Room Escape Artist

Chills and thrills in the Texas hills

Location:  Austin, TX

Date Played: April 24, 2024

Team Size: 3-8; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 70 minutes

Price: $45 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration:  At least one player must crawl, and at least one player must climb

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The Cabin: Chapter 1 upholds Escape Hour’s reputation of high production value, excellent effects, and creative character. It’s a rare legitimately scary game in Central Texas. We felt like anything could happen at any time, leaving us to giggle nervously and lean in to our fate.

This game excelled in its ambiance. It was a dark room, which I often find annoying, but I wouldn’t have wanted this any other way. It felt authentic to grab candles on a whim, and no interactions were too difficult to manage in low light. Indeed, the game’s best effects benefited from the shadows and low visibility. Separately, the final sequence masterfully subverted our earlier experiences, accelerating them in ways I hadn’t seen before. If I think too much about it, the finale didn’t make complete sense, but it was absolutely thrilling in the moment.

Much like The Crypt, the game’s progression was clearly telegraphed throughout, guiding us from step to step. This wasn’t a game of ahas; it was a game of completing tasks in a creepy setting. Indeed, the hint system was immersively woven into the experience, guiding us in effective and unnerving ways. As a result, the game felt more nudged than some players might prefer, but dampening the system too much would change the feel of the game. It was worth the trade-off for us.

Of note was that some puzzles in this room were familiar from other rooms at Escape Hour. It shared multiple elements with Call of the Ancient and one with The Crypt. Although these activities derived a different flavor from the personality of this game, they were still most impressive the first time we experienced them. All three games are absolutely worth playing; just begin with the one that interests you the most so that you can optimize your enjoyment of its parts. Want to scream? Start here. Looking for playful adventure? Start with The Crypt. Lovecraft fan? Call of the Ancient.

Regardless, The Cabin: Chapter 1 is a Central Texas standout, a well-executed horror adventure in the context of this region. My team doesn’t have broader experience with the genre to compare to horror rooms outside this area, but we doubt that you’ll find a scarier horror room within three hours of Austin. We left satisfied with our bravery and a bit out of breath; we think you will, too.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Horror fans
• Any experience level

Why play?

• For thrills and chills

Story

In an attempt to save his ailing wife, Henry McKay had procured a cursed necklace. The necklace had the desired effect, but it came at a price – the wellbeing, and eventually even the existence, of his daughter, Matty. As paranormal investigators, our job was to enter the family’s cabin to find the necklace with the ominous knowledge that Matty was rumored to still be there…somewhere…

Setting

We found ourselves exploring the dimly lit, paranormally affected cabin that the McKay family used to live in. At first glance, it was clear that the cabin had crossed into nonsensical but thematically appropriate territory. Even though we didn’t always have the clearest sense of place, the elements of this experience all contributed toward the ultimate goal of creeping us out. They succeeded.

Gameplay

Escape Hour Austin’s The Cabin: Chapter 1 was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Gameplay consisted of observing, making connections, and a bit of logic.

Analysis

➕ The integrated nudge system was the star of the show. We were both impressed and mildly terrified by the different ways it cued our attention.

➕ The darkness was used to good effect here. There were always plenty of candles to grab if necessary.

➖ The set felt larger and sparser than the scenario warranted. We speculated several functional reasons for this design choice, but it still undermined the game’s sense of place.

➕ We enjoyed how certain elements hung in the middle ground between creepy ambiance and interactive puzzle components. They haunted us long after we used them.

➖ A couple puzzles suffered from imprecise cluing, one from multiple interpretations and another from an unusual decision about a lock-based constraint.

➕ Story revelations were interwoven among the puzzling tasks, leading me to care about the future chapters.

➕/➖ We encountered some technology that will be nostalgic to some players but potentially befuddling to others.

➖ This room reused several elements from other games at Escape Hour Austin. Having played all their other games ourselves, this diminished our experience.

➕ The thrills lasted until the end, finding ever more ways to be thrilling. We were out of breath by the time we were done. A+ finale.

❓ Some things we saw and places we went didn’t make complete sense…yet? Chapter 2 will tell!

Tips For Visiting

• Escape Hour Austin now has two locations, both within the same business complex. The Cabin: Chapter 1 is at the newer location, 2113 Wells Branch Pkwy Suite 6700, NOT Suite 4300.
• There is plenty of parking.
• For food, visit El Huarache right around the corner, and order sopes. We’re sope connoisseurs, and these are our favorites in Texas.

Book your hour with Escape Hour Austin’s The Cabin: Chapter 1, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Escape Hour Austin provided media discounted tickets for this game.