Jen Wells (Get Wells Soon)

We do appreciate a good challenge and this really provided it, as to get all eight runes, we really had to work the grey matter in a different way. The build is excellent and no space is wasted in this inventive game that is packed with things to do. It's a real 'think outside the box' type of game, with just enough signposting to keep you going but not enough to have you running around at pace, solving puzzle after puzzle. We really loved the challenge and loved that there was enough to keep the two of us working hard for a good 50 minutes. The puzzle design is so well-crafted - another excellent room from Escape Nation.

An absolutely bonkers experience that's not for the shy, retiring type; role-play is fairly essential in some form or another and the hosts are excellent at providing those opportunities to join in with the fun. There's all sorts of things going on in here and some very inventive things indeed, particularly taking into account the space. Our preferences are geared more towards puzzles and there aren't loads in here but it's a real hoot and we can imagine families with children absolutely loving this.

It's a lovely, festive, inventive Christmas room in a superb escape establishment; there was plenty to keep us occupied and we had a very enjoyable time decorating the tree for Santa. Solid puzzles in here and a few quirky ones that we particularly liked.

Case Closed have a clever new concept and it's not like anything we have seen before. There is a room and there is a case to solve... but saying anything more would reveal a little too much.

There is plenty to keep busy with and, as with all of their games, you get out what you put in. It's a very tricky one to rate, as it's not a classic escape room, but all of the elements are there for a very involved, puzzle-solving experience and the scope for variation is huge... We'll be watching carefully for future games!

Don't go expecting padlocks but do go expecting to embrace your inner sleuth and think outside the box!

Get ready to ROCK! Not a room for the shy, retiring type who hates having fun and who dislikes any kind of creative thinking, this is such a hoot. It's not a padlocky room and while there are puzzles to solve, it's more the big puzzle picture that needs solving in here but the entertainment value just keeps on coming and it is very much 'what you make of it.'

It's a special room created by enthusiasts who wanted to do something a bit different; fans of the original 'Max Sinclair' game will love it.

When the room is, indeed, a cabinet, you know there are some gorgeous locks in store and Escape the Past do historically-accurate locks extremely well. It's a very clever, very authentic set-up with some beautiful elements to the clockwork and lock work that really lend themselves well to the story of Deacon Brodie.

Don't expect fireworks, rooms-a-plenty or charging round collecting things but do expect delightful puzzles and a lovely linear escape adventure that was perfect for our team of two.

So we might be slightly biased for this one because of a few specific things related to the theme (I mean, wow) but this is such a lovely game that is just beautiful.

Puzzle-wise, there are a few obscure leaps of logic but that's all forgiven when you take into account the level of immersion that has been considered here. It really is like heading to a magical place to find a magic lamp and some of the set-pieces are just so lovely that we didn't want it to end.

Without spoilers, it's difficult to express how incredible this room is. The set is flawless, the puzzles are a lot of fun and the hosting is lovely... but the real star here is the gameplay. The twists and turns in this game are just... well, unreal. 

There was plenty in here for our team of two and we were always busy, always engaged, always having a brilliant time. In short, this is an out-there masterpiece and I'd happily turn right around and head straight back in for another 90 minutes of fun. 

Considering how long this game has been open, we are fairly late to the La Mina party, so we were expecting a solid game with some cool physical features, but - having played lots of newer games that have built on the mining theme and taken it to new fancy levels - we didn't expect to see much that was new. It was, therefore, a lovely surprise to have a couple of 'wow, that's so cool' moments  in what turned out to be an extremely immersive, physical game that we both really enjoyed.

While the puzzles aren't very tricky, there's a decent amount to do and the attention to detail that has gone into the immersive nature of the puzzles is a huge plus for this game. That said, don't wear your best clothes, as you will get dirty, even if you try your best not to.

This is a really physical game and one that we would certainly recommend to anyone.

Far from being the classic cosy Christmas set-up, this is a quirky little, high-tech kind of Christmas room that packs a punch of puzzles for its small size. There are some clever puzzles in this sleek room that reflects Compendium's usual flair and sense of humour.

We really enjoyed this year's advent calendar offering from EXIT and found it less obscure than previous games. Lots of fun puzzles made for a nice thing to look forward to each December evening.

This is a cute Christmas room that makes good use of a fairly small space. There are a couple of stand-out features and some nice puzzles. Nothing too challenging in here but a good dollop of festive fun with a bit of silliness thrown in.

This is a story-driven, lighthearted game that families with children will absolutely love. It's not packed with puzzles, rather filled with fun interactions, which probably isn't what enthusiasts who love solving puzzle after puzzle are after.

As usual with Cryptology, everything is done very well and the hosting is good. 

This is, objectively, a super game, with flashy tech galore and a very clever, immersive use of space. The story element of the game is fantastic and the gameplay is inventive... but not a padlock in sight. The lack of padlocks works seamlessly with the game but we are self-confessed padlock people who - when faced with stacks of tech - become clueless, confused and with hooves instead of hands. Put short, the tech doesn't suit us.

This is, despite our proclivity for locks and keys,an excellent game nevertheless and pushes the envelope in many ways.

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Wakefield, there was an escape room that was so gorgeous, so clever and so utterly enjoyable that escape enthusiasts journeyed from all over the kingdom to play it and crown it with 5 golden stars.

Grimm Up North is a puzzler's delight with a superb premise and setting but the real stars are the puzzles. The game structure allows for a main trilogy of quests, then an epilogue that just keeps on going... Throw in some delightful hosts and it's an absolute winner. We would happily have gone straight back into the room to play it again afterwards, which says a lot. It's just brilliant.

An absolute puzzle-fest of a room that is stuffed as full as a Christmas turkey with lovely handmade puzzles. And the best possible Christmas present of all? Being greeted by a whole wall of - and entire tree of - padlocks. So accessible for all ages and abilities and a glorious festive treat.

A super game full of creativity and strange quirks, that we had a fantastic time solving. It's not a huge space but it opens up like a Swiss army knife and the fun is in the tiny detail and the unexpected.

We preferred this to cQ Origenes, even though it's a smaller game; we're padlock people so this had plenty for us.

Great hosting, as seems per usual: Rowen was a real delight.

This room more than any other made us question that age-old escape room adage: does a lack of padlocks make the room better? For us, absolutely not, but there will be some who are lured by the slick technology of a non-padlocky room.

This is a very tech-heavy game and the tech is used in marvellously creative ways; for us, there is nothing more satisfying than a lovely padlock so we were less inclined to gel with this game. It's so clever and quirky in so many ways - although there were a few hiccups in signposting that broke the flow of the gameplay, which could easily be our fault - and the hosting was excellent; Jo, our host, was delightful.

It's a game that will appeal to so many. It wasn't our forte but we did get out and we did enjoy ourselves.

We were the first team to officially play this game - what a privilege! It is such a pleasure to take a trip to Wakefield to play at Escapable because an excellent game and a friendly welcome is absolutely guaranteed.

Jack Frost is an excellent game that really packs a punch in a fairly small space; there are plenty of puzzles to keep enthusiasts busy and plenty of quirky bits of innovation that one would expect from Tom and the team. After 300 games, we rarely expect to see new things in rooms... but there a couple of new things in here that were delightful.

An additional half star for such a warm and friendly welcome and for making our big milestone game so special. Big fancy games are great... but games made with care by enthusiasts really show the best of the industry.

If it's wacky fun and a bit of witty silliness you want in an escape room, then this room gets an A.

Escapable do those clever little touches that make an escape room feel cared about very well; the enjoyment that came from creating the room is obvious in every puzzle. The set up really allows all ages and abilities to access this room; there's a main question then a puzzle-filled sub-quest, which can only be attempted once the main quest is completed. It is a super format that works incredibly well here.

Puzzles are all lovely, handmade and very in keeping with the theme and - as a teacher - the genuine classroom aesthetic was very much appreciated.

It's a delight.

A beautiful game with some quirky, pretty details that uses space extremely well. The puzzles are satisfying and plentiful but the real beauty - and additional half star - is the inventive nature of some of the puzzles. While some earlier on are run-of-the-mill, the games progresses into some clever spaces that incorporate some delightful challenges.

It is always a pleasure to see family run, independent rooms opening up and this room is tucked away on the ground floor of a shop in a small seaside town, adding to that homemade charm.

The owners are keen enthusiasts and have managed to squeeze a lot into a small space. There's an emphasis on codes and locks and there are plenty of those to go round.

It's a fun game that is interactive and suitable for children. A nice space with some good decor and the odd fun quirk. 

A wholesome romp around Mr Cooper's garden, this lovely game features a plethora of gardening tropes, including - of course - a whole jolly host of characterful gnomes. Puzzles are inventive and plentiful, with a very welcome additional puzzle chain added on at the end for those who zip through the main challenge.

The games here at this lovely, independent escape room centre aren't big or particularly fancy but what is done so well here is invention and that personal touch that makes whatever you are doing feel a little bit special.

Being in a hut in Antarctica, there are lots of obvious trappings and nods to the theme that one would expect... and a few one wouldn't. One particular moment - no spoilers - was just... gorgeous.

Adorable. We had mouse ears on and fed fish to a cat while trying to steal a big wheel of cheese and I don't know what more anybody could ask for.

We did this on challenging mode and brie-zed through it but that's not to say it was completely straightforward. It's a delightfully quirky game with some lovely puzzles; young children and big kids alike will love it.

Plenty of puzzles in here to keep us busy, a great concept and a friendly host, Noel: this is a very decent room that values substance over style, although there are some lovely design elements too. There are some really inventive puzzles and a clever use of space... and one particular feature that was simply a pleasure to witness!

It's a testament to how good Mindworks is as a venue that of their three permanent games, there's not one that we wouldn't recommend. Mission Berlin is perhaps their most straightforward, 'classic' escape room that is arguably less impressive than the other two but that's not to say that it isn't a cracking room with a theme that really appeals and a nice variation in puzzles. There's plenty of observation needed in here but it's all very logical and linear.

What a game! Stacks to do, well-designed puzzles and soooo much fun!

We loved the concept, loved the hosting, loved the wacky hullabaloo of the whole experience; it's a puzzle-fest that will result in a slightly different game every time you play and I'd happily walk right back in and play it all over again.

Immersive from the moment we stepped in, this game flowed flawlessly. A delightful combination of physicality and padlocks, it was a clever use of space that really demonstrated the skill of the design; a hybrid of introduction and gameplay blurred where the startline was, which was both novel and effective.

A combination of great hosting, some quality puns, some original puzzles and a focus on communication and teamwork make this a quality escape room that we would certainly recommend. There is one particular moment that stands out as being absolutely lovely and certainly a first for us!

Super hosting in particular from Dr Chisel Tenderloin, who really upped the enjoyment factor. 

Dover Castle is a real hotbed of history so it does seem appropriate that they have a historical escape room with a wide appeal in the depths of the many miles of tunnels built into the cliffs under the castle. It's a traditional kind of escape rooms with plenty of padlocks, genuine historical props to interact with and a straightforward story that ties in well with Dover Castle's more recent history.

Puzzles are straightforward but well put-together and, while a little more signposting would probably be helpful for less experienced teams, it flows well and makes sense.

Our GM was an absolute delight; she was incredibly friendly and enthusiastic and it was a real pleasure to meet somebody who just loves their job.

It is a lovely little room that is perfect for less experienced teams and those looking to delve into the history of Dover Castle a little deeper (no pun intended). Enthusiasts will tear through it but that's not to say that it isn't charming and enjoyable.

In all honesty, I don't have the superlatives to describe how great this game is.

Imagine everything that makes an escape room a top-rated experience: a beautiful set; an expansive floorplan; a compelling storyline; high-quality puzzles; physical elements; the unexpected... I could go on. This game has all of these in spades. It's a slick, witty behemoth of a game that just keeps on giving... and giving... and giving. We were barely into the first room when we were looking at each other in amazement and this didn't stop until the game had finished.

More than style though, this game has substance. The puzzles are excellent and are woven beautifully into the story and the setting. If I could go back in and play it again immediately, I would.

It is an absolute must-play.

A gloriously mad experience that combines decent puzzles with an utterly bonkers story, culminating in some of the most fun we've had in an escape room (albeit spending the occasional bewildered moment not quite knowing where to go next...) 

While it could do with a few more puzzles, particularly for bigger teams, it doesn't detract from the experience, which is top quality.

A wonderfully creative use of space with plenty to do and a very impressive range of invention when it comes to puzzle-design. It's the kind of room that is full of lovely 'little bits' that just adds to that notion that someone who really loves escape rooms designed this escape room... Nothing brings more joy to me than opening a box to find more smaller boxes inside, each of them locked shut with a different kind of padlock.

EO is a lovely place run by people who care; your experience really matters to them and that's really clear in how their games are designed and the experience they offer. It's a bit hot in this room... so before we tackled our next room, we were given cold bottles of water. We were doing three rooms... so Kelly tried to arrange it so we didn't have to wait long in between games, even though they were busy. It's a lovely, family-run venue and we will certainly be back to play the games we couldn't fit in this time. 

Fun, physicality and a lovely bunch of quirky puzzles await you on this castaway island and the EO team evidently enjoy thinking of inventive ways to create new experiences within their escape rooms. The flow of puzzles was top-notch and there were plenty of original elements that kept us on our toes. Our GM, Lily, was a delight and ran the game with just the right balance of being available for clues but not nudging when not needed. A great room in a venue that's full of great rooms.

To put it in a (nut)shell, this is an absolutely cracking game that takes eggs-ellent puzzle design, a whole clutch of truly eggs-eptional egg-based puns and a very cute little bunny rabbit, mixes them together into one delicious omelette of puzzle-solving fun and delivers that mad scramble of delight that one only gets from a proper padlocky puzzle-fest (and yes, every single egg pun is entirely intentional).

This is not an Easter-themed game, although it absolutely could be played as one if that's what you fancy; this is an adorable, frantic fever-dream that has been created with an immense amount of care by Kelly and the team at EO and that we simply didn't want to end.

The split-start is a super way to begin and - although it doesn't have much to do with eggs, bunnies or a delightful spring garden - it really doesn't matter. The puzzles are plentiful and, as with the best split-starts, communication is key. Once into the garden, our main quest was to rescue Edgar the bunny but our side quest had us cracking open a plethora of padlocks to collect a clutch of eggs.

Fancy tech and movie-standard sets are great and all but we're the type of enthusiasts who want to be faced with a giant wall of padlocks. Chatting to Kelly - one of the owners - after the game, it became very clear that we share that preference: that sweet *clunk* of a padlock as you get the right code... the cheeky thrill of a cipher and letter lock combination... the delight when the directional padlock opens first time and there's no double-clicking for you as you sail on through to the next puzzle... That, for us, makes an enjoyable escape room. If we find ourselves actively stopping each other in a room to remark on just how much fun we're having then we know we're onto a winner.

Ratings and reviews are so subjective but if it's fun you're after, them embrace the madness and go and rescue poor Edgar!

What a privilege to be invited to the Nakatomi Plaza New Year's Eve party: we had an absolute hoot!

The hosting here is the clear winner and it is supreme. Our GM was brilliant and he really made the game next-level fun. The puzzles were decent and more plentiful than we'd expected and - coupled with a lot of fun role-playing, a very inventive use of space and nods to a certain 80's action movie - the whole experience was certainly deserving of five stars.

While there are some 'threatening' moments during the game, due to the storyline, it was all done with good humour and a light-hearted approach.

This was one of our all-time favourites for pure enjoyment. It's a must-play.

Ratings for rooms are so objective and we know that this wouldn't be top on some lists but we absolutely adored this game!

It's a theme rarely seen but that fits beautifully as a storyline for an escape room. As warriors of Agamemmnon, our challenge was to break into Troy under cover of darkness and open the gates of Troy for the Greek army. To be quite honest, this was an absolute dream come true for us, as self-confessed history geeks.

The puzzles were on the traditional side, with beautiful theming, the odd modern padlock hidden way (which didn't bother us) and a hefty dose of logic woven into everything. The set is as epic as one would hope with this storyline and the immersion begins right away.

There is ye olde WC in this one, plus a little trunk for bags so all very convenient.

Fans of the more role-play led games might not love it as much but, for our preferences for pretty, puzzle-heavy games in historical settings, this game really hit the sweet spot.

It's an incredible world in here, albeit slightly terrifying at times, and I'm not entirely sure I understand exactly what happened in there. Is it an escape room? Well... an escape experience perhaps and that is exactly what we were expecting after reading all of the reviews.

The set is incredible and I defy anybody not to be impressed by the sheer scale and attention to detail. The interactions with the GM in role were fantastic and, again, the immersion created by our GM (who, at the end of the game, turned out to be the loveliest, friendliest man) was excellent. Immersion is the name of the game here, as it is basically an RPG; there aren't many puzzles (which is a shame, as that is always our most prized aspect of a game) and the signposting isn't always clear, so we did find ourselves relying on our GM, who was fortunately very good a giving us nudges when we needed.

Go expecting to be a little unnerved, to play an RPG in an incredible set and to forget about the outside world for a bit and you'll have a great time. Personally, we're suckers for a good old padlock and code so this wasn't our usual kind of game but we absolutely appreciate the gameplay and the immersion.

There is no doubt that this game is a top game, with a nice storyline and a very clever combination of tech and personalisation that is something I've never seen in an escape room before; we had a great time, we enjoyed the process and we appreciated the fine craftsmanship of the entire experience. Saying this, however, we didn't quite gel with the flow of the gameplay at times but we think that might be down to personal style - we love a puzzlefest and that's not what The Brewery is. What it is, however, is really delightful, very immersive and beautifully done, with very friendly staff and the chance to taste the fruits of your efforts at the end. Certainly a must-play.

In all honesty, it is difficult to find the superlatives for how immersive and how incredibly clever this game is.

Epic is not a word I would oft use to describe an escape room but this one just... is. The wow moments keep on coming and the puzzles are woven beautifully into the world of the game.

Some advice, however: don't wear nice clothes, bring cash if you're paying off the balance at the room and - to echo the sentiments of another reviewer on here - ensure you go to the toilet before arriving at the game. Other than those sage pieces of advice, it is better that you know as little as possible before going in; it is an absolute must-play. Superb.

Probably the most traditional of the rooms here at Pirate Escape, this has arguably the best gameplay. There's a lovely mix of puzzles, a very clear theme that is adhered to throughout and mostly very logical puzzles. As a room for a family, this would be a real winner but we had great time as a couple of enthusiasts nevertheless. 

Very friendly hosts and a no stress, family-run atmosphere, which is just how we like it.

A nicely challenging room with a lovely big floor plan and plenty to keep us going. There was a particularly good light puzzle and a decent variety of puzzle variations in a room that could challenge less experienced teams, purely because there is quite a bit to do. 

Our hosts were really pleasant and made it a very enjoyable trip out to Whitley Bay.

A solid game that offers some nice techy bits and bobs and a decent floor plan. There were a couple of really lovely communication-based puzzles and everything made sense. Our hosts were really lovely - a very warm welcome.

While a space theme wouldn't be our first choice of theme, this super level of challenge definitely would; tricky, we would imagine, for beginners due to the volume of puzzles and to the tricky split start, this really got us scratching our heads at times.

The split start is a decent chunk of the game as opposed to a gimmick at the beginning and there's a bit of work to be done before you can communicate effectively enough to rejoin each other in the main area of gameplay. There was another decent chunk of puzzles - with one logic puzzle being particularly good - before the game finale, which was another lovely physical challenge. 

Overall, it's a lovely game with plenty going on.

A WW2 room is always a winner with us but this particular one delivered - after about 270 rooms and countless occasions when we've been called upon to save Britain from an incoming Nazi invasion - a completely new element! It's a cracking room that provides a bumper crop of puzzles and a tense atmosphere, while delivering on the fun and the Blitz spirit.

We particularly enjoyed the physical elements of the game and felt that the use of space reflected a genuine desire to provide something different.

Logical, with plenty to do and a super set, this has all of those elements of quality escape rooms that we just love.

As cat-people, we were always going to love this game but even without the feline theme, this would still be a purr-fect little serving of delicious escapism treats.

Bob Bing - F.I.S.H. agent - has left some clues out and, conveniently, his own private submarine, which is rather lucky because we needed all of these things in order to defeat the mighty Monty Mouse. Everything in this game is very carefully designed, including the decor. It is such a beautifully-made game with not a whiff of a tired-looking laminated sheet or a worn carpet that's seen better days; everything in here is clean, bright, smart and purposeful with a clever eye for cute cat puns.

The best thing about this room  is undoubtedly how logically the puzzles flow together. The puzzles are inventive and make perfect sense and the cohesion of the room is a real standout.

A hidden gem of a room tucked away in the Welsh countryside in an old workhouse building. There are plenty of padlocks, incredibly logical puzzles and one additional delightful element to keep beginners and experts alike very happy indeed.

Now this one is an absolute winner! It's not an escape room in the sense that escaping isn't necessary and it's a collect-what-you-can situation but it does have all of the trappings and fun of an escape room and a puzzle-fest escape room at that. This room is - for us - proof of two truths: that family-run, independent escape rooms really do beat franchises hands-down and that the best escape rooms have excellent puzzles at their heart.

If you love padlocks, codes, running around frantically and cool little quirky things that you probably won't have seen before, this is an absolute choice. We used the entire hour to win enough stars to top the leaderboard, but we went right down to the last few seconds... What a superb way to spend 60 minutes!