16 & phoneless
Location: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada
Date Played: February 3, 2020
Team size: 2-4; we recommend 2-4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: 30 CAD per player
Ticketing: Private
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Dream Weekend surprised us.
After a humorous introduction, the opening scene was profoundly underwhelming, but that gave way to some incredible moments.
From the set to the puzzles, the first act of Dream Weekend felt like a dated, lame escape room. David more or less checked out and lounged on that bed, convinced that Sauve Qui Peut had finally produced a total dud. He was wrong.
As the rest of the game unfolded, we were awed by the ingenuity that went into the story, set, and puzzles.
Dream Weekend was far from flawless, but it was incredibly inventive. Once it had some momentum, it was a delight. If you’re in the region, this is one of many games at Sauve Qui Peut that’s worth checking out.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Story seekers
- Puzzle lovers
- Scenery snobs
- Any experience level
Why play?
- Fantastic sets and scene transitions
- Cool puzzles
- An amazing and clever set piece
Story
Elodie’s parents had planned a “dream weekend,” a vacation away from home and without any technology. By disconnecting, they could all reconnect. This may have been her parents’ dream, but it was Elodie’s nightmare.
Setting
Dream Weekend opened up in a bland bedroom. It had all of the right components, but there wasn’t much of anything special or exciting about it… It didn’t stay bland.
Dream Weekend transformed into an exciting and innovative space that would be wrong to spoil.
Gameplay
Sauve Qui Peut’s Dream Weekend was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around observing and making connections.
Analysis
➕ Sauve Qui Peut established the story of Dream Weekend on a screen with a scene unlike any we’d seen before. It was humorous, bizarrely captivating, and entirely appropriate for the story of this escape room. (Of note, to fully appreciate this scene, you need to read French… but it’s still great fun if you can’t.)
➕ Sauve Qui Peut built a whimsical set for Dream Weekend. It transformed in unexpected ways.
➖ With the exception of the story setup, the initial act of Dream Weekend was underwhelming. It looked mundane at best. Fortunately, it improved dramatically from there.
➕ Although the world of Dream Weekend appeared uninteresting at first glance, it delivered surprising and delightful reveals. These included set transitions, visual word play, and unusual decor.
➖ Some of the early puzzles harkened back to the earliest days of escape room gameplay. We were searching through worn paper props for codes.
➕ The whimsical gameplay of the later acts left us all smiles. We especially enjoyed what we didn’t find when we opened one late-game lock.
➖/➕ Dream Weekend lacked a finale that could stand up to the strong moments earlier in the escape room. That said, Sauve Qui Peut did bring the game full circle, which we enjoyed.
Tips For Visiting
- There is metered street parking.
- This game is entirely bilingual (French and English).
- For the full experience, all players need to be able to duck and climb over small barriers.
Book your hour with Sauve Qui Peut’s Dream Weekend, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Sauve Qui Peut comped our tickets for this game.
