The game designed to make college dorm rooms feel good about themselves.
Location: Mineola, NY
Date played: July 10, 2016
Team size: 3-8; we recommend 2-3
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $28 per ticket
Story & setting
The Apartment was stark, nearly bare. It included an old, gross couch and not much else.
Our game master presented a story that sort of carried throughout the game. It was more of a theme than a cohesive narrative.
At its core The Apartment was a less than enticing room full of puzzles.
Puzzles
While the room looked bare, that was a pretense for hidden clues. A substantial component of the puzzling was searching.
The later puzzles offered more intrigue than the early ones. These involved more tactile props.
Standouts
The Apartment included a few strong puzzles. These particular puzzles were designed such that they were presented early, but not hackable without riding out the game to discover their later components.
Shortcomings
The set was unwelcoming, to say the least. The puzzles hinted at a story, but only delivered theming without narrative.
The puzzles varied in their degrees of creativity and intrigue, but they all lacked polish.
We played this game with two experienced players. Even for newer players, I can’t imagine that a team of 6-8 would have enough to do in the space.
Should I play Can You Escape?’s The Apartment?
We had a good time puzzling through this game just the two of us. However, this game doesn’t offer anything special, especially for experienced players. The game mechanics work, but no greater sum emerges.
That said, newer players will likely be appreciative of the puzzles and various interactions. Because the game mechanics are solid, it’s a good introduction to how these things go.
It’s a fun stop off if you’re in the area, but it’s not worth traveling to.
Book your hour with Can You Escape?’s The Apartment, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
