Room Escape Artist

Stranger things have happened

Location: Nuremberg, Germany

Date Played: April 2, 2026

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 75 minutes

Price: €37.50 – €67.50 per person, depending on team size

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: At least one player must climb

Emergency Exit Rating: [A] Push To Exit

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Stranger Things’ five-season run – over ten long years – has created a lot of opportunity for escape room theming. I know I’ve encountered a fair amount of demogorgons and the occasional Mind Flayer. In Vecnas Game, we returned to the Stranger Things universe, only this time, Vecna was the star, and our encounter with this villain turned out to be a highlight of the game. 

No homage to the sci-fi horror series would be complete without a teen hangout straight from the 1980s. This set did not disappoint. The combination of wood paneling, floral wallpaper, and an appropriate amount of toys and posters from this decade completed the look. Set pieces and thematic props were incorporated smoothly into puzzles, although we tried to use a few that turned out to be simply decor. 

The centerpiece of the story – and this space specifically – was a large board game setup that our best friend had found in the attic. It hinted at Dungeons & Dragons, the iconic game often seen in the show, but it reminded me more of Jumanji, and we all know nothing good can come from rolling the dice. 

While a few puzzles were familiar and rather expected in a Stranger Things-themed game, others felt fresh in how they incorporated the theme. Most were pretty straightforward, except for one that solved counterintuitively, and we struggled a bit until finally figuring it out. But it was the actor interactions that made for some exciting moments, especially when the atmosphere switched to a more ominous feel. From the initial encounter to the final scenes of the game, we found opportunities to lean into the experience with our roles. These exchanges not only provided story points or directly led to puzzling opportunities, they added a touch of immersion to the game.

Overall, I enjoyed the nostalgia and my time in the Stranger Things world, especially having just watched the series finale. If you have time for only one experience at Finest Escapes, I’d suggest booking Prestige, but if time allows, and you are an honorary member of the HellFire Club – or even know what that means – it is worth rolling the dice in Vecnas Game.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Dungeon Masters
• Fans of Stranger Things
• Any experience level

Why play?

• 80s theme
• Actor interactions
• Want to meet Vecna? It’s his game.

Story

Our buddy welcomed us to hang out. He wanted to show off a really cool game he had found in his attic. We were game to play, until things turned strange…

Setting

Vecnas Game started outside our buddy’s home, where a bike was chained to a tree and a rustic wooden shed looked like it had seen better days. Through the windows, we could see into the living room with its dated decor. Inside, an oversized game board sat on a coffee table, waiting to be played.

Gameplay

Finest Escape’s Vecnas Game was a standard escape room with a low level of difficulty. 

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

Analysis

➕ The main set was basic but appropriate for the 80s aesthetic. The couch was dated but comfy. There was a tube TV on a well-used wooden stand and an Atari complete with joysticks. It was my parents’ rec room all over again. 

➖ That said, the set could have had more character by leaning further into the 80’s theme with additonal decor and props from that decade.

➕ Several puzzles brought the Stranger Things theme front and center, and as the game progressed, the amount of immersion increased. Fans will recognize design choices, but anyone else can still enjoy the sci-fi moments.

➕/➖ One prominent puzzle offered a fun challenge, but required outside knowledge that made it really difficult to solve. Adding information to props already in play would be a simple fix.

➖ While most of the game flowed smoothly, a mid-game puzzle had one player puzzling while the rest of the team waited with nothing to do. Because the cluing was unclear, it was more than a few minutes of idle time. 

➕ Actor interactions brought life and a bit of humor to the experience. One scene with flashy special effects was especially fun to watch from our safe vantage point. It was a cool sequence.

➕ The in-world hint system blended nicely into the decor. 

🏝️ The waiting area was decorated as a tropical tiki lounge, with canopies overhead, large seating areas and greenery. It was a comfortable space to gather and hang out, waiting for our games to start. The staff also told the backstory of the Finest Mining Company, who discovered the archeological portals that led to these other worlds, i.e. the games we were waiting to play.

❓ Editor’s note: In this review, we used Vecnas Game as the title. In the German language, possessive words only use -s, without an apostrophe. Therefore, on Finest Escape’s website, it’s listed as Vecnas Game. Also, you may find Nuremberg listed with the German spelling Nürnberg or Nuernberg.

Tips For Visiting

• Finest Escape has multiple locations in Nuremberg and Bamberg. Vecnas Game is at Schweinauer Hauptstraße 162, at the Nuremberg TV Tower. 
• We arrived via taxi. Speaking from experience, be sure to give the correct address to your driver!
• There is a parking lot.
• We stayed at Hotel Victoria, located just inside the old town gate near the train station. We really appreciated their customer service, and the breakfast buffet was stellar.
• We enjoyed the microbrewery menu at Bruderherz and the burgers at Burgerheart. 

Book your hour with Finest Escape’s Vecnas Game and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.