Author: Lisa Spira

Onomastician and Room Escape Enthusiast, among other things.

Room Escape Divas 141: Year in Review with Reality Escape Pod

by Lisa Spira, posted in News

As is our annual tradition, we wrapped up 2021 with the Room Escape Divas.

In this year’s conversation, Manda hosts David and Peih-Gee, giving these two podcast hosts a fun opportunity to be podcast guests. And they cover a lot of ground! We just might have a lot of projects these days.

Plus, if you are on the fence about Escape Immerse Explore New Mexico, David and Peih-Gee explain why these tours are so much fun.

Room Escape Divas Logo, a cartoon representation of the four hosts.

Topics

In this episode David and Peih-Gee tell you about:

And if you want to hear more from David and Peih-Gee, join our Patreon to get access to the REPOD bonus episodes. We really appreciate your support.

Listen Here

The Detective Society – Season 2: The Sudden Silence of Timothy Lee (Episode 1) [Review]

by Lisa Spira, posted in Products, Reviews, Tabletop Escape Game, The Detective Society

Is it cannon?

Location: at home

Date Played: December 7, 2021

Team size: we recommend 2-3

Duration: about 90 minutes

Price: £30.00 per episode or £168.00 from the 6-episode season

REA Reaction

The Detective Society’s The Sudden Silence of Timothy Lee Episode 1 provided solid observation and deduction-based solving, typical of the tabletop mystery genre. This was enhanced by strong and outlandish humor across all the materials, both printed and web-based.

Detective Society season 2, episode one box.

We enjoyed our introduction to The Detective Society’s second 6-episode season, The Sudden Silence of Timothy Lee, but not enough to order the subsequent 5 boxes. It felt like this is a product that plenty of people will love, but it wasn’t made for us. We really liked what they are doing, but wanted more out of the writing.

Nothing about Episode 1 got us invested in any of these characters or their plights. Thus, we found ourselves satisfied by a light puzzle quest, but not craving a resolution to warrant more episodes. In tabletop games that are a longer commitment, I need to feel that connection; otherwise I buy them and they collect dust.

We recommend The Sudden Silence of Timothy Lee to those who enjoy solving mysteries, especially with humor to lighten the inherent sobriety of the genre.

Who is this for?

  • Puzzle lovers
  • Players who like a bit of humor in their puzzling
  • Any experience level

Why play?

  • The humor
  • It’s a light, puzzle-driven serialized detective story

Story

Timothy Lee, a seemingly healthy man, had fallen into a mysterious coma. Suspecting foul play, his doctor had hired us to investigate. We had to retrace his footsteps to learn what had caused his illness.

An assortment of letters and hospital records from The Detective Society.
Continue reading “The Detective Society – Season 2: The Sudden Silence of Timothy Lee (Episode 1) [Review]” →

Bust Out Escape Room – Rattlesnake Bend [Review]

by Lisa Spira, posted in Albuquerque, Bust Out Escape Room, Reviews

Have your run of the town

Location:  Albuquerque, NM

Date Played: December 15, 2021

Team size: 4-8; we recommend 4-6

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $31 per player

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock (One small section was locked at the time we played, but we believe this will be changed even before this review publishes.)

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The thing that makes escape rooms special is their ability to suddenly transport you to a place and time that you never expected. At Bust Out Escape Room we stepped out of their hallway… and into Old West Santa Fe. And it was joyous.

A street in the old west.

Rattlesnake Bend blended realism with cartoon… and we couldn’t get enough of it.

Additionally, the puzzles were layered and brought a level of complexity that wasn’t brutal, but really made us work for the wins. This was difficulty done right.

There are a few regional standouts in Albuquerque that make it a fantastic escape room destination, and Rattlesnake Bend is one of the top offerings.

Who is this for?

  • Adventure seekers
  • Story seekers
  • Puzzle lovers
  • Scenery snobs
  • Western fans
  • Best for players with at least some experience
  • Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

  • A brilliant intro sequence
  • They built a whole Western town!
  • Layered puzzle play
  • Memorable sequences and interactions

Story

We stepped into a town in the Old West where our new friend Cactus Jack needed some help freeing himself from jail. In return, he offered to help us liberate some gold from the town’s bank.

Aces High Hotel exterior the old west.
Continue reading “Bust Out Escape Room – Rattlesnake Bend [Review]” →

Announcing Escape Immerse Explore New Mexico 2022

by Lisa Spira, posted in Events, New Mexico Escape Room

This June, we’re excited to bring you our 7th escape room tour: Escape Immerse Explore New Mexico!

If you’re interested, get your tickets now… our tours always sell out. We’ve already sold a third of the tickets during pre-sale.*

Escape, Immerse, Explore, New Mexico 2022 banner, has teh sun insignia of New Mexico with a keyhole in the center.

Details

  • Saturday, June 4 – Tuesday, June 7, 2022
  • Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Featured Companies

  • New Mexico Escape Room (Albuquerque)
  • Bust Out Escape Room (Albuquerque)
  • Puzzah! (Santa Fe)

We’ll also visit Meow Wolf’s The House of Eternal Return, an immersive art installation in Santa Fe.

Here is our first review from New Mexico: Blackwell Manor at New Mexico Escape Room. Stay tuned for reviews of all of the above… coming throughout the next few weeks.

More Information

We have written up the details of the tour and answered all manner of questions that are on your mind… and some that aren’t.

If the link above doesn’t answer all your questions, please contact us.

Get Tickets

Get your ticket today. We’d love to see you in New Mexico.

Buy Tickets

*Pre-sale was available to REA Patreon backers and all past Escape Immerse Explore tour goers.

New Mexico Escape Room – Blackwell Manor [Review]

by Lisa Spira, posted in Albuquerque, New Mexico Escape Room, Reviews

Don’t stay for dinner

Location:  Albuquerque, NM

Date Played: December 14, 2021

Team size: 2-6; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $32 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: one person has to crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Blackwell Manor isn’t just an escape room; it’s a calling card for New Mexico Escape Room.

Within their facility sits a two-story Victorian manor, and it’s haunted.

A massive haunted house exterior. The home is two stories, beautiful, and aged.

Within its walls we found a compelling story tied together with brilliant haunt scares that pushed well into thrilling territory, without turning excessive.

The puzzles flowed well and were used to introduce us to characters and key plot points.

And the effects were perfect.

Our only real gripe was that the story resolved a bit too quickly. We really felt like we needed another story beat at the end to land where we did.

Overall, it was clear from the moment we set eyes upon Blackwell Manor that we were about to have a special experience. And, oh my, did New Mexico Escape Room deliver. Albuquerque is a city worth visiting for escape rooms, and if you’re down for a bit of horror, Blackwell Manor is one of the must-play escape rooms in the region.

Who is this for?

  • Haunted house fans
  • Adventure seekers
  • Story seekers
  • Scenery snobs
  • Any experience level

Why play?

  • They built a whole house inside of their facility… a whole house
  • The effects and worldbuilding were incredible
  • The horror was intense yet approachable

Story

We had been dared to enter the house. How could we possibly turn down a dare?

The house had been abandoned for a century, but that hadn’t stopped people from talking about it… spreading rumors that it was haunted. We were going to go see for ourselves.

Exterior view of the front door of an old haunted house.
Continue reading “New Mexico Escape Room – Blackwell Manor [Review]” →