Grunt loudly and carry a bigger stick.
Location: Washington, DC
Date Played: April 22, 2018
Team size: 2-6; we recommend 3-5
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: ranging from $24 – $36 per ticket depending on weekday/weekend and team size
Ticketing: Private
REA Reaction
Primal Quest was our first prehistoric escape room. It was a puzzle-focused game with enjoyable puzzles, set against a fun theme. The setting and the gameplay felt split from one another, as the set was prehistoric and the puzzles were modern. Pulling the puzzles and environment into a more cohesive unit could make this interesting game great.
If you’re in the neighborhood, it a fun playthrough.
Who is this for?
- Puzzle lovers
- Any experience level
Why play?
- Interesting puzzles
- Some good moments
Story
We were hostages of cannibal cavemen. Before they returned from hunting, we needed to escape or we’d be the meal in our last supper.
Setting
The cave was dimly lit and dusty. PanIQ Room had treated the walls to give them a more cave-like vibe. Some rooms had been heavily augmented to create a cave feel while others remained fairly modern. The cave was decorated primarily with animal hides, bones, and a glowing fire pit.
Gameplay
PanIQ Room’s Primal Quest was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing, and puzzling.
Analysis
+/- Primal Quest was our first prehistoric escape room. It was thoughtfully but unevenly themed in terms of set decor and props. Some portions of the game felt like they had received a lot of attention, while others strongly resembled the office building that housed the game.
– Some of the decor needed maintenance; it looked worn.
– A few modern details remained exposed. The escape room would have been better had these details had been hidden away.
– The set was dusty. After crawling through one low doorway, our pants were covered in grit. Especially considering PanIQ Room’s location in Georgetown, we recommend a cave aesthetic that looks and feels dirty without the actual dirt.
+ Primal Quest started off in a limited space with only a few challenges available. This offered an on-ramp for newer players.
+ Primal Quest escalated in difficulty and intrigue.
+ Primal Quest contained interesting, satisfying puzzles of varied types. We generally knew how to approach them, but to solve them, we had to think a little differently than we had upon initial glance. The puzzles resolved cleanly.
– The puzzles were escape room-y and generally felt modern, even though we were in a prehistoric setting. This created a schism between the setting and the gameplay.
– One heavy prop may stall a team of younger or smaller people for substantial time on a puzzle where hints won’t be any help.
+ We particularly enjoyed the late-game puzzle embedded in an early set piece.
Tips for Visiting
- There is a parking garage few blocks down at M and Wisconsin. Street parking is a challenge in this neighborhood.
- There are lots of restaurant options in Georgetown.
- For baked goods, we recommend Baked & Wired. Be prepared to stand in line on the weekend.
- This cave is dusty.
- At least 2 players will need to crawl or otherwise get through a low doorway.
Book your hour with PanIQ Room’s Primal Quest and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: PanIQ Room comped our tickets for this game.
