RATING: 5 Keys          RESULT: Win           REMAINING: 4:32

Thar’s gold in them thar’ hills! I reckon the only problem is ‘ole One-Eyed Bill ain’t got no way ‘a tellin’ how far away them hills even is on account’a he ain’t got no depth perception.

Gold Rush is a slightly modified version of the existing, physical escape game at the the venue’s brick and mortar location – retrofitted to be offered as a live, online remote play experience. Although altered slightly to better flow in this new medium, the game is, at its core, essentially the same as what guests will find should they visit MindTrap Escape Room in person. To read our Pro-Tips on how to best enjoy this new Remote Play genre, click here.

Can you feel the fever?! El Dorado county is hiding the richest secrets of the country right below the surface. Kanaka Jack is rumored to know the location of a hidden mine – finding it will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams! This is an escape game with an explosive secret that will bring the whole family together. Raid Jack’s cabin, unlock the entrance to his hidden mine, and blast your way out!

Legendary prospector Kanaka Jack figured out what no one else could – the location of the richest gold mine this side of the Mississip’. Unfortunately for Jack, he’s not here to claim it. Even more unfortunately for us, neither are we. But most unfortunatelyest of all (look, we’re already way past a conversation of what is and isn’t a real word in this ‘here review, ain’t we?) we’re left to rely on the help of One-Eyed Bill.

Who is One-Eyed Bill, you might ask? Well, he sure ain’t no Kanaka Jack, but that just ain’t what this story is about. One-Eyed Bill is a miner, prospector, gold digger, and certified coot. Problem is, ‘ole Bill, or One-, as his friends call him (if’n he had friends) just isn’t very good at any of those skillsets. He’s what you might call a “Jack of all trades, master of none” – and before you get your hopes up – to be clear, he’s not Kanaka; different Jack. Sorry.

But you know what they say; nothing worth having is going to come easy – and by the worth of the gold in that mind, we’ve gotta‘ be havin’ it. One-Eyed Bill adds a whole new layer to the Gold Rush story – one full of character, humor, absurdity, and flat out fun that, when combined created an immersive storyworld that’s just a flat out blast. (Git it? On account’a the TNT?)

Prospectors will encounter the same scenic found in the brick and mortar version of Gold Rush, beginning in Kanaka Jack’s cabin. Rustic wooden textures and creaky floorboards add to the ambiance, as crates, scales, and empty pans for gold add authenticity (and the promise that we’s about to strike it richhhh!) Dim lantern lightning casts a warm, flickering glow around the shack, transporting prospectors back to a bygone era.

If miners are skilled enough, they might just make it into the hidden caves that hide the biggest golden nugget ‘yer done ever gon’ see. Rock walls are barely supported by wooden jousts, seemingly bending under their tremendous weight. The space is dark and mysterious, while evoking a clear sense of adventure.

One-Eyed Bill himself, in a way, also becomes some of the scenic. Transforming into the character by way of donning an over-sized rustic plaid shirt works wonders at creating a mental image of just what this wacky character probably looks like in real life. Nuances of his actions also add greatly to the immersive flavor, like describing the warmth coming off the stove, or the smell of coffee left in a cup. It’s the kind of storyworld continuity that, at first glance, may seem subtle, but in the big picture, adds an undeniable level of unspoken immersion that makes everything about Gold Rush feel all the more real.

From the moment miners enter Kanaka Jack’s empty shack, they’re faced with tasks that organically expand Gold Rush’s storyworld. Every puzzle tackled in hopes of striking it rich feels like something One-Eyed Bill might need to do if it were real. Collecting supplies in preparation for a long day down in the mine feels completely logical and intuitive. (Well, probably not to One-Eyed Bill. But then again, ole’ Bill ain’t got much ‘a that big city logic to begin with.)

Inside the mine, prospectors will have their work cut out for them if they want to get their hands on their stake of the gold. Unique tasks will require outside the box (err, shack) thinking, and often come from a truly clever perspective. Everything builds to an explosive finale that will leave miners talking (and rich, I tell’s ya’!) for a long time to come.

One-Eyed Bill himself adds a highly entertaining new layer to the puzzles, as miners will need to figure out how to communicate with him effectively – and at times, not become distracted by his genuinely hilarious wandering tangents. At times, he may even become jealous if you out think him – but as I explained, “That’s why they call me Two-Eyed Chris.”

MindTrap Escape Room is a venue that’s come to us highly recommended – and despite frequent trips to Southern California, they’ve proven just far enough from Orange County that it’s been difficult to make a visit in person. As such, this quickly became one of the most exciting Remote Play “finds” for us – and even measured up against lofty expectations, Gold Rush absolutely delivered. Strong scenic, a solid, intuitive flow and some tech-driven surprises create an almost theme park-quality experience, crammed into a small package.

But as good as Gold Rush clearly is on its own merits, it shines brighter than a polished nugget in this online Remote Play medium. The bonus character layer brought to the experience thanks to the wacky One-Eyed Bill is the secret ingredient that really bumps this one up to a whole other level. There aren’t many games that we’d actually recommend playing remotely rather than waiting to see them in person if given the option – but Gold Rush simply must be near the top of that short list.

At the end of the day, there’s lots to be said in praise of Gold Rush’s Remote Play experience, but few could do it better justice than the words of One-Eyed Bill himself: “I’m actually not a fan of mustard, but I don’t s’pose y’all care about that.”

*Montu, Escape Authority’s VP, Dog Business™ and lead home game correspondent endorses the opinions found within this review.

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Venue: MindTrap Escape Room

Location: Remote online play at home, broadcast live from Temecula, CA

Number of Remote Play Games: 3

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: Up to 7 different online connections

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

Cost: $60 for first two connections (+ $15 per each additional connection)

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