Category: Niagara Escapement

Niagara Escapement – Easy Bake Coven [Review]

by Cindi S., posted in Buffalo / Niagara, Niagara Escapement, Reviews

Double double players in trouble

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Date Played: May 1, 2022

Team Size: 2-4; we recommend 2-3

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $26.55 CAD per player

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

When I first heard we were about to be captured by a witch and thrown into an oven, à la Grimm’s fairytale Hansel & Gretel, I thought the experience might be dark and somewhat scary. Instead, from the very first moments, we were immersed in a delightful storybook world, complete with a cute audio introduction that captured our imaginations and set the stage for a fun adventure. Even the name, Easy Bake Coven, sets a clever, light-hearted tone, which is carried throughout the escape game. 

The space was simple and uncluttered, almost sparse, with little to detract from the actual puzzles; some additional design details here and there would have enhanced the overall immersion even more. And yet, the game kept us fully engaged as we progressed from playful, tactical interactions early on to more nuanced, layered puzzles later in the experience. With smooth game flow and unique, creative puzzles that just “clicked” when you solved them, Easy Bake Coven was a delight.

A witch's cauldron on a fire with green liquid boiling in it.

There really is something for players of all ages and skill levels, a rarity in a family-friendly game. If you’re in the Niagara Falls area, you should absolutely stop by Niagara Escapement and play Easy Bake Coven.

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Niagara Escapement – End of the *Bleeping* World [Review]

by Kate Wastl, posted in Buffalo / Niagara, Escape City Buffalo, Niagara Escapement, Reviews

Puzzle Preppers

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada

Date Played: May 1, 2022

Team Size: 3-6; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $25 CAD per player

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The word that came to mind when I walked out of End of the Bleeping World was just… classic. Most refreshing was the momentum that carried us through the plot, lining up opportunities for players to score successes in frequent and approachable intervals as we sought solace from catastrophe.

Designed by the same individual who was the mastermind behind Dead Air (a now-closed hallmark of escape rooms in the northeast), End of the Bleeping World was another example of rock-solid game design. This serious scenario with a lighthearted tone was a joy to work through. The puzzles were incredibly fair, the aha moments were particularly delightful, and the non-linear space itself was set up in such a way that enabled players to have their own range of motion, both physically and in discovery moments.

Inside of a brick and metal bunker with a pneumatic tube system.

If you are playing in the Buffalo/ Niagara/ Southern Ontario region and you don’t play this game (alongside the 2-person Easy Bake Coven), you are doing yourself a disservice. Suitable for beginners and entertaining for enthusiasts, End of the Bleeping World was a great example of intelligent, approachable gameplay really hitting a home run.

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