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.