Paradox Parlours Guildford: Venus

By | March 20, 2019

by Paradox Parlours Guildford (website)

Jeffries Passage, GU1 4AP

01483 567607

Guildford

2-6 players

Languages: EN

60 minutes

With the recent rapid increase in the capabilities of artificial intelligence most homes have adopted some helpful AI to assist in tasks around the home.
venus represents the latest in home assistance technology and is the first product that claims to have been created with a human-like personality to help integrate venus into your family.
Reports have recently been coming in of some bugs in the venus system. As part of the tech team, can you investigate?
venus. always on. always listening. always there.
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Overall rating

Rated between 3.5 and 4.5 out of 5

based on ratings from 28 users
combined with 3 pro reviews

Your review

Player reviews

Elisha Horsepool Affiliated experienced rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Played: 12/6/2023 Team size: 5 Time taken: 55 mins 44 secs Outcome: Successful escape!
hi-techfunnygreat hosting

Played before I was a host here

Fantastic room and so well thought out. Venus is hilarious and the room is extremely immersive. You think there's not much to do, but boy was I wrong

rileypeverall experienced rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 4 Mar 2026 Team size: 2 Time taken: 39:23
hi-techimmersivegreat hosting
Mark Jackson experienced rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunny

Pretty good room. Nice funny touches throughout

BubbleAndSqueak expert rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 20 Jul 2025 Team size: 2 Time taken: 44:44 Outcome: Successful escape!
funnygreat hosting

This room really benefited from our incredible GM (Kieran), and the incredibly sassy AI assistant. The puzzles were good, and logical, the only thing that let this room down was the theming, but the puzzles and the GM 100% made up for that!

Our ratings:

Theming: 6.5/10
Puzzles: 8/10
GM: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Fun: 10/10

Overall: 85%

Emma Macedo expert rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 3 Apr 2024 Team size: 3 Time taken: 59:11 Outcome: Successful escape!
hi-techfunnystory-driven

Had heard good things about Paradox and the storyline of this game sounded very different to most common games you are likely to encounter. This was our first visit to Paradox Palours, we played as it was my birthday and I would definitely return to try the other games based on this experience. The puzzles were cleverly linked into the story and were mostly technical based but the interactivity of the AI in there definitely adds a new dimension to the game. Playing as a team of 3 was probably just about right as there wasn't a huge amount of puzzles, but some just took a little more figuring out. The space isn't that large but likewise is fitting with the theme and didn't hinder the game (with a small team). I really enjoyed my visit and would like to thank our games master too, who made us feel welcome both before the game and after.

Peter Hoare experienced rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 9 Aug 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 50
originalfunnyquite easy

Our first room at paradox parlours. I had heard about the high tech nature of this, so was looking forward to it. Others have said its small, but I don't think that feels obvious when you are playing. Its not cramped, and certainly dos not feel small.

Unfortunately for us, one of the main technological elements crashed half way through, it did not impact the game play but we did miss out on some of the interaction. The team at Paradox parlours could not have been more apologetic and they refunded 100 percent to us before the game was even over. Can't complain, still had a great time. 

jakea256 expert rated this:Rated between 3.5 and 3.5 out of 5
funny

I think this room is one that is either made or broken by the Gm that you have and the way that they play the Venus character. There were some brilliantly subtle jokes and ‘up yours’ moments from the AI throughout that had me giggling. The puzzles were varied and usually multi step which was nice! For an old game they’ve packed some interesting puzzles into a tiny space. 

Robert Storey Affiliated expert rated this:Rated between 5 and 5 out of 5
Team size: 3 Time taken: 48 Outcome: Successful escape!
hi-techoriginalfunny

Edit: This game was played after I became a GM at PP Woking, but before I GMd at Guildford. Take what you will from that 🙂 

What a brilliant concept. Venus sure is a rather unique.... intelligence. Great fun, great hosting. For a reasonably small space the team have delivered a very good room!

connor_rosie22 experienced rated this:Rated between 4 and 4 out of 5
Played: 22 Mar 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 46:36 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunny
Char experienced rated this:Rated between 4.5 and 4.5 out of 5
Team size: 4
funny
Hilarious room, we loved Venus! This is the first room I've done which is laugh out loud funny throughout, brings another level to the room
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Reviews by escape room review sites

If you've ever found Siri or Alexa slightly creepy, then Venus is the game for you. The setting is the not too distant future, in a wholesome, gently futuristic suburban living room under the perhaps not so benevolent care of a Venus home AI system. The AI has of course gone rogue and as system engineers, you have the task of fixing it by, essentially, turning it off and on again.

It's not a huge space, and is better suited for a smaller team. Since it's themed as a home of the future, the deco...

This room instantly went into our Top 10 and it will be there for some time. Strong puzzles, hilarity, and wonderful GM, this is a room not to miss. Flash Gordon for the win!

The funniest game I've played. For that alone it deserves high praise, but alongside it they've got a great mission, fun puzzles and a good ending. I'd highly recommend heading along.

Lists

This game is part of the following user-created game lists:
Best UK escape rooms 2021 by Escape the Review virtuoso

These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms (out of 1600) in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2021, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 

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