RATING: 6 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 0:31
A psychotic kidnapper wants to play a dangerous game with his newly acquired “friends”.
All he ever wanted to do was play a game. Now it’s his turn. You’ve been kidnapped and set up to play the ultimate game of hide & seek at an abandoned house where your capturer is attempting to relive his lost childhood. With 60 minutes until he comes to find you, use the countdown to find a way out. If you run out of time, then you better hide well.
Can you escape this thriller before he seeks you for the last time?
From the unhinged scribbles on the wall to the mounds of pill bottles lying around, it becomes abundantly clear that the host is not mentally well. He believes that all of his former friends have been fake, so he is hunting for a new playmate who will remain true to him. All he wants to do is re-enact a twisted youthful memory – this seems harmless enough, right?
It appears that there have been quite a few targets that have previously been brought to this house against their will for his sinister scheme. The police are actively searching but do not know where he has been taking his prisoners. Captives have but one hour to decipher the location of his residence and escape this nightmare before he comes back. Ready or not…
After peeling off the blindfolds, abductees find themselves in the cramped closet of their captor’s bedroom. Above the mattress, graffiti in large black print reveals a desperate attempt to convince himself of his own sanity. An old record player is perched on a petite nightstand. Drawings of various childhood games are posted near a bulky dresser where a corded phone sits like a lifeline. A calendar with November 20 mysteriously denoted as “Game Day” hangs next to a locked door.
Moving into the grimy bathroom unveils a tub filled with a suspicious dark liquid, a toilet, a sink with a mirror, and several dirty rags scattered about. An old broken scale sits on the tile floor. A cabinet holds additional medication, further supporting the suspected instability of its owner.
Walking into the hallway of the two-story residence exposes an attic space upstairs and a living room downstairs. A quick journey up the stairs discloses a video camera and a desk – this appears to be where the maniac records and spies on his victims. Below, the parlor holds a fireplace, a large television, and bookshelves filled with evidence of past unsuccessful trials of hide and seek. A door leads outside to the porch where the yard is surrounded by a wooden fence. The structure’s windows are boarded up, seemingly in an effort to conceal the ominous contents inside.
Hide and Seek provides a variety of puzzle types that fit the nail-biting narrative. In some instances physical interactions with the surroundings reveal hidden passageways, while other obstacles include combination and key locks that make sense in the scope of the storyworld. Uncovering and carefully reading the madman’s journal offers disturbing insight into his nefarious plans. The key to freedom lies in unearthing the secrets of the former unwilling participants of his sick ruse.
The thematic clue system is well integrated into the environment. The phone in the perpetrator’s bedroom rings when a hint is offered, and captives may pick up the receiver when help is needed along the way to escape his evil clutches. There is no penalty for asking for assistance, and when there are only a few minutes until he comes back to stalk his prey according to the large countdown timer flashing on the TV screen, a frantic call may very well be necessary for survival.
Escaping this villain’s lair requires more than just sharp problem-solving skills. Beyond the mental challenges of Hide and Seek, hostages should prepare for a fair bit of physical engagement, including moving heavy objects, crawling through tight spaces, and climbing up and down stairs.
The Escape Warehouse has created an experience that is completely believable and unsettling. The gripping story, immersive scenery, and compelling puzzles work together to successfully draw those who have been captured into this crazed abductor’s world. Despite having no live actor, the atmospheric dread is palpable enough that one might actually feel the urge to run and take cover!
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Venue: The Escape Warehouse
Location: Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Number of Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 10 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $34.99 per person
We thank The Escape Warehouse for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.
