Hard time.
Location: New York, New York
Date Played: January 7, 2019
Team size: 2-7; we recommend 4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $28 per player
Ticketing: Private
Emergency Exit Rating: [B] Emergency Key
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Split-team and puzzle-focused, PanIQ Room’s Jailbreak was an old-school prison-break game. A few flow jolting moments notwithstanding, it was a clever, traditional, puzzle-focused escape room with plenty to enjoy.
Regardless of experience level, there’s something to enjoy in Jailbreak. If you’re an experienced player, this game won’t show you anything novel.
Who is this for?
- Puzzle lovers
- Any experience level
Why play?
- Designed around collaboration
- Tangible puzzles
Story
Wrongfully accused and on death row, we had an hour to escape our cells before the warden and his guards showed up to escort us to a tragic end.
Setting
Jailbreak was a split-start prison game where we began split between two prison cells. The set itself was a drab, grey, concrete and metal jail.
The set was fairly small and didn’t have a ton of detail, but it certainly looked the part.
Gameplay
PanIQ Room’s Jailbreak was a standard split-team escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around searching, communicating, and puzzling.
Analysis
➕ Jailbreak offered a lot of physically interactive puzzles. We liked the tangible nature of these solves. They were fun and satisfying.
➕ Jailbreak rewarded communication and collaboration. PanIQ Room even included a prop to help facilitate this. Many solves felt like a team victory.
➖ One cell was arranged such that the majority of the early gameplay was obscured by a tangible process puzzle that was accessible from the opening moments of play. By choosing to not interrupt this solve, we lost a lot of early momentum. With a tweak to the room’s layout, this cell would offer a lot more intrigue.
➖ Because one group was freed before the other, the later potion of this game could easily become uneven, with only half the group getting the opportunity to solve some of the more exciting puzzles. The addition of gating so as to more quickly free both cells of players would even out the experience.
➕/➖ Although the puzzles were fun, they didn’t make sense in the narrative. It felt like an escape room set in jail rather than a clandestine jailbreak.
➖ There was wear on a few props. One in particular showed its true colors too soon. With a bit of maintenance, this one would be safer from inconsiderate hulk-like players and more exciting for all teams.
➕ The setting worked well. It was minimal, but jail is minimal. The music created the right ambiance. The staging supported the gameplay.
Tips For Visiting
- There is street parking in this neighborhood.
- If you’re coming by subway, take the B/D to Grand St, the F to Delancey, or the J/Z to Bowery.
- We recommend Vanessa’s Dumpling House for a quick meal or Lena for wine and tapas.
Book your hour with PanIQ Room’s Jailbreak, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: PanIQ Room comped our tickets for this game.
