I’ve been reviewing games on EtR* for almost as long as I’ve been playing Escape Games. As of writing this section, I’ve played 580 games and reviewed/rated 572 of them on the site. Why the discrepancy? There’s a couple of reasons and I’ll go into those when I do my post about reviewing games.
Out of those 572 reviews I have only given 15 games all 5 stars (as per EtR’s rating system). That equates to 2.59% of the total games I’ve played. A couple of owners have asked what it takes to get that mark from me and that’s a difficult question. I’ll be writing how I review and mark games in a separate article but in this one I wanted to revisit those 15 games and why I gave them that maximum mark and maybe wonder if they deserved it looking back. The below list is in the order I played these games along with what number they were in my playing career.
7 / LOOP (Now Closed)
Ah, back when I was in single digits. Back in July 2018 I embarked on what was my first binge trip playing Escape Games. An old friend had invited me along as she was staying in London and had organised this trip that I would then drive down for at the Panic Room in Gravesend. We would play 5 games that day but there was one definite standout for me. Loop was originally a popup escape game in London, it was designed and built by Clockwork Dog (who you may have heard from some of their other projects). When the popup closed, the game was acquired by the Panic Room in Gravesend.
I can’t remember the whole of the backstory but it was something like, worlds first time machine, we are the first travellers, nothing can go wrong, until it does! The first half of the game is a series of high-tech puzzles (this game had a huge amount of tech in it to make it work which would still be impressive today). Where the game really comes alive is in the second half when you realise what the twist is and what the timer mechanism really signifies. It was such a lightbulb moment (for me) that I still remember it vividly. This game was announced as closing several times but finally closed in 2024. Looking at some of the reviews, it’s clear that people thought it was becoming slightly dated and that it was hard for a smaller group. It’s hard to comment on that as I played in a team of 5 and it was only my seventh game.
The big question though is it still worthy of the 10? This game bowled me over back in the day and is probably one of the reasons I’ve become such a fan as it was such a clever story told in such a clever way and that’s what made it so special in my opinion. If not a 10 then it would still be a very solid 9, but probably a 10.
24 / Cosmos 05
My first (and currently only) trip to Athens came during the Easter Weekend in 2019. I had a fabulous time here and played some amazing games (and some games with a dubious flirtation with Health & Safety but that’s for another time). I remember enjoying all of the games at Escapepolis but Cosmos 05 was very much the standout.
This is a Sci-fi game that sees you waking up from Hypersleep into a bit of a situation. The theming is excellent and the puzzles are all very technology based. There’s not much space(!) to explore but what there is all fully themed around the game. I remember we failed the very first puzzle as we all had these phones on our arms and there was a number we needed but it was quite small and I think I must have had a hint of colour blindness as I just couldn’t see them but this was the only hiccup (before I walked into a prop and I was terrified I had broken something (I hadn’t)). The story emerged through a series of puzzles until the final denouement.
I would still rank this as an out of this world 10.
28 / Paradox Project 2 – The Bookstore
I remember being astonished by the scope and running story of the first half of Paradox 1 (The Mansion). I also remember not liking the second half and being distinctly unimpressed with the meta nature of how that game ended. So it was with some trepidation I would play the second game only a couple of days later.
This game is over 3 hours long and encourages you to take breaks but is worth every single moment. From the variety of puzzles, the excellent storytelling and the progression and transition between various scenes is phenomenal. I remember emerging from the final puzzle, collapsing into the street holding the goal aloft in my hand like I was holding Simba the Lion at the beginning of the Lion King! This remains probably my favourite game to date.
It was a solid 10 then and I’m hoping it still is.
31 / Carfax
Living in Nottingham, you are blessed with a variety of excellent Escape games, several of which will feature on this list. Cave Escape’s unique selling point is that the games are built into the natural cave system that exists throughout Nottingham. This was their first game and retells the story of Dracula through several scenes. It takes full advantage of its environment and builds upon the story increasing inventive ways and delivers a suitable finale.
Looking back I think I should probably have given this a 9 but it remains an excellent game with theming and sign-posting excellent throughout to deliver a memorable experience.
53 The Rig (Now closed)
This was the weekend where I played my fiftieth game, that game was infinitely forgettable and not a great experience. The Rig, however was incredibly good. Its always interesting when games take aspects of the local history and build that into the game. I completely wasn’t aware of the existence of an oil field in Nottinghamshire.
The game makes full use of this and sends you a brilliant journey as you try and avert disaster, the game was well designed with great sign posting and puzzles throughout. Sadly, this game would close prematurely when the location it was housed in (Kelham Hall) went into administration. I believe the games here (there was another game housed here as well) were sold but I lost contact with the owner so I have no further information.
This is another game that is absolutely straddling the line between a 9 and 10, back then it would have been a 10, now, still a very solid 9.
100 Ready Mayor One
One of the very few good things to come out of the Covid Pandemic of 2020 was the (brief) reign of online Escape Games. Also, my 100th game should have been Curio at Escapologic in Nottingham, I’ve had several other chances to play that since and I’ve still not made it (I must be the only enthusiast who hasn’t played it!)
This game was based in Florida and was played remotely via Zoom. The reason I rated this game so highly was that I felt it came the closest to actually being in the room and not just feeling like you are participating in an episode of Knightmare. You could click on links on the games website and then see the effect happen live on the screen (all done with network based Arduino microcontrollers). The Hosting was excellent and the game had a great flow to it and delivered the story effectively.
Still a 10, as I thought it was incredibly inventive and came the closest to replicating that feeling of ‘being there’ I’d had remotely.
164 Monuments
Located at the same venue as Carfax (mentioned above) this was their second game. Once again the environment plays directly into the theming of a Second World War game which puts you trying to find hidden art and antiquities before the Russians find you. This is a tough game for a 2 and we ultimately would fail (but we were on the very last puzzle).
I view this game as a step up from Carfax in terms of overall design and puzzles, there are some clever choices made and it all delivers an exceptional experience with some great humour also making an appearance. It does feature one of my absolute pet hates (which probably cost us the win looking back) but it was very much in theme with the game.
Still very much a 10.
169 Daylight Robbery
One trend in Escape Room design that has appeared in recent years is whats been termed a “Puzzle Fest”. Basically a game that features so many puzzles that can be tackled in a non-linear way. It can be a challenge to complete them all in time, thereby possibly enticing you to come back for another go? There’s a few games of this type but I think this is the best one that I’ve played.
I think the theming is excellent (it really used to be bank vault!) The variety of puzzles is stunning and there’s a clever methodology for determining your overall score. There is a final puzzle that needs to be resolved as you get towards the end of the game but there’s a an awful lot to do here.
Still a bankable 10.
261 Showdown
Another remote game but this one got the score due to the interaction between players and performers in the game, the slick way the video switched between live action and pre-recorded and the overall storyline. I can’t remember much about the story apart from I enjoyed it!
This may have not have had the feeling that Ready Mayor One gave me but this had the best interactions in any remote game I played and was almost a LARP with all of the interaction. This was just fantastic fun throughout.
A fun filled 10!
296 Dragon’s Heart
Magic Shops are a perennial theme, something about a boy wizard who survived and all that. I’ve certainly played more than a few in my escaping career. This is one of the better ones as it tries to convey a genuine sense of magic. I do like a good magic room and this is very much that. There theming is on point and features an inventive use of space that is well thought out.
Looking back, even though it’s one of the better Magic themed rooms I’ve played in, it probably should have been a 9, maybe even an 8 (which still marks it as being above average which I definitely regard it as).
374 Loot the Lanes
What is there to say that I haven’t before? This really is (in my opinion) one of the very best games that I’ve played. It’s a great combination of story, theming, puzzles and hosting. Probably the best UK game at the moment despite its age.
10.
411 Viking
One of the more inventive and what felt like historically accurate (down to the custom made padlocks!) games that I’ve played. The space (whilst small) is well used and contains multiple surprises throughout. The game is steeped in Viking legend but you don’t need any outside knowledge to progress. The theming feels authentic and all of the puzzles fit into the theme conveyed by the story.
I absolutely loved this game and it’s been a while so I may even go back and play it again as I enjoyed it so much. Also, ask to see the reset as that is also incredibly inventive…
Very much a worthy 10.
464 Explorers Diary
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my top 5 films of all time and any game that is going to me feel like an archaeologist perks my interest. This game features what feels like more than a few nods towards that franchise whilst carving out its own story. From the In character briefing to the fantastic theming, transitions to the finale and so much more, this felt like a great epic adventure, and I got to wear a hat!
10, and I do call this archaeology!
500 The Great Loudini
500 Games played! I realise this still makes me an amateur compared to some people! This game really is something else, it made an immediate buzz on the enthusiast pages and was seemingly booked solid for months. This is a game about magic, in the literal sense as you encounter a magician who will do magic in front of your eyes. Even without the live actor, its still a brilliant game with puzzles very much themed to the story it is telling.
A magical 10.
552 The Alchemist
An excellent game with some of the highest production values I have ever seen (I’ve seen some fantastic rooms let down by a poor gaming experience). This has a superbly clever start, the puzzles are arguably few in nature but are so well executed and are so beautiful as well. That combination can be a rare thing in escape games.
Very much a 10.
In Closing
No matter if I would rate the game lower than all 5 stars, each on this list was something special to me. As the phrase goes, your mileage may vary and that is indeed the nature of escape games. It doesn’t matter if you have the best sets if your game is rubbish or your host is keen to get home and starts giving hints in the first two minutes or a prop has clearly been broken for some time or your puzzles are just too abstract. All of those factors will mean you aren’t getting that high score from me. For that mark you have to be something really special, or the stars just have to align, either one.
So thanks for reading, if indeed, you still are.
EMERGE 