Room Escape Artist

“No, no!” said the Queen. “Sentence first—verdict afterwards.”

Location:  Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Québec, Canada

Date Played: March 2, 2025

Team size: 3-8; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $33.95 CAD per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration:  All players will have to crawl or duck. One player will exert some energy. This interaction requires some balance too.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

Chaos in Wonderland is one of the best escape rooms around Montreal, Canada. Here are our recommendations for great escape rooms in the Montreal area.

REA Reaction

We were immediately taken by the giant playing cards and lush grass of Paradox42’s Chaos in Wonderland set. Combined with detailed props and beautifully painting scenery, we were transported to the world of Wonderland.

We’ve played a lot of Wonderland games over the years, and this was one of the strongest ones. Thematically, it drew heavily on the source material, both aesthetically, and in how the puzzles solved. Fans of Alice in Wonderland, will be especially taken by one early, iconic interaction.

Chaos in Wonderland occasionally stumbled in lack of clue structure. Its puzzle-focused gameplay wasn’t always accessible. In particular, at times it relied on outside knowledge (ironically, not knowledge of Alice in Wonderland, although this knowledge certainly helped). In one instance, the process of a puzzle overstayed its welcome.

While we found that the middle act lacked in aesthetic finesse and puzzle intrigue, as compared to the other acts, we applaud Paradox42 for the build of a interactive, focal set piece that puts an unexpected spin on this game. We expect this to wow many teams.

Escape room players from all over the world travel to Montreal (and its nearby suburbs) to play it renowned escape rooms; this is an exceptionally strong market. Paradox42 builds in a classic, puzzle-forward escape rooms style, which is elevated by detailed sets. For players who enjoy thematic, puzzle-focused escape games, and especially anyone who is a fan of Alice in Wonderland, add Chaos in Wonderland to your play list.

Who is this for?

• Puzzle lovers
• Alice in Wonderland fans
• Best for players with at least some experience

Why play?

• A large volume of creative puzzles
• Some fun set-based interactions
• A charming Alice in Wonderland set

Story

Our friend the Rabbit had been detained by the Queen of Hearts and sentenced to death for stealing her crown. If we wanted to free our friend, we’d have to find and return her crown before he lost his head.

Setting

In Chaos in Wonderland, Paradox42 opened with an atmospheric take on the classic Wonderland. The lighting was dramatic and there were details all around that really evoked so much of what makes Wonderland a classic narrative world.

Mid game, Chaos in Wonderland was really focused on a singular prop, and late game, the set zeroed back in on Wonderland, albeit less spectacularly than in the opening act.

Gameplay

Paradox42’s Chaos in Wonderland was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and solving puzzles.

This was a puzzle-focused game in multiple acts, and most acts were non-linear. We could solve the puzzles in any order, and circle back to ones that didn’t immediately click with us.

Analysis

➕ If you enjoy Alice in Wonderland, you’ll love the vibe of this game. The set was adorable. The grass was so lush! It was a fun game world.

➖ The intro video relied on AI art, which was distracting, and set the wrong tone for what turned out to be a beautifully artistic set and props.

➕ Each puzzle represented the source material thematically – some more directly that others. We delighted in keying in on the inspirations for the puzzles and interactions.

➖ That said, Chaos in Wonderland required outside knowledge on multiple instances. In one instance, the knowledge was the aha, which would be punishing for some teams.

➕ One interaction transformed an ordinary set piece through an amazingly satisfying interaction with a stellar aha. We were tickled pink!

➖ Be prepared to do math with higher numbers than most people will find enjoyable… and then do this again a few more times.

➕ A mid-game set piece will likely throw some teams for a loop… but it ran really smoothly!

➖ One puzzle pattern started to feel repetitive, even if it was a shade different in each implementation.

➕ Our favorite puzzles combined visual ahas with layered transformations. Chaos in Wonderland was a puzzle-forward game with many delightful solves.

➕ The hint system was a part of the game world. For teams that need a lot of hints, it won’t feel out of place or detract from the experience.

➕ /➖ Paradox42 has two endings for this game (win or lose), which we appreciate. That said, for winning, we didn’t feel the final step was clued strongly enough. And while as adults we loved the idea of the lose state, we can see how children don’t enjoy it. Considering that Paradox42 is actively targeting families, they might want to create a more family-friendly lose state.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.
• This game is available in English or French.

Book your hour with Paradox42’s Chaos in Wonderland, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Paradox42 provided media discounted tickets for this game.