RATING: 4 Keys          RESULT: Win          REMAINING: 9:31

Eternal glory awaits us, as long as we can elude those pesky invaders set on turning our fishing haven into a hellscape.

After days and nights of glorious battle, you and members of your clan have been captured as slaves by an enemy Viking tribe. Your chance to feast with Odin in Valhalla is slipping away.

You are a proud Viking and the call to glory flows deeply through your veins. So, when the famous Ragnar Lodbrok came to your quiet fishing village, you were the first in line to offer him drink and listen in rapture to his sagas of raiding and pillaging. It has always been your dream to “go a viking” so you sought out the Seeress to see if you should join Ragnar and leave your old life behind.

“Fame and glory is what you seek, but Valhalla does not await you.”

Undeterred by the Seeress and determined to change the course of your destiny, the next morning you and several of your brethren climbed aboard Ragnar’s longboat and set sail for the unknown. As long as you die in battle with your weapon in hand, you will be welcomed to Valhalla to sit by the side of Odin, the All-Father and feast in glory for eternity.

But, you should have listened to the Seeress. Maybe then you and your brethren would not be tied up like dogs and waiting to be traded as slaves in the morning.

You have 60 minutes to unlock from your chains, recover your stolen gold and weapons and escape. If you cannot, then you better die bravely or find some other way to gain the favor of the gods. Otherwise, the halls of Valhalla will be closed to you forever!

Odin, Thor, Heimdall, Loki….all legendary names. The masters of Scandinavia, the greatest of the gods… how we wish to walk amongst them in the storied halls of Valhalla.

Our little village has been invaded by pesky barbarians,  and they’ve locked us up like chattel. That doesn’t do much in the way of showing the gods that we’re worthy of eternal glory… so we should probably fix that.

Once we’re free of our bindings, we can truly show the gods our mettle. With the appropriate offerings, and a little dash of good old Nordic know-how, we can rise from the ranks of humble fishermen to noble explorers, valiantly entering Valhalla as godly equals.

A small jail cell in a thatched hut opens up into a Viking gathering hall, illuminated by crackling torches. The air even smells of burning wood, very earthy and smoky. The ceilings are supported by great wooden beams.

Preparations for a feast are underway, as the table is set with drinking horns, and a cauldron containing bits of meat is roasting in a nearby hearth. The invaders who have held us hostage have left behind evidence of their pillaging; bloody weapons and skeletal remains serve to show their ruthlessness. Perhaps the banquet is a celebration of their vanquishing.

Our shields line the chamber, showing off both our readiness to battle and our military prowess. We can show off our dedication to the gods by making alms at various altars, and pay tribute to those who have come before us, making our ancestors proud.

There is no shortage of riddles within the walls of the Great Hall. From the moment the chains that bind us are broken, there is a constant flurry of action, forcing us to prove ourselves worthy every step of the way.

One thing of note is that, while innovative, the puzzles require a much higher-than-average amount of reading. Almost every challenge involves some form of written instructions, so precious time gets consumed by the perusal of various scrolls.

A lot of back-and-forth movement occurs, as oftentimes the clues are located in a completely different place than their associated task. Numerous skills are put to the test, making us explore everything from astronomy to cartography to understanding the Norse pantheon. Luckily, no prior knowledge is necessary.

Everything present serves to fully immerse us into the storyworld. Nothing is illogical, and the riddles all make sense. There are enough challenges that a non-linear flow is achieved, and on several occasions, multiple items can be worked on simultaneously.

Chasing Valhalla does a fantastic job of taking us into the world of Norse mythology and the Scandinavian afterlife. All of the elements combine to make a very cohesive game. The lore of the ancient Nordic religion is prominent throughout the experience, without being overbearing or oppressive.

Even though Break from Reality is a fairly new venture, they are well on their way to becoming a prominent name in the escape game world. They have a knack for creating worlds, and a passion for bringing those worlds to life.

While we may not be worthy of wielding Mjolnir, we certainly have shown that we can walk Valhalla like the best of them!

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Venue: Break from Reality Escape Rooms

Location: Fairfax, Virginia

Number of Games: 4

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 6 people

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

Cost: $36 per person

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