Co-Decode: Sub Terra

29-30 Morley St, Swindon SN1 1SG

2-6 players

Languages: EN

60 minutes

In 2008 the Cheney potash mine was unexpectedly shut down and the site evacuated. Despite much speculation in the media at the time, the reasons for closure remained obscure and the whole event soon became overshadowed by the recession.

About a week ago, your team of investigative journalists received a cryptic answer phone message. The caller claimed to work for a scientific research company named R-Tech Group and requested an urgent meeting to share sensitive information about an earlier ‘mining incident’. You wait at the rendezvous point… but no one turns up.

Intrigued, you start digging into R-Tech’s recent activities and sure enough uncover a connection to the Cheney potash mine. Could there be a secret facility deep inside and, if so, what have they been researching? This could be your chance to expose something huge, so what are you waiting for?!

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Overall rating

based on ratings from 28 users
combined with 4 pro reviews

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Your review

Player reviews

LR experienced rated this:

Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!

beautifulhi-techcleverquite difficult

The best escape room in Swindon hands down. Can't wait for Co-Decode to re-open with a new room. The room was beautiful, the theme was great and the puzzles were a wonderful mixture of high and low tech. There was enough to do that we split up into two smaller teams of two. We could probably play the whole room again without repeating anything

EmmaSmiley rated this:

Team size: 2 Time taken: 56 Outcome: Successful escape!

hi-techoriginalepic

Code-decode are one of the best escape room companies I've been too.

Firstly they let us reschedule short notice (3 days before) as I tore 2 ligaments and ended up on crutches. They were very understanding and rescheduled for 6 weeks time.

Secondly the amount of love and thought that has gone into their games is profound.

Sub terra is in my top 5 games the puzzles were original and flowed well, due to having to find 4 hard drives as well as complete the game simultaneously. You alway have direction and can break up and complete different elements.

Cant wait for code decode to reopen at there new location, going to do crew for my birthday

TheCLAMS expert rated this:

Team size: 5 Outcome: Successful escape!

quite difficult

Speedy Sloth expert rated this:

beautifulhi-techoriginal

matt_keds expert rated this:

Played: 15 Apr 2023 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!

beautifulcleverimmersive

Alwaysablast rated this:

Team size: 2 Outcome: Failed 🙁

hi-techoriginalimmersivequite difficult

A room not to miss, super clever use of tech, amazing design, flows really well.

Jess_keds expert rated this:

Outcome: Successful escape!

beautifulhi-techimmersive

aalexmiller experienced rated this:

Played: 24/3/2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 64 Outcome: Successful escape!

hi-techimmersive

Brilliant escape room, highly recommended!

Kates experienced rated this:

Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!

hi-techcleverimmersive

We really enjoyed this game, and split off into two pairs at points where there was plenty to keep us occupied. Loads of content, and it was brilliantly accessible for one of our group who has mobility issues. I think we ended up completing everything and as with all the games at this venue they're so thoughtfully, cleverly and beautifully put together despite the deceptive nature of their location!

Kelly Archer expert rated this:

Played: 12 Mar 2023 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!

beautifulhi-techimmersive

This one really split the team in terms of opinion. We loved it but I know the other half of the team felt lukewarm.

It is beautifully made and looks in mint condition (even though it's been open 3+ years) and has some very clever tricks and original puzzles. There are definitely moments where 4 people seem to be too many - a team of 2 would probably enjoy this more but might find it hard to finish in the time. It's very tech driven and all of that worked faultlessly. Clever, fun, a great room.

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Reviews by escape room review sites

We may have been the very last team to play Sub Terra in its original location; Co-Decode will be relocating to a more central spot in Swindon, and it’s not yet certain whether Sub Terra will be rebuilt there in quite the same form, or at all. But if you haven’t played it, you should be hoping it returns so that you can. [Edit: And I think it's now confirmed that it's coming back!]

The plot line has you entering a mine, supposedly abandoned but actually in use by a dubious corporation. Your job...

A fantastic game bringing together great puzzles, impressive engineering, a beautiful set and an interesting storyline. Well worth travelling to Swindon for.

Sub Terra was a delight from start to finish. With a strong story that’s reenforced by a fantastic set, and great puzzles, it has firmly secured a place on my list of Top Ten Favourite rooms (to date). If you haven’t made the trip to Co-Decode yet, what are you waiting for?

Sorry theme park enthusiasts this isn't a blog post or review about Alton Tower's Sub Terra ride. This is however a review for Co-Decode's Sub Terra escape room which we got to play at the weekend. Located 5 mins (Driving distance) from Swindon train station is this award winning escape room. They have two rooms here in Sub Terra and Professor Dunstan and the Search for the Ancient Statuette. We were here to play Sub Terra. You are investigative journalists looking into a tip about the mines being used for experiments and you are there to find the data that would reveal everything. Going into this room I knew nothing, not even that synopsis. I went in blind and I think that worked to my advantage.

Lists

This game is part of the following user-created game lists:

Best UK escape rooms 2022 by Escape the Review virtuoso
These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2022, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended.
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.