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:
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!