Category: PuzzlEscape

PuzzlEscape Hudson – Something Wicked! [Review]

by Kate Wastl, posted in Massachusetts, New England, PuzzlEscape, Reviews, Special

Something Wicked! is one of the best games in Massachusetts. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms in Massachusetts.

A Bewitching Refuge

Location: Hudson, MA

Date Played: April 2, 2022

Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $28-38 per player, depending on group size

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Some motion/ shaking is included; please advise your gamemaster if this is a concern.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

PuzzlEscape Hudson’s Something Wicked! never ceased to surprise, embedding a number of fascinating discoveries as we uncovered that things weren’t always as they seemed deep in the woods. The props, the setting, and the entire production underlined these eye-opening elements, leading us through an adventure designed to keep us wondering what we would uncover next as the cauldron bubbled.

This experience was perfect for 4 people in a solid game flow experience that flew by as we uncovered the magical mysteries of an enchanting cabin. Of particular note was the ending, which built off of a multi-layered finale to ramp up in excitement and leave us speechless with the unexpected conclusion.

Closeup of a mailbox that looks like a bird house.

The only time that the suspense waned was in a particularly search-heavy portion of the experience, pairing ambiguous search targets with low lighting that resulted in multiple fails that swiftly brought down the enthusiasm of our group.

With accessible game design, PuzzlEscape Hudson’s approach would satisfy escape room newbies and more experienced players alike in this fast-paced adventure that left us spellbound.

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PuzzlEscape Hudson – The Legend of Pepe [Review]

by Theresa, posted in Massachusetts, New England, PuzzlEscape, Reviews, Special

The Legend of Pepe is one of the best games in Massachusetts. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms in Massachusetts.

Houdini and Santa and Freddy Krueger, oh my!

Location: Hudson, MA

Date Played: April 2, 2022

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $28-38 per player, depending on group size

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

PuzzlEscape recently opened a new location in Hudson, MA. There they opened The Legend of Pepe, a game that pays homage to the 12 games they’d created at their original venue. That said, although this game revolved around prior game narratives, it definitely did not require any knowledge of the previous legends of Pepe La Scuzz, our main villain.

The Legend of Pepe was a puzzler’s dream with a lot of content and fantastic puzzle flow. While not every puzzle was mind-blowing, the game offered a huge variety of puzzle types for every player, and most of the puzzles put a refreshing twist on our assumptions of how they would solve. This made what could have been boring interactions into something unique.

PuzzlEscape designed an interesting way to level the playing field for teams by incorporating a difficulty modifier at the midpoint of the game. Teams choose their difficulty and thus the ending to the story. However, this choice mechanic was under-clued in the gameplay itself.

We love what PuzzlEscape is doing, and cannot wait to see their absolutely insane themes (that we got a glimpse of!) come to life in the future.

Note: this review is for the more difficult path. After we played, our gamemaster gave us a walkthrough of the easier path for review purposes. Players can return for half price to play the path they did not take originally.

Closeup of an old, gold cash register with an infinity symbol, beside it is a computer monitor with the same symbol.
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PuzzlEscape – King Arthur’s Quest [Review]

by Lisa Spira, posted in Closed Game, Massachusetts, New England, PuzzlEscape, Reviews

King Arthur’s to-do list

Location: Hudson, MA

Date played: September 21, 2017

Team size: 2-5; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $30 per ticket

Story & setting

King Arthur had been captured. We needed to free him, assemble the Knights of the Round Table, and retrieve Excalibur as well as The Holy Grail.

The set felt medieval-inspired and lovingly handmade. There was more going on within that castle-y room than it originally appeared.

In-game: An ornate hourglass sitting on a table in the foreground. A suit of armor flanked by shields in the background.

Puzzles

King Arthur’s Quest was rooted in puzzles. It leaned heavily on riddles, reasoning, ciphers and logic. The puzzles were more traditional, which isn’t to say simple; they were complex and challenging.

Standouts

King Arthur’s Quest included layered and complex puzzles. These were challenging, engaging, and rewarding.

PuzzlEscape clearly put thought into puzzle design. They put their own twists on traditional puzzles and considered gating, feedback, and pivotal puzzle points. We especially liked the execution of decipherments and the large, layered, late-game puzzle.

PuzzlEscape paid attention to locks and keys. These were well selected to fit the theme and exciting to engage with.

Shortcomings

PuzzlEscape relied too heavily on one particular prop and its corresponding interaction. It was not compelling enough or large enough to be anything except a bottleneck.

King Arthur’s Quest involved substantial reading in a challenging typeface. This quickly become frustrating.

In one instance, the room aesthetics created puzzle ambiguity.

One pivotal puzzle of King Arthur’s Quest involved a large set piece. It was spatially difficult to access. It was also hacked together and a bit too wobbly.

Should I play PuzzlEscape’s King Arthur’s Quest?

King Arthur’s Quest was a fun, puzzle-driven escape room. If you’re looking for challenging and layered cerebral puzzles, you’ll enjoy King Arthur’s Quest. PuzzlEscape worked the challenges around fun themed props and led you to conquer their quest.

If you’re looking for detailed sets or grand adventure, those weren’t the focuses of King Arthur’s Quest.

If you’re excited to solve puzzles, King Arthur’s Quest has a lot to offer, regardless of experience level. Newer players will find a lot of puzzling they likely haven’t seen before and escape room veterans will see some artful executions of some standards.

Go see if you’re worthy of pulling a sword from a stone.

Book your hour with PuzzlEscape’s King Arthur’s Quest, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Full disclosure: PuzzlEscape comped our tickets for this game.