Jen Wells (Get Wells Soon)

A delightful theme with puzzles to match and a lovely venue who were extremely welcoming - escape rooms are trickier with a baby in tow but we were very well catered for. 

It may be a small space but it's testament to the skill of the owners that there are a lot of puzzles packed in and that there are some inventive nods to the theme.

A sweet little room (no pun intended!) that would be lovely for a family. This was the first room with our brand new third team member and it was lovely to feel so comfortable and catered for bringing a baby in to play the room.  Big thanks to Jacob and the team for being so welcoming.

Our first escape room for 6 months after having a baby so we were in desperate need of a full hour of puzzle solving and this was therefore just what we needed! A fairly small space but plenty of puzzles to solve and a nice variety on offer, this is a full hour getting as much as you can.  There's a lot of observation involved so be warned to get those eyes peeled. A few tenuous links to make but a decent offering to keep us busy for the full hour.

A charming, family-friendly escape room from the brilliant team here at The Escaporium. It might be a little on the straightforward side for enthusiasts (although we made one particular puzzle far more difficult than it needed to be) but children will absolutely love it and there are plenty of padlocks to keep the more battle-hardened escapers busy. Great hosting and a warm welcome as always, with a very cute feature in the room that is about as Christmassy as it gets!

Escapable have a knack for delivering (excuse the postal pun) a great game and this festive offering is no different; walking into a room filled with padlocks won't be everybody's Christmas wish but for us, it was just what we asked for from Santa Claus and we loved the busy, classic Christmas chaos of it all.

It's all wrapped up (sorry again) in a fun finale that can't help making you smile.

Well this was an absolute festive delight! Plenty to do in this interactive, family-friendly room that encompasses lots of the classic Christmas tropes and a little bit of acting. It's a feel-good room that would be lovely for the whole family but that provides enough business for enthusiasts who fancy a jolly festive time.

Loved the design, loved the concept, loved the puzzles. Plenty for our duo to keep us going, clever quirks around every corner and a plethora of keys and padlocks to keep us satisfied!

This game is like a delicious box of festive chocolates - so much variety! The strength here is in the puzzles and while the set is very nice, it won't blow you away... For a team of two there is a lot to do, which is exactly what we wanted in a fun Christmas game. Puzzles are great and hosting is lovely too.

There are so many things that make this room a really good one: the set, the multi-layer nature of some of the puzzles and the 90 minute playing time all really appealed to us. There is a lovely immersive element to the beginning and a variation of puzzles.

For whatever reason, we didn't quite gel with this room, however, and we found a couple of the puzzles really frustrating - personal preference always comes into play, of course, and I feel that's probably a big factor because there is objectively a lot here to love. One puzzle in particular stood out for me for the multi-level thinking required, and this was particularly satisfying; there is a lot of cooperation involved throughout, and that was also a huge plus for us.

Ooh, this one is an absolute corker of a game if - like us - you get your weekend thrills by sprinting round a room packed with padlocks. The actual game itself is a complete delight, with a super set that's choc-a-block with puzzles but the addition of the bonus round bonanza is an enthusiast's dream. We'd happily turn back around and do the whole thing again.

A really solid room with well-set puzzles and a gameplay that flows very nicely. It's straightforward  therefore perfect for those who haven't done many rooms, as it's constructed by escape room enthusiasts who really know how to set a room but it doesn't live or die by how hard it is. The owner and staff here are really lovely and this makes such a difference to the enjoyment of the room.

A gem of a game with a lot of everything that we like: padlocks, cute-as-a-button decor, plenty of wit, a personalised approach from an owner who loves escape rooms and, most importantly, plenty of lovely puzzles. It's a 75 minute game so there is a whole host of things to do and nothing in there felt superfluous or arduous. Sometimes, those small touches make such a difference and one small thing that really stood out was just how immaculate this game is - yes, it's a fairly new room, so wear and tear won't have kicked in too much yet, but this room is sparkling clean and the attention to detail in the aesthetics is absolutely spot-on.

It bodes well for the industry that enthusiasts like Jenny are building rooms like this. The carnival theme doesn't leave families out but the plethora of puzzles means enthusiasts are catered for and Jenny's evident enthusiasm for delivering teams a fun time really does go a long way in recommending this room. 

As ever with Escapable, this spooky-themed room is witty, funny and a little but daft at times, with an immaculate set and a lovely range of puzzles. The haunted house tropes are there but in a family-friendly way that makes a refreshing change to the usual spooky fayre with nothing to horrify or scare but plenty to do.

For reasons unknown, this room took us an age - we missed some straightforward bits and bobs that would have saved us a lot of time but that's a reflection on us, not the room! Its perfectly do-able as a two and, it being a fairly small space, it certainly favours the smaller teams. 

Props to Sam for being such a pleasant host and to Mike for taking the time to talk me through any jump scares that could terrify this pregnant woman! 

When it comes to fun, engaging collection games, Compendium just don't miss. Turd Raiders is a bit daft, a bit rude and a whole lot of clever, clever puzzle fun. It's a game that just keeps on giving.

What we loved about it as a pair of enthusiasts is that it really did keep us occupied (no pun intended) for the solid (again...) hour; we were running around, chuckling at fart jokes, shouting out codes and throwing shiny golden turds into a bag for a full 60 minutes of our lives and we would happily turn around, head back up the U-bend and spend another 60 in there as well.

It's stuffed full of puzzles, it's beautifully put-together and - for those who get all of the turds AND the golden plunger, so are 'flushed' - there was a very special prize to put on our mantelpiece as a talking point for dinner parties. Not sure what else I want from a room!

An absolute hoot from start to finish, this is one of those games where you get out what you put in!

The set is absolutely superb and really is second to none, the puzzles are delightful and varied and our GM - Carlos - hit that sweet spot of being flamboyant and daft, yet not overbearing. There are some truly incredible set-pieces in here and one in particular that - nearly 350 rooms into our escape room careers - was something completely new.

The whole room was joyous, daft, beautifully curated and the perfect antidote to all of those troubles we leave behind us when we enter an escape room.

Having loved House of Escobar, we were really looking forward to this - slightly easier, it has to be said - room and it didn't disappoint. The same build quality we saw in Metro and Escobar was here in spades, with some lovely puzzles and a clever key reveal. The gameplay flowed really nicely while keeping the immersion leve high. An original-themed offering in Budapest's crowded market.

If there is any phrase that will get us excited about a room, it's 'puzzle-fest' and that is exactly what this game is. In the sense of a story, well, it doesn't have one. in terms of a fancy set... well, it's very impressive but it's not an immersive set in the sense that you'd expect from an escape room. What it has is an absolutely overwhelming number of puzzles to solve with a mechanism that ties it all together, and said mechanism is absolutely delightful. 

A tricky one to rate as an escape room because I'd argue it's more of a game as opposed to an escape room as such but that's not t say it wasn't enjoyable.

Now, we very much booked this for the theme - we do love LOTR and those who don't might not find this quite as fun as we did. We are therefore pretty biased, as simply the mention of hobbits automatically ups the enjoyment level for us. When I say it's a game, I do mean literally that - the primary method of play is with an interactive game board. It's difficult to say more without spoilers but it's clear that Mystique have really tried something different here that won't be for everyone.

This game had everything: the sharp design, the floorplan, the puzzles, the quirky use of tech and the immersion. There's a lovely mixture of puzzles in here, from audio puzzles (my personal favourite) to physical ones and they were all top drawer.

This was a difficult review to write, really, as the set for this game was absolutely stand-out, the way magic was incorporated was a delight and there were some enjoyable puzzles... however, the final stage of the room - while absolutely beautiful - didn't really continue the gameplay flow that we'd experienced in the first 70% of the game. We also had a couple of technical issues that broke the flow of the gameplay as well and it's a game that does rely on a considerable amount of tech.

Saying that, however, it's definitely worth a play, if purely for the set and a couple of genuinely magical moments.

A solid room with a really lovely set that needed a few more puzzles to really hit the high notes. It's a nice game, however, albeit light on signposting, and there are some delightful details that really build the Alice in Wonderland world.

We are suckers for anything magic-themed so this was a natural choice for us on our visit to Budapest. It's a stunning set with some beautiful decor and some very cool bits and bobs that we really enjoyed. Saying that, we did find ourselves slightly lost on a couple of occasions because we didn't quite gel with this game as much as with some of the other games at Neverland but this seems to be a bit of a Marmite game in that respect.

Any game at Neverland seems to be a good shout, with a super pizzeria and lovely swish bar attached - we had a fantastic time discussing our games over an excellent iced coffee in the bar area. 

Neverland take aesthetics very seriously - all of their rooms look fantastic but this one has a real finesse to it that is extremely impressive. Some superb use of tech in here, along with some clever puzzles that were integrated seamlessly into the gameplay. For us, that immersion meant that we spent the odd daft moment being a bit clueless as to what to do next but that is probably more of a reflection on us than the game! A really great room with plenty to do and plenty of immersion.

We really liked this atmospheric game - it looks great and plays nicely. One particular puzzle had us stumped but purely for the mechanics of it, as opposed to not knowing what to do, but that might just be us being a bit room-tired at that point!

While it might not be the game with the biggest floorplan or the fanciest set-pieces, we really enjoyed this super game - it looks great, has some enjoyable puzzles and flows really nicely. Neverland is a great venue and hosting here was particularly friendly.

The real star here is the set and what a super set it is. There is a real emphasis here on ensuring the puzzles feel immersive and - while that may occasionally sacrifice clear signposting - we absolutely loved that about this game.

There are some nice puzzles that are integrated well but it's the overall combo of the set, the story and the puzzles that really hit the mark for us. 

With an absolutely flawless set, this game holds a lot of promise; for us, however, it didn't quite flow... but that might be down to our particular strengths and weaknesses, which didn't really gel with this room.

Saying that, there were some lovely set-pieces in here and the immersion factor was very high; it really does feel like being in a metro station, which is testament to how superb the set is and how well the puzzles have been integrated into the game.

It's a beautiful thing when a game lives up to expectation so it was such a treat to play the famed Secret Subway and to find that it was just as delightful as its reputation.

The steampunk design worked beautifully and the puzzles made plenty of sense. It's a truly marvellous adventure underground and we enjoyed every minute of it.

If you're after a bit of a laugh with some absolutely fantastic physical elements (and *that* method of transition), then this is a great game with a very different kind of theming that provides a decent slice of entertainment.

We were absolutely enticed by the theme in this one, as we've not seen another day of the dead theming anywhere and it turned out to be a super room for our team of two with some lovely physical bits and bobs going on and a plethora of colourful skulls, flowers and sombreros (!) to keep us happy!

It's not the most challenging of rooms but it's quirky and fun, and you'll leave with a smile on your face.

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.