Way Out: Ice Tiki

If you’re reading this to decide whether to play Ice Tiki, the answer is yes. Athens has a wealth of must-play games, and Way Out is, suitably for its name, way out from the centre – nonetheless, you should put it on your schedule anyway. My only hesitation in recommending this game to absolutely everyone is that it’s an unusually physical game, involving some climbing and a lot of movement, so if that’s a barrier then it’s worth discussing with the venue; but otherwise, just go ahead and book it and thank me later.

In this game you’re shipwrecked in Antarctica and need four Hawaiian tiki statues to save yourselves. That unexpected juxtaposition of themes is the setting for a light-hearted, playful game that keeps finding new ways to challenge and entertain through its 2+ hour length.

This is another room that demonstrates that extensive use of maglocks and sensors is in no way needed to create a magical experience. Although there’s plenty of technology involved, the majority of puzzles are mechanical or no-tech, and in most cases are all the better for it. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s plain: the physical construction of the space is remarkable and highly memorable.

Audio is Ice Tiki’s secret weapon. The game would be marvellous anyhow, but the hosts use music and sound to add energy and humour in a way that had us bouncing around with huge grins on our faces.

I could nit-pick some of the details of the puzzles – for example with one that arguably involved outside knowledge in a small way. But I don’t want to. It was simply delightful in a way that deserves to be uncritically enjoyed, and for pure fun it might be unrivalled. I’m worried I risk overhyping it in a way that’ll subject it to the curse of high expectations, so don’t go in with a skeptical eye looking for something mind-blowing; rather, approach it in a playful mood and you’ll have a blast.