Panic The Experience is an online game created by Swamp Motel to promote the Amazon Prime show Panic.
Format
Style of Play:
- Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
- Video-based experience
- Web-based inventory system
- Light puzzle hunt
Required Equipment: computer with internet connection
Recommended Team Size: 2-4
Play Time: 30-60 minutes
Price: free
Booking: book online for a specific time slot (but this experience is no longer running)
Description
Players join a video meeting as volunteers helping to find a missing high school student. From that starting point, players must solve puzzles to find more information, moving the story along until the student is located.
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Andrew Reynolds’ Reaction
Panic The Experience puts you in the world of the Amazon Prime show Panic. Sort of. I watched the first few episodes ahead of time to get some context, and I’m glad that I did. The experience didn’t really provide a lot of context on its own. To be fair, you didn’t need to understand the plot of the show to solve the puzzles, but I expected a little more background to have been provided.
The game itself was very enjoyable. There was a good mix of puzzle types and websites to visit, all the normal style of these ARG-ish puzzle hunts. We hacked into some databases, utilized a social media platform, found hidden messages – typical Sunday night stuff. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good and entertaining implementation of the puzzles.
Diana Kobrynowicz’s Reaction
This was an interactive escape room-inspired type of experience that mostly seems to be an advertisement for the show. It was well done with respect to the sophistication around the interactive media. It was easy to navigate. Thankfully I was part of a team of seasoned players who easily found their way around, and I got to go along for the ride. It was fun being part of a great group. Nonetheless, this did not feel like a “game” experience, but a way to interact with the marketing of the show. If you are into this show or curious about the show after watching the trailer, this is another way to get a feel for the show. It felt more like watching an interactive trailer than playing an escape room.
Cara Mandel’s Reaction
Panic The Experience was an online experiential marketing activation created to promote the Amazon Prime series Panic. The experience was fairly well executed, incorporating pre-recorded videos from cast members along with elaborately designed websites to dig through for clues. Ultimately, this wasn’t really an escape room, but rather a hunt to find a missing person. It felt a bit like one of those at-home mystery solving box games brought to life in digital form. There were some enjoyable moments throughout, but largely the tasks we were given felt a bit tedious. It was at times confusing with one player screen-sharing (which the game required) and the other players searching along on their respective devices. This setup proved a bit frustrating, but I’d imagine if the team were instead all watching the shared screen it might be less confusing, albeit more passive for the players. In the end, we succeeded… sort of. I’m not particularly inclined to recommend this as a game, but it did mildly pique my interest in the show so in that regard I suppose mission accomplished.
Amazon Prime Video’s Panic The Experience is no longer available to book.