Early in our days as reviewers we played a game that was built in a space that was previously a medical doctor’s office. It had a lot of built-in furniture that is common in doctor’s offices.
Our team really hit its stride and we were on a record-breaking pace for the first time ever (back when we cared deeply about such things). We were puzzling hard and searching even harder… too hard. I pulled some of the drawers out of the built-in furniture and underneath the bottom drawer was some paperwork and a sealed test tube with yellow liquid in it.
Now, you have to understand that I was in a serious flow state and I had never encountered an object in an escape room that didn’t belong. Additionally, the room had a doctor’s office theme going… I didn’t question it. I immediately started inspecting the vial and reading the paperwork, desperately trying to decipher its hidden meaning. Then a voice came over the hint system frantically saying, “THAT’S NOT OURS! PUT IT DOWN!.”
It was a urine sample lost by the doctor’s office that had previously occupied the space. The paperwork was the corresponding test request forms.
Upon escape, I washed my hands more thoroughly than I ever had in my life. I’m so glad I didn’t open it.
I’m not kidding and I’m not being hyperbolic. That really happened.
The moral of the story?
When setting up a new game, search it as thoroughly as possible. Your players will. Take built-in furniture apart. Make sure that you know exactly what’s in your room escape.
You never know what gets left behind.
I’m not one to be grossed out…but…ewwww.
As you can imagine… I was not thrilled about this. But it is a fun story.