Room Escape Artist

Seismic matters

Location: Vienna, Austria

Date Played: April 4, 2026

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 90 minutes

Price:  €43 – €87 per person, depending on team size

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Players need to manage stairs, climb a ladder, and crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A] Push To Exit

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

At Room Escape Artist, as much as we may want to go everywhere and play everything, sometimes it takes a while for a member of the team to reach a certain geography. So when I had the chance to travel to Vienna, Austria, I knew that Going Underground, a recipient of six TERPECA Top Room awards, would be on my list. But as a game that opened in 2019, I wondered if it would stand the test of time. The answer is a resounding yes!

In addition to “going underground,” this game brought us to several unexpected places. Our assignment? Investigate unexplained seismic activity that could potentially be an unexploded ordnance dating back to World War II. It was an interesting premise that brought us back in time to a Vienna stuck in the middle of the last century. The narrative progressed through audio and set interactions as we searched for the source of the activity. It was a cohesive, complex story, and we liked how it unraveled.

The set was elaborate even by today’s standards, and groundbreaking, I’d imagine, when it first opened. The attention to detail was obvious, from touches of realistic decor to minor details on the walls and floor; it all added to the immersion. Puzzles incorporated props and set pieces in unique and interesting ways. One oversized prop was especially fun to manipulate in a life-size version of a familiar puzzle mechanic. At another point, we were somewhat underwhelmed by a special effect as we expected it to be bigger than it was, but it still had the desired impact on our game play. 

In Going Underground, Crime Runners delivered a high-quality experience that impressed us from start to finish. It was a classic escape room that still shines bright. It may have taken some time to get there, but Vienna was waiting for us. Going Underground should definitely be on your to-play list when you go there too.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Secret Agents
• Any experience level

Why play?

• Compelling story
• Puzzle variety
• Creative set
• To find out what’s actually going on “underground”

Story

Our elite team of operatives were dispatched by The Operator to investigate odd seismic activity occurring in the heart of Vienna. Could it be something dangerous, dating back to World War II?

Setting

The game began in an old tobacco shop, circa the 1940s. It had long since closed, but was still well-stocked with magazines and newspapers of the era. Packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products in a display cases around the room sat untouched, waiting for the next customer.

Gameplay

Crime Runner’s Going Underground was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty. 

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

Analysis

➕ Our game began with a simple mission, but soon developed into an unexpectedly elaborate adventure. We enjoyed the twists and turns of the journey.

➕ Decor and props, some actually from the 1940 and 1950s era, gave the initial spaces an authentic, vintage feel, immersing us immediately in the scenario. As the game progressed, the set changed dramatically, creating an immersive and compelling environment in which to puzzle.

➖ A mid-game interaction referenced a specific movie that was of the wrong time period, and had nothing do with the theme. It was a fun, recognizable detail, but it in the moment felt out of place.

➕ Puzzles were well-integrated into the elaborate set, and often incorporated creative mechanics. Unusual props made the game feel especially bespoke. Looking back, it was evident that a great deal of thought was given to story, game flow, and player experience. 

➖ One puzzle had signage that was more confusing than helpful; this information could have been delivered in a more straightforward, less clunky, way.

➕ Playing with oversized components during one mid-game challenge was particularly fun and immersive. 

➕/➖ The ending had us working together as a team in a rather symbolic fashion; while it engaged the whole team, it could have been a bigger moment.

Tips For Visiting

• The game is playable in German and English.
• Crime Runners has two locations in Vienna. Going Underground is on the corner of Hernalser Guertel 24 and Alser Strasse 
• This location is easily accessible using public transportation via Trams 43 or 44 which stop on this corner or U6 subway stop at Alser Strasse. 
• If you have the time, we also recommend trying one of Crime Runners’ outdoor escape games. We played The Great Salomon, which utilized props and local landmarks to create a puzzle-filled, story-driven experience.
• We enjoyed the pizza and pasta at L’Osteria Florianigasse, which we found along the path of the outdoor game. 

Book your session with Crime Runners’ Going Underground, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Crime Runners provided media discounted tickets for this game.

For more about Crime Runners, check out our interview with Lukas Rauscher on REPOD Seasion 4: