Istanbul, May 2024
Tuzak, which is Turkish for Trap, is located in the Asian half of Istanbul, and currently run just this one game, though I believe in the past they’re operated more. Escape from Heist is based on the TV series Money Heist (La Casa del Papel), though apart from use of the iconic Dali mask I didn’t recognise all that many references to the show.
Even with the additional cost for playing in English, this was an inexpensive escape room, so I wasn’t expecting high-tech glitz. But while I think it was probably built on a low budget, it does quite a lot with what it has, creating a sequence of distinct stages as you work your way towards the vault. Simple tricks such as hearing but never seeing the host before the end of the game help immersion.
Many of the puzzles use traditional types of prop such as laminated papers and office furniture, though electronic mechanisms are used well to add variety and a sense of realism. The game also has a couple of surprises to throw at you to add drama and urgency.
For me the ending felt weak. It’s intended to create a tense and exciting finish, but that fizzled a bit into confusion.
Escape From Heist is a game that tries to create a fairly ambitious heist experience with limited resources. The puzzles aren’t really solid or consistently creative enough to really achieve that, but the result was still enjoyable, and cheap enough that I’m not going to complain about value for money. Those looking to pack in multiple rooms might want to note that there’s another, unrelated, escape company in the same building one floor up. 
