Excape Games – Abandoned Ship [Review]

Abandoned Ship is one of the best games in the Detroit area. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms around Detroit.

Escape the Kraken

Location:  Livonia, Michigan

Date Played:  August 3, 2019

Team size: up to 8; we recommend 4-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $28 per player

Ticketing: Public

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Every once in a while we happen upon a company a few months too early. Seeing what Excape Games has in the works, I am pretty sure that they are in the process of transforming themselves from a solid escape room company into a real force in their region.

Check out Abandoned Ship if you’re in the area because it’s a fun, traditional game with some great elements, but keep an eye out for their new projects. It feels like Excape Games is on the brink of something special.

In-game: An interesting room with octopus tenticles reaching in through porthole windows.

Who is this for?

  • Adventure seekers
  • Puzzle lovers
  • Any experience level
  • Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

  • Strong puzzles
  • It builds up well

Story

Our research expedition had successfully rediscovered the lost submarine, the S.S. Odyssey. As we boarded it and attempted to surface the boat, it sustained damage. We had to work under pressure to bring the submarine back to sea level, saving it and ourselves.

In-game: a large steampunk gun mounted to the wall.

Setting

Abandoned Ship opened in a bland silver and gray room. It wasn’t the greatest first impression. Excape Games made it clear to us that they had near-future plans to greatly improve this space and I believe them.

In-game: A plain, silver walled room, with an interesting riveted door and a large white panel labeled "First Aid"

With each subsequent space, the Abandoned Ship became more beautiful and compelling. The overwhelming majority of the experience took place in these exciting locations.

In-game: a weathered space with tubes and controls.

Gameplay

Excape Games’ Abandoned Ship was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing, making connections, and puzzling.

In-game: crank siren hint system.
This was a great way to call for a hint.

Analysis

➕ Abandoned Ship had an interesting assembly puzzle. This sequence had subtle cluing that worked impeccably. It was brilliant.

➖ In other places, there was opportunity to mind the details: a mount here, consistency in cluing there.

➕ The puzzles generally flowed well and delivered satisfying solves. 

➖ While most of the game was well clued, we found one needlessly unclued search puzzle to be a frustrating time sink. Additionally, there were too many clues written on laminated paper that could have been more fully integrated into the set and the world.

➕ The set design ramped up over the course of the game. With each new space we entered, the gamespace was more intriguing. We always enjoy a good steampunk aesthetic.

➖ The first room looked sparse. While this didn’t detract from the gameplay, the initial scene was jarringly under designed.

➕ We always appreciate an unusual door. This vessel didn’t disappoint.

➕/➖ Abandoned Ship had a really cool final set, but it lacked an impactful finale.

Tips For Visiting

  • There is a parking lot.

Book your hour with Excape Games’ Abandoned Ship, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Excape Games comped our tickets for this game.

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