Break Escape Loughborough: Wickedly Oz

Wickedly Oz is a fantastic game that I believe both experienced players and complete newcomers will thoroughly enjoy. It strikes a brilliant balance perfect for those trying an escape room for the first time, while still offering enough challenge to keep seasoned enthusiasts engaged and entertained.

Visually, the game is absolutely stunning. As I’ve come to expect from Break Escape, the attention to detail is superb. They’ve clearly poured a lot of love and creativity into the design, and it truly feels like you’ve stepped into the magical world of Oz.

The puzzles themselves were great fun, with a good variety of challenges throughout. We made our way through most of the game without needing any hints I don’t think we had a single clue. There was one particular puzzle that left us a little unsure of what we were meant to be doing, but it really was the only moment that felt slightly off. The GMs actually asked for our feedback at the end, which we really appreciated, and we shared our thoughts on that section. It’s clear they’re keen to keep improving the experience, and with just a touch more signposting for that one puzzle, this would easily be a five-star game. Hopefully that change is made, as everything else flowed brilliantly and was so much fun to work through.

A addition at Break Escape is their new policy allowing players to take photos inside the room while playing. So if you love capturing your experiences for Instagram, this is perfect you’ll be able to grab some brilliant shots while immersed in Oz. That said, I’d strongly recommend avoiding spoilers beforehand. Don’t watch the trailer or look at too many photos if you can help it there are some truly delightful surprises waiting, and going in blind makes them all the more magical.

As for the theme, it’s a clever mix of both Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, though it definitely leans more towards the classic Oz storyline. That’s completely understandable building a game around a musical like Wicked would be quite a challenge but the nods to both are handled really well.

All in all, Wickedly Oz is a beautifully crafted adventure full of charm, clever puzzles, and unexpected moments. There’s plenty to get stuck into over the hour, and I’d absolutely recommend giving it a go it’s a proper treat from start to finish.

Disclaimer: Played on opening day, so changes may have been made since opening.