Puzzle Theory – P.T. Railways: Rebel Run [Review]

Bought a ticket for a runaway train

Location:  South Windsor, CT

Date Played: October 1, 2021

Team Size: 4-10; we recommend 4-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $30 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Most players must duck through an opening repeatedly

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Puzzle Theory’s P.T. Railways: Rebel Run was an escape room that highlighted physical manipulation puzzles, blended into an immersive, technology-driven set design. These challenges allowed us to work in a non-linear fashion in several different spaces at one time without crowding.

The game area was impressively designed to match the storyline, with the integration of special effects and lighting that complemented the puzzles at hand.

Metal devices and chains, dramatically lit.

Most of the gameplay flowed well, but there was one puzzle towards the beginning of the experience that seemed to continually give feedback that it was reset in the middle of a sequence, surprising all of us when we completed it and were allowed to continue.

P.T. Railways: Rebel Run 
was a solid escape room and certainly worth the trip if you are in the Hartford, Connecticut region.

Who is this for?

  • Puzzle lovers
  • Scenery snobs
  • Dexterity challenge fans
  • Any experience level

Story

An underground organization had tasked us with stealing a super-tech train with the help of a friendly artificial intelligence presence.

Hartford Metro PT Railways map.

Setting

P.T. Railways: Rebel Run was set in several tech-driven, train-oriented spaces.

radio code and signal sheet beside an old radio.

Gameplay

Puzzle Theory’s P.T. Railways: Rebel Run was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty. The gameplay focused on physical manipulation challenges and puzzling through scenery-driven integrations.

An assortment of wooden crates dramatically lit.

Analysis

➕ Puzzle Theory built an appropriately expansive space that continued to surprise us as the storyline unfolded.

➕ True to the storyline, technology was a central facet in our experiences in the room.

➕/➖ The same space was utilized for this escape room and another game (P.T. Railways: Spectral Rift), which allows for a unique look at the same space through a different lens, but removes many of the surprises on the second adventure through the space.

➕ Smart physical manipulation puzzles were spread throughout the space, building a network of unique mini-experiences throughout the room.

➖ An inappropriate amount of feedback was available on at least one of the puzzles, allowing us to work out the answer without having the appropriate clues.

➕ A fair amount of real estate was available at any given time to players, making for a comfortable playing experience. 

➕/➖ An audio clue was provided at the very beginning as we headed into the room. Pay more attention to it than we did.

➕ An incredibly well-paced onboarding sequence introduced us into the primary playing space.

Tips For Visiting

  • Parking: There is ample parking in a lot in front of Puzzle Theory.

Book your hour with Puzzle Theory’s P.T. Railways: Rebel Run, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Puzzle Theory provided media discounted tickets for this game.

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