Room Escape Artist

Bring some piece of mind on your adventure

Location: Prague, Czechia

Date Played: May 24, 2026

Team Size: 2-5; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: Ranging from 2290 CZK per team (about $109) to 2890 CZK (about $138) per team, depending on the day/ time and the number of players

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: There were steps down to the game. Some puzzles require color perception.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

We are fans of the steampunk aesthetic. MindMaze kicked this up a notch in Nautilus, using the curved ceilings of their building to give shape to not just a submarine, but the whole world around it. The sets looked wonderful. And MindMaze thought through every little detail, from the purposely selected treasures on display in the office, to the crafting of each weld of the submarine, and everything in between. Nautilus was a fun environment to be in.

Furthermore, Nautilus didn’t take itself seriously… at all. From the amusing introduction from a character calling upon our skills, to the props and puzzles we encountered on our mission, Nautilus made us laugh. The gameplay itself was funny.

MindMaze got a lot right with the puzzle flow, considering how a team moves through this space. However, it felt like something was missing. We wanted more gameplay in the final set, which we didn’t have enough time to appreciate. And we felt this mission could have benefited from the punctuation of a grand finale, more of boss battle, so to speak. That said, despite an opportunity for more, what was there solved cleanly and was a lot of fun.

For anyone traveling to Prague, especially those with an eye for set details and a taste for steampunk, don’t miss Nautilus.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Steampunk fans
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• It has a surprising sense of humor
• The hint system (even if you don’t use it for hints)
• The set has many wonderful little details throughout

Story

Mad genius inventor and adventurer Professor Baron Emmanuel von Katzenstein und Kartoffelberg needed our help to pursue treasures beyond the wildest imagination. He needed a crew to pilot his steampunk submarine and use his inventions to secure his prize and prove his theories correct.

Setting

Nautilus was set in a steampunk office, submarine, and beyond. These spaces made excellent use of their curved stone ceilings and were packed with little details which illustrated how much love MindMaze put into each part of the set.

My favorite of these details were the “welds” that MindMaze created out of hot glue. There were so many of these, and the only way to do this is painstakingly.

Additionally, Nautilus had a variety of props, devices, and contraptions that drove the gameplay. These were well-built and added to the world mechanically, often with a sense of humor.

Gameplay

MindMaze’s Nautilus was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and solving puzzles. The puzzles were integrated into props of all sorts.

Analysis

➕ Nautilus didn’t take itself seriously at all, starting with a humorous intro video to set the tone. Furthermore, the gameplay itself was often amusing, which we loved.

➕ The set looked amazing. As noted above, MindMaze used the curved ceilings to their advantage, and they meticulously added details to bring the submarine and surrounding sets to life. We especially loved the porthole. But even the initial office set had a beauty and a sense of place… and plenty of Easter eggs.

➖ We love steampunk aesthetics, but we recommend an upgrade to working gears to protect players and the set from misuse.

➖ One interaction was surprisingly janky, in a sea of well-constructed, albeit often cartoonish props.

➖/➕ It was physically challenging to wrap our head around one puzzle, although the interaction was adorable, and we dove right in.

➕ MindMaze flipped expectations with one unlikely key. It was brilliant.

➕ Nautilus gave strong feedback, shielding us from going astray with strong progress confirmation, for example, and doubling down on a derived number. This made the gameplay flow smoothly throughout each act of our mission.

➖ We wished we’d spent more time in the depths of our quest. The set was beautiful, but we didn’t get to appreciate it before we pounded our way out, with an interaction that didn’t provide the resolution were seeking (and only supported at most 4 players.)

➕ Our mission didn’t end there, however. There was an amusing plot twist. Additionally, Nautilus used all the sets well, both narratively and physically. We appreciated how MindMaze’s puzzle design for this last scene combined a well-selected interface with building skill mastery. This contributed to the smooth puzzle flow throughout the entire mission.

➖ Still, there was opportunity for a more exciting finale.

➕ The lighting and sounds added depth to our experience.

Tips For Visiting

• This game is available in Czech or English.
• This game is at their Balbínova 32, Prague 2 location.
• We enjoyed a meal at Hajnovka, right nearby.

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

Disclosure: MindMaze provided a complimentary game.