[At the time of this review, Escape Hour Austin was called 15 Locks.]
Dead Man’s Cove is one of the best escape rooms in Austin. Here are our recommendations for great escape rooms in Austin.
Worth the doubloons.
Location: Austin, Texas
Date Played: February 1, 2019
Team size: 2-6; we recommend 2-4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $33 per player
Ticketing: Private
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Dead Man’s Cove combined puzzles and adventure into an epic sea voyage. Through the decor, sound, and effects 15 Locks delivered incredible and memorable gameplay moments.
While we struggled with the dim lighting, we enjoyed the puzzles. This little ship was jam-packed with them.
Dead Man’s Cove was a highly creative take on the traditional escape room. 15 Locks added tons of details and transformed a game that could have felt like a basic escape room into something magical.
If you’re anywhere near Austin and you’re looking for an escape room adventure, regardless of experience level, you’ll find a lot to enjoy aboard this vessel.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Story seekers
- Puzzle pirates
- Scenery snobs
- Any experience level
Why play?
- Exciting moments
- Detailed set
- Excellent puzzles
- The hint system
Story
Our ship was trapped somewhere between the land of the living and the land of the dead. We had to battle mystical evils and navigate ourselves out of troubled waters.
Setting
15 Locks staged Dead Man’s Cove inside of a cursed pirate ship. The setting was appropriately dim. It used a variety of effects to convey the various ghosts from the ship’s past that we needed to appease or defeat.
Gameplay
15 Locks’ Dead Man’s Cove was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around searching, puzzling, observing, and making connections.
Analysis
➕ 15 Locks’ introduction worked really well… and revealed a charming and fun hint system. We enjoyed taking hints.
➕ Dead Man’s Cove looked exceptional. The wood paneling combined with heavy wood furniture, lantern lighting, choice of locks, and nautical props transported us to these troubled waters.
➖ The gamespace was unbalanced. Since so much of it was beautifully crafted into a specific aesthetic, a latter set felt under-designed in comparison. There was opportunity to do more with this part of the gamespace.
➕ Dead Man’s Cove wasn’t a large space, but it packed a lot of gameplay.
➕ The puzzles flowed smoothly and solved cleanly.
➖ The dim lighting was frustrating. Especially given the reliance on combination locks and short passages written in a small font, we struggled with lack of light. A few spotlights on one or two work surfaces would have made a world of difference.
➕ 15 Locks used light and sound to surprise us. Dead Man’s Cove continually delivered exciting, interactive moments. We enjoyed experiencing these as a group.
Tips For Visiting
- There is a parking lot.
Book your hour with 15 Locks’ Dead Man’s Cove, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: 15 Locks comped our tickets for this game.
My favorite part of this game was the way it told a story. The sequences where the players learn about the history of the ship were by far my favorite moments in terms of interactions and really sold my place onboard the vessel. It was one of the most original uses of black lights I have ever seen.
I agree with all your thoughts here. This was a really wonderful game.