Xcape Singapore: Busan Express

With seven games currently running, Xcape is one of Singapore’s largest venues. They also categorise their rooms into ‘seasons’, with the current crop being their third season. All seven games have themes that are at least semi-horror, and we picked the one based on the Korean zombie train movie of the same name.

Their system is pay on arrival: after settling our bill the rather bored-looking receptionist directed us outside, round the corner and up some stairs to the actual game location. Our actual host was more enthusiastic, if a little nervous, and explained the rules and backstory. He also let us know there would be an NPC actor, from whom we should hide.

You wouldn’t be in any danger of mistaking the surroundings for actually being on a train, but the decor did a decent job of setting the scene. I wouldn’t describe this as a scary game, but it’s potentially nerve-inducing for first time players who are unsure of what to expect.

With a very linear structure, the first puzzle is one of the game’s trickiest, which always strikes me as questionable design: it means too many teams have the dispiriting experience of needing a hint before they’ve solved anything. That said, it was also quite a nice puzzle, abstract but satisfying.

It’s listed as three players minimum, but there’s only one step that would be at all tricky for a pair or a solo player. With three experienced players we finished off everything in a little over half an hour. There’s plenty of focus on story and atmosphere, and a plot that emerges as you progress (at least, if you’re paying attention), but nonetheless I thought the puzzles were the stronger part of the experience: varied and logical, sometimes even thematic, and not too easy even though we finished quickly.

Our host’s NPC appearance was a nice attempt to add extra drama, though in practice we just politely waited for him to leave so that we could continue solving.

The weakest aspect of Busan Express was the ending, in that there wasn’t one: I did something that I wasn’t even expecting to have an effect yet and was startled to be faced with the game host, slightly sheepishly telling me we’d completed it. He then had to break the news to my equally surprised teammates, who were busily investigating a cupboard with cleaning supplies that, it turned out, should have been locked and wasn’t actually part of the game after all.

Despite the flat finish, it was a solidly designed game. I haven’t seen any sign of rooms in Singapore that are built and run by passionate enthusiasts, and Xcape isn’t the place to find them; but for a decent looking game with satisfying puzzles and a bit of story drama, Busan Express is a good option.