HOUNDS – Immersive Experiences: The Explorer’s Diary

After visiting a number of escape rooms in the area, we had an entire day at Hounds to play all three of their current games, after hearing so many great things about them.

We discussed at length what it is that sets Hounds apart from so many escape centres and it seems like Hounds have come up with a winning formula; firstly, it is not just an escape room. The whole experience is immersive due to the superb GMs, who remain in character throughout. We had Theadora for this game and she was just superb as a performer and as a GM who read our game perfectly. Secondly, it is the intuitive way their games are set up; the puzzles are delightful and often refer back to things seen earlier, making it more of an immersive experience. Finally, the creative use of space and the beautiful attention to detail really help to make the experience as immersive as possible.

Explorer's Diary is a gorgeous game. It's fairly straightforward in terms of difficulty, with some classic escape room tropes... but it is done in a way that makes it feel like a genuine adventure with secrets uncovered along the way. It didn't quite pip Southern Discomfort to the post as my favourite game here but it was one of those games when we stopped every now and again to just enjoy the moment and savour the quality of the game.