Case Closed: The Murder of Max Sinclair

By | January 26, 2023

by Case Closed (website)

1 Carpet Ln, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6SS

Edinburgh

2-8 players

Languages: EN

90 mins
A private investigator was found dead in his office. The other cops say there was no foul play.
You're not like other cops.

What really happened here? What did Max discover? How did he die? Why?
We need you to find out.
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Overall rating

Rated between 4.5 and 5 out of 5

based on ratings from 34 users
combined with 1 pro review

Your review

Player reviews

Farmergeddon Outta Here experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 25 Mar 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 1:15ish Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverimmersivegreat hosting
This is an unmissable room for any escape room enthusiasts out there! A very clever, immersive, and extremely original room that deserves its reputation as one of the best rooms in the UK. Our host, Ronan, was exceptional throughout our time there and really brought the room to life. The format that the Case Closed team have got is very unique, and the extra time that you get compared to the standard escape room allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience and not worry about getting out in time, but instead enjoy the immersive elements of the room.
Such a clever idea, and we had such a fantastic time solving the case. Can't wait to try the Radio one you guys have got planned. Thanks again, Case Closed! 
- Detectives Scarlet and Dynamo Dan 😜
maff16 rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 28 Jul 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 90 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting
This room was excellently hosted by Ronan and stands out as different to all of the other escape rooms we have done in that it felt much more immersive. The duration of 90 minutes allowed us to read through the evidence more carefully and made us feel as though we were solving a real crime. I would highly recommend this to all escape room enthusiasts.
elfgrunge experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 30 Jan 2023 Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivegreat hosting

Easily the best room I've ever played. I'm limited to three tags but I wish I could use more - immersive, epic, story driven, clever and incredibly original, with the most brilliant GM. I'm struggling to describe it without spoiling it, but it's unlike any other room I've seen, with some puzzles just feeling too good to be allowed. It's so brilliantly designed that it really earns the descriptor of "Feeling like a video game", or making the players feel like protagonists in a classic noir thriller. The story is engaging and evolves throughout the game, rather than being a throwaway justification at the start. I'll repeat what every other player also seems to be obsessed with: The ending. My god. The ending. 

👽benjed rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 3 Mar 2023 Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting
Julia Jacome rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven

I had an absolutely incredible time at this escape room. It is unlike any room I've ever done and it is definitely a must do in edinburgh. 

ChellandtheVetos rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersiveintenseepic😨creepy

Really enjoyed my game at case closed, was a really awesome immersive experience that put us right in the shoes of of a main character, thrilling exciting and a lot of fun!

Jonathan Millar rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
originalcleverimmersive
escape_racoon rated this:
Played: 1 May 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 89 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneystory-drivengreat hostingquite difficult

One for enthusiasts - the game's master has put a lot of love into this and it shows. Theming is really good, not your bog standard detective's escape room

You won't be relying on just finding keys and codes, there's unique elements around the puzzles. I'd highly recommend giving this a go, it was a lot of fun

Anonymous rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 2 Time taken: 90 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivegreat hostingquite difficult

Absolutely loved this jam-packed blockbuster of a game! The interwoven storyline and gameplay are unlike any other I've done. I'll admit, I wasn't sure about the theme when we booked, but there's much more to this one than meets the eye! If you've ever thought you'd make a good detective then you'll be hooked.

The GM (one of the owners) was superb; the interactions throughout the game were great fun and made it really immersive. It's the first room for this home-grown company and they've only been open a few months, but I enjoyed it just as much (if not more!) than some of the big-budget rooms I've played with larger businesses. The owners' talent and creativity really shines through in all aspects of this game, making it an unmissable experience in Edinburgh.

Solemn rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 4 May 2023 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven😨creepy

Wow this room absolutely blew me away! I heard a lot about it before I played and somehow it still managed to exceed all my expectations. Truly unlike any other room I've played, due in no small part to the dedication and incredible energy of its GM and creators. It encourages you to take your time and really immerse yourself in the storyline, uncovering layer after layer. The puzzles are well constructed and thought through, all feeling very natural in the environment. The room makes great use of lighting, music, and voice over to create ambience which shifts in accordance with the unravelling mystery. Truly an experience I will not forget, I cannot recommend it enough!

Anonymous experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 29 Apr 2023 Team size: 4 Time taken: 80 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting
tomcopeland rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 7 May 2023 Team size: 4 Time taken: 80 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven
Anonymous rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 20 May 2023 Team size: 3 Time taken: 70 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivengreat hostingquite difficult

Really great game! We had a lot of fun with this one. Very immersive story and a unique twist of the typical escape games. Very story driven with lots of things to keep you occupied without having to all solve the same puzzle at the same time.

Highly recommend!

Mark P rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 5 Jul 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 85mins Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneyoriginalgreat hosting

The whole venue is great - an old warehouse, with the most amazingly well-stocked alcohol-free bar and axe-throwing! The escape room is upstairs, and sadly we were on an early booking before the rest of the venue had opened so couldn't sample any of the drinks or throw axes around beforehand.

This was quite different to the escape rooms we've played in the past - trying to put together a story and solve the mystery, rather than just unlocking puzzle after puzzle. A lot of thought has gone in to the story and it flows really well. 

It's a fairly simple setup, but very immersive - as soon as the door closes behind you the story begins and you're on your way to figuring out the answers. In fact, the story starts before you even get in the room - Ronan was an excellent host and enthusiastically welcomed us and started setting the scene.

The 90 minutes flew by, and while some of the puzzles had us a bit stumped from time to time we were given gentle nudges to help us keep going - just the right level of assistance needed to figure things out. 

I really hope these guys open another room in future - we'll definitely go back for more.

Jules Merkle rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 19 Jul 2023 Team size: 7 Time taken: 90 min Outcome: Successful escape!
originalgreat hostingqueer friendlyquite difficult

Fantastic, well-designed escape room with unique deductive puzzles. We felt encouraged to solve many of the puzzles in parallel and huddle up with the group to share results. Super queer friendly too!

simsi747 experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Team size: 2
originalimmersivegreat hosting

We did this room the other week. The hosting was excellent. Not your original type of escape room but we really enjoyed it

braiba rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 30 Jul 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 75 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivengreat hosting😨creepy

Excellent room that really pushes the boundaries of what an escape room can be. The amount of creativity on show here was really impressive, not just in terms of the puzzle and the narrative, but also in terms of the approach to theming in a way that made the experience much more immersive than other rooms that clearly have much larger budgets.

Rowan was also an excellent host - so welcoming and enthusiastic about the experience. I will absolutely be planning my next trip to Edinburgh the moment I hear they've opened a new room.

oliviasheed rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 9/03/2023 Team size: 5
immersivestory-drivengreat hostingquite difficult
I've been to quite a few escape rooms, all over the country, and I can safely say that this was the best experiences I've ever had! The care and attention put into the story, makes you really feel like a detective! Probably the most involved narrative I've ever seen in a room, typically puzzles come before story but this is a perfect blend of the two. Some of the most imaginative use of props I've ever seen, and with a brilliant games master (Ronan!) to top it all off! I'll be dragging all my friends to play this room, and hopefully they can help crack the case!
rconan rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 23 Oct 2023 Team size: 4 Time taken: 1:10 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivengreat hosting

Really nice twist on the escape room theme. Not your regular escape room.

Very few locks and keys, much more intrigue and mystery.

markbrogni88 rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Anonymous rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 29 Dec 2023 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalcleverstory-drivenquite difficult

Need to add: great hosting too (need more tags!!)

Played Case Closed today and absolutely loved it. Tom was a fantastic host, so friendly and chatty and explained the rules for us clearly and explained how it is different to the other rooms we have played. 

Probably the most story driven game I’ve ever played, you really do take on the roll of detectives! Between doing chemistry, ballistic examinations, and even the paperwork, the room was an absolute blast from start to finish with a brilliant story and ending! Definitely won’t forget this one and eager for their next rooms!

Jen Wells (Get Wells Soon) expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 23 Dec 2023 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverstory-drivengreat hosting

A very different, story-based room that really feels like a proper criminal investigation. The five star rating for this room comes from how clever it is; don't go expecting a huge, fancy set or a wealth of tech but do expect genuine clue-solving and a unique escape experience that is the brainchild of someone who just loves escape rooms and loves thinking about things a little differently.

We could have stayed for hours chatting about all things escape with Ronan, who approaches designing escape experiences with zeal and a flair for drama, which is echoed in the finale to Case Closed. So much fun and a genuine escape from the real world.

puzzlepalooza experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
originalstory-driven

I liked this very much. Very passionate owner/GM and a real sense of sleuthing. 

curlersandcupcakes rated this:Rated between 30 and 30 out of 5
Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
great hosting

Just me and the smarter half this time. He enjoyed it more than me. Clearly passion in this one, but things felt a little convoluted for me.  

Russell Hewson rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 25 Oct 2023 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivegreat hosting

Not quite like anything we'd done before, amazing room. We played with our 11 and 13 year old daughters and there wasn't anything that was inappropriate for them (they've seen quite a lot of detective shows). In fact it was my youngest's favourite room ever as there was always something for everyone to do.

WinglessArchangel experienced rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Team size: 3
funnystory-drivengreat hosting
Jan Chong rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 2 Aug 2023 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneyoriginalimmersive
I really really enjoyed this room - the puzzles and revelations were excellently paced, with a variety of different types of puzzling experiences all wrapped in an engaging and immersive story.  Ronan was an excellent host and we had a great time!
🤘The Pick of Destiny expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 1 Oct 2023 Team size: 2
originalimmersivestory-drivenquite difficult

If you have ever dreamt of being a real detective, this feels like the closest you can get!! It genuinely feels as though you are solving a real case! From the introduction, to the set, to the music... this game is perfectly themed. 

There is a great mix of puzzles in this room from analytical to physical and even some comical moments! 

This was an exceptionally good room and we highly recommend a visit to Case Closed!! 

Haylex22 rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 23 Sep 2023 Team size: 4 Time taken: 80 minutes Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivegreat hostingepicquite difficult

A great non-linear room! Excellent host who played his part well and was so friendly. Personally as a fan of crime novels, this was amazing for me to have a go at being a detective - so immersive and really good puzzles to solve the clues. Hard enough to make you think and piece things together, but not too hard to make it unenjoyable. Couldn’t recommend more! 

If you’re in Edinburgh and love escape rooms, definitely one not to miss!!

Anonymous expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5

This is a really immersive game with a very enthusiastic and welcoming host. The game is conducted in fairly basic surroundings. It feels like you are conducting genuine sleuthing as opposed to puzzle solving, which makes the experience unique. We had a good time.

arandzom experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Brandon experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 28 Aug 2023 Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven
Eliott Rhodes rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 16 Aug 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 80mins ish Outcome: Successful escape!
value for moneygreat hostingintense

Thanks to Oran for a great time!

A 90-minute escape room really is a treat. We found ourselves working solidly for the entire time we were there, and this may sound silly, but we really felt like detectives whilst in the room. 

Lots of smart deductions come out of a plethora of red herrings, and over-information making sure that only the best cops come out on top. This was a joy to play at, and everything was designed very well. 

🦡cipherdelic virtuoso rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: Feb 2023 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-driven90-mins

If you're looking for something a little different then head to Case Closed which is upstairs in Black Axe Throwing. It's a little way out of the centre of Edinburgh, but it's well worth traveling that little bit further.

At first glance, it looks like any other escape room startup, but once you're in the room you'll find that this is more like playing a box game than playing the usual one-hour adventure of some of its neighbours. There's a detailed plot to play out into which the puzzles have been intricately woven.

The use of lighting and narration enhances the story, especially the introduction, which sets the mood beautifully and creates a feeling of being in one of those old film noirs, like a Sam Spade film. But the technical details and the police procedural nature of the puzzles also gave me strong Scandi-noir vibes too.   

Add to this that it's a rare 90-minute game where the puzzles are well-paced throughout and you have yourself a wonderfully substantial room to enjoy and savour with a satisfying conclusion. It's a must-play if you're in Edinburgh.

My only niggle, and it is a niggle, is that the players of the axe hurling can get rather loud and distracting, but after 10 mins we didn't even notice them as we were so immersed in the room. 

Oh, and one final point, there is more reading here than in the average room, so I'd recommend taking your glasses (if you need them), or a reader (if written English isn't your strong point).

Reviews by escape room review sites

Case Closed is without a doubt my new favourite room in Edinburgh. No- favourite in Scotland. And for that matter, a strong contender for my favourite in the UK. If I don’t see Case Closed listed on the 2023 TERPECA nominations for the UK, I’ll be very surprised indeed.

Lists

This game is part of the following user-created game lists:
  • Best UK escape rooms 2023 by Escape the Review virtuoso
    These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2023, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 

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