RATING: 4 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 1:28
Yo ho ho and a bottle of non-alcoholic rum – it’s time to set sail on a high seas adventure fit for the entire family!
You are an aspiring pirate crew without a ship or a captain. You recently found there is a captain looking for a new crew and jump on the opportunity to prove yourself worthy! This captain invites your eager crew aboard his ship but he has set up several tests to see if you are smart, strong and ruthless enough to be his crew and share his treasures. You need to board the ship, complete the tests on it, and hopefully not die before you can take on your greatest challenge yet!
It’s hard to find good help on the high seas these days. So many pirates are lazy, drunk, blown up by cannonballs or eaten by the Kraken. Oops, probably shouldn’t have mentioned that part in a help wanted ad. Luckily most pirates also can’t read.
Prospective buccaneers will need to band together and hoist their colors to truly impression the Captain of this ship. After all, he’s on board, and will be greeting them personally during the voyage. Brought to life by an improvisational performer, the Captain adds a lively layer of fun that can make any band of sea rovers forget their scurvy. (Take your vitamins, kids. It’s very common among pirates!)
Pirates: Wanted! is a light-hearted and family friendly adventure. It’s a new approach for Quest Room, but it suits them well, and creates a logical extension of their already attention-worthy brand.
Endeavoring marauders will need to earn their way onto the crew by beginning their voyage on the poop deck. Those deemed worthy may be invited to parlay a visit to the Captain’s Private quarters, a much more lavish space (a term which here means “has a piano.”)
Next door, a small brig allows the Captain to keep a weather eye on his prisoners (but you won’t need to be worrying about that as long as you don’t break the rules, of course.)
Naturally, a proper gun deck protects both the starboard and portside with views across the horizon. Cannons are lined and ready to be armed should trouble arise from Davy Jones’ Locker.
Quest Room has long exceled at crafting puzzles that feel like an organic extension of the storyworlds they bring to life. Pirates: Wanted! is no different, and takes that approach a step further by curating them to each step of a would-be pirates rise through the ranks aboard.
Early tasks are more menial, like mopping the deck or organizing the rum. The Captain’s Quarters focuses more on managing and navigating the ship, making use of every logical object. Even the Captain and his parrot play vital roles in how tasks unfold, at times even becoming puzzles themselves in a sense.
But it’s the voyage’s finale that will no double prove most memorable. Before even being officially invited to join the crew, buccaneers will need to man the cannons, light the powder and partake in one of the most authentic pirate battles to ever surface in an escape game.
Quest Room has dug up an immersive treasure chest with a theme – and challenges – fit for the entire family. Brought to life by an engaging actor, this game can cater to its would-be crew however they may need, making Pirates: Wanted! a gem of a first experience for newer players.
In a seemingly infinite sea of pirate-themed games, this one stands atop the tidal wave for its creativity and heart. Tasks will challenge experienced players, without ever leaving younger ones feeling cast ashore.
The storyworld is brought to life by the Captain, who adds humor, hints and even serves as a vital puzzle component. The actions of the crew matter, and as the voyage progresses, will help the story unfold to a shining and surprising finale.
What arrrrrr ya waiting for, mateys? It’s time to set sell! And mark well me words: dead men tell no tales.
Venue: Quest Room (Culver City)
Location: Los Angeles, California
Number of Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $29 – $79 per person depending on total party size and date selected.
We thank Quest 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.
