Update 11/1/22: If you enjoy The Blind Tiger we hope you’ll check out our interview with creators Jonathan Driscoll and Sacha St.Denis on The Reality Escape Pod.
Puzzles on tap
Location: Laval, Quebec, Canada
Date Played: April 6, 2019
Team size: 3-8; we recommend 4-6
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $29.99 CAD per player
Ticketing: Private
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
The Blind Tiger was the most traditional escape room that we played at Escaparium. It looked good, played cleanly, included great swing music, and had at least one memorable moment.
From our perspective, a hallmark of Escaparium’s game design is their willingness to take risks in their gameplay and sets… to make things that we haven’t seen anywhere else. Sometimes this delivers a big payoff and sometimes it’s a little bumpy, but it’s always interesting.
The Blind Tiger doesn’t have that risky intrigue that we saw in the other 5 Escaparium games that we played on our recent trip to Montreal. There’s nothing wrong with that (especially from a company with so many games); it might even be a good thing for them.
We absolutely recommend The Blind Tiger if you’re in Montreal and looking for a solid speakeasy experience that plays really well. If you’re looking for something out of the box, however, Escaparium has plenty of other games that might not play as smoothly, but offer something unique.
Who is this for?
- Puzzle lovers
- Scenery snobs
- Players for players with at least some experience
Why play?
- Great music
- Strong speakeasy touches
- Some good puzzling
Story
The Blind Tiger was the most popular speakeasy in Chicago. Our boss, the leader of a rival crime family, had sent us to sneak into the Blind Tiger to steal its owner’s ledger. There would be something juicy contained within it.
Setting
The Blind Tiger was a speakeasy. It looked like a compelling underground drinking and gambling establishment.
While it wasn’t the fanciest set, little details made it feel real. These included liquor labels, pinup art, and cigarette displays.
Gameplay
Escaparium’s The Blind Tiger was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing, making connections, and puzzling.
Analysis
➕ The Blind Tiger had a lively soundtrack of swing music and a beautiful, polished set. We enjoyed the vibe of the gamespace.
➖ Although the gamespace was spacious, one area lacked adequate room to maneuver. It was easy to scrape oneself on doors, once opened, and hard to work together in this area.
➖ We encountered a ghost puzzle within the set decor.
➕ The voice-overs were clear and well acted. They added character to the game.
➕ The puzzles were thematic and largely tangible. They flowed well.
➕/➖ One substantial puzzle was well integrated into the gamespace. The cluing was varied and included physical props, which made this puzzle more engaging than this style tends to be. That said, it was a long process puzzle for a timed escape game.
➕/ ➖ We enjoyed assembling… what would then become another puzzle. It was a nifty prop, but a bit too finicky. It also needed a touch more cluing.
➖ Although the puzzles worked well, they generally weren’t novel or exceptionally memorable.
➕ A thematic meta puzzle helped us gauge our progress instead of having to rely on a gameclock.
Tips For Visiting
- There is a parking lot.
- This game is entirely bilingual (French and English).
Book your hour with Escaparium’s The Blind Tiger, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Escaparium comped our tickets for this game.
