RATING: 5 Keys          RESULT: Win         REMAINING: 14:42

Help free the spirits of your family from the mysterious grip of the manor, before the curse claims its next victim.

On the centennial of your great-great-great-aunt and uncle’s mysterious disappearance, you inherit their manor. Family lore says their dark experiments cursed your lineage. Arriving just an hour before midnight, you have one chance to lift the curse and save your family’s future—or face the same fate as your lost relatives.

Baldwin Manor has been the family residence for generations, but it has come under a nefarious spell, trapping the souls of the family members. The once-stately manor home has fallen into disrepair, seemingly frozen in time.

The spirits will help you make contact with The Other Side, so you can free them from their eternal existence trapped between the Earthly realm and the afterlife. Embrace the occult and the paranormal to lift the veil and ease the ancestors on to their final destinations.

The supernatural is present from the moment one steps into the parlor. Oddly-shaped furniture and doors give off a twisted air, as if the spirits have begun to manipulate the physical plane.

There are items of antiquity spread throughout- carved grandfather clocks, woven rugs, even an Iron Maiden (that thankfully, does not appear to have an occupant).  It is evident that the souls that have been inhabiting the house since the curse took effect are practitioners of the occult and witchcraft, as various elements of the mystic arts, like spell circles and devices for divination, can be found within the manor’s walls.

A darkened chamber acts as the epicenter for all of the magical happenings; potions and plants line the shelves, and ancient, gnarled wooden tables lie in wait to receive offerings. The literal darkening of each segment of the manor serves to remind guests that otherwordly forces are at work.

There is a great mixture of varying tech levels- some basic locks, but also physical elements integrated into the set- within the puzzles. All of them are intuitive to solve and make sense within the storyworld.

 In an interesting twist, one hidden object is actually utilized in two different challenges, marking a departure from the “one-and-done” aspect of the rest of the game.  A rather clever puzzle makes use of identifying a multitude different scents, so those suffering from blocked sinuses, take heed.

Visitors to the manor actually have the opportunity to partake in the arcane themselves via the riddles. From incantations to be said, to gathering ingredients for a spell, everything that must be done is logical and helps enhance the immersion.

Baldwin Manor is a wonderfully spooky look at otherwordly activity, without actually being scary. The theming makes it seem like we’ve been transported into a Tim Burton movie. It incorporates unique puzzles that bring magic and enchantment to life. The macabre and the mysterious are front and center, yet they don’t take away from the fun to be had while casting spells. Escape Artists has a real enigma that is enjoyable and entertaining, while creating a rich lore to be explored. This is one haunted mansion where becoming a resident specter seems like a ghoulishly good time.

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Venue: Escape Artists

Location: Orlando, Florida

Number of Games: 3

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 6 people

Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.

Cost: $36-$44 per person, depending on number of players

We thank Escape Artists for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.