RATING: 4 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 11:01
So, you just became the caretaker of a notoriously haunted castle. Who you gonna call? Escape game reviewers! …wait, that’s not right.
The local legends tell the history of Vesper Castle as one of terrifying supernatural horror, making it one of the world’s most haunted locations.
However, the truth may be something else entirely.
The new caretakers of the property have great plans for it, but none of them are possible so long as the spectral activity continues. Can your team of paranormal investigators discern the secret behind the ghostly experiences that happen here every hour and rid this place of fear for good?
Is there anything worse than gaining ownership of a once beautiful piece of property only to learn that it’s been run down to near disrepair thanks to a pesky paranormal haunting? We’ve all been there at some point – us apparently more than most. Thankfully, our team has developed quite the skill for paranormal investigations; looks like it’s time to put that to use!
PanIQ Room has crafted a storyworld that wonderfully balances supernatural surprises with family-friendly frights. The Haunted Manor is home to an adventure most ages can enjoy, leaning more toward ‘spooky‘ than outright ‘scary‘ to immerse new paranormal investigators into their own ghostly adventure.
The Haunted Manor represents a spirited evolution in attention to detail from this long-established brand. Returning PanIQ Room players may gasp upon stepping foot inside Vesper Manor when realizing just how well-themed this space is.
There can be a certain beauty to a scenic approach meant to once be beautiful but now clearly run down. With The Haunted Manor, textures and palates stylistically evoke a sense of old world elegance left clearly to the ravages of time and more than a few sinister souls trapped within.
Though the overall footprint may be small, The Haunted Manor’s two rooms keep investigators actively moving throughout, and has more than a few tricks and treats up its fancy ruffled sleeve. Lighting, sound and even some atmospheric effects bring the haunting to life, while themed background music sets a familiar mood.
The Haunted Manor uses its puzzles as a means of further building toward its narrative climax. Although sometimes the connections are light, they do aim to fit organically fit within the storyworld.
Puzzles vary from thoughtful tasks to more physical interactions. This stylistic range creates a varied array with something for everyone.
Vesper Castle may have its issues thanks to some… ahem… mysterious long term residents – but thankfully the puzzles hidden within its walls make much more logical sense. Each task in this ghost hunting adventure is intuitive, and almost always leads to a clear path forward for the investigation.
The Haunted Manor embraces an unfolding supernatural story with believable scenic and a few surprises along the way. For us, it represents a true evolution of the PanIQ Room brand, and is certainly among the more enjoyable of their offerings.
With both pros and cons, it should be noted that this is a 45 minute game. While more seasoned players might long for a more traditional hour, there can be great value to the occasional shorter experience. Without requiring quite as much of a commitment, it could be enough to convince a first time player to finally give escape games a try. There’s also the financial value of it coming with a bit of a lower price tag as well.
Although it did not impact us in this game, newer guests may find PanIQ Room’s hint system to be a bit frustrating. Clues are often pre-typed and provided over a monitor, and can sometimes take longer than one might like to be delivered. What results can sometimes be asking for a clue only to be told something you’ve already completed. Thankfully, the paranormal investigation of Vesper Manor was logical enough that even the spirits haunting its walls could never slow us down – but it’s still a key discussion point to be aware of.
Way back in 2014, PanIQ Room (at a different location which has since been retired) was actually our very first traditional escape game. It’s a thrill to see how the brand has evolved all of this years later, shifting toward a clearer focus of themed and immersive adventures that aim to make guests a part of the action. Though Vesper Manor may now be free of its ghosts, we look forward to haunting PanIQ Room again in the future!
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Venue: PanIQ Room
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Number of Games: 7
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 7 people
Group Type: Public or Private / You may or may not be paired with strangers depending on your choice of ticket type.
Cost: $21.60 – $27.60 per person depending on date selected and your choice of public or private booking.
We thank PanIQ Room for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.
