RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 0:12
The adventure that awaits in these ancient ruins makes this a temple that shouldn’t stay hidden.
You and your team of explorers have been hired to uncover the mysteries of an ancient, Hidden Temple. Your employer believes there are incredible treasures to be obtained from this lost location – but only you and your team have the skills required to extract them. Can you raid this Hidden Temple successfully? Or will you be lost like those who came before you?
60 to Escape does a masterful job of immediate immersion. World-famous archeologists are sent to a newly discovered temple that is supposed to be filled with unknown treasures and secrets of a lost civilization.
After fighting through the dense jungle and arriving at the temples entrance, a call comes in from our employer. The last team sent into the temple hasn’t been heard from in a while and he’s getting worried about what could’ve happened to them. Adventurers are tasked with exploring these ruins and finding out what happened to the last group of who dared to enter. Venturing further into the temple, it slowly becomes apparent that the spirit watching over this lost kingdom is quite a bit more malevolent than was originally thought.
Top to bottom, wall to wall, these archaic remains just feel real. The stone guardian awaits at the temples entrance and it’s always nice to put a face to the spirit who will be hurling taunts along the way.
Hidden Temple starts off just outside the entrance. This was the last campsite of the team that went missing. There are crates, supplies and tents set up as if somebody was just using them the night before. After unlocking the secret to opening the temples doors, it becomes obvious that 60 to Escape has left no stone unturned, literally. Every inch of every room is made to look like an ancient stone building. Each wall is covered with symbols and images of the lost civilization that once called this place home. The lighting is a bit dark so some puzzles can be a little hard to see but it’s not to the point of being unfair.
Even though explorers are surrounded by an ancient land, hidden from mankind for centuries, this is a tech heavy game. 60 to Escape has done a great job of hiding the tech to make it feel as if this temple is actually filled with booby traps. One must always be on their toes and on the lookout for the dangers that lie ahead. This fantastic journey covers an impressive (and surprising) amount of rooms, each one filled with its own mysteries to uncover and incredible décor.
The first task is to figure out how to get into the temple itself and gain access to the tools and notes from the team that mysteriously disappeared. Once able to do that, every puzzle flowed right into the next one with ease. There’s a nice mix of unique puzzles as well as more standbys but with very fresh twists to make them fit into the storyworld.
Puzzles start off with a bit of a discovery phase before becoming more linear, allowing access to the other hidden chambers left to explore. For that reason, this is an adventure best suited for smaller groups.
There is one room that pits archaeologists against an undead army that must be defeated before proceeding further into the temple which we particularly enjoyed. Everything builds towards a final ending that perfectly completes the adventure.
Having done most of their previous rooms and really enjoying them, there were high expectations for Hidden Temple and 60 to Escape absolutely delivered. They excel at storytelling, making sure every puzzle furthers that narrative, culminating in a final sequence that brings a satisfying conclusion to the journey.
60 to Escape is one of the can’t miss venues in the Chicagoland area. Each new escape game they open shows more and more improvement from the previous ones. Along with a fantastic staff, this is a location that we will be keeping an eye on in the future. This is one temple worth risking your life to explore.
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
Venue: 60 to Escape
Location: Gurnee, Illinois
Number of Games: 6
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Public or Private / You will may or may not be paired with strangers depending on your booking preference.
Cost: $28 per person / $30 per person for private booking (minimum four)