Zadimus Razor’s Castle and the Quest for the Dragon Eggs
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Date Played: March 5, 2023
Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 3-5
Duration: 75-90 minutes
Price: $34-38 per player depending on the number of players and day of week
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: At least one player must climb a few steps
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Of common escape room themes, “wizard” is amongst my favorites. Yet it’s a crowded market out there, and especially for traveling escape room enthusiasts, wizard-themed escape rooms can often start to all feel the same.
Escape Again’s Wizard — apart from its generic title — stood out in a few key ways. It was delightfully handcrafted with love, creativity, and polish, in that special way characteristic of mom-and-pop escape room companies that know what they’re doing and really care. It leaned into the lore of dragons and other magical creatures, with countless details that deepened the world. And the adventure kept on going, with a fantastic range of tonal and textural contrasts.
And then there was that shelf that made us really happy. You’ll know it when you see it.
Wizard falls into a category that I call “feel-good escape rooms.” The gameplay was thoughtful and incredibly fun, pulling on escape room genre tropes yet with lots of small personal twists. The cluing and signposting were consistently clear, fair, and well-tested. We quickly got into a flow state and stayed there the entire time. Nothing about this game was groundbreaking, but it didn’t need to be.
With both Wizard and Outlaw, Escape Again is making a good name for the escape room industry. These are notably solid experiences that I wholeheartedly recommend to escape room newcomers and veterans alike.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Puzzle lovers
- Scenery snobs
- Dragon lovers
- Any experience level
Why play?
- Creative, densely packed gameplay
- A grand adventure in a colorful world of wizards and dragons
Story
We entered the castle of evil wizard Zadimus Razor in order to reclaim the dragon eggs he’d stolen.
Setting
Wizard was set in and around the castle of an evil wizard. With vibrant textures and colors every direction we looked, this eclectic aesthetic felt thoroughly magical. Each new space evoked a distinct new mood while still fitting within the overall aesthetic.
Gameplay
Escape Again’s Wizard was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around solving puzzles and making connections.
Analysis
➕ So many delightful homemade elements filled the environment of Wizard. It was abundantly clear that Escape Again put a ton of love into constructing this experience, and it paid off.
➕ The gameplay in Wizard was smooth and satisfying, including a variety of playful, joyous moments. Spanning multiple distinct styles and tones, Wizard remained a coherent experience, with an ongoing emphasis on observation and communication.
➕ The narrative introduction was concise and effective. Escape Again presented this in-room, but in the dark so we wouldn’t yet be distracted by our surroundings.
➕ While interacting with the environment, there was consistently clear audio and/ or visual feedback. This allowed for discovery without questioning whether we were on the right path, especially when using our wands or interacting with not-yet-active props.
➖ Wizard wands we obtained throughout the game were just tools shaped like wands. Their uses never felt particularly magical.
➕/➖ Throughout the game, we “activated” a number of wizard characters. The mechanic for awakening these wizards prompted some great emotional moments, but, lacking more recurring roles throughout the game, these characters ultimately proved forgettable.
➕ An unusual custom lock made us feel something.
➕ A special shelf, which very well may have been a Pinterest interior design hack, was a deeply satisfying example of how to create an interaction that is fun and memorable within a small budget.
➕/❓ Wizard led us on a grand adventure with clear objectives. A few minor Harry Potter-isms that snuck through seemed unnecessary amongst otherwise original world-building.
Tips For Visiting
- There is a parking lot.
- Nearby, Jupiter Pizza & Waffles Co. offered delicious food and drinks that satisfied a range of dietary preferences.
Book your hour with Escape Again’s Wizard, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Escape Again comped our tickets for this game.
