Room Escape Artist

Seed of Hope is one of the best games in Oklahoma. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms in Oklahoma.

Vamanos!

Location:  Oklahoma City, OK

Date Played: February 3rd, 2024

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

Duration: 75 minutes

Price: $180 for the first 4 players, $40 for each additional player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration:  Players need to climb stairs

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

When I recently played The Sanctuary Escape’s Lost Dutchman’s Mine, I was impressed with its detailed set, thematic puzzles and immersive story. I admit I had pretty high expectations for their latest game, Seed of Hope, and I was not disappointed. This game took immersion to a whole new level, literally. Each room was so visually detailed and intentionally designed that we could interpret story elements even before we solved a single puzzle. From the looming staircase in the entryway to the bank of various video equipment stacked haphazardly in the corner, Seed of Hope pulled us in to the narrative in the first few moments and kept us there the entire time.

Set in an abandoned orphanage with a tale of family tragedy and a missing team of ghost hunters, the game was inherently creepy. Thunder and lighting, flickering lights, and children’s voices that we couldn’t quite make out added to the atmosphere; the designer’s background in haunt venues was evident from every corner. But there were no jump scares and no actors; I wouldn’t even call the game necessarily scary. Instead, it was the set, story, and my own imagination that had me jumping for no reason whatsoever, peering nervously around corners, and negotiating with teammates to see who would go into a room alone.

The puzzles were thematic and appropriate for this world, and there were quite a few to solve; even with an extended game time and 4 players, we were busy the entire time. I especially liked the puzzles that were subtle, multi-layered, and had all of us participating in the solution. While there were a few puzzles that could be tightened up or even eliminated without affecting the experience, most were fun and interactive and moved the story along steadily towards a satisfying and unique conclusion.

The Sanctuary Escape pushed the envelope with design choices that created an immersive experience beyond the typical escape room. Seed of Hope was worth the trip to Oklahoma City, and is one of those games that will stay with me for a long time. 

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Fans of occult themes
• Best for players with at least some experience
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle
• Players who like feeling the hair on the back of their neck stand up

Why play?

• Detailed, immersive set
• Spooky ambience
• Impressive special effects

Story

Vamonos Ghost was a team of ghost hunters who had set out to explore an orphanage called Seed of Hope. Over 100 years ago, the owner was said to have drowned her 2 children in grief after her husband left her for another woman. But the ghost hunters never returned. Our team set out to investigate Seed of Hope and discover what actually happened to Vamonos Ghost.

Setting

The game took place in an old, abandoned orphanage; cameras and video equipment occupied a large section of the entryway. A long staircase led up to a locked door, as a thundering storm outside created a dark, moody atmosphere.

Gameplay

The Sanctuary Escape’s Seed of Hope was an immersive escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ The set was the star of Seed of Hope, with an aged environment and array of props that supported the story and looked at home in the space; a noisy thunderstorm and flickering lights added to the creepy vibe. It was so realistic, that my mind created tension where there really wasn’t any. Periodic darkness and shadows, a glimpse of something at the end of a hallway, and a stairway that went up to a shadowed door, all combined to create an atmosphere that had me on edge. I wanted to hang out there longer…but not too long, and not alone.

➕ The puzzles were well-themed and often constructed as part of the environment; even the hint system was delivered in a realistic, in-world manner. Some puzzles required participation from the whole team to solve. One of my favorite puzzles revealed subtle layers of information that brought excitement and energy when we put it all together and realized what needed to happen next.

➖ There were a couple of puzzles that could be adjusted to improve game flow. In one instance, alerts were used to bring the team’s attention to items we had overlooked. Unfortunately, there was a similar mechanism as part of another puzzle, which caused numerous false attempts to solve a puzzle too early. Another was located close to decor that appeared related, but wasn’t; we attempted to use it multiple times before realizing it was just decor.

➕ According to the story, the ghost hunters were investigating the orphanage before we arrived; there was an interesting interplay between modern equipment in a spooky old house. The narrative progressed through periodic video updates, adding story beats that otherwise would have been difficult to do; this technique effectively brought us back to our mission throughout the game.

❓ A unique prop that fit seamlessly in the story directed our team behavior throughout the game. It was quite unusual, once we realized what was happening. A minor adjustment could increase the impact to be even more effective.

➕ When we made one late-game discovery, I was convinced someone had ducked in the game and made a change, yet it was there the whole time; we just didn’t see it until we were supposed to notice it.

➖As gameplay approached the finale, we were oddly redirected to a previous space to solve a puzzle. It noticeably changed momentum and seemed out of place in terms of flow.

➕ Over-the-top special effects at key points in the game provided several wow moments, but they were even more impactful when experienced as background, with little fanfare. These are the moments I’m still thinking about.

Tips For Visiting

• The game was located in an outdoor mall; there was plenty of parking
• There are several restaurants within walking distance

Book your hour with The Sanctuary Escape’s Seed of Hope, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: The Sanctuary Escape provided media discounted tickets for this game.