Niagara Escapement – The Honeymoon Suite [Review]

A Kitschy Caper

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Date Played: March 23, 2023

Team Size: 3-7; we recommend 4-6

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $26.55 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: None

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The Honeymoon Suite was a sturdy, puzzle-centric escape room built with solid game flow and a nod towards the incredibly appropriate Niagara Falls motel vibe of some of the surrounding streets.

This non-linear experience allowed players to chart their own puzzle path before coming together to assemble in a more collaborative space. In a style that is natural for Niagara Escapement, the vast majority of puzzles delivered quick hits of aha moments with the actual solution not far away after figuring out the catch.

A bed with a heart-shaped headboard covered in pink shag sheets.

In the midst of the narrative, there was a puzzle that seemed to fall out of place with this trend, taking far longer for players to arrive at its execution, even when the directions were clear. With a few too many places for error, it was easy to get frustrated. Compared to the rest of the experience, this was a natural improvement point and Niagara Escapement already had plans to alter it.

If you want to play a solid, fun escape room in the Niagara Falls area that will deliver a few laughs in the process, you’ll meet your match in Niagara Escapement’s The Honeymoon Suite.

Who is this for?

  • Puzzle lovers
  • Bachelorette parties
  • Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

  • Clever puzzles
  • Solid game flow
  • Natural collaboration opportunities

Story

We were tasked with infiltrating a rather sketchy motel to steal something for the mob. Canadian adventures ensued.

Closeup of a hotel door with a peephole. The door is labeled, "The Honeymoon Suite."

Setting

The Honeymoon Suite was set in a delightful, exactly-how-you’d-picture-it, Niagara Falls honeymoon motel suite.

A sign mounted in clear acrylic reads, "Motel Rules: tip room service according to how much you want them to forget."

Gameplay

Niagara Escapement’s The Honeymoon Suite was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

The room revolved around making connections, visual cluing, and a steady stream of puzzling.

Analysis

➕ Gameplay content was presented confidently in the space with minimal searching required.

➕ Puzzling is a strong suit for Niagara Escapement and The Honeymoon Suite was no exception. Puzzles and props felt appropriate for motel room decor and were themed accordingly.

➖ One particular mid-game experience (see the Reaction section above) seemed completely out of sync with the style of puzzling in the rest of the room.

➕ A unique mechanic in escape rooms caught us mid-game (even though it was fairly clued), and I really enjoyed that it provided a pretty clear reminder not to make assumptions as an enthusiast.

➖ While the decor was as sketchy as the theme promised, the room felt in need of further polish.

Tips For Visiting

  • There is parking immediately adjacent to Niagara Escapement.
  • Less than ten minutes away is an all-you-can-eat, small plate sushi restaurant called East Izakaya. Essentially, you order on tablets and are served by robots. Make reservations and make sure you select the right location.

Book your hour with Niagara Escapement’s The Honeymoon Suite, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Niagara Escapement comped our tickets for this game.

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