Andrew Reynolds Archives - Room Escape Artist

District 3 Escape Rooms – Something Brewing [Hivemind Review]

22 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in District 3 Escape Rooms, Hivemind

Something Brewing is an avatar-led, livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game created by District 3 Escape Rooms in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

A coffee machine beside a post for the Something Brewing Coffee house.

Format

Style of Play:

Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 3-5

Play Time: 60 minutes

Price: $19 CAD per person (accounting for the current discount)

Booking: book online for a specific time

Description

Players control the game host avatar through Zoom, and have access to a Telescape inventory website for a 360-degree view of the space and to manipulate some puzzles.

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District 3 Escape Rooms – Haunted [Hivemind Review]

16 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in District 3 Escape Rooms, Hivemind

Haunted is an avatar-led, livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game created by District 3 Escape Rooms in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

A person entering into a strangely shaped room with high ceilings.

Format

Style of Play:

Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 3-5

Play Time: 60 minutes

Price: $19 CAD per person (accounting for the current discount)

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

Players control the game host avatar through Zoom, and have access to a Telescape inventory website site for a 360-degree view of the space and a better view of puzzles.

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66 Minuten – Showdown [Hivemind Review]

12 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Showdown is an avatar-led, livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game, created by 66 Minuten in Neuwied, Germany.

Format

Style of Play:

Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system
Immersive theater elements

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, mobile device

At one point, you need to call a German phone number.

Recommended Team Size: 3-4

Play Time: about 90 minutes

Price: 120€ per team of 3, plus 15€ for each additional connection

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

This was an avatar-led adaption of a real-life escape room, played in Zoom. The differentiator in Showdown was its high level of production and clever combination of video content with immersive theater elements.

You are agents helping a member of the “Anti Schlabbeck Force.”

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Mystery City – The Monuments Mission [Hivemind Review]

6 April 20217 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind, Mystery City

The Monuments Mission is a point-and-click-style game created by Mystery City Games in Amsterdam.

Format

Style of Play:

Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
Play on demand
Point-and-click

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, pen and paper

Recommended Team Size: 1-3

Play Time: no timer, but play time is about 1-2 hours

Price: €18 per group

Booking: purchase and play at your leisure

Description

In this game, you follow the story of the Monuments Men as they complete various missions to retrieve artwork that was stolen by the Nazis in World War II. Each mission slowly unfolds through alternating story and puzzle sections. The puzzles involve light point-and-click interactions with maps, photographs, and other objects. Overall, there are six missions (plus training), and each mission contains around 5 puzzles.

It was unclear how best to collaborate remotely to play this game. Some of our reviewers opted to play together over Google meet with each player running their own version of the game simultaneously.

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Fast Familiar – Bad Altitude [Hivemind Review]

5 April 20217 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Fast Familiar, Hivemind

Bad Altitude is a digital, narrative-driven light puzzle game created by Fast Familiar in the UK.

A bright pink interface for A.I. Air along with a airplane's console. An illustrated character named Rhys is on the screen.

Format

Style of Play:

Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
Play on demand
Online game with point-and-click & audio elements

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 2-5

Play Time: no time limit, about 60-minute play time

Price: £20 per team, up to 6 players

Booking: purchase and play at your leisure

Description

Fast Familiar’s website describes this game as a cross between an interactive audio drama and an online puzzle game. There’s a custom interface with chat functionality, video, and files. There’s quite a bit of storyline, and you’ll solve puzzles to advance the narrative. It’s mainly an audio game, although there are graphics and animated illustrations that made it really come to life. All players are synchronized, so only one player has to enter each answer.

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