Room Escape Artist

In space, no one can hear you puzzle

Alien Terror is one of the best games in the Atlanta area. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms around Atlanta.

Location:  Stone Mountain, GA

Date Played:  May 10, 2024

Team Size: 3-8; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $31-$37 per player, depending on team size

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

Alien Terror brought to life a sci-fi horror experience reminiscent of the encounter on the Nostromo from the movie Alien. We awoke from deep sleep on the spaceship Dark Horizon heading to the edge of an intergalactic black hole, only to find the ship’s crew missing… except for the mangled remains of someone, or something, on a nearby medical table. Our challenge: repair the ship and find out what had happened to the crew.

We played five games at Escape the Netherworld, and this one had the most elaborate set by far. It combined the feel of a sleek and immersive spaceship interior with an ever-increasing tense environment and elaborate special effects. Though the game opened in a brightly-lit area, we soon encountered darkness, small spaces, and imaginative props and mechanisms. 

There were a variety of puzzles that made good use of the futuristic setting, including a number of unique and integrated technical devices. Several puzzles needed some type of physical interaction, with one requiring a player to bravely lean into the challenge. It was a moment we won’t soon forget! Another mid-game sequence was truly over the top, but we were so mesmerized by what was occurring around us that somehow we all missed a big reveal.

As we progressed through the game, we encountered some minor game flow issues that left us scrambling to get to the finale. The ending itself was highly interactive, requiring fast ramp-up and quick reactions from all of us. It was a fitting conclusion, but the sequence was over too quickly; we wanted more time to really make an impact.

Alien Terror combined a detailed set, fun puzzles, and impressive special effects and props to create an immersive extraterrestrial experience. Make sure to check it out if you are visiting Atlanta.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Sci-Fi horror fans
• Fans of Alien movies
• Best for players with at least some experience
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Immersive cinematic set
• Creative special effects

Story

We set out on a journey aboard the spaceship Dark Horizon, heading towards the very edge of a black hole in search of valuable resources. But we soon found that the crew has mysteriously vanished, and it seemed we may not alone on the ship…

Setting

The game started on board a spaceship in a white, futuristic space. Computerized panels on sterile walls displayed cryptic technical data that looked important to our mission. But it was the metal table with an unrecognizable creature zipped into a body bag that really captured our attention.

Gameplay

Escape the Netherworld’s Alien Terror was a standard sci-fi horror escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ Netherworld’s experience running one of the most-highly rated haunted house businesses in the country was evident in the detailed set design and striking, horror-themed props. They effectively built an atmosphere of tension and anticipation through lighting, sound and well-timed special effects. It was stellar.

➕ Some puzzles were impressive, with big set pieces that were fun to interact with. One puzzle was particularly memorable; as soon as we saw it, we knew exactly what needed to happen, adding excitement and a little trepidation for the one player who was ‘volunteered’ to do it.

➕/➖ Immersive video segments effectively moved the story forward, adding depth and backstory mixed with information needed in the game. However, because they were lengthy and highly detailed, it made it difficult to tell which information was extraneous.

➖ Multiple manual locks in one section seemed unnecessarily tedious; they were also difficult to view and operate due to low lighting.

➕ Dramatic special effects raised our excitement level, especially a mid-game multi-sensory cinematic sequence that had us captivated. Some effects appeared as part of puzzles while others provided critical story points, but they were all high quality.

➖The space for the finale was underdeveloped compared to the rest of the experience.

➕ Nods to the Alien franchise were fun to recognize.

❓There is a warning on the website stating that this is an intense, horror-themed escape game and that “attendees may experience darkness, fog, loud sounds, claustrophobia, flashing lights, feelings of motion sickness, and moments of extreme dread“. While we did experience these effects, I did not find this experience especially frightening or overly intense, and nowhere near the scare factor of a haunted house venue or the Alien films.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot

Book your hour with Escape the Netherworld’s Alien Terror, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Escape the Netherworld provided a complimentary game.