Seeking Sadquatch is one of the best escape rooms in Pittsburgh. Here are our recommendations for great escape rooms in Pittsburgh.
A hairy situation
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Date Played: July 2, 2021
Team size: 2-8; we recommend 3-5
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $30 per player
Ticketing: Private
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Seeking Sasquatch was a unique game that did a stellar job creating an exterior environment.
The gameplay was puzzle-focused, which worked great while surrounded by such a nifty space.
The opportunities for improvement in Seeking Sasquatch were in detail refinement, spotlighting, and in-world hinting.
Puzzle Room Pittsburgh did a ton of great things with Seeking Sasquatch, and I think it’s an under-appreciated gem in the Pittsburgh region. Go check it out if you’re in the region.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Puzzle lovers
- Scenery snobs
- Any experience level
- Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle
Why play?
- A unique set with some surprising features
- Unusual interactions
Story
Our crew had set off in search of Sasquatch. As we came upon his trail, we learned that he was hunting us as well.
Setting
Set in the woods at night, Seeking Sasquatch had a campsite-meets-enchanted forest vibe. It was creepy, not scary.
Wooded outdoor settings have historically been subpar, but this one was fully designed and executed with care. We had lanterns to guide us in the low lighting.
Gameplay
Puzzle Room Pittsburgh’s Seeking Sasquatch was a traditional search-and-puzzle escape game.
Analysis
➕ /➖ The opening set of Seeking Sasquatch was dim and underwhelming. While it made sense thematically, the gameplay was laborious. However, the main forest set was that much more vibrant in contrast to this opening act.
➕ We spent the majority of the game in a beautiful setting, complete with lighting and sound. It was a joy to occupy, even when not actively solving puzzles.
➖ As much as we enjoyed the forest setting, there were opportunities for spotlighting. This was true from a both safety perspective (mind the step down!) and for puzzle solving.
➕ We loved the playful puzzles in the latter two thirds of Seeking Sasquatch. The forest provided Puzzle Room Pittsburgh lots of fun and unusual ways to integrate puzzles into the set.
➖ We encountered some opportunities for additional cluing, which would enhance player momentum. For example, multiple locks with the same digital structure lacked lock-mapping, a way to connect a solved puzzle to the input. Additionally, one searching puzzle covered a broad area with no in-game guidance.
➕ The ambiance itself changed as time counted down. We appreciated the natural game timer, and it worked with the theme.
➖ We’d love to see Puzzle Room Pittsburgh incorporate a thematic hint system that would be more exciting and user-friendly than walkie-talkies.
➕ /➖ We banged up against one puzzle for far too long. It was unusual, surprising, and pretty nifty… but due to the input setup, we didn’t see one of its key features early enough. It overstayed its welcome at a moment that would have benefitted from momentum.
➕ In Seeking Sasquatch, a late-game reveal opened the floodgates of more gameplay. This added new energy to the experience.
Tips For Visiting
- Puzzle Room Pittsburgh is invested in encouraging the curiosity of puzzlers. Be sure to look around and explore outside of the room itself.
- Parking: There is ample metered street parking in front of Puzzle Room Pittsburgh.
Book your hour with Puzzle Room Pittsburgh’s Seeking Sasquatch, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Puzzle Room Pittsburgh comped our tickets for this game.
