Room Escape Artist

The Golden Phoenix is one of the best escape rooms in Berlin, Germany. Here are our recommendations for other great escape rooms in Berlin. While not near by, if you’re playing escape rooms in Germany, consider our recommendations for escape rooms in Bavaria and escape rooms in Hamburg.

Advanced Wand Studies

Location: Berlin, Germany

Date Played: August 4, 2023

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 75 minutes

Price: 117 € for a team of 2 up to 234 € for a team of 6

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: At least one player must not be claustrophobic, and all players must go through a low passageway

Emergency Exit Rating: [A] Push to Exit (For the majority of the experience, no players are locked in at all. However, one player enters a space midgame that is push-to-exit, and possibly also requires some physical maneuvering to exit.)

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The genre of Harry Potter-inspired escape rooms is a crowded one, yet Miraculum’s The Golden Phoenix boldly stood out from the pack with its gorgeous set design, theatrical effects, and unique world-building.

Our story began the moment we stepped into Miraculum’s bookstore front room, and it continued without pause through to the final moments of our game. The Golden Phoenix demonstrated an exceptional use and division of space, concocting a grand adventure out of a modestly sized environment, all the while progressing the story with each new chamber we discovered.

While The Golden Phoenix included a wide range of well-themed puzzles and interactions, at its core it’s a game about magic, and on magic it delivered. Upon earning our wands, we began to learn a suite of magical spells that defined the logic of the world around us. Miraculum’s thoughtful implementation of spell-casting was strongly present throughout all segments of the game without ever feeling too repetitive or overstaying its welcome.

And then there was The Golden Phoenix‘s phoenix. Let’s just say that the game more than lived up to its namesake.

If you are visiting Berlin, The Golden Phoenix should be unequivocally on your itinerary, and I also recommend playing Miraculum’s Frankenstein if you have the time.

Who is this for?

• Scenery snobs
• Adventure seekers
• Any experience level
• Magic lovers

Why play?

• A gorgeous, intricate set
• You like wizards and Harry Potter
• The phoenix 🔥🔥🔥

Story

Our wizarding academy was under attack by the dark forces! But if we were to defend our school and protect the golden phoenix, we’d have to first pass our final exam in wandlore.

Setting

The Golden Phoenix took place in a regally decorated wizarding academy. As the game progressed, we increasingly felt like we were in a Hogwarts-esque medieval castle. Every surface and every prop had a remarkable level of detail and polish, and certain central set pieces were particularly stunning.

Gameplay

Miraculum’s The Golden Phoenix was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around puzzling, searching, and making connections.

Analysis

➕ Miraculum welcomed us into their space and overworld through a fabulously layered entrance: first through their bookstore storefront, and then even deeper into one of the stories. Light character acting and a wholehearted commitment to the bit made this more than your average escape room lobby.

➕ Despite some not-so-subtle nods to the popular wizarding reference material, The Golden Phoenix largely told its own original and self-contained story.

➕ A central set piece was breathtaking. With an impressive level of detail, realistic motion, thoughtful lighting, and just enough distance away from players, it managed to never feel fake or cheesy, as is so often the case when portraying in-room characters in escape rooms.

➕ The set of The Golden Phoenix had a clever layout and some magical transitions that made it feel far more expansive than it actually was.

➖ A translation puzzle, while loosely thematic, felt uninspired and disconnected from the physical environment.

❓/➕ A solo interaction was not suitable for players with any amount of claustrophobia. While I personally found this puzzle to be quite creative and novel, I can see some players questioning its safety, even just in the moment.

➕ The scent design throughout The Golden Phoenix was excellent. It defined the character of each new space without ever being overwhelming.

➕ The Golden Phoenix presented a solid approach to spellcasting. After earning our wands, we progressively learned a myriad of spells that felt magical in a range of scenarios, with clear feedback whether or not we were successful.

📷 Miraculum perfectly modeled how to take creative post-game team photos that showcase the cool set, provide players with props that lend themselves to fun poses, and include a thematic filter — all making for a stellar souvenir that doubles as catchy marketing.

Tips For Visiting

• The Golden Phoenix was designed by The ROOM Labs, the minds behind THE ROOM Berlin.
• Street parking is available nearby.

Book your session with Miraculum’s The Golden Phoenix, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Miraculum provided media discounted tickets for this game.