Update 11/22/22: If you enjoy The Mysterious Benedict Society, we hope you’ll check out our interview with The Escape Game CEO and Co-Founder Mark Flint on The Reality Escape Pod.
The Mysterious Benedict Society is a free avatar-led escape game to promote the Disney+ show of the same name. It was created by The Escape Game in Nashville, TN.
Format
Style of Play:
- Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
- Avatar controlled by the players
- Web-based inventory system
Required Equipment: computer with internet connection
Recommended Team Size: 2-4
Play Time: 45 minutes
Price: This was a free event, promoting an upcoming Disney+ series.
Booking: book online for a specific time slot
Description
This was a typical livestreamed escape room, played via Zoom with the gamemaster as the avatar. It included a separate custom inventory interface that kept track of locks in a separate list, and played game-related videos.
Hivemind Review Scale
Read more about our Hivemind Review format.
Tammy McLeod’s Reaction
This free escape game is meant to promote the new Disney+ show The Mysterious Benedict Society. I enjoyed the game, but not knowing the story, I’m not sure if I really got much of the story tie-in. The escape game itself was fun, however. There were a substantial number of puzzles, everything looked polished, and there were some fun puzzles that could only have worked in a virtual game. The Escape Game did a great job on this.
Joel Smileypeacefun Reaction
This game about the upcoming Disney+ show The Mysterious Benedict Society had us prove if we were worthy of being a part of their group. In an office setting, we had to find a mysterious bell and ring it to show our wits and talent.
At its best, we had a super nice gamemaster introducing the game to us. There were a couple of fun puzzles with good variety, especially in the beginning. Everything worked; things made sense.
At its worst, given how exciting it seems going to be, the escape room felt a bit… underwhelming. It’s only a 45-minute game and it’s a reskin of The Escape Game’s The Heist, so some structures can seem familiar. The set didn’t feel as high quality as I’ve come to expect from the high standards of this company.
Although the escape room didn’t quite live up to the hype of the Disney+ series trailer, it was a fun free event. I wouldn’t, however, compare it to The Escape Game’s paid 1-hour games.
The Lone Puzzler’s Reaction
While this game was only available for a short time as a promotional event (and is also only a 45-minute game) it really has a lot of cool elements packed into it. The gamemaster and in-room avatar did a great job of letting us explore the space, and the online inventory system was first rate. Unlike some online games, this one was very smooth and fun to play. Whether you have heard of The Mysterious Benedict Society or not, the game still worked well. Plenty of puzzles to solve and while some of them were quick, they were mainly quite clever and enjoyable. Not the hardest room you will play, but a very enjoyable time for all experience levels. Given the energy put into creating this game, I am hopeful that it gets an extended run.
David Spira’s Reaction
The Mysterious Benedict Society was an elegant reskin of The Escape Game’s The Heist. I’ve played The Heist twice over the years, and I was impressed by how much they had transformed the game.
While we were playing, the thing that stood out most to me was how many interactions The Escape Game included that they could not have put into a physical room, for safety reasons. These kinds of interactions were fantastic in the hands of a trusted avatar and fun over the internet.
After the game concluded I watched the first episode of The Mysterious Benedict Society on Disney+ to see how well the game captured the vibe of the show… and The Escape Game hit the mark here as well. Most notably, I had found the final puzzle not even remotely to my taste, but after watching the show, I will happily admit that that puzzle truly captured the ethos of the show.
All in all, I continue to be impressed with The Escape Game’s licensed work and their ability to reskin and transform their existing spaces.
The Mysterious Benedict Society is currently sold out, but the website states that additional time slots may open up.
Disclosure: The Escape Game provided the Hivemind reviewers with a complimentary play.