albeit light on signposting, and there are some delightful details that really build the Alice in Wonderland world.

We are suckers for anything magic-themed so this was a natural choice for us on our visit to Budapest. It's a stunning set with some beautiful decor and some very cool bits and bobs that we really enjoyed. Saying that, we did find ourselves slightly lost on a couple of occasions because we didn't quite gel with this game as much as with some of the other games at Neverland but this seems to be a bit of a Marmite game in that respect.

Any game at Neverland seems to be a good shout, with a super pizzeria and lovely swish bar attached - we had a fantastic time discussing our games over an excellent iced coffee in the bar area. 

Neverland take aesthetics very seriously - all of their rooms look fantastic but this one has a real finesse to it that is extremely impressive. Some superb use of tech in here, along with some clever puzzles that were integrated seamlessly into the gameplay. For us, that immersion meant that we spent the odd daft moment being a bit clueless as to what to do next but that is probably more of a reflection on us than the game! A really great room with plenty to do and plenty of immersion.

We really liked this atmospheric game - it looks great and plays nicely. One particular puzzle had us stumped but purely for the mechanics of it, as opposed to not knowing what to do, but that might just be us being a bit room-tired at that point!

While it might not be the game with the biggest floorplan or the fanciest set-pieces, we really enjoyed this super game - it looks great, has some enjoyable puzzles and flows really nicely. Neverland is a great venue and hosting here was particularly friendly.

The real star here is the set and what a super set it is. There is a real emphasis here on ensuring the puzzles feel immersive and - while that may occasionally sacrifice clear signposting - we absolutely loved that about this game.

There are some nice puzzles that are integrated well but it's the overall combo of the set, the story and the puzzles that really hit the mark for us. 

With an absolutely flawless set, this game holds a lot of promise; for us, however, it didn't quite flow... but that might be down to our particular strengths and weaknesses, which didn't really gel with this room.

Saying that, there were some lovely set-pieces in here and the immersion factor was very high; it really does feel like being in a metro station, which is testament to how superb the set is and how well the puzzles have been integrated into the game.

It's a beautiful thing when a game lives up to expectation so it was such a treat to play the famed Secret Subway and to find that it was just as delightful as its reputation.

The steampunk design worked beautifully and the puzzles made plenty of sense. It's a truly marvellous adventure underground and we enjoyed every minute of it.

If you're after a bit of a laugh with some absolutely fantastic physical elements (and *that* method of transition), then this is a great game with a very different kind of theming that provides a decent slice of entertainment.

We were absolutely enticed by the theme in this one, as we've not seen another day of the dead theming anywhere and it turned out to be a super room for our team of two with some lovely physical bits and bobs going on and a plethora of colourful skulls, flowers and sombreros (!) to keep us happy!

It's not the most challenging of rooms but it's quirky and fun, and you'll leave with a smile on your face.

We do appreciate a good challenge and this really provided it, as to get all eight runes, we really had to work the grey matter in a different way. The build is excellent and no space is wasted in this inventive game that is packed with things to do. It's a real 'think outside the box' type of game, with just enough signposting to keep you going but not enough to have you running around at pace, solving puzzle after puzzle. We really loved the challenge and loved that there was enough to keep the two of us working hard for a good 50 minutes. The puzzle design is so well-crafted - another excellent room from Escape Nation.

An absolutely bonkers experience that's not for the shy, retiring type; role-play is fairly essential in some form or another and the hosts are excellent at providing those opportunities to join in with the fun. There's all sorts of things going on in here and some very inventive things indeed, particularly taking into account the space. Our preferences are geared more towards puzzles and there aren't loads in here but it's a real hoot and we can imagine families with children absolutely loving this.

It's a lovely, festive, inventive Christmas room in a superb escape establishment; there was plenty to keep us occupied and we had a very enjoyable time decorating the tree for Santa. Solid puzzles in here and a few quirky ones that we particularly liked.

Case Closed have a clever new concept and it's not like anything we have seen before. There is a room and there is a case to solve... but saying anything more would reveal a little too much.

There is plenty to keep busy with and, as with all of their games, you get out what you put in. It's a very tricky one to rate, as it's not a classic escape room, but all of the elements are there for a very involved, puzzle-solving experience and the scope for variation is huge... We'll be watching carefully for future games!

Don't go expecting padlocks but do go expecting to embrace your inner sleuth and think outside the box!

Get ready to ROCK! Not a room for the shy, retiring type who hates having fun and who dislikes any kind of creative thinking, this is such a hoot. It's not a padlocky room and while there are puzzles to solve, it's more the big puzzle picture that needs solving in here but the entertainment value just keeps on coming and it is very much 'what you make of it.'

It's a special room created by enthusiasts who wanted to do something a bit different; fans of the original 'Max Sinclair' game will love it.

When the room is, indeed, a cabinet, you know there are some gorgeous locks in store and Escape the Past do historically-accurate locks extremely well. It's a very clever, very authentic set-up with some beautiful elements to the clockwork and lock work that really lend themselves well to the story of Deacon Brodie.

Don't expect fireworks, rooms-a-plenty or charging round collecting things but do expect delightful puzzles and a lovely linear escape adventure that was perfect for our team of two.

So we might be slightly biased for this one because of a few specific things related to the theme (I mean, wow) but this is such a lovely game that is just beautiful.

Puzzle-wise, there are a few obscure leaps of logic but that's all forgiven when you take into account the level of immersion that has been considered here. It really is like heading to a magical place to find a magic lamp and some of the set-pieces are just so lovely that we didn't want it to end.

Without spoilers, it's difficult to express how incredible this room is. The set is flawless, the puzzles are a lot of fun and the hosting is lovely... but the real star here is the gameplay. The twists and turns in this game are just... well, unreal. 

There was plenty in here for our team of two and we were always busy, always engaged, always having a brilliant time. In short, this is an out-there masterpiece and I'd happily turn right around and head straight back in for another 90 minutes of fun. 

Considering how long this game has been open, we are fairly late to the La Mina party, so we were expecting a solid game with some cool physical features, but - having played lots of newer games that have built on the mining theme and taken it to new fancy levels - we didn't expect to see much that was new. It was, therefore, a lovely surprise to have a couple of 'wow, that's so cool' moments  in what turned out to be an extremely immersive, physical game that we both really enjoyed.

While the puzzles aren't very tricky, there's a decent amount to do and the attention to detail that has gone into the immersive nature of the puzzles is a huge plus for this game. That said, don't wear your best clothes, as you will get dirty, even if you try your best not to.

This is a really physical game and one that we would certainly recommend to anyone.

Far from being the classic cosy Christmas set-up, this is a quirky little, high-tech kind of Christmas room that packs a punch of puzzles for its small size. There are some clever puzzles in this sleek room that reflects Compendium's usual flair and sense of humour.

We really enjoyed this year's advent calendar offering from EXIT and found it less obscure than previous games. Lots of fun puzzles made for a nice thing to look forward to each December evening.

This is a cute Christmas room that makes good use of a fairly small space. There are a couple of stand-out features and some nice puzzles. Nothing too challenging in here but a good dollop of festive fun with a bit of silliness thrown in.

This is a story-driven, lighthearted game that families with children will absolutely love. It's not packed with puzzles, rather filled with fun interactions, which probably isn't what enthusiasts who love solving puzzle after puzzle are after.

As usual with Cryptology, everything is done very well and the hosting is good. 

This is, objectively, a super game, with flashy tech galore and a very clever, immersive use of space. The story element of the game is fantastic and the gameplay is inventive... but not a padlock in sight. The lack of padlocks works seamlessly with the game but we are self-confessed padlock people who - when faced with stacks of tech - become clueless, confused and with hooves instead of hands. Put short, the tech doesn't suit us.

This is, despite our proclivity for locks and keys,an excellent game nevertheless and pushes the envelope in many ways.

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Wakefield, there was an escape room that was so gorgeous, so clever and so utterly enjoyable that escape enthusiasts journeyed from all over the kingdom to play it and crown it with 5 golden stars.

Grimm Up North is a puzzler's delight with a superb premise and setting but the real stars are the puzzles. The game structure allows for a main trilogy of quests, then an epilogue that just keeps on going... Throw in some delightful hosts and it's an absolute winner. We would happily have gone straight back into the room to play it again afterwards, which says a lot. It's just brilliant.

An absolute puzzle-fest of a room that is stuffed as full as a Christmas turkey with lovely handmade puzzles. And the best possible Christmas present of all? Being greeted by a whole wall of - and entire tree of - padlocks. So accessible for all ages and abilities and a glorious festive treat.

A super game full of creativity and strange quirks, that we had a fantastic time solving. It's not a huge space but it opens up like a Swiss army knife and the fun is in the tiny detail and the unexpected.

We preferred this to cQ Origenes, even though it's a smaller game; we're padlock people so this had plenty for us.

Great hosting, as seems per usual: Rowen was a real delight.

This room more than any other made us question that age-old escape room adage: does a lack of padlocks make the room better? For us, absolutely not, but there will be some who are lured by the slick technology of a non-padlocky room.

This is a very tech-heavy game and the tech is used in marvellously creative ways; for us, there is nothing more satisfying than a lovely padlock so we were less inclined to gel with this game. It's so clever and quirky in so many ways - although there were a few hiccups in signposting that broke the flow of the gameplay, which could easily be our fault - and the hosting was excellent; Jo, our host, was delightful.

It's a game that will appeal to so many. It wasn't our forte but we did get out and we did enjoy ourselves.

We were the first team to officially play this game - what a privilege! It is such a pleasure to take a trip to Wakefield to play at Escapable because an excellent game and a friendly welcome is absolutely guaranteed.

Jack Frost is an excellent game that really packs a punch in a fairly small space; there are plenty of puzzles to keep enthusiasts busy and plenty of quirky bits of innovation that one would expect from Tom and the team. After 300 games, we rarely expect to see new things in rooms... but there a couple of new things in here that were delightful.

An additional half star for such a warm and friendly welcome and for making our big milestone game so special. Big fancy games are great... but games made with care by enthusiasts really show the best of the industry.

If it's wacky fun and a bit of witty silliness you want in an escape room, then this room gets an A.

Escapable do those clever little touches that make an escape room feel cared about very well; the enjoyment that came from creating the room is obvious in every puzzle. The set up really allows all ages and abilities to access this room; there's a main question then a puzzle-filled sub-quest, which can only be attempted once the main quest is completed. It is a super format that works incredibly well here.

Puzzles are all lovely, handmade and very in keeping with the theme and - as a teacher - the genuine classroom aesthetic was very much appreciated.

It's a delight.

A beautiful game with some quirky, pretty details that uses space extremely well. The puzzles are satisfying and plentiful but the real beauty - and additional half star - is the inventive nature of some of the puzzles. While some earlier on are run-of-the-mill, the games progresses into some clever spaces that incorporate some delightful challenges.

It is always a pleasure to see family run, independent rooms opening up and this room is tucked away on the ground floor of a shop in a small seaside town, adding to that homemade charm.

The owners are keen enthusiasts and have managed to squeeze a lot into a small space. There's an emphasis on codes and locks and there are plenty of those to go round.

It's a fun game that is interactive and suitable for children. A nice space with some good decor and the odd fun quirk. 

A wholesome romp around Mr Cooper's garden, this lovely game features a plethora of gardening tropes, including - of course - a whole jolly host of characterful gnomes. Puzzles are inventive and plentiful, with a very welcome additional puzzle chain added on at the end for those who zip through the main challenge.

The games here at this lovely, independent escape room centre aren't big or particularly fancy but what is done so well here is invention and that personal touch that makes whatever you are doing feel a little bit special.

Being in a hut in Antarctica, there are lots of obvious trappings and nods to the theme that one would expect... and a few one wouldn't. One particular moment - no spoilers - was just... gorgeous.

Adorable. We had mouse ears on and fed fish to a cat while trying to steal a big wheel of cheese and I don't know what more anybody could ask for.

We did this on challenging mode and brie-zed through it but that's not to say it was completely straightforward. It's a delightfully quirky game with some lovely puzzles; young children and big kids alike will love it.

Plenty of puzzles in here to keep us busy, a great concept and a friendly host, Noel: this is a very decent room that values substance over style, although there are some lovely design elements too. There are some really inventive puzzles and a clever use of space... and one particular feature that was simply a pleasure to witness!

It's a testament to how good Mindworks is as a venue that of their three permanent games, there's not one that we wouldn't recommend. Mission Berlin is perhaps their most straightforward, 'classic' escape room that is arguably less impressive than the other two but that's not to say that it isn't a cracking room with a theme that really appeals and a nice variation in puzzles. There's plenty of observation needed in here but it's all very logical and linear.

What a game! Stacks to do, well-designed puzzles and soooo much fun!

We loved the concept, loved the hosting, loved the wacky hullabaloo of the whole experience; it's a puzzle-fest that will result in a slightly different game every time you play and I'd happily walk right back in and play it all over again.

Immersive from the moment we stepped in, this game flowed flawlessly. A delightful combination of physicality and padlocks, it was a clever use of space that really demonstrated the skill of the design; a hybrid of introduction and gameplay blurred where the startline was, which was both novel and effective.

A combination of great hosting, some quality puns, some original puzzles and a focus on communication and teamwork make this a quality escape room that we would certainly recommend. There is one particular moment that stands out as being absolutely lovely and certainly a first for us!

Super hosting in particular from Dr Chisel Tenderloin, who really upped the enjoyment factor. 

Dover Castle is a real hotbed of history so it does seem appropriate that they have a historical escape room with a wide appeal in the depths of the many miles of tunnels built into the cliffs under the castle. It's a traditional kind of escape rooms with plenty of padlocks, genuine historical props to interact with and a straightforward story that ties in well with Dover Castle's more recent history.

Puzzles are straightforward but well put-together and, while a little more signposting would probably be helpful for less experienced teams, it flows well and makes sense.

Our GM was an absolute delight; she was incredibly friendly and enthusiastic and it was a real pleasure to meet somebody who just loves their job.

It is a lovely little room that is perfect for less experienced teams and those looking to delve into the history of Dover Castle a little deeper (no pun intended). Enthusiasts will tear through it but that's not to say that it isn't charming and enjoyable.

In all honesty, I don't have the superlatives to describe how great this game is.

Imagine everything that makes an escape room a top-rated experience: a beautiful set; an expansive floorplan; a compelling storyline; high-quality puzzles; physical elements; the unexpected... I could go on. This game has all of these in spades. It's a slick, witty behemoth of a game that just keeps on giving... and giving... and giving. We were barely into the first room when we were looking at each other in amazement and this didn't stop until the game had finished.

More than style though, this game has substance. The puzzles are excellent and are woven beautifully into the story and the setting. If I could go back in and play it again immediately, I would.

It is an absolute must-play.

A gloriously mad experience that combines decent puzzles with an utterly bonkers story, culminating in some of the most fun we've had in an escape room (albeit spending the occasional bewildered moment not quite knowing where to go next...) 

While it could do with a few more puzzles, particularly for bigger teams, it doesn't detract from the experience, which is top quality.

A wonderfully creative use of space with plenty to do and a very impressive range of invention when it comes to puzzle-design. It's the kind of room that is full of lovely 'little bits' that just adds to that notion that someone who really loves escape rooms designed this escape room... Nothing brings more joy to me than opening a box to find more smaller boxes inside, each of them locked shut with a different kind of padlock.

EO is a lovely place run by people who care; your experience really matters to them and that's really clear in how their games are designed and the experience they offer. It's a bit hot in this room... so before we tackled our next room, we were given cold bottles of water. We were doing three rooms... so Kelly tried to arrange it so we didn't have to wait long in between games, even though they were busy. It's a lovely, family-run venue and we will certainly be back to play the games we couldn't fit in this time.