Room Escape Artist

A different kind of shipwreck

Location: Houston, TX

Date Played: July 6, 2025

Team Size: 2-10; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $34.50 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: None

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

I’ve played shipwrecked rooms and ice cave rooms, but Locktopia’s Endurance was my first ship-wrecked-in-an-ice-cave room, earning immediate points in my estimation. Ultimately, that was probably the most notable thing about it, using a historical premise to justify its design.

The historical mystery did set the stage for the room’s strongest quality: its narrative progression through varied locations and their accoutrements. Like intrepid explorers, we hacked through changing environments in search of knowledge, appreciating the effect that the varied sets had on our puzzling opportunities. We also didn’t predict the direction of the plot, so we enjoyed the surprises along the way.

Unfortunately, the game faltered with a handful of its puzzles, enough so to make an impression. On one hand, most puzzles were pleasantly physical and thematic, even if they occasionally undermined our sense of what was going on. However, several also suffered from various frustrations, ranging from finicky triggers, a misfiring reveal, excessive interpretations for clues, and misleadingly strange effects and embellishments.

There’s the skeleton of a fine room here and even some decent meat on the bones. Endurance wasn’t unfair; it was just unpolished, preventing a strong sense of flow. The result was a navigable but rough voyage.

Who is this for?

• Story seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Any experience level

Why play?

• For a surprising twist on a historical story

Story

In the early 1900s, the ship Endurance disappeared on its voyage to Antarctica. A century later, another intrepid explorer disappeared searching for the Endurance. Now, it was our turn…

Setting

Our search for the Endurance had led us to a narrow ice cave abutting the hull of a wooden ship. It was clear from our surroundings that others had tread here before, leaving scattered tools and crates to rummage through. Entering the chilly space under a blanket of darkness created a convincing intro to the experience.

Gameplay

Locktopia’s Endurance was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Gameplay consisted of making observations and connections, completing tasks, and a bit o’ logic.

Analysis

➕ A cool set with varied acts piqued our interest throughout the game.

➕ The historical background of the game was intriguing, and we enjoyed how the narrative surpassed our expectations.

➖ We strongly suspect that a door opened ahead of its time, leaving disappointment when we later solved the puzzle meant to open it.

➕ Several large props were satisfying to interact with.

➖ Uneven cluing made some puzzles feel like logic leaps. By the end of the game, we didn’t expect clues to exist even when they did.

➖ Quirky tech issues on a climactic puzzle masqueraded as feedback, disrupting the final crescendo of the game.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.
• 100% Taquito is one of my favorite restaurants in the known universe, and it is exactly three minutes away from Locktopia.

Book your hour with Locktopia’s Endurance, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Locktopia provided media discounted tickets for this game.