A new beginning.
Location: New York, New York
Date Played: December 6, 2018
Team size: up to 8 (note that they have two copies of the game, so you could have twice that many and play head to head); we recommend 2-3 per copy
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $30 per player
Ticketing: Public
REA Reaction
Operation End of Days looked great and played wonderfully. As the first game in Mission Escape Games’ new Midtown location, it set a high bar.
Mission Escape Games has developed a keen skill for silky smooth gameflow.
Operation End of Days was designed specifically to onboard new players. While the beginning and the ending could be further refined, it was the right amount of not-too-hard. As the current record holder in this game, I can comfortably declare that it was wonderfully fun even when flying through it.
Whether you like escape games, are escape room-curious, or you’re on the fence about them… give Operation End of Days a try.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Puzzle lovers
- Scenery snobs
- Any experience level (and a great beginner game!)
- Players who are comfortable playing in low lighting
Why play?
- Great puzzle flow
- Sound design
- Immersive environment
Story
Humanity was facing the end of the world. All previous attempts to end the calamity had failed. We were the last plan, the last hope. We had to create the “final element” to succeed.
Setting
We entered a detailed, weathered, and beautiful, yet grim bunker. It was filled with machinery and piping.
Mission Escape Games’ set design has come a long way since the early days of the IKEA-furnished Art Studio, 4 years ago. Operation End of Days ranks among Manhattan’s most elegant escape room sets.
Gameplay
Mission Escape Games’ Operation End of Days was a standard escape room with a lower level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and puzzling.
Analysis
➕ It was intensely atmospheric. The gamespace was dramatically lit, albeit dimly. The sound effects brought the space to life. (Note, it was not scary.) Operation End of Days had a drab (by design) end-of-the-world atmosphere with flairs of color.
➖ The monitor was excessively bright against the dim gamespace. The font choice was particularly hard to read against the bright background. Softening the screen aesthetics may be a nitpick, but it would significantly improve this escape room by making it easier to read the game clock and clues.
➕ Operation End of Days was hearty and solidly constructed.
➕ In building Operation End of Days, Mission Escape Games accommodated the oddities of the building, working these into their apocalyptic environment. We never felt that the confines of a New York City office building location compromised the game’s design.
➕ Mission Escape Games used inexpensive components elegantly. They may not have cost a lot, but they looked polished. The construction and design came together wonderfully and supported the puzzle play well.
➖ The starting place likely won’t be obvious to new players who don’t know the standard mechanics of an escape room gamespace. Since this game was designed specifically to engage muggles, augmenting this beginning so that it unambiguously called out “start here” to newbies would help get the fun rolling.
➕ Operation End of Days flowed beautifully. The largely linear puzzle design made it accessible for newer players, but no less fun for those with experience.
➖ One puzzle felt unrefined and bottlenecked. With larger teams, this would likely become immensely frustrating.
➕ We particularly enjoyed a layered puzzle that combined typical escape room inputs in atypical ways.
➖We would have appreciated a meatier final puzzle. There was a distinct final interaction, but it felt a little anemic for a finale.
➕ We regularly tell creators that a great game designed for newbies can still be immensely satisfying for experienced players. Operation End of Days was one of those games.
Tips For Visiting
- Mission Escape Games has moved! They are now located in midtown. Take the A/C/E subway to Penn Station or Port Authority.
- We recommend Black Iron Burger for a post-game meal.
Book your hour with Mission Escape Games’ Operation End of Days, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Mission Escape Games comped our tickets for this game.
