What monsters wouldn’t let the family finish Thanksgiving dinner before abducting them?
Location: Toms River, NJ
Date Played: January 27, 2018
Team size: 2-10; we recommend 4-5
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $28.50 per ticket
REA Reaction
Don’t be fooled by the mundane initial guise of Summerfield Place. This escape room escalated, adding intensity and intrigue. East Coast Escape Room designed the puzzles to be the star attraction, merging them smoothly with the story.
Who is this for?
- Puzzle lovers
- Story seekers
- Players with at least some experience
- Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle
Why play?
- Puzzle flow
- The late-game reveal
- Escalation
Story
A family was mysteriously abducted from their home during Thanksgiving dinner. It was up to us to determine who took them and save their lives.
Setting
Summerfield Place let us loose in the home of a family who had recently gone missing. The initial setting was recognizably Thanksgiving day family room and dining room.
The set was well-executed and felt natural, even if it was a touch mundane.
Once we solved the initial mystery, however, East Coast Escape Room dialed up the intensity and the set design along with it.
Gameplay
Summerfield Place played like your standard search-and-puzzle escape room, with a heavy emphasis on puzzling. The escape room also conveyed a full narrative.
Standouts
East Coast Escape Room delivered a light-hearted take on a classic investigative escape room. The mystery was never scary or horrific. The ambiance and puzzles provided an adorable and playful experience.
The puzzles flowed well.
East Coast Escape Room leaned into less-common puzzles types. They clued these unorthodox interactions well.
Summerfield Place offered us a choice.
Summerfield Place escalated. The set design added intensity without introducing fear or horror. The final act added excitement and intrigue, while staying true to the playful vibe.
There was a hilarious late-game Easter egg.
Shortcomings
While it was meant to feel like a home, Summerfield Place felt more like an escape room’s take on a living space. It was homey, but not convincing.
The initial set was mundane. It wasn’t particularly interesting to investigate, even if East Coast Escape Room ultimately paid off the game with an exciting ending.
One segment was a bit heavy on deciphering.
Tips for Visiting
- East Coast Escape Room is in a plaza with a large parking lot.
- There are plenty of food options in the area.
- This is a tough game, and you want to do well in it because the true excitement comes later. Start with an easier game if you’re a newbie.
Book your hour with East Coast Escape Room’s Summerfield Place, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: East Coast Escape Room comped our tickets for this game.
