Room Escape Artist

Heffalumps and Pooh-zzles

Location:  Murrieta, CA

Date Played:  February 15, 2024

Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 2-3 adults, or up to 5 players if kids are playing

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $35-$51 per player, depending on day and number of players

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: At least one player needs to crouch

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Winnie the Pooh was one of those games that was so completely adorable, we couldn’t help but smile at every new discovery. As we started the game, we were no longer just players, we were friends of Pooh, transported to the Hundred Acre Wood to help plan his birthday party. 

The set was whimsical, with bright colors and simple props that were meant to be touched and manipulated; the more fragile props and decor were cleverly out of reach. We played for an hour in Pooh’s world, solving puzzles that were fun and lighthearted; this was not a room to power through and try to finish in record time. Younger players would have a great time solving some of the more straightforward puzzles (and burning off a little excess energy). Though the puzzles blended really well with the narrative and story moved along, we did experience a minor flow issue early on. But it was the immersive details that really hooked me as an escape room enthusiast. I especially liked one unique effect that kept us engaged in the story and added a bit of nostalgia to the experience. The finale was surprising and over-the-top adorable; I still don’t know how Mindtrap Escape Room creates such a delightful moment for every game .

Winnie the Pooh captured the look and feel of a storybook world come to life in a way that was unique and fun. For those of you in the area, or who have a soft spot for this silly old bear, you really should visit Mindtrap and play.

Who is this for?

• Story seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Any experience level
• Fans of Winnie the Pooh
• Players who want to spend an hour in a storybook

Why play?

• Adorable interpretation of a unique theme
• Whimsical puzzles
• It’s Winnie the Pooh!

Story

As the newest residents of the Hundred Acre Wood, we set forth to organize a surprise birthday party for our friend, Winnie the Pooh!

Setting

The game took place in the Hundred Acre Wood, with decor painted in bright, cheerful colors, evoking a storybook setting.

Gameplay

Mindtrap’s Winnie the Pooh was a standard escape room with a low level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ The set was well-designed to create the fabled world of the lovable bear; it effectively reflected story beats from the original Winnie the Pooh book from 1929, though you don’t need to be familiar with the book to enjoy the game. A fanciful, mid-game reveal caught us by surprise and made us pause for a few moments as part of the story came to life.

➕ Puzzles were interactive and kid-friendly, and made good use of the game space. One escape room puzzle that many players struggle with was changed in such a way as to make it more approachable (and less frustrating), yet it was just as much fun to solve.

➖ We experienced a game flow issue at one point when we were given components to a puzzle that was visible, but not yet active. This was confusing, and a bit awkward, as we tried to make something happen unsuccessfully.

➕ Hints were given in a unique way; it’s worth asking for a hint or 2, just to experience this.

➖ The initial game space was sparsely decorated, with few props or details to focus upon. When we got stuck early on, it was difficult to know how to proceed.

❓The 1929 book Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne entered public domain in January, 2022, but Disney still retains the copyright for their version.  For those of you looking for the familiar bear with a red shirt, you won’t find him here, but it truly didn’t matter. The essence of the character was captured so well that we didn’t even realize it until the very end.  For more information on the topic of Public Domain Expansion, check out David’s post.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.
• Note that this game is located at 40414 California Oaks Road in Murrieta. There is a second Mindtrap location in Temecula, about 15 minutes away, where you can play another great game, 40 Thieves.

Book your hour with Mindtrap Escape Game, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Mindtrap Escape Game comped our tickets for this game.