New England Archives - Room Escape Artist

Red Fox Escapes – The Body Shop [Review]

15 August 202215 August 2022 by Lisa Spira, posted in Boston, Massachusetts, New England, Red Fox Escapes, Reviews

Be prepared… for mayhem

Location: Cambridge, MA

Date Played: July 10, 2022

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

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: from $40 per player for teams of 4 to $36 per player for teams of 6-10

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

With Body Shop, Red Fox Escapes took a previously great game (Outside the Box’s The Body Shop), and enhanced it into a truly stellar experience.

The first act aesthetically remained largely the same, but Red Fox Escapes carefully nested it into their own building, minding details and making thoughtful adjustments. With the second act, the changes were more dramatic.

Red Fox changed the storyline and reworked the puzzle flow to support the new, more coherent narrative. We found the new flow – in both story and gameplay – to be a smooth ride. We especially enjoyed when this game leaned into Girl Scouting, but with a twist.

I spent many years as a Girl Scout, earning badges for my sashes, and it was fun to don one again and solve my way through this strange and humorous Girl Scouts parody.

While the game is lightly horror (and I wouldn’t bring any current Girl Scouts of badge-earning age), it was more funny than scary, and “light horror” is more of a nod to prop content and storyline – nothing terror-inducing.

A body shop interior with a motorcycle being worked on.

In its new home at Red Fox Escapes, Body Shop is accessible for Boston locals and visitors. It’s a must-play addition to any Boston escape room list.

Who is this for?

Adventure seekers
Story seekers
Puzzle lovers
Scenery snobs
Scouts or former Scouts
Fans of light horror
Any experience level

Why play?

An unusual theme
The hilarious rebranded girl scout badges
A killer reveal

Story

We had been regular Girl Scouts earning our Automotive Engineering badges at the local auto body shop. We didn’t realize that a shadow Girl Scout troop was running their nefarious operations out of this very shop. Now, they wanted us to join their ranks, and they’d invited us there to prove we were worthy of inclusion in their secret society.

Continue reading →

RECON Boston’s Guide to Boda Borg (August 2022)

3 August 20228 August 2022 by Theresa, posted in Boda Borg, Boston, Massachusetts, New England, RECON

As RECON approaches, the team is getting excited to show attendees what amazing things the greater Boston Area has to offer, including Boda Borg. While not a typical escape room experience, there are some important things to note before you go.

Continue reading →

Passcode Escape – The Secret Lab [Review]

22 July 202221 July 2022 by Theresa, posted in Massachusetts, New England, Reviews

SCIENCE!

Location: Quincy, MA

Date Played: April 1, 2022

Team Size: 2-10; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $30 per player

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Passcode Escape’s Secret Lab was a traditional escape room with solid game flow, clear puzzle cluing, and well-integrated tech interactions.

At it’s best, Secret Lab had a neat mid-game reveal that gave us a glimpse into the rest of the experience. Passcode Escape also cleverly utilized real lab equipment to bring immersive moments to our puzzle journey. Our gamemaster was a joy to interact with.

A science lab with steel tables, scientific equipment, a periodic table, and a Fallout Shelter sign on the wall.

Throughout the game, the puzzles were fair and clear to our team, and the inputs were clearly labeled (good lock mapping). That being said, the gameplay felt a bit dated, with simple puzzles and a lackluster set.

The Secret Lab is one of Passcode Escape’s earliest games, and we’re excited to see what they design in the future.

Continue reading →

PuzzlEscape Hudson – Something Wicked! [Review]

18 June 202219 June 2022 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.

Continue reading →

The Gate Escape – The Assistant 2.0 [Review]

17 June 202217 June 2022 by Kate Wastl, posted in Massachusetts, New England, Reviews, Special, The Gate Escape

The Assistant 2.0 is one of the best games in Massachusetts. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms in Massachusetts.

A second wormhole, a new experience

Location: Leominster, MA

Date Played: April 2, 2022

Team Size: Up to 6 players; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $28 per player

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

A quick trip through all of time and space awaits players that tackle The Gate Escape’s The Assistant 2.0. In short, this escape room assembles a puzzling playground for those individuals willing to hop into a celestial adventure. Although experienced players will have a leg up in recognizing patterns in these puzzles, the smooth puzzle flow makes The Assistant 2.0 approachable for new players. If you’re new to escape rooms, start here before you tackle Gate Escape’s 90-minute The Observatory. If you’re traveling to the area to play rooms, plan on playing both this room and The Observatory.

The game simply and unapologetically challenges players by laying out puzzles in a straight-forward, non-search-centered manner. Upon entering the space, there are many immediate opportunities for players to dive in and engage in the wormhole world, both with the assistance of others and on solo ventures. Perhaps the most impressive and inherently satisfying aspect of the entire experience is the way that these solves layer together and build towards completion with the intelligent reuse of items found throughout the space.

A strange wall lit in blue and covered in colored dots.

The typically smooth gameplay was briefly interrupted mid-game when one puzzle didn’t come together as naturally as those throughout the rest of the experience. This left us with open questions on the potential solve, and when we were able to advance, credited it more to luck than to skill.

Ideal for a group of friends ready to puzzle, The Assistant 2.0 rewards a keen sense of attention to detail, with layered, multifaceted solves combining nicely with simple surprises to eclipse expectations.

Continue reading →