RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 18:09
They would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn’t been for us meddling kids adults!
The town of Crystal Cove and surrounding areas are being terrorized by monsters and ghosts, and now the local Baroness Maria Richman has gone missing and it is suspected that the ghost sightings have something to do with it! Tasked with solving the crime, you arrive at the same conclusion as Mystery Incorporated. But when you get to the Spooky Castle, Mystery Inc. gets locked out, at the same time you get locked in! You soon realize that they’re able to help by communicating clues via magic portraits inside the Castle. After discovering a secret dungeon and monster lab in the castle, you come to the conclusion that the person responsible almost certainly works in the castle – but who could it be as there are several suspects?
This classic caper begins with an authentic intro from the Mystery Inc. gang themselves imploring intrepid investigators to help them solve the mystery of Spooky Castle and rescue the Baroness. Naturally, things go wrong right off the bat, and we find ourselves separated from the gang with only sixty minutes to solve the mystery and escape from the castle. Why does this always happen to us!?
Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure invokes a sense of nostalgia, including references to many of the show’s most iconic characters and villains. Many of these adversaries are from the original first season of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, though there are also several nods to the show’s later iterations and reboots.
From the moment the door closed behind us, we felt instantly transported into a cartoon. While each prop and set piece is life-size, each has a distinct style that feels like it was pulled straight out of our televisions and placed in the room. A large suit of armor in a glass case evokes memory of the Black Knight Ghost, a large grandfather clock ticks imposingly in the corner, and a life-size box of Scooby snacks sits perched atop a pedestal.
As we move further into the mansion, there are portraits rendered in the style of Scooby-Doo as well as an antiquated bookshelf with some suspicious-looking tomes. Finally, upon reaching the villain’s secret lair, we can see just how inspired by the gang’s past mysteries they truly are: shrines to former villains and mysterious glowing symbols are central to the theming of the room.
Ambient lighting casts objects in dramatic blues and greens throughout the experience, while music and sound effects engrossed us in the story world of Spooky Castle. All of this combines for an immersive experience worthy of the Scooby-Doo name, but we’re not done yet! We still have a mystery to solve.
This particular case centers around the Mystery Ghost–an original villain–and although you never encounter this particular fiendish foe, it’s clear from their use of props and puzzles that they’re well-versed and quite knowledgeable about the gang! Many of the puzzles take direct inspiration from the show, requiring would-be detectives to collect Scooby snacks, open secret passages, and eventually piece together the real identity of the Mystery Ghost so that they can be unmasked.
Although the gang is locked outside during the investigation, they’re still central to the investigation and an ever-present part of the storyworld. Each member of Mystery Inc. has valuable information sleuths will need to crack the case, communicated through magic portraits unlocked through the use of magnifying glasses hidden throughout the estate.
While this adventure can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age, it stands out in particular for its ability to introduce a new generation of puzzle-solvers to the world of escape games. Escapology has gone to great lengths to create a kid-friendly version of this mystery, giving some extra help while still allowing junior investigators to experience and discover the game’s many mysteries and surprises on their own!
Escapology, as one of the first national chains of escape games, has come a long way since first opening in 2014. Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure elevates the brand even further with a fully-realized experience that, while still enjoyable for adults wishing to relive a bit of childhood nostalgia, could also end up opening the door to a whole new generation of escape room enthusiasts.
We’re no stranger to games that just barely manage to skirt IP infringement lawsuits (Generic Boy Wizard and the Magical Castle School,) but seeing the world of Scooby-Doo brought to life with such authenticity couldn’t help but bring a smile to our faces. With its classic story, beautiful decor, and immersive puzzles, Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure truly made us feel like kids again.
Thankfully, we’re pretty skilled at this whole “mystery solving” thing and, after solving the mystery and rescuing the Baroness, we managed to escape Spooky Castle without losing our heads. As for Mystery, Inc.? Well, we’re not too sure what happened to them.
Let’s just say we’re the Scooby gang now.
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Venue: Escapology
Location: Orlando, FL
Number of Games: 11
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $39.99 per person Monday – Thursday, $44.99 per person Friday – Sunday
We thank Escapology for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.
