Author Archives: escapethereview

Abduction: Abduction Enterprises

Barcelona, Mar 2022

I’d originally expected to be able to only fit in one game at Abduction, but after discovering how good their third game was, I was delighted we’d managed to add their fourth to the schedule. The name Enterprises might not give away what the theme is… (more)

Abduction: The Exam

Barcelona, Mar 2022

Abduction helpfully number their games, and so The Exam is Abduction 3; this does not mean that it’s a sequel or that you need to have played its predecessors, and it has nothing to do with an abduction. The premise is instead, very simply, a test of… (more)

Escape Barcelona: Alien: El Origen

Barcelona, Mar 2022

Second game on our Barcelona itinerary and second for us at Escape Barcelona was Alien. The previous game Akasha had set an extremely high bar, but Alien managed to rise to the same heights.

This of course is based on the Alien(s) sci-fi horror movi… (more)

Escape Barcelona: Tomb Hunter: Akasha’s Legend

Barcelona, Mar 2022

As escape rooms have evolved and become more sophisticated, I think it’s fair to say that in the whole they’ve shifted in emphasis from ‘puzzle challenge’ to ‘immerse experience’. The degree to which that’s true varies hugely between games, but Legen… (more)

Maximum Escape Andorra: The Avalanche

Andorra, Mar 2022

The Avalanche, previously known as Avalanche of Oblivion, has been on my radar as a game to travel to for over five years now. Originally it was created and operated by the local branch of Claustrophobia, when that company was renowned for standout g… (more)

The 100 best escape rooms in the UK 2022

Which were your favourite UK escape rooms in 2022? The rankings on Escape the Review are calculated based on thousands of reviews from players of all levels of experience, combined by the site algorithm. As last year I’ve listed the best games alphabetically not by rank order – everyone’s tastes are different, and subjective preference… Read More »

Compendium Escape Rooms: UI-55

Bury, Apr 2022

Of Compendium’s (currently) four games, UI-55 stands apart, right near the top of enthusiasts’ rankings for best U.K. games. It’s also very different in style: where the others are well suited for an experienced pair, UI-55 is a score-based game wher… (more)

Compendium Escape Rooms: The Laboratory

Bury, Apr 2022

Compendium Escape Rooms: Wrong Turn

Bury, Apr 2022

In a great example of how not to get your escape room sponsored by the US tourist board, Compendium’s horror room starts with the premise that you impulsively take a side trip into Alabama and shortly thereafter find yourself searching the house of a… (more)

Compendium Escape Rooms: Bedlam

Bury, Apr 2022

Visiting Compendium to binge all four of their games as part of a larger schedule, we started with the insane asylum theme, which I guess is rather suitable for anyone trying to do eight escape rooms in a day. All the rooms in the venue looked good, … (more)