Merlin’s Legacy is one of the best escape rooms in Milwaukee. Here are our recommendations for other great escape rooms in Milwaukee.
The heat, the chill, the unknown
Location: Greendale, WI
Date Played: March 11, 2022
Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 3-4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $30 per player
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: At least one player must be able to fit in a tight passage. There are also strobe lights and fog.
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
60 to Escape’s strong suit is capturing players in an engaging story from beginning to end, and they achieved this magically in Merlin’s Legacy. Filled to the brim with personality and charm, the game was truly an adventure concealed within a shopping mall.
Merlin’s Legacy was able to create memorable characters using sounds, lights, and effects. They have forever burned into our memories an incredible end game interaction, and continue to design larger-than-life props and interactions. We loved how tactile these interactions and the set felt; they had the right amount of heft to them without being cumbersome.
While the aesthetic fit in the time period and story, the first area of the game felt a little too loved, like it had been glued down one too many times. This never took away from the solid gameplay, puzzle flow, and seamless tech, but we wished it had been a bit more polished .
60 to Escape is designing such joyful rooms bursting with crazy stories, creative puzzles, and awesome scenery. If we had to choose one game to play, we’d recommend enthusiasts play INVASION! If time permits, be sure to check out all of their offerings at this location in Greendale, WI.
Who is this for?
- Scenery snobs
- Family friendly
- Any experience level
- Tech nerds
- Adventure seekers
- Story seekers
Why play?
- A jaw-dropping end game spectacle
- Seamless tech integrated in a dynamic and enchanting set
Story
After many years of hard work casting spells to protect the land, Merlin’s spell to ward off the dragons was about to wear off. It was up to us to return to the land of the dragons and cast a spell to finish banishing them once and for all!
Setting
Merlin’s Legacy began in Merlin’s study, stacked from floor to ceiling with books and potions. As the experience progressed, the space opened up into multiple gorgeous and varied sets.
Gameplay
60 to Escape’s Merlin’s Legacy was a standard escape room with a moderate-to-low level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, searching, and puzzling.
Analysis
➕ The introduction began the game with a bang, full of magic and wonder. By using some simple audio and lighting effects, 60 to Escape captured Merlin’s charm and got our team immersed in his world.
➖ However, the onboarding sequence was weak compared to the rest of the game. The first puzzle was a fine puzzle, but not an obvious starting point. The space was full of infinite information that all felt relevant without a glaring beginning.
➕ The game varied from linear gameplay to branching parallel paths, and back for a rejoined final sequence. The puzzle flow was rock solid after the bumpy start.
➖ Early in the game, a set piece had uncovered reset mechanisms from a ghost puzzle. Our team spent a while falling down this rabbit hole. While it’s not obtrusive to the set, it could easily be removed or covered to mitigate any unnecessary time sinks.
➕ The entire experience was full of lighting and sound effects coming from all around the set. Atmospherically, Merlin’s Legacy did not disappoint with an incredibly dynamic set.
➕/➖ A cranial puzzle made great use of a large set piece and required team communication. While thematic, the answer input mechanism felt somewhat ambiguous.
➕ Every object and interaction felt tactile and satisfying, including heavy, sturdy objects and large set pieces to observe. Merlin’s Legacy was full of an enchanting range of textures to admire.
➕ A rapidly paced set of final interactions led to a climatic finale. The build up to this finale was strong, including an impressive and shocking spectacle.
Tips For Visiting
- There is plenty of parking on-site
- 60 to Escape is located on the second floor of the Southridge Mall. Please note Merlin’s Legacy is at their Wisconsin location.
- The food court is right next door for post-game grub.
Book your hour with 60 to Escape’s Merlin’s Legacy, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: 60 to Escape comped our tickets for this game.
