Seen is a livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game created by Mystery Mansion Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Format
Style of Play:
- Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
- Avatar controlled by the players
- Web-based inventory system
- Interactive NPC + aspects of immersive theater
Required Equipment: computer with internet connection
Recommended Team Size: 3-6
Play Time: 75 minutes
Price: $25 CA per person
Booking: book online for a specific time slot
Description
This is an avatar-led game with interactive Telescape inventory system. It is a livestreamed version of a real escape room, modified to be a raunchy parody of the format.
You are dropped into the scenario about as diegetically as you can be with an online game.
Not family-friendly! Make sure your entire team is ok with adult language. It will also help if at least one of your teammates is outgoing and willing to interact with an improv actor.
Even though it is a play on the Saw movies, it was not scary at all.
Hivemind Review Scale
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Matthew Stein’s Reaction
Seen is crass and stupid in the most hilarious and wonderfully self-aware ways possible. If you’re easily offended, this game probably isn’t for you. If you can get on board with some ridiculous middle school humor, you’ll likely have a glorious time interacting with the actors. The game successfully leans into low-tech escape room tropes as a comedic device, so expect lots of physical padlocks with immature combinations. While this isn’t my favorite of the remote games Mystery Mansion Regina offers, I had a blast and was yet again impressed by their scrappy creativity.
Cindi S’ Reaction
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this game based on the description on the website. The story was that we’d answered a Craigslist ad to babysit a (big) baby over video. Huh? I was confused. It didn’t take long until I realized this was not your average escape room! The set design was nothing special and the puzzles were interesting but fairly straightforward. What really stood out in this room was the humor. It was crude and rude and all kinds of distasteful and that’s what made it hilarious! Between the unusual puzzle solutions and weird characters, we were engaged the whole time. That said, this game is not for everyone. I have to admit, I was a bit uncomfortable at times, but that only added to this crazy experience. So bring your rowdy group of friends and you will have a great time!
Brett Kuehner’s Reaction
- + The avatar was excellent, hilarious, and really fun to play with
- ? Definitely R-rated for various content, so only play if you are ok with raunchy humor
- + Puzzles were generally enjoyable, though they weren’t really the point of the game
- + Good story framing, starting off with in-world reasons for what you are doing
- ? At one point in the game, you’ll need to make a choice – choose wisely (unlike my teammates)
- + The Saw-style framing is a launching point for using classic tropes, and they are generally used well
- +/- Handheld camera makes sense for the game, but can trigger motion sickness in those prone to it
- ? Intentionally sticks with “find the code, open the lock” puzzles, most of which work, but a few felt a bit cliched
Cara Mandel’s Reaction
Mystery Mansion Regina has a solid track record of online escape room adaptations. With each new entry into the format, they’ve shown great ingenuity, humor, and generally clever approaches. Seen was our first time playing with a gamemaster other than Mitch and I’ll start by complimenting our avatar. He somehow managed to remain in character despite our relentless heckling (all in good fun) and even managed to hurl a few good zingers back our way. This game relied heavily on over-the-top, gross-out humor that might appeal strongly to, say, a group of teenage boys. This comedic style wasn’t particularly my taste, but it certainly didn’t preclude me from enjoying myself along with my fellow teammates. A few puzzles were a bit tedious over Zoom. One in particular felt like it might have been solvable much faster were we actually in the room rather than relying on our avatar to be our eyes. Overall, it was a fun time. Come for the game, stay for the potty humor. 🤷♀️🚽
Richard Burns’ Reaction
I gave this game 3 stars because it is worth checking out for its unique premise. How fun can a basic low-tech escape room be? With their use of multiple actors, adult humor and language, terrific improv skills, Narwhals, detailed use of Telescape, silly bonus games, and creepy background music, Mystery Mansion Regina was able to take a basic set and a bunch of combo locks and turn it into a very enjoyable game with multiple endings.
All of the puzzles are legitimate, but don’t overthink them too much. Even though the storyline does support the camera work style, I think our playthrough would have gone smoother with some sort of camera mount that would free up both of the avatar’s hands.
It is a fresh, parody version of a live avatar escape room that experienced players will enjoy. So put the earmuffs on the kids and go give it a try.
Disclosure: Mystery Mansion Regina provided the Hivemind reviewers with a complimentary play.