Room Escape Artist

A tropical escape

Tiki Island 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: 4-8; we recommend 3-6

Duration: 60 minutes

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

Ticketing:  Private

Accessibility Considerations:  One player needs to crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

It was our last stop on a long road trip of escape rooms, and we were ready for a vacation. So it was fitting that we ended our journey with Escape the Netherworld’s Tiki Island. The game began in an island setting complete with a tiki bar hut surrounded by greenery and palm trees. It was immersive yet simple, exactly what you’d expect to find in a tropical-themed experience. After a quick humorous intro about Kauhuhu the shark-god regaining his power – due to the recent Shark Week programming on Animal Planet – we set out to conquer Kauhuhu and restore peace in all the lands.

We encountered quite a few puzzles in Tiki Island, and most were fun and fairly straightforward. Even so, we found it helpful to split up and work individually part of the time, which allowed everyone to have their moment. The Hawaiian theme lent itself to some interesting constructs, though there were a few puzzles that just didn’t make sense in the space and didn’t add significantly to game play. Still, a room full of puzzles is not a bad way to spend an hour.

Though the narrative took a backseat to the puzzling most of the time, the finale brought it back front and center with a dramatic reveal. Peace was restored, and the Aloha spirit revived. If you are in the Atlanta area, stop in and enjoy the tropical vibes on Tiki Island.

Who is this for?

• Puzzle lovers
• Vacationers
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Loads of fun, approachable puzzles
• Unique tropical theme
• To defeat the shark god, once and for all!

Story

Our team had been invited to Maui by our Hawaiian archeology professor to locate an ancient idol and use the power of the Tiki to overcome Kauhuhu, the evil shark-god of Molokai.

Setting

Tiki island took place in a tropical island setting, complete with thick bamboo foliage surrounding a thatched tiki hut. Tropical fruits and colorful leis were scattered about, while mysterious tiki statues peered out from amidst the bamboo.

Gameplay

Escape the Netherworld’s Tiki Island was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ Set design was immersive, creating the feel of a tropical Polynesian hideaway nestled among the bamboo. The tiki hut itself was spacious, with plenty of room to explore and puzzle.

➕ Non-linear gameplay and an abundance of approachable puzzles allowed us to work on tasks both together and independently, though it never felt like we were missing key discoveries. The puzzles added enough challenge to give each of us satisfying wins

➖ While most puzzles fit the theme, there were a few early on that were jarringly non-thematic and seemed completely out of place on a tropical island.

➕/➖ The story was unique… I can’t remember another escape room where I had to help defeat a shark god! But other than the introduction at the start of the game, the rest of the experience felt disconnected from the story. The narrative only returned at the end of the game.

➖ There were a few puzzles that triggered an event, but we couldn’t immediately determine what had happened. Adding either lighting or sound to draw attention to these events would improve gameplay.

➕ The finale was big and dramatic and provided a splashy ending to this tropical shark tale. It was a fun moment that showcased Escape the Netherworld’s attention to design.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot

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

Disclosure: Escape the Netherworld provided a complimentary game.