Headlock Escape Rooms: The Keeper & the Fungus Among Us

By | August 1, 2021

by Headlock Escape Rooms (website)

Up to 6 players

Β£75.00

Languages: EN

πŸ“Ήremote avatar
Winner of a 2021 TERPECA award90 mins
The Keeper has awakened.  This only happens every 1,000 years when the evil Paxillus is released from his mushroom prison.  Your team, The Guardians, must help our hero defeat this dreaded Mushroom King and save the people of this land.
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Overall rating

Rated between 4.5 and 5 out of 5

based on ratings from 43 users
combined with 3 pro reviews

Your review

Player reviews

Chris Metcalfe experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 22 Dec 2023 Team size: 5 Time taken: 90 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivegreat hosting

Believe the reviews. This is a wonderful experience. Unlike any game we’ve played before. Wonderfully hosted. Great music, great puzzles, beautiful sets. Will be booking their new game, very soon. 5/5 

Anonymous rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 6 Oct 2021
Sabrina (The Overthinkers) expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 1 Jan 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 67 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnyfamily friendly

This is not your ordinary escape room, it's a mixture between escape room and immersive theatre that's designed to be played remotely. Using a clever mix of video scenes and acting, it's an experience that is unique and only possible in this format. Definitely worth playing, very funny!

FreshBresh rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 29 Dec 2021 Team size: 3 Time taken: 60 min Outcome: Successful escape!
originalclevergreat hosting

An absolute delight! The ideas are very original and the whole set-up is fantastic. Entertaining for both the game interactions and the soundtrack. This is a game for both first-timers and enthusiasts. Highly recommend this game!

Myles Nye rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 12/5/2021 Team size: 3 Time taken: 90 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalmagical

This is an un-missable Zoom experience. I highly recommend to solvers of any level. If you think you've seen everything an escape game on Zoom can be, think again. Trust me on this one. Bring the kiddos. Original, delightful, outstanding. Can't wait to share this and recommend with my friends and family. Bravo Headlock!

Anna Baillie experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 7 Dec 2021 Team size: 6 Time taken: 75 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnymagical

This game is so clever, beautifully made, and exceeded my expectations in every way. I was laughing and smiling the whole way through. Best to go in without spoilers but everyone should give this game a try. The hosting was superb and the whole experience was incredibly fun. Imaginative, creative, and an absolute must play.

Jan Chong rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 21 Nov 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 60 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnyfamily friendly

This experience is joyously silly.  The whole thing plays more like a video game than an escape room, but it is all good fun.  As the other reviews say, best to enter unspoiled. 

Nick Gibson rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 16 Oct 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 85mins Outcome: Successful escape!

Brilliantly original take on the Zoom-based escape room format. Don't Google it in advance, just go in with a smile on your face and expect to have that smile for the entire time :>

ESparrow rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 8 Oct 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 90 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalfunnyquite difficult

This is one of my favourite games I've played. The sets are beautiful and made with love. The story is charming and funny. The puzzles are well designed and interesting. There are musical numbers. Point and click feel with the charm of gorgeous puppets and fun puzzles! πŸ™‚

Big_Chris rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 7 Oct 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 75 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnymagical

  • Lovingly created set and story
  • Great use of the online medium to deliver something original
  • Fun and satisfying puzzles

Ricky Schultz rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 2 Oct 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 75 minutes
originalcleverstory-driven

This game is truly unique, fantastical, and oh so clever. It is a must play game! If you love escape games, catchy songs, humor, and classic point and click adventure games like "Escape from Monkey Island" or "Myst" then this game is definitely for you. It is such a fun and creative experience, and our team of four thoroughly had a great time. 

Headlock Escape Rooms has taken the escape room genre over zoom and has expertly created an experience that can truly only be played in this virtual setting. This is not an escape room that was converted for a zoom format, but rather a game that was created from scratch with zoom in mind. 

I highly recommend that you book now. Really. Stop what you are doing and go book now for a truly memorable experience.

WinemakingGamer rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 29 Dec 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 65 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverstory-drivengreat hosting

I thought the escape room was a very refreshing and innovative take on the online escape room genre and definitely worth playing!

EireBanshee expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: Sept 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 80 min Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnystory-driven

We smiled and danced throughout this game.  Let's be honest, this game is strange - you are either going to love it or hate it.  But how can you not love it?!  This game had a  very cool retro vibe for me.  It was more musical theater than escape room, but with puzzles along the way.  We had a very enjoyable evening with this game.  Thanks, Joel, for your creativity, and for having the cojones to put these mad ideas into action.

edventure rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 25 Sep 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 90 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven

Believe the hype. More of a show with puzzles along the way. Music is superb. Joel is a top chap. Really enjoyed this. πŸ‘πŸΌ

msilcox expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 18 Sep 2021 Team size: 3 Time taken: 57 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivenmagicalquite difficult

This is really an experience like no other.  It is very important to suspend your cynicism and bemusement going in and just enjoy.  The amount of imagination and care taken to create the little world of the game really is quite extraordinary.  Definitely a must try!

🦑cipherdelic virtuoso rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnyepic
Kelley Wolatz experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 12 Sep 2021 Team size: 3 Time taken: 85 minutes
originalfunnyclever

A great game and loads of fun. The musical aspects truly impressed me, and due to the original lyrics the game was so engaging.  I smiled a TON playing this game! The way the camera moves between scenes is incredible. Very smooth technology. Loved the way inventory was displayed. So very creative, and nothing else like it!

stairs expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 12 Sep 2021 Team size: 3 Time taken: 01:20:00 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivenmagical

This game is so unlike any other "escape room" I have ever played, it feels almost impossible to describe: it's somewhere between the T.V. shows "Knightmare" and "Fingermouse", but with songs from a camp rock opera, and puzzles from the Legend of Zelda. With puppets. On Acid.

If you like any of....:

Puppets, Improvised comedy, Computer adventure games, , Musicals, Puzzles, Quirky Edinburgh Festival shows, Model-making, Silly songs, Fingermouse / Doodle Do / Zig and Zag , Bad jokes, Lumino City, The Little Shop of Horrors, Surreal trippy children's TV of the 1970s, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Live theatre, just sheer bloody-brilliant-I-can't-believe-some-folks-just-made-this-game-in-their-spare-bedroom-and-now-act-it-out-as-a-90-min-show-four-times-a-day...

...then just stop reading this now and book yourself in.

πŸ”James Bloodworth expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 10/09/2021 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
story-drivengreat hostingfamily friendly
The latest game from Headlock is a delightfully whimsical fairy tale of good vs evil.  Every now and again a game comes up that subverts all of your expectations of it.  To reveal much more would be to spoil it, but if I was to say to you "Fingerbobs" then those of you reading this of a certain age might get a wistful gleam in their eyes. There are puzzles but that's not the point of this game (alhough one tricky one in the middle took us a little while to get through until we realised what we were doing).  If you're looking for some hard core puzzling action then this is not that game, in some ways its like playing a Zelda game in real life without explicitly stealing the IP.  You won't break a sweat, but you should come out the other end with a smile on your face.
Adam experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 10 Sep 2021 Team size: 2 Time taken: 1:20 ish
originalfunnyclever

Would defiantly recommend, funny original and unique, most defiantly worth staying in and playing along! 

Simon (The Overthinkers) expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 1 Jan 2022 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivengreat hosting
abunai expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Jens (Bruteforce) expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 15 Jan 2021 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneyfunnygreat hosting
AnnaCK expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 10 Oct 2021 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverstory-drivengreat hosting
Jonathan Gottesman rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 22 Mar 2023 Team size: 3 Time taken: 64 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivenmagical

So much investment went into this virtual game.

It is sweet, clever and the story is adorable. 

The entire experience was so well coordinated, and it felt as if I were playing an RPG computer game while taking part in a musical.

I want to play the prequel so bad when it comes out, several months from now.

ratsontour expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 22 Dec 2022 Team size: 7 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivenfamily friendlyquite easy
matt_ond rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 14 Dec 2022 Team size: 4 Time taken: 75 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnymagical

Was great time for our group of 4! Very cute and well crafted sets. It was really neat that there was a narrative along the way (and I'm always a sucker for musical numbers) - These were things I haven't seen in any other escape room before, and they were thoroughly enjoyed by our team. If you're looking for a fun and quirky remote activity, look no further!

It_came_from_the_desert expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Team size: 5 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnymagical

Amazing, THIS is how you do an avatar game.

jakea256 expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 11 Sep 2022 Team size: 3 Time taken: 63:00 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnyclever

Such a unique concept with a decent variety of puzzles. Some quite easy and others make you think (then subsequently kick yourself for not spotting the trick!). Really funny, lighthearted game with a musical theatre twist. Weird, bonkers and lots of fun!

AGameEscapes rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 5 Sep 2022 Team size: 5 Time taken: 79 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnygreat hosting

This was an absolutely brilliant concept that I can only describe as an otherworldly cross between Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Dungeons & Dragons. Well done, Headlock.

Kenneth Yap rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 17 Jun 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 85 minutes
originalfunnyfamily friendly

This game was really fun and original. Quirky characters, easy-to-follow storyline, good range of puzzles of varying difficulty, and the best feature is the awesome live avatar. The avatar was descriptive of the room and its features, accompanied by the occasional subtle hint. Reveal and cut scenes were engaging, while room overview and camera angle captured all the details you need to size up the play. Suitable for kids of all ages and an overall great experience that combines all the features of an escape room and Role Playing Game (inventory and items)! Great job Joel! We had lots of fun playing it, from start to finish.

AdamEscapes rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 16 Dec 2021 Team size: 2 Time taken: 81:00 Outcome: Successful escape!
dangalerosen rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 13 Feb 2022 Team size: 6 Time taken: 1:15 or so Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneyfunnygreat hostingquite easy

Loved this! Such a fun, different experience from most of the (in person and online) escape rooms my group and I have played. It really takes advantage of the format to do some great things, and the tech is incorporated seamlessly. Really enjoyed every aspect of this from the puzzles to the sets to the singing (yep, singing).

Darren Miller expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 9 Jan 2022 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalcleverstory-driven

A cute game with good puzzles and a creative, funny story line.

Tom Alcock expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Outcome: Successful escape!
funnystory-drivengreat hosting

Such a brilliant experience. Hilariously funny and very clever. 

If you haven't played this yet. DO IT!

Sheena Penney rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 12 Feb 2022 Team size: 6 Time taken: 75 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnygreat hosting

We played this with some friends, with no expectations of what it was going to be and we loved it! It was super original and great for the whole family. The way it works is amazing and so very clever! Would definitely recommend

Jeannette Rayn Hagan Beresford rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 13 Jan 2022 Team size: 5 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalclevergreat hosting

This game so so adorable and incredibly unique ! It had music, humour and some very unique puzzles. Not only did the creator/game master show us the alternate endings after the game but he even gave us a little backstage tour and answered all our questions. I played this game with a huge smile on my face the entire game. Definitely hope it has more chapters in the future. 

magicalbacons expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnygreat hosting

Retro video game meets interactive theatre meets escape game!

We absolutely loved this game! The work that's gone into creating this whole experience is just ridiculous (in the best way possible)!

Thank you to Joel for being an outstanding host and for creating this wonderfully unique experience.

НадСТда 'Π₯Π΅Ρ€Π°' Π”Π°Π½Π°Π±Π°ΡˆΠ΅Π²Π° rated this:
Played: 27 Jan 2022 Team size: 6 Time taken: 57 Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneyfunnygreat hosting

Those guys are putting the "fun" into the fungi πŸ˜€ 
Loved every second of it. The flow of the game feels natural, neither fast nor slow. The complexity of the puzzles is I would say somewhere in the sweet spot between too easy so it is not challenging and too hard so you feel frustrated and lost. But ...

This game is just a gem, in the ocean of rooms with the same design, same feeling, same theme, same puzzles, this game is just a breath of fresh air. It is funny, it is witty, even the host's improvisations made me belly laugh. 
Keep doing what you doing, it is shown that this "product" is made with passion and love for the craft, and as a customer and as an escape enthusiast I appreciate it a lot. 

Thank you! 

Jeffrey Eanes rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 17 Jan 2022 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalclevergreat hosting

This was an amazing game!!  My wife and I have done over 600 escape rooms and over 100 virtual escape games, and found this one particularly creative and engaging!  The gamemaster (Joel) was awesome, supportive, and funny!  We strongly recommend playing this game!

πŸ†Annagramma expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Outcome: Successful escape!
originalfunnygreat hosting
evan experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 10 Jan 2022 Team size: 5 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalstory-driven

This was a truly delightful experience. Headlock have managed to put together an experience that is somehow an escape room, a Disney musical, an RPG video game, and a puppet show all at the same time. The setup gives you a real sense of immersion in the miniature world, with careful camera positioning, dynamic lighting, and hilarious cutscenes.

I especially appreciated the way that this felt like a movie/TV show that you were a part of - when (e.g.) solving a puzzle would activate a cutscene, the GM managed to time it perfectly so as to be seamless. There's a real mastery here of Zoom as a medium that I don't know if I've seen before.

And while the show is obviously the star of, err, the show, this stands up as a game, too, with well-constructed puzzles that are certainly not impossibly challenging, but not so easy that experienced solvers blow through them.

This game was phenomenal, and definitely worth your time and money to play.

Kieran expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 6 Sep 2021 Team size: 2 Time taken: 89 Outcome: Successful escape!
story-drivenmagicalunique

This game is unlike anything else we've played. It is a must play and here's why.

This game feels like "little shop of horrors", "monkey island" and "fingerbobs" have been placed in a blender along with some excellent puzzles and blended to a smooth tasty and satisfying drink of an escape room.

It's funny, whimsical, entertaining and challenging at times. All set in a series of dioramas that you direct your avatar "the keeper" (a hand puppet) through. Each scene transitions with entertaining cut scenes, musical sections and jokes that really take you on an adventure through this world.

You will not play anything like this, because it doesn't exist. But I can see a future where other companies try to emulate it.

Book it, do it, you won't regret it.

Reviews by escape room review sites

I'd like to say there are no words to describe this game, but, firstly, that would rule out writing a review of it, and secondly, it's not true. There are plenty of words, they're just not ones I ever expected to use of an online escape game, particularly in combination: starting with 'puppets', 'mushrooms' and 'musical'. 'Wacky brilliance' ought to be in there somewhere too.

In concrete terms, this is a remote avatar game, but instead of guiding a human host around a room, you're guiding a han...

This game is a true delight! With original music and songs, beautiful set design, great puzzles and a wonderful host – this will likely be unlike anything else you have ever played. We don’t do awards, but if we did, this would be a winner!

What makes this virtual escape room stand out for me is the uniquely designed

dioramas on which your journey takes place. They are colorful, vibrant, and the

aesthetic takes on a funky whimsical theme that is consistently seen and felt throughout

the whole experience. Every new scene we entered I had to take the moment to just

look around and admire the set design down to the little figurines that turned out to be

characters you would engage with in adorable text conversations.


Another facet that endeared me was the use of musical numbers that livened the

experience during transition times. The songs are catchy, hilarious, and filled with puns

that adults and children alike would enjoy. We encouraged the creator to share the

sound score with players afterwards and they are considering it!


"The Keeper & the Fungus Among Us" is a funky magical journey in a fantastical world

with a nostalgic video game vibe any person could enjoy. The creative sets engage

players and the clever use of music gives players the feeling that they were in more

than just an escape room. You became a Guardian, a hero in the making, out to stop

the evil infesting the land. Your tasks challenge your mind to not only think outside the

box but also decide what kind of hero you truly want to be. Are you up for it?

This is what good puzzle games are. They’re created by folks who love the escape room industry and put their absolute everything into making fun content for the rest of us to enjoy. Joel has nailed it, and The Keeper & The Fungus Among Us will go down in cult escape room history for may years to come.

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