Author Archives: escapethereview

Beverley Breakout: The Goblins of Toadsmead

Beverley, Jul 2024

I had a great time in all four of the rooms at Beverly Breakout, but one game was a clear stand-out: this one. The Goblins of Toadsmead is a magic school / wizarding world type of story in which you’re trying to prevent magic from fading from the wor… (more)

Beverley Breakout: Operation Hideout

Beverley, Jul 2024

This is a game with two names – you may see it referred to as either Room 118 or Operation Hideout. I believe the former name is used when you’re playing the 60 minute version, and the latter when you’re playing the 100 minute version. It’s broadly t… (more)

Beverley Breakout: The Great Toy Rescue

Beverley, Jul 2024

Second in our binge of Beverley Breakout rooms was The Great Toy Rescue. With a premise and decor that might be inspired by Toy Story, you’re in a playroom of toys trying to rescue one specific toy. This is an entirely wholesome theme, and the captor… (more)

Beverley Breakout: Santa Paws and the Christmas Chaos

Beverley, Jul 2024

Every December there’s an explosion of temporary Christmas games. Some remain open for some months afterwards, and a handful of them are available all year round – including Santa Paws, which naturally we played on a sunny day in July.

I’d describe … (more)

Project Mayhem: FEAR

Lincoln, Jul 2024

FEAR has a reputation, having won the players’ choice vote for scariest escape room in the UK. You could characterise Project Mayhem’s three games as ‘fun and fear’ (Jangles), ‘puzzles and fear’ (Mary), and ‘fear and fear’ (FEAR). Which isn’t to over… (more)

Project Mayhem: The Rituals of Mary

Lincoln, Jul 2024

Our second game at Project Mayhem was accurately described as their most traditional escape room experience, in the sense of having the most puzzles. Even so, it’s definitely more a horror experience than a puzzle room.

The premise is a horror class… (more)

Project Mayhem: Jangles’ Carnival

Lincoln, Jul 2024

Scary games are dark; it’s true of pretty much every horror game I’ve played or heard of. It’s a straightforward, natural way to build atmosphere and fear – but Jangles’ Carnival is an exception, being brightly lit pretty much the whole way through…. (more)

The 100 best escape rooms in the UK 2024

At the end of every year I take a snapshot of which escape rooms are currently in the top 100 on the site rankings, to celebrate the games that collectively you rated most highly. The rankings on Escape the Review are calculated based on thousands of reviews from players of all levels of experience, combined… Read More »

New UK escape rooms December 2024

I expected this month’s list of new UK games to be mostly just a handful of late-opening Christmas rooms, but a surprising number of companies have launched rooms in December, or have rooms opening in the next week or two. Here’s the full list; and may all your 2025 escapes be thrilling. Greater London 🎄… Read More »

Deliverance Escape Rooms: Martha – The Haunting of Derwent Manor

Lincoln, Jul 2024

I have good memories of Deliverance from my previous trip to Lincoln some years earlier, and was curious to see how well a return visit lived up to those, particularly since Martha is currently the highest rated of their four rooms. The majority of t… (more)