Brett Kuehner Archives - Room Escape Artist

Mystery Mansion Regina – Seen [Hivemind Review]

18 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind, Mystery Mansion Regina

Seen is a livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game created by Mystery Mansion Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

In game, a person against a wall casting shadow puppets over zoom.

Format

Style of Play:

Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system
Interactive NPC + aspects of immersive theater

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 3-6

Play Time: 75 minutes

Price: $25 CA per person

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

This is an avatar-led game with interactive Telescape inventory system. It is a livestreamed version of a real escape room, modified to be a raunchy parody of the format.

You are dropped into the scenario about as diegetically as you can be with an online game.

Not family-friendly! Make sure your entire team is ok with adult language. It will also help if at least one of your teammates is outgoing and willing to interact with an improv actor.

Even though it is a play on the Saw movies, it was not scary at all.

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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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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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Trapped in the Web – A Night at the Theatre [Hivemind Review]

28 March 202129 March 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

A Night at the Theatre is a digital escape game in Google Forms, created by Trapped in the Web.

An illustration of a projector and some exposition setting the stage for the game.

Format

Style of Play:

Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
Play on demand
Light puzzle hunt

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 1-3

Play Time: 1-2 hours

Price: £8.99

Booking: purchase and play at your leisure

Description

Purchasing gives you access to a Google Form that contains the entire game. Players navigate through the Google Form, going to different ‘rooms’ and using the clues in those rooms to find solutions to puzzles. The Google Form interface is limited to pages of text, static graphics, and the occasional video leading to a text entry field for the solution, with a “Next” button.

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Cave Escape – Carfax The Hunter [Hivemind Review]

15 March 202113 March 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Carfax the Hunter is a livestreamed escape game created by Cave Escape in Nottingham, England.

A woman in black walking through a dramatically lit cave.

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: 2-4

Play Time: 75 minutes

Price: £85 per group

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

This is an avatar-led game in a cool setting. You only see the avatar’s hands as you direct them to pick things up or open things. They also communicate back to you with hand movements. It utilizes Telescape in a separate window for inventory and cutscenes.

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