Houdini’s Puzzle Collection
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Date Played: June 4, 2022
Team size: 2-8; we recommend 3-5
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $22 per player
Ticketing: Private
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock [A]
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Becoming Houdini is the most challenging of the three games currently offered at Albuquerque Escape Room. It has the most puzzles, and the most layered complexity. That said, it’s a traditional escape room, and a well sign-posted one, so don’t let this designation scare you if you’re new to escape rooms.
Apart from the puzzles, the highlight of Becoming Houdini was a magic trick that added a bit of pizzaz to a late-game solve.
There’s opportunity for Albuquerque Escape Room to create an even smoother experience by eliminating reading material meant only as decor, and better connecting puzzles to inputs.
That said, Albuquerque Escape Room offers affordable puzzle-focused escape games and we recommend it for players of all levels (including newbies!) most interested solving puzzles.
Who is this for?
- Puzzle lovers
- Magic fans
- Newbies
- Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle
Why play?
- Fun puzzles
- The late game magic trick
Story
Becoming Houdini was Albuquerque Escape Room’s tribute to Harry Houdini. Our goal was to escape, just as Houdini always did.
Setting
Becoming Houdini had a study or living room vibe. It included magic-themed props that reminded us of the magic of Harry Houdini.
Gameplay
Albuquerque Escape Room’s Becoming Houdini was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and puzzling.
Analysis
➕ Becoming Houdini was the most challenging of Albuquerque Escape Room’s puzzle-forward offerings. Our favorite puzzles required keen observation, and delivered satisfying solves. Long after playing, this puzzle remains top-of-mind for this game.
➖ Becoming Houdini lacked sufficient lock-mapping. We had to try correct solutions in a number of different places without cluing indicating puzzles and inputs.
➖ Becoming Houdini included red herrings in the form of reading material… that we didn’t need to read, but when read, led us astray.
➕ The mid-game transition was a fun moment.
➕ We loved when we performed the magic to open a lock.
➖ One prop was conspicuously out of place in a game themed from Houdini’s era.
➖ There’s an opportunity for Albuquerque Escape Room to further integrate some of their paper puzzles into the set and props, for a more engaging experiential escape room.
➕ The layered finale sequence had good flow and built strong momentum.
Tips For Visiting
- There is a parking lot.
Book your hour with Albuquerque Escape Room’s Becoming Houdini, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Albuquerque Escape Room comped our tickets for this game.
