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Saturday, 29 November 2025

Narrow Escape Rooms - Launch


Date:
 29/11/2025

Company Name: Narrow Escape Rooms

Room: Launch

Cost:  $55 per person(Team of 5)

Time Allowed: 60 minutes

Website Link: https://narrowesc.com.au/escape-rooms/

Location: Suite 4, First floor/2 Castlereagh St, Penrith NSW 2750

Best Parking: On a busy Saturday night, we found street parking to be plenty around surrounding streets.

Succeeded: Yes, with about 16 minutes remaining

Room Description: 

Aliens have arrived and they want to do more than just phone home. Systematically the world powers have submitted due to the massive destruction within only minutes of their arrival. The trajectory and speed of the Mothership shows Australia is the next target, soldiers have left their post, the hostiles will be here within the hour. You are a special forces team sent in to restore our defences, can you get our missiles online and stop the alien invasion?


Comments:

Fresh off our win in Undetected (and after a quick pit stop at a nearby tavern for a cheeky drink), the team was fired up and ready to jump straight into Launch. We’d heard it was a little easier than Undetected and The Inheritance which I played a couple of years back so we walked in with confidence… maybe a little too much confidence.

From the moment we entered, it was clear that Launch is a well-put-together experience. The room is nicely balanced in terms of structure: not fully linear, not fully non-linear, but sitting right in that comfortable middle zone. It keeps the game moving without feeling overwhelming, which makes it especially welcoming for newer players or families. Narrow Escape Rooms themselves rate it a 3/5 in difficulty, and I’d say that’s not far off the mark at an Easy-Medium sort of rating. There’s nothing scary or dark here: it's a friendly, clean, family-safe adventure.

What stood out the most was the theming. Everything in this room belongs in the room. Every object, every prop, every puzzle felt tied to the story in a way that enhanced immersion rather than distracting from it. Nothing felt like it was tossed in “just because” which is something way too common in rooms these days. Instead, the narrative carries all the way through, and the puzzles support that story beautifully.

As for the puzzles themselves, Launch nails a satisfying mix of high-tech and low-tech interactions. Nothing too difficult, but enough to keep us on our toes. We did end up using a hint for one puzzle. In our defence, though, we were confident we had been attempting it right, which turns out we were but we definitely benefit from the clarification from our Gamesmaster. The “voice of God” hint system Narrow Escape Rooms uses is still the best in the business. Clear, efficient, and totally unobtrusive.

We ended up escaping with roughly 16 minutes to spare which I think was fairly comfortable, but still feeling like we had something to chew on. Launch is absolutely suited for newer players, families, or anyone wanting something on the lighter side without sacrificing quality, theme, or fun. And with several great escape room companies now in Penrith, it’s absolutely worth making a night of it and stacking rooms back-to-back.

And that’s exactly what we did. After wrapping up our double-header at Narrow Escape Rooms, we made our way over to Panthers for some food, a couple more drinks, and—naturally—a cheeky slap on the pokies. Another great night out with even better friends.

Narrow Escape Rooms - Undetected


Date:
 29/11/2025

Company Name: Narrow Escape Rooms

Room: Undetected

Cost:  $55 per person(Team of 5)

Time Allowed: 60 minutes

Website Link: https://narrowesc.com.au/escape-rooms/

Location: Suite 4, First floor/2 Castlereagh St, Penrith NSW 2750

Best Parking: On a busy Saturday night, we found street parking to be plenty around surrounding streets.

Succeeded: Yes, with about 5 minutes remaining

Room Description: 

Narrow Tech Systems is largely known as being at the forefront of scientific discovery.

Your team has been handpicked to steal a revolutionary piece of technology that will change the world.

It’s the Biggest Score of your lives, its your chance to prove your skills. Stealth is key to the success of this operation.

Can you get in, steal the latest technology and get out Undetected?


Comments:

Review by Escape Artist Reviews
We made the trek out to Penrith, ready for another cracking night at one of Sydney’s most consistently strong escape venues. This time I brought along a team who had never played at Narrow Escape Rooms before, which made the experience even better. As always, we were greeted with warm smiles, genuine hospitality, and that signature Narrow Escape Rooms energy that instantly sets the tone for a great night.

With waivers signed, rules covered, and a bit of in-character briefing from our GM, we stepped into Undetected: a mission where our crew of thieves had just 60 minutes to steal a piece of world-changing technology and get out unseen. Guided over comms whenever needed, we jumped straight into the action.

Room & Concept
Undetected is one of the most hi-tech rooms we’ve ever played.

There are wires to connect, buttons to hit, objects to slot into place, touchscreens to navigate, and a bunch of gadgets that make the space feel like a proper covert-op. With only one padlock in the entire experience, this is absolutely a room built for players who love technology-driven puzzles.

The pre-recorded video element was a standout, and as expected from Narrow Escape Rooms, all the tech is seamless and nothing feels clunky or forced. Everything is well-hidden, well-integrated, and thematically appropriate (some props definitely leaned into geek culture, which we absolutely loved).

Puzzles & Flow
Undetected is more linear than The Inheritance, but the flow is excellent.

Puzzle variety is on point: low-tech, high-tech, communication-based tasks, and even a dexterity puzzle that tests coordination. Every puzzle fit the narrative and made sense in the space, helping maintain immersion from start to finish.

Overall Experience
We had a great time with this one. It’s satisfying, clever, and packed with tech that feels modern without being gimmicky. Fans of no-padlock rooms will have an absolute blast.

We ended up escaping with about five minutes to spare, pausing only once for a hint when we got stuck near the end. After that, it was smooth sailing to extraction.

Sunday, 16 November 2025

Scram Escape Rooms - The Witch's Curse


Date:
 16/11/2025

Company Name: Scram Escape Rooms

Room: The Witch's Curse

Cost: $60 per person(Team of 3) $180 Flat Rate Sunday

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.scramescaperooms.com.au/church-street

Location: level 1/240 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150

Best Parking: Park in the Eat Street Carpark - 4 minute walk to the venue.

Succeeded: No, about 10 minutes over time

Room Description: 

The magical world is full of good and evil people. The evil preys upon the fragile, and unfortunately that is why you're here. A student at the school for magical creatures has fallen victim to an evil curse. Her soul has been cursed to live inside of five items from her life and were scattered through the school by the new head mistress. You must look for clues in order to manoeuvre through the hidden halls of the school to collect the pieces of her soul. Once you have retrieved them, you must complete a ritual in order to return them to her body.


Comments:

Review by Escape Artist Reviews
After smashing through Pharaoh’s Tomb, our team had about 45 minutes between games. Luckily, the crew at Scram were absolute legends and got us into The Witch’s Curse within 15–20 minutes. This huge win and seriously appreciated.

This was our final room at the Church Street venue, and maybe we went in a little overconfident. We didn’t make it out in time (for shame), but our GM graciously gave us a little extra to finish the final steps so we could still savour that end-of-room satisfaction.

Room & Difficulty
The Witch’s Curse is easily the best-looking room at Church Street. The theming is strong, atmospheric, and loaded with great details. It also leans to the harder side. With a team of 3 we hit around 85–90% completion before time ran out.

For this one, 3–5 players feels like the sweet spot.

Puzzles & Flow
Every puzzle felt like it belonged in the world. The magic-themed mechanisms were a nice touch, no traditional padlocks here, just clever hidden systems that made actions feel “magical.”

Puzzle logic was solid, nothing unfair, though we definitely recognised a few concepts we’ve seen in other witch/magic-themed rooms.

No jump scares at all, but the space is darker than Scram’s other rooms. Adults will love it, and kids who are okay with darker settings should be fine too.

Overall Experience
A great room, strong theming, challenging puzzles, and classic Scram polish. It didn’t have a massive “wow” moment, but it was absolutely enjoyable from start to finish.

We wrapped up the night with a quick walk to Milky Lane to dissect where we went wrong (and how close we were!) over burgers — honestly the perfect ending to a night of puzzles, magic, and laughs with good mates.

Scram Escape Rooms - The Pharaoh's Tomb


Date:
 16/11/2025

Company Name: Scram Escape Rooms

Room: The Pharaoh's Tomb

Cost: $60 per person(Team of 3) $180 Flat Rate Sunday

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.scramescaperooms.com.au/church-street

Location: level 1/240 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150

Best Parking: Park in the Eat Street Carpark - 4 minute walk to the venue.

Succeeded: Yes, approximately 13 minutes remaining

Room Description: 

There are many treasures and artefacts to uncover in the ancient tombs of Egypt. The most impressive treasures belonged to the Pharaoh. Can you outsmart the Ancient Egyptian's tricks to steal their treasures?


Comments:

Our dynamic team of three headed out to Parramatta to take on the last of our remaining rooms at Scram’s Church Street location. We managed to snag a street park less than 50 metres from the venue (a small miracle considering how close we were cutting it on time). If you’re not as lucky, the Eat Street car park is only about a five-minute walk and definitely your best bet.

First up for the day was Pharaoh’s Tomb. As always with Scram, the immersion kicks in the moment you step through the door: neon signage, dim lighting, and posters teasing the adventures that await. The vibe is instantly fun, and we were greeted by the always-friendly staff who keep the energy high before you’ve even started.

Pharaoh’s Tomb was one of the last rooms for us to tick off at Church Street, and while smaller than the average modern escape room (just two spaces in total), it still had that distinct Scram charm. True to their usual style, there were hardly any traditional locks to be found which is a welcome change for anyone who likes variety. We did have a small hiccup at the start when our intro didn’t play (a minor tech glitch), but our gamesmaster was quick to jump in and sort it out.

The overall theming was solid, with puzzles that made sense within the story and fit the Egyptian setting nicely. That said, you can tell the room’s been around for a while. Some props were looking a little tired and could use a bit of a refresh. Difficulty-wise, I’d put it squarely at medium: a comfortable challenge for casual players or families, but probably not going to stump seasoned enthusiasts. Lighting was on the dimmer side to suit the theme, but there were no jump scares or moments that would unsettle younger players.

We did have one funny moment where we somehow completely fluked a puzzle solution that had us stumped. Thankfully, our gamesmaster explained afterward how it was supposed to work and honestly seemed just as surprised as we were that our method somehow worked!

In the end, we escaped with around 13 minutes to spare. Not a record-breaking run, but finishing without hints felt like a satisfying win for our trusty team of three.

All in all, Pharaoh’s Tomb might be one of Scram’s older rooms, but it still delivers that fun, accessible experience that makes them such a reliable name in Sydney’s escape room scene. It’s a great pick for families, newer players, or anyone after a light-hearted adventure with a dash of ancient mystery.

Saturday, 13 September 2025

The Cool Space - Sweethearts Ice Cream Parlour


Date:
 19/09/2025

Company Name: The Cool Space

Room: Sweethearts Ice Cream Parlour

Cost:  $60 per person(Team of 3)

Time Allowed: 75 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.thecoolspace.com.au/our-games

Location: 2/134 Abercrombie St, Chippendale NSW 2008

Best Parking: Ample street parking, we fortunately got a spot <50 metres away

Succeeded: Yes with approximately 5 minutes remaining

Room Description: 
Uncover the mysteries in a secret recipe heist set inside the town’s most popular ice cream parlour!

You work at Scoops, a local ice cream parlour in town, but with a spike in local parlours closing at an alarming rate, the mystery still remains as to what makes the ice cream at Sweethearts so differently delicious?

In a bid to save your jobs, you gather up your fellow coworkers to take matters into your own hands. Break in after dark and gather everything you need to take Sweethearts down.


Comments:

We’d been waiting for The Cool Space to release their follow-up ever since we played the brilliant and ingenious Seance over a year ago. Expectations were high and as The Cool Space has done in the past, Sweethearts Ice Cream Parlour delivered on everything we hoped for!

Walking in, the first thing that hit me was just how damn pretty this room is. The whole place looked like it had been built with care down to the tiniest detail. From the décor and props to the bold colour scheme, everything clicked together to create a space that felt polished but still personal.

The puzzles, though, were the real stars. They were a blast. You get a little bit of everything here: classic hunt-and-seek, locks, clever logic, making connections, spatial reasoning, and some neat bits of tech sprinkled in to keep things fresh. What really stood out was the multilinear design. It gave us the freedom to split up and tackle different paths, then come back together for those “aha” moments. That balance kept the energy high the whole way through.

The story itself was another highlight. What began as light-hearted premise of breaking in to steal the recipe that akin to Plankton trying to steal the Krabby Patty formula (any Spongebob fans?), evolved into a tale with twists, tension, and more than a few surprises. The immersive touches from the lighting, to music, to the sound design and special effects all elevated the experience, giving the room that edge of your seat dramatic feeling that kept us hooked until the very end. It never felt overdone; instead, it struck that perfect balance where the details enhance rather than distract.

After the game we had a great chat with Daniel, the co-owner and designer, who let us in on a few behind-the-scenes bits. Originally some puzzles were more complex, but they trimmed them down to keep things flowing smoothly. That means nothing here felt brutally difficult — the real challenge came from the sheer amount of content and keeping pace across the different puzzle threads. We also got a bit of insight into the hurdles they’ve faced since releasing Seance, and the importance of building a room that still tips its hat to more traditional escape experiences. Honestly, I love these post-game chats. Having designers share their process and thoughts with players makes the whole thing feel even more special.

We ended up escaping with about five minutes to spare (and yeah, we might’ve leaned on a hint or two), but the run felt satisfying from start to finish. Sweethearts Ice Cream Parlour is proof yet again that The Cool Space knows exactly what they’re doing. Daniel and Josh clearly aren’t here to play it safe — this is a room that’s smart, beautiful, packed with fun, and dripping with passion. Easily one of Sydney’s must-plays.

Sunday, 24 August 2025

Scram Escape Rooms - Plagued


Date Played:
 24/08/25

Company Name: Scram Escape Rooms

Room: Plagued

Cost:  $60 per person (Team of 3, Sunday rate)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.scramescaperooms.com.au/penrith

Location: Level 1/535 High St, Penrith NSW 2750

Best Parking: Ample street parking all around the venue - I personally went into Westfields

Succeeded: Yes, with a heart racing 10 seconds or less on the clock

Room Description: 

The year is 1666, and the Black Death is sweeping through the village.

Your family has fallen ill, and your home has been marked with a red cross - sealed shut by the authorities. No one enters. No one leaves.

But whispers tell of a cure— perhaps hidden within an apothecary shoppe. It may be your only chance to save your family. 

Will you find the cure in time, or does a far worse fate await?


Comments:

The night started off with a cheeky little Nando’s session with the boys as we sat around discussing and eagerly looking forward to Scram’s newest room, Plagued. Scram Penrith is really well-situated, with plenty of food options nearby, so do yourself a favour and make a night of it with dinner included — whether you’re heading to Scram or even our friends at Narrow Escape Rooms just down the road.

It had been a minute since my last visit to Scram Penrith (The Sorcerer’s Secret was the first—which you can check out our review here), but Plagued was well worth the return. Our Gamesmaster Jess (who also designed the room), greeted us with a friendly smile, and that warmth carried through the whole experience.

The set design is absolutely beautiful. Everything looks on point and nothing feels out of place. The theming creates a suspenseful tone where you’re always waiting for something to jump out (and maybe it does…). The dim lighting adds to the tension without ever tipping into frustration, and there’s plenty to solve at any given time so nobody feels left out.

The puzzles are a mix of hunt-and-seek fun alongside some cleverly hidden high-tech elements. That combination gave the room a magical and eerie vibe that felt fresh and unique. Everything tied neatly into the theme, which really heightened the immersion.

Difficulty-wise, I’d rate it Hard-Medium, with the tension adding to the sense of urgency. With three of us, we scraped out with only a few seconds left on the clock, using a couple of hints to push through some trickier moments. That close finish made the experience even more rewarding, and we loved how it all wrapped up.

Afterward, we stuck around for a chat with Jess about Scram’s rooms and what’s ahead. Without spoiling anything, the future sounds very exciting. Scram Penrith — like all of their venues — remains one of our favourites, and we’ll keep coming back as long as they keep delivering like this.

Saturday, 23 August 2025

Labyrinth Escape Rooms - CirCurse


Date Played:
 23/08/2025

Company Name: Labyrinth Escape Rooms

Room: CirCurse

Cost: $55 per person (Team of 5)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://labyrinthescaperooms.com.au/escape-room/circurse/

Location: 1B Victoria Rd, Parramatta NSW 2150

Best Parking: There is free parking across the road at the Coles Carpark or surrounding streets on Sorrell and Palmer Street.

Succeeded: Yes, with approximately 5 minutes remaining

Room Description: 

The great Hyde Circus was once an exciting and jaw dropping show but now, there are no ticket sales, crowds or queues. As the new Director, you’ve heard rumours of foul play so you sneak into the performers trailer to find out what could be going on. Is the circus cursed or will you uncover a secret the performers have been trying to bury all these years?



Comments:

Saturday night saw us taking on another room at Labyrinth — my fourth there so far. But before we set off on our adventure, we started the night off with dinner at the Lone Pine Tavern in Rooty Hill.
I have to give huge props to the Labyrinth team: we allowed about 50 minutes to travel and park from where we were having dinner, but completely overlooked the Parramatta NRL game that was on. After fighting traffic and hunting for a spot, we ended up about 20 minutes late. Despite that, the staff didn’t cut into our time or make a fuss, which was a really nice way to start.


The Room
CirCurse is one of Labyrinth’s older rooms, but you wouldn’t know it from the immersion. The theming is spot-on and quite unique. While playing, I remember thinking that it genuinely felt like we’d been transported out of Parramatta and into a circus. The props, lighting, and sound design all pulled together seamlessly, enhancing the atmosphere and making the space feel alive.


The Puzzles
The puzzles in CirCurse are a true mix of hunt-and-seek style challenges blended with some surprisingly high-tech mechanisms that are very well concealed. That combination added to the magical, circus-like vibe of the room. Everything felt purposeful and in-theme — at times bright and colourful, exactly as you’d expect in a circus environment.


The Experience
I’d rate CirCurse as medium-hard in difficulty. Our group was made up of three players with fewer than five rooms under their belts and one who had done around ten. We managed to escape with about five minutes to spare, and from memory only used two of the five hints available. A fair challenge, but a rewarding one.

Overall we once again enjoyed our time and the hospitality provided at Labyrinth and will be back to tackle the remaining rooms, Outbreak and Mexican Cartel!

Sunday, 3 August 2025

Mission Room Escape - The Unplayed Melody


Date:
 03/08/2025

Company Name: Mission Room Escape

Room: The Unplayed Melody

Cost:  $69 Per Person(Weekend, Team of 3)

Time Allowed: 80 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.missionsydney.com/pitt-street-venue/

Location: Suite 202, 332-336 Pitt St, Fortuna House, Sydney

Best Parking: Secure Parking - 101 Goulburn St, Haymarket NSW 2000

Succeeded: Yes, with approximately 15 minutes remaining

Room Description: 
This isn’t just an old house — it’s a playground of forgotten memories.
Somewhere inside are half-finished games, curious puzzles, and strange little clues left behind by a child who once filled these rooms with imagination. Things have been left out of place. Music boxes have gone quiet. The story isn’t over… and you’re the one meant to finish it.
Step through the wardrobe. Bring the pieces back together.
And maybe — just maybe — you’ll hear the melody that was never played.


Comments:

Mission Room Escape have cooked up an absolute doozy with their newest room, The Unplayed Melody. A room that combines clever mechanical design with a genuinely touching story.

We showed up about five minutes late (classic Sydney traffic, plus a side of torrential rain for good measure), and it was clear our GM wasn’t thrilled. We were quickly reminded that being late meant losing time — fair enough, but not the warmest welcome. Thankfully, the tone softened as the experience got underway, and it didn’t take long for the room to win us over.

The Room
Like most of Mission’s games, The Unplayed Melody spans several rooms and feels generous in size. What really stood out here was how well the space was designed — every element felt intentional. The aesthetics were beautiful, nothing looked out of place, and the atmosphere was spot on.

Mission is known for its mechanical puzzles, and this room keeps that tradition alive: solve something, and expect drawers to clang open, furniture to shift, or new elements to be revealed. There were even a few well-timed jump scares that hit just right without feeling forced.

The Experience
What really elevates this room is the story. There’s a clear narrative thread running from start to finish, and it’s more emotionally driven than a lot of other escape rooms out there. It never gets in the way of the gameplay — instead, it gives every puzzle a reason to exist.

As for difficulty, I’d call it easy to medium. It’s very beginner-friendly but still layered enough to keep experienced players engaged. A good balance of accessibility and challenge.

After the Escape
We wrapped up the night with dinner at Shinara Korean BBQ Buffet nearby — all-you-can-eat goodness and sizzling hotplates. It was the perfect way to end a rainy, puzzle-filled night.

Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an escape room that brings together clever mechanics, immersive design, and a genuinely moving story, The Unplayed Melody is absolutely worth your time — even if Sydney’s traffic tries to stop you.

Sunday, 27 April 2025

Next Level Escape - Ex Libris


Date:
 27/04/2025

Company Name: Next Level Escape

Room: Ex Libris

Cost:  $60 per person (Team of 3)

Time Allowed: 75 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.nextlevelescape.com.au/rooms/ex-libris-1/

Location: Lower Ground, 23 O'Connell St, Sydney, NSW 2000

Best Parking: Wilson Car Park - 6/10 O'Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000

Succeeded: The main escape - Yes with about 35 minutes remaining;
1/2 of the extra objectives - Yes with about 5 minutes remaining;
2/2 of the extra objectives - No, we ran about 2-3 minutes over time. 

Room Description: 

Calling all literary heroes! The world of literature has broken free and has merged with reality… and you, unfortunate soul that you are, have been sucked into one of these portals.

Dive into your favourite books to puzzle your way back to reality. And if you have time, take on additional challenges to seal the portals!

With two additional objectives to complete after the main escape, this is a perfect room for all skill levels. New to the world of escape rooms? Aim to escape! More experienced, or with a larger team? Up the challenge and see if you can complete both objectives in time!


Comments:

Our trusty team of three was back at it again, heading off on another adventure at one of our favourite spots — Next Level Escape. It’s always a thrill to see what new worlds they’ve cooked up for us, and Ex Libris sounded like the perfect challenge. After sealing portals, solving puzzles, and saving the world (you know, the usual), we capped off the night with a good dinner, lots of laughs, and just soaking up each other’s company — honestly, the best way to end a night.

Ex Libris is a seriously clever and creative escape room. This time, you and your team get pulled into a portal where the world of literature has broken free and collided with reality. Your goal: find your way out and seal the portal before everything completely unravels.

The theming here is top-notch — every little detail feels thought out, and all the props fit perfectly into the story. The puzzles aren't just thrown in for the sake of it; they’re fully woven into the environment, making everything feel natural and immersive.

There’s also a great mix of high-tech and low-tech puzzles, with a lot of the tech hidden so well it feels like actual magic. Plus, there's a really nice variety of puzzle types, meaning everyone on your team can find a moment to shine.

Our team found this room both really challenging and a whole lot of fun. One of the coolest features of Ex Libris is the way it puts you in control: you can either escape the portal and wrap up your adventure, or if plenty of time permitting, your Narrator/Gamesmaster will encourage you to push forward and take on a few extra puzzles to seal the portal properly and save the world. It's a smart way of handling the usual escape room challenge of catering to both beginners and more experienced players, which we all agreed that we can really appreciate the value in.

We were also lucky enough to have Aaron as our game master — the same legend who hosted us for The Game back in November 2023. He was fantastic then and hasn’t missed a beat. Aaron’s energy and enthusiasm lift the entire experience, and we really loved that instead of just handing out hints, he fully embraced the role of a narrator within the world we had dived into. It fits the literary theme perfectly, offering helpful nudges while also gently roasting us along the way. It kept the mood light, added even more personality to the game, and made the whole journey feel that much more immersive. Honestly, every game master we've met at Next Level Escape has been brilliant. You can tell they genuinely love what they do, and it makes all the difference.

All up, Ex Libris is another reminder of why we keep coming back to Next Level Escape. With their clever puzzles, brilliant storytelling, and fantastic hosts, every visit feels like a brand-new adventure. We can’t wait to see where our next mission takes us!

Sunday, 9 February 2025

Labyrinth Escape Rooms - Zen


Date:
 09/02/2025

Company Name: Labyrinth Escape Rooms

Room: Zen

Cost: $60 per person (Team of 4)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://labyrinthescaperooms.com.au/escape-room/zen/

Location: 1B Victoria Rd, Parramatta NSW 2150

Best Parking: Street parking was best

Succeeded: Yes with approximately 12 minutes remaining

Room Description: 

You know that famous saying – YOLO – You Only Live Once? Well that’s not actually true. The truth is, you only die once. You’re living everyday. But are you really living? You wake up. Eat. Work. Sleep then repeat this over and over and over again every sad day of your existence until the day you die.

Is this what you call life? No.

But the team at ZEN are here to help! You start by entering an all white room and you have 60 minutes to bring the joy and colour back to everything and everyone around you.


Comments:

The team and I had a great time completing Zen. Having done a couple of rooms at Labyrinth before, we knew we were in for a well-crafted experience, and once again, they delivered. The staff were fantastic, the pre-game lobby was spacious and well-maintained, and their unique way of running through the rules via a pre-made video stood out—something we’ve only ever seen at Labyrinth.

The room quality was solid, though, given its all-white aesthetic, a fresh coat of paint in certain areas wouldn’t go amiss. The story was perhaps a little vague—some of our team felt like we were mental patients, while others weren’t entirely sure of the backstory.

Zen is a linear room with a strong task-based progression. The puzzle flow was smooth overall, though we did hit a couple of roadblocks that required us to use Labyrinth’s five-hint system. Once we got into a rhythm, we powered through the remaining challenges and escaped with 12 minutes to spare.

Overall, Zen is a great early-to-mid-tier room with enough interesting mechanics to engage even experienced players. We had a fantastic time and will no doubt be back to take on more of Labyrinth’s many offerings!