Room Escape Artist

“We are here to view the tapestries…”

Location: Salem, MA

Date Played: December 6, 2025

Team Size: 3-8; we recommend 4-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $39 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: There is one place where players have to step up and over, but there can be accommodations.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Witch’s Hollow is the game that Salem, Massachusetts needed. Famous for its 17th century Salem Witch Trials, every October crowds flock to Salem for Halloween-themed activities. Witch’s Hollow offers these visitors a thematic, family-friendly magical adventure with the type of memorable moments they can savor long after spooky season ends.

With Witch’s Hollow, Stained Hourglass Escapes leveled up their set design dramatically, creating a place where magic potions brew and enchanted portals open when the stars align. The lighting added dramatic effect. While there were opportunities for fit and finish, we absolutely felt like we were in a magical realm.

The gameplay flowed well, starting simple and building up to more complex layered solves. The varied puzzles included more traditional logical deduction and character interaction, offering something for all types of players. The puzzles were well-clued, provided feedback, and culminated in satisfying reveals. While Witch’s Hollow included multiple complex puzzles that experienced players will easily orbit, the in-game character added adaptability, enabling newer players to get just as full an experience, even if they possess less puzzle prowess.

We commend Stained Hourglass Escapes for giving players agency at both the beginning and end of the experience, something few escape rooms attempt. That said, the agency didn’t feel meaningful. Some late game stumbles in information delivery detracted from our ability to achieve a resonant conclusion. When we played in December 2025, Stained Hourglass Escapes was still fine-tuning the ending. We expect that they can and will adjust the game flow in the final act so that their innovative, open-ended design lands more consistently.

Make no mistake, Witch’s Hollow is an exceptional escape room, and a regional standout in an already strong region. If you’re an escape room player in Boston, Salem is well worth the drive (about 45 minutes away by car) for Witch’s Hollow and The Boring Office. If you’re a tourist to Salem for Halloween, we strongly recommend you add Witch’s Hollow to your October itinerary. We cannot wait to see what Stained Hourglass Escapes does next.

Who is this for?

• People who come to Salem for a witch-themed adventure
• Fans of magic and magical props
• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Delightful reveals
• Layered puzzles built into tangible, magical props
• To banter with a fun character

Story

We’d heard rumors of witchcraft happening in that cottage on the outskirts of town, but we didn’t believe the rumors were true. Still, we were curious enough to step inside and see what the hubbub was all about.

Setting

We entered a plain cottage with sparse wooden furnishings and minimal decor. However, behind this simple facade we uncovered a magical world of detailed design and artistic flourishes.

Gameplay

Stained Hourglass Escapes’ Witch’s Hollow was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ The onboarding and introduction were amusing. We loved the vibe of the delivery, which set the right tone for the game.

➕ Witch’s Hollow was a magical room with a rich tapestry of reveals, some telegraphed and others wholly unexpected.

➖ While we appreciated the escalation of the second act, the initial set felt under-designed.

➖ The decisions we made in Witch’s Hollow weren’t meaningful. The game opened with a choice, and we didn’t know enough about the world to make an informed decision, instead signing on for the more enticing interaction.

➕ The playful character inhabiting Witch’s Hollow was approachable, and very much our ally. While magic can be spooky, Witch’s Hollow was light-hearted and at times very funny.

➕ We enjoyed the layered puzzles, which started simply, and became more complex in the second act. The puzzles were fantastic throughout – well clued, culminating in satisfying solves, and delivering good feedback.

➕ In the second act, especially, every puzzle was built into a magical prop that was beautiful and engaging on its own. We loved this, especially how so many of them glowed, each in their own way.

➖ Stained Hourglass Escapes has leveled up in set design since building The Boring Office. Still, there were opportunities for fit and finish – more prop heft, soundscape to cover tech, and occasional spotlighting.

➕ The puzzles varied, including character interaction and a skill-based challenge. There was something for everyone.

➖ Stained Hourglass has designed the final act around making a choice (and an impressively open-ended one) rather than solving puzzles, but we didn’t start off with all the information, so we were never in a position to choose meaningfully. We ended up making one key decision out of order – because we were drawn to the interaction. We never knew enough to make meaningful decisions, so we left more confused than resolute.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.

Book your hour with Stained Hourglass Escapes’ Witch’s Hollow, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Stained Hourglass Escapes comped our tickets for this game.