Category: Reviews

Significant Updates to DarkPark Games’ Conspiracy-19

by David Spira, posted in DarkPark, News, Products, Reviews, Tabletop Escape Game

Back in June we released a review of DarkPark Games’ Conspiracy-19. We described the game as, “interesting, bumpy, and fixable.”

In response, DarkPark Games has issued significant patching to Conspiracy-19, by augmenting the digital side of the experience.

Pomotional image displaying the contents of the game box.

The most notable shift was a complete overhaul of their hint system.

Beyond that, they added quite a few smaller quality-of-life improvements that I suspect will dramatically improve the flow of the game, but it is admittedly hard to assess this in a game that I have already played.

Our review has been updated to reflect these changes to the best of our ability without changing what was originally published.

Should I Buy?

If you were on the fence about Conspiracy-19, I think that it has been significantly improved, and I feel a lot more comfortable recommending it at this point.

That said…

DarkPark Games’ latest creation, Witchery Spell, is special on a whole different level, and I would easily recommend it before playing Conspiracy-19. Both are worthy of playing, but Witchery Spell is magical.

DarkPark Games – Witchery Spell [Review]

by Sarah Willson, posted in Products, Reviews, Tabletop Escape Game

Coven fresh.

Location:  at home

Date Played: August 9, 2020

Team size: 1-4; we recommend 2-3

Duration: about 2-3 hours

Price: $58 plus shipping from the Netherlands

REA Reaction

Witchery Spell stood out from the crowd of play-at-home escape games by combining story, puzzles, and design into a polished, cohesive experience. DarkPark Games didn’t just assemble a box full of themed puzzles that could be found in a magazine. They conjured a self-contained experience that felt magical from start to finish.

Through its intricate physical elements, realistic websites, and player-driven gameplay, Witchery Spell made us feel like part of the story. The props and documents included in the box were clearly chosen and created with care. It was easy to ignore the few hiccups we ran into as we pursued the mystery to its conclusion.

The story was perilous and suspenseful, but more mystical than scary. Along with the moderate difficulty level, this makes Witchery Spell approachable to anyone who’s comfortable with the occult theme and slightly dark storyline. 

A pentagram surrounded with decorative symbols, with a lit candle in the center.

Witchery Spell was comparatively expensive for a play-at-home game, especially with international shipping. If cost is a factor, it’s much more affordable to grab a refill kit or two and find someone to split the bill with. 

Witchery Spell was a solid example of the potential of interactive storytelling to transport players to another world. The price may seem high, but it reflects the quality and value of this unique game. Not having had the opportunity to play any of DarkPark’s real life games myself, I can safely say Witchery Spell lived up to their reputation.

Who is this for?

  • Adventure seekers
  • Story seekers
  • Sorcery enthusiasts
  • Any experience level

Why play?

  • Intricate, tactile components
  • Puzzle–story integration
  • Magical ambiance

Story

Years ago, five young girls found an old book and followed a ritual within, binding them into a coven. When one of the five disappeared after her 23rd birthday, the remaining four sent us a package of mysterious items to investigate. Our goal was to save them from the same fate.

Papers including a typewritten letter and a newspaper clipping reporting "Burned Body of Woman Found Near Riverbank in Cleveland."
Continue reading “DarkPark Games – Witchery Spell [Review]” →

Get the F Out – The Experiment [Hivemind Review]

by Lisa Spira, posted in Get the F Out, Hivemind

The Experiment is a real-life escape room livestreamed and played through an avatar, created by Get the F Out in Los Angeles.

Sadly this company is closing soon. Book now if you want to play this game.

Room Escape Artist played this game in real-life in August of 2018.

In-game: torn ship's mast.

Format

Style of Play: real-life escape room livestreamed and played through an avatar

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, maybe a pen and paper for notes

Recommended Team Size: 4-5

Play Time: 60 minutes

Price: $30 per person

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

The Experiment is a straightforward avatar game livestreamed over Zoom. The inventory system for this game consists of password-protected files that are emailed to you beforehand. The host gives you the passwords to unlock them as you progress through the game.

This is described as a “meta-escape room” so it’s like an escape room about an escape room. It becomes more and more clear as you progress through the game.

In-game: The Experiment teaser, reads, "The Doctor Will See You Now."

Hivemind Review Scale

REA's hivemind review scale - 3 is recommended anytime, 2 recommended in quarantine, 1 is not recommended.

Read more about our new Hivemind Review format.

Continue reading “Get the F Out – The Experiment [Hivemind Review]” →

Alanis Morissette & Mission Escape Games – Such Pretty Forks in the Room [Reaction]

by Cara, posted in Mission Escape Games, Reviews

Such Pretty Forks in the Room is an online escape game created by Alanis Morissette & Mission Escape Games.

Format

Style of Play: online escape game livestreamed and played through an avatar

Required Equipment: computer with an internet connection

Team Size: 1-5

Play Time: 15 minutes

Price: free/ limited run

Booking: this was a limited run that is no longer available for booking

Description

Alanis Morissette is an escape room fan – and to promote her latest album, she and her team approached Mission Escape Games to produce a free, limited run game. It sold out in minutes and we were fortunate enough to score a booking.

Such pretty Forks in the Road album cover, Alanis Morissette's face covered in silver glitter.

REA Reaction

“I…. want… you… to know…” that I enjoyed this promotional escape room very much. “Thank you… THANK YOU” Alanis Morissette for giving us fans with a Venn diagram that overlaps all of your music, along with an unhealthy escape room addiction, the perfect mixture of those two things! Though IRONICally, the room was very short (this is the joke, people. It isn’t actually an example of irony. REAL FANS DON’T CARE), it was a satisfying little romp through Alanis’ musical career, nonetheless. I was HEAD OVER FEET for this mini escape room experience. I maaaay have spent the entire time singing my responses as quotes from her repertoire. “WOULD YOU FORGIVE ME, LOVE?”  Though not the most challenging of rooms, it was very enjoyable regardless! Be sure to check out Alanis Morissette’s new album, SUCH PRETTY FORKS IN THE ROAD. It will surely provide a great, *escape*… see what I did there?

This game is no longer available for booking, but you can buy Alanis Morisette’s new album and tell her that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Listen to Such Pretty Forks in the Road

Amazon

Spotify

Apple Music

Visit Mission Escape Games

Support Room Escape Artist’s Mission

There are lots of ways to support Room Escape Artist, like buying from Amazon after clicking into the links included in this post or backing us on Patreon.

The money that we make from these helps us to grow the site and continue to add more value to the community that we love so much.

The Master Theorem [Review]

by David Spira, posted in Book, Products, Reviews

Pure Puzzle Play

Location:  at home

Date Played: 2019-2020

Team size: 1 – ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Price: about $29.99

REA Reaction

The Master Theorem was a pure puzzle book presented beautifully.

Whether or not you buy this really comes down to a single question:

“Do I want a puzzle book?”

-You

If the answer is “yes,” then buy it… otherwise don’t.

The Master Theorem book cover.

The Master Theorem simply succeeded at puzzle book. It was pretty, well written, and beautifully presented. My only gripe was that its solid-enough hint system could have been a little bit more nuanced and user-friendly.

Whether you’re a seasoned puzzler or brand new to puzzles, there’s something to enjoy here… the difference will be how much time you spend enjoying it.

Who is this for?

  • Puzzle lovers
  • Any experience level – it will teach you over time if you’re a newbie

Why play?

  • A collection of finely crafted puzzles
  • The layouts and color print quality was beautiful
  • The solution descriptions were especially thorough
  • The writing style

Story

The Master Theorem was narrated by the mysterious character “M.” M’s goal was to grow his global secret society of problem solvers, something that the world desperately needs more of… so M produced a book for an expanded reach.

Continue reading “The Master Theorem [Review]” →