Next Level Escape - The Show Must Go On

Date: 22/03/2026

Company Name: Next Level Escape

Room: The Show Must Go On

Cost: $65 per person (Team of 3)

Time Allowed: 75 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.nextlevelescape.com.au/rooms/the-show-must-go-on/

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

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

Succeeded: Yes

Room Description: 

The Inner City Amateur Dramatic Society welcomes you to their production of Scenes From Romeo and Juliet. You’ll be a huge part of the play! As stagehands! Underneath the stage! Isn’t that great?

Most of the cast and crew haven’t abandoned the play (hah!), everyone totally remembers their lines, the lead actors definitely don’t hate each other, and the rigging is in perfect condition. Really. It’ll be the most relaxing experience you’ve ever had.

Comments:

The evening of the 22nd saw myself, Dale, and Simon make the trip out to Next Level Escape to take on The Show Must Go On. This marked the final room (for now) for both Simon and I at this fantastic venue, while for Dale, it was his very first experience there.

Before heading in, we took a stroll around and settled into a nearby bar for dinner and a couple of drinks, chatting away about what was to come. Simon and I couldn’t help but hype the place up, explaining just how different Next Level Escape is compared to most venues, in the best possible way.

By the time we arrived, the anticipation was well and truly built. As always, the magic at Next Level Escape begins the moment you’re greeted by your Gamesmaster. After the usual formalities, Chris, our GM for the night, slipped seamlessly into character and set the tone, sending us off into the experience.

A cross between an escape room and an audio play, The Show Must Go On presents a genuinely unique format that pushes the boundaries of escape room storytelling in some really clever ways.

The experience alternates between narrative-driven audio segments and puzzle-solving sequences, with each given room to breathe. During the audio moments, the lighting drops and the focus shifts entirely to the story, allowing you to fully take in what’s unfolding. When it’s time to solve puzzles, everything becomes clear and purposeful, without the need to constantly recall large chunks of narrative. It’s a really well-balanced approach that keeps both elements strong without one overshadowing the other.

Throughout the experience, our Gamesmaster (acting as the assistant stage manager) seamlessly blended pre-recorded audio with live, improvised interaction. Chris would occasionally enter the space to retrieve props or interact with us, which fit perfectly within the theme and added another layer of immersion.

The premise itself is an absolute winner. We played as stagehands working beneath the stage, scrambling to keep a live production running as things inevitably began to fall apart. It’s a fantastic concept, and one that’s executed brilliantly.

From a design perspective, this is a textbook example of how to theme a room properly. Every surface felt intentional, and every puzzle made sense within the world. Nothing felt out of place or forced in “just because” and everything had a purpose. The puzzle mix was strong too, combining classic hunt-and-seek elements with clever logic-based challenges to keep things varied and engaging.

While the experience leans heavily into its narrative, there’s also a surprising amount of tech involved, all of which integrates seamlessly into the environment. At the same time, there are some really well-crafted low-tech puzzles that were just as enjoyable to solve, striking a great balance between the two.

As expected from Next Level Escape, humour is threaded throughout the experience, and The Show Must Go On is no exception. Chris’ performance, at times overly dramatic in the best possible way, elevated the entire room. The theme lends itself perfectly to Gamesmaster interaction, and it was handled brilliantly here, adding both to the immersion and the fun.

It’s also worth noting that this isn’t a traditional timed escape room. Instead, the experience runs for approximately 50–75 minutes. We clocked in at around the hour mark, without using any formal hints. Although we did receive a couple of subtle nudges from Chris, delivered so naturally they barely felt like hints at all.

We walked out just as impressed as we have been with every Next Level Escape experience. This is a venue that continues to innovate and push boundaries, and we’re already looking forward to whatever they come up with next.

The Cipher Room - Metamorphosis

Date: 6/3/2026

Company Name: The Cipher Room

Room: Metamorphosis

Cost: $70 per person (Team of 4)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.cipherroom.com.au/ourgames

Location: 31-35 May St, St Peters NSW 2044

Best Parking: Street Parking is best/Parking lot - 2-6 Princes Hwy, Alexandria NSW 2015

Succeeded: Yes with approximately 5 minutes remaining

Room Description: 

It’s 2062. One year since the TCR1 toxin spread across the world. You are exploring an abandoned area on the outskirts of the city, when you find what looks like the entrance to an underground bunker. You wrench the hatch door open to find a rickety ladder leading downward, to darkness. You know that mutants have been seen in this area and you need to find a place to hide. Fast. You have no choice. You climb down.

What is the mysterious underground bunker, and who resided here? Will you be safe in here from the creatures above? If you survive the night, how on earth will you get out?

Comments:

After a bit of a hiatus over the Christmas period, the team was back with a vengeance. What better way to kick off the year than with a visit to the company that continues to set the industry standard: The Cipher Room. Having completed all of their other rooms (you can find those reviews under The Cipher Room section on the right-hand side of the blog), we had been eagerly awaiting the release of their newest experience — Metamorphosis.

This evening we did things a little differently and opted for a later booking. Naturally, that meant starting the night with dinner at Marcelleria in Newtown. For our group, steak, beers, and escape rooms is about as good a combination as it gets. The food was brilliant with every steak cooked perfectly. It definitely set the bar high for the rest of the night.

Making our way over to The Cipher Room’s St Peters venue felt strangely familiar, almost like returning home after being away for a while. We were greeted by Callum, our Gamesmaster for the evening, and after the usual formalities we were lined up and ready to enter the highly anticipated Metamorphosis.

Cipher’s newest room takes place in a post-apocalyptic bunker following a viral outbreak that has transformed humans into mutant creatures. The set design immediately captured that bleak, industrial atmosphere, filled with heavy metal props, worn machinery, and carefully crafted environmental details. Although the lighting was intentionally dim to match the setting, everything remained visible enough to appreciate just how much care had gone into building the space.

As expected, Metamorphosis delivered the meticulous theming, immersive atmosphere, and engaging puzzles we’ve come to associate with The Cipher Room. At the same time, they also experimented with several elements we hadn’t seen from them before and when those risks pay off (as they do here), it’s always refreshing.

One of the things that stood out most was how natural everything felt. The theming, puzzles, and narrative all blended together seamlessly. The storytelling never felt forced or overly intrusive. Aside from a few voice recordings, most of the narrative unfolded organically through exploration and puzzle solving, which made the experience feel much more immersive.

At no point did Metamorphosis feel like a grind. The puzzles offered a solid challenge for experienced teams but always delivered that satisfying “click” moment when things fell into place. Metamorphosis may well be Cipher’s most technologically advanced room to date. The innovation goes beyond the puzzles themselves, extending into the props, mechanisms, and moving features scattered throughout the space.

Another highlight was the ingenious use of space. While it may not be the largest room Cipher has built, it certainly feels like it. The game makes clever use of both horizontal and vertical movement. Metamorphosis also involves stairs and some crawling sections though thankfully not everyone needs to do the crawling (queue our teams smallest member, Simon)

Our team managed to escape with about five minutes to spare, using two hints along the way. As always, these weren’t simple answer drops, Callum gave us just the right nudge to keep the momentum going without spoiling the discovery.

We left the venue feeling extremely satisfied. Metamorphosis is yet another phenomenal addition to The Cipher Room’s lineup. We always love playing here and never hesitate to recommend them to anyone who’s caught the escape room bug.

All in all, it was a fantastic night and a brilliant way to start the year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.