We have another puzzle outbreak.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Date played: April 3, 2017
Team size: up to 12; we recommend 4-5
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $28 per ticket
Story & setting
A government super soldier program went wrong and unleashed a horde of zombies. We had to find a cure for their mindless rampaging before they broke down the door to our lab and ate us.
Set within a stark research facility, the aesthetic ranged from mundane doctor’s office to grim lab.
Puzzles
Outbreak was search-heavy with clumsy puzzling.
Many of the puzzles ultimately came together in laborious processes that didn’t require so much reasoning as they did working through tasks.
Standouts
Big Escape Rooms created a humorous introductory video to set the stage for Outbreak.
In one instance, we encountered an error-tolerant design adaptation of a puzzle trope that is frequently misused. It was refreshing.
Shortcomings
One unfortunate side effect of the implication of this puzzle was that it caused some team members to have mild allergic reactions to the environment.
When the cluing was particularly tenuous, the rest of the props quickly became distracting red herrings.
The set wasn’t particularly interesting. It was a large space, but not purposefully designed or well used.
Should I play Big Escape Rooms’ Outbreak?
If you don’t care much for setting, there are a few thoughtful and fun puzzle designs in this escape room. Outbreak is a generic early escape room design from a company that is learning the ropes.
While we think there is a more fun and interesting game in Clowned, if you’re looking for something different, or you just don’t like clowns, you could do far worse.
Book your hour with Big Escape Rooms’ Outbreak, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Full disclosure: Big Escape Rooms provided media discounted tickets for this game.
