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.

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!

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!

Social Escape Rooms - Paris Escape

Date: 02/02/2025

Company Name: Social Escape Rooms

Room: Paris Escape

Cost: $55 per person (Team of 3)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.socialescape.com.au/rooms.html#paris

Location: 62 Wyndham St, Alexandria NSW 2015

Best Parking: Street Parking

Succeeded: Not within 60 minutes - approximately 3 minutes over time.

Room Description: 

You are on holiday in Paris, staying in the most beautiful hotel. Your holiday is finally approaching the end and you are preparing to leave. You must depart for the airport in one hour, however you cannot locate your passport or your plane tickets!

Prepare to meet your worst holiday nightmare, a last minute chase in a beautiful setting, with the clock ticking. Can you find your tickets and escape to the airport in time?

This game is one of Sydney's best family friendly escape rooms, offering a great challenge for both first time players as well as experienced teams.

Comments:

Our second visit to Social Escape once again did not disappoint. After being immediately reacquainted with our former Gamesmaster from Ransom a few weeks prior, "Jesus" was again nothing short of brilliant, exemplifying just how critical the Gamesmaster is to creating an outstanding experience.

I’d describe the difficulty as medium, though our team was just a little off today. According to our data printout, we spent more time on the easier clues while breezing through the harder ones—something we’ve noticed tends to happen when we revisit rooms that lean on the easier side. Paris Escape is rated Social’s easiest room, so I think we may have felt like it would be too discreditable to our team to ask for hints. As it turns out, one of the easier puzzles (as per the data) was the one puzzle that ultimately cost us succeeding. So don't be us and ask for your hints!

The theming in this room is fantastic. Designed to resemble a Parisian boutique hotel, the space is filled with an assortment of recognizable French elements, creating an authentic and immersive setting. The décor strikes a perfect balance between charm and sophistication, giving the room a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Every prop feels thoughtfully placed, and the attention to detail is remarkable.

Beyond the aesthetics, the puzzles all worked flawlessly, with clear solutions that never felt misleading or confusing. There’s a well-balanced mix of high-tech and low-tech puzzles, with many of the high-tech elements cleverly hidden within the environment.

Despite falling just short of the time limit, we had an absolute blast and can’t wait to return for more!

Strange World Escape Rooms - Mrs Claws

Date: 17/01/2025

Company Name: Strange World Escape Rooms

Room: Mrs Claws

Cost:  $45 per person (Team of 7)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.strangeworldescaperooms.com/ourrooms

Location: 4 Flinders St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Best Parking: Scarce street parking - try and find what works best for you as close to the venue. 

Succeeded: Yes in 46 Minutes 18 Seconds (Unofficial 4th Pos)

Room Description: 

Christmas Eve has taken a dark turn at Santa's workshop... or what's left of it. Mrs. Claus has finally snapped. Fed up with Santa's laziness and a disfunctional group of elves, she's taken drastic measures - and it’s far from festive.

With Santa mysteriously missing, and his once-cheerful workshop becoming a maze of horror and broken toys, it’s up to you and your elf team to save Christmas.

The clock is ticking, and the fate of the holiday rests in your hands. Good luck - you'll need it.

Comments:

After hearing about Strange World and the growing popularity of their inaugural room, Mrs. Claws, we were eager to give it a try. Even though Christmas was long over and we were well into January, this room still delivered a festive and immersive experience that held up exceptionally well.

From the moment we walked in, we were transported by the music, the scent of gingerbread, and the overall theming, which perfectly captured a blend of fun Christmas vibes with a creepy twist. Our Gamesmasters, hosts, and live actors were nothing short of hospitable. They made excellent use of the space left over after the room itself, which is clearly the centrepiece as you enter.

The production value was outstanding. From the cozy wooden cabin atmosphere to the colourful objects, twinkling lights, and eerie props and ornaments, every detail aligned seamlessly with the Christmas horror theme. It was evident that a tremendous amount of thought and effort went into the design. With minimal use of traditional locks and padlocks, the experience felt fresh and engaging, which greatly pleased our team.

The puzzles offered a nice variety and fit perfectly with the theme and story. Opting for the scariest version of the experience, we encountered some well-timed jump scares that kept us on edge throughout. The room featured multiple areas and crawl spaces, culminating in an exciting and memorable final section. While these sections were cleverly designed, they weren’t particularly large, so our group of seven occasionally felt a bit cramped. For the best experience, I’d recommend teams of 4–5 as the sweet spot, though teams of up to six could still comfortably manage. With seven, I often found myself stepping back to absorb the experience while others worked tirelessly on tasks.

After the experience, we were fortunate enough to spend time with the masterminds behind it all. Tanner and Will graciously showed us how the magic worked behind the scenes and happily chatted about all things escape rooms. Their passion and creativity were clear, and it’s exciting to think about what they might create next.

Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with how Tanner and Will have pulled off their first room. Mrs. Claws showcases their ingenuity and attention to detail, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Strange World Escape Rooms!

Social Escape Rooms - Ransom

Date: 08/01/2025

Company Name: Social Escape Rooms

Room: Ransom

Cost: $55 per person (Team of 2)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

Website Link: https://www.socialescape.com.au/rooms.html#ransom

Location: 62 Wyndham St, Alexandria NSW 2015

Best Parking: Street Parking

Succeeded: Not within 60 minutes - approximately 15 minutes over time.

Room Description: 

Disaster has struck; an unexpected disappearance of your loved one. How could this have possibly happened?

The delivery of a mysterious box, which contains a cryptic ransom note, will start you on a fast paced thriller that will have you gripped 'til the end. With great elements of action, a lot of suspense and intriguing puzzles, you will be kept on your toes for the entire 60 minutes. 

Prepare to be challenged as you work your way through the kidnapper's demands, all while unravelling the clues to save your loved one.

Comments:

Luke and I, embarking on our first escape room as a duo after completing numerous rooms in groups of four or more, were immediately greeted by a friendly Gamesmaster we affectionately remember as "Jesus." He was nothing short of brilliant, exemplifying just how critical the Gamesmaster is to creating an outstanding experience.

We absolutely loved the way Ransom unofficially began—it was such a unique and creative touch that set the perfect tone for the adventure ahead. As a team of two, we found the room packed with puzzles, keeping us both fully engaged and on our toes the entire time. While the experience is largely non-linear, there were a few bottleneck moments where we had to regroup, which provided opportunities for us to collaborate even more closely.

The theming and props were top-notch, with every puzzle feeling logical and seamlessly integrated into the space. The room itself was visually impressive, showcasing great attention to detail in its design and layout.

Ransom’s standout feature is undoubtedly its puzzles and game flow. With just the two of us, we were constantly on the move, working to solve a wide variety of challenges within the 60-minute time limit. Although we didn’t manage to escape within the allocated time, Jesus generously gave us extra time, allowing us to savour the sweet taste of success in the end. The puzzles ranged from familiar elements found in most escape rooms to some we had never encountered before. We faced an array of locks which was complimented alongside mechanical and high-tech puzzles. Each element flowed seamlessly, delivering clever and satisfying revelations throughout the experience.

As a duo, we particularly appreciated the subtle signposting, which kept us focused without feeling overwhelmed. While the theming and atmosphere don’t quite match the level of some of the very best rooms we’ve played (like Cipher), it’s worth noting that few rooms in Australia reach that level. Despite this, Ransom truly excels with its brilliant use of space, exceptional craftsmanship, and the sheer volume of puzzles that kept us thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

We’re already looking forward to returning and tackling some of their other rooms, like Bank Heist and Bellamy’s Booty!

TERPECA 2024

It's that time of year again! Head on over to https://terpeca.com/2024/ to see all the details of this years nominees and finalists. 

As most of you that may know, every year, people who have completed and documented 200 escape rooms or more have the ability to nominate their favourite rooms for the Top Escape Rooms Project (Terpeca). Those who have completed and documented 100 rooms or more have the ability to vote on said nominated rooms. 

Thus far, we have seen the Phase 1 results. I will list all the Aussie rooms that have made the cut this year. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying this, we eagerly await December 21st when the Phase 2 results are announced!

To find the full list, head here: https://terpeca.com/2024/#phase1rooms 

Our Aussie Rooms that have made it thus far are as follows:

New South Wales:

Torquay - Elude Escape Rooms (Australia) (Galston, Australia) My Review

Intruders - Mission Sydney (Sydney, Australia) My Review

Unstoppable - Mission Sydney (Sydney, Australia) My Review

End of the Road - Next Level Escape (Australia) (Sydney, Australia) My Review

Ex Libris - Next Level Escape (Australia) (Sydney, Australia)

Forest of Echoes - Next Level Escape (Australia) (Sydney, Australia) My Review

The Game - Next Level Escape (Australia) (Sydney, Australia) My Review

The Show Must Go On - Next Level Escape (Australia) (Sydney, Australia)

Ransom - Social Escape Rooms Sydney (Sydney, Australia)

La Rébellion - The Cipher Room (Sydney, Australia) #Ranked 67th 2022# My Review

Mr Pepper's Toy Shop - The Cipher Room (Sydney, Australia) My Review

The Cabin - The Cipher Room (Sydney, Australia) My Review

The Marlowe Hotel - The Cipher Room (Sydney, Australia) #Ranked 67th 2021 | Ranked 75th 2019# My Review

Seance - The Cool Space (Sydney, Australia) My Review

Victoria:

The Butcher Shop - Mayday Escape Rooms (Beechworth, Australia)

Mayhem Manor - Containaphobia (Geelong, Australia)

Fractured - Escape Room Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)

The Haunted House of Horror - Escape or Die (Melbourne, Australia)

Extraction - The Curium Experience (Melbourne, Australia) #Ranked 68th 2023#

Deep Space: Divinity & Dark (combined) - Ukiyo (Melbourne, Australia)

Deep Space: Divinity (played standalone without Dark) - Ukiyo (Melbourne, Australia)

The Crumbling Prince, Episode 1 (played standalone without Episode 2) - Ukiyo (Melbourne, Australia)

The Crumbling Prince, Episodes 1 & 2 (combined) - Ukiyo (Melbourne, Australia)

Nova: Mission to Mars - Locked In Escape Rooms (Australia) (Mornington, Australia)

Earthrise One - Earthrise One (Richmond, Australia)

Queensland:

Nuclear Enrichment - Area 1 Escape Rooms (Project Immersive) (Brisbane, Australia)

The Portal - Area 1 Escape Rooms (Project Immersive) (Brisbane, Australia)

Orphanage - Quest Room (Australia) (Brisbane, Australia)

Tekapo’s Temple - The Way Out (Gladstone, Australia)

Executioner's Toolshed - Seraphim Escape (Ipswich, Australia)

Knights Templar - Eclipse Escape Rooms (Surfers Paradise, Australia)

Retro Revenge - Eclipse Escape Rooms (Surfers Paradise, Australia)

The Flaming Pearl - Eclipse Escape Rooms (Surfers Paradise, Australia)

Dark Dungeon - Lost Locks (Surfers Paradise, Australia)

Mad Monster - Lost Locks (Surfers Paradise, Australia)

Canberra:

Curio - Escape Rooms Canberra (Canberra, Australia) My Review

The House on the Hill - Escape Rooms Canberra (Canberra, Australia) My Review

The Dungeon - Riddle Room (Australia) (Canberra, Australia) My Review

The Hotel - Riddle Room (Australia) (Canberra, Australia) My Review

The Mine - Riddle Room (Australia) (Canberra, Australia) My Review

South Australia:

A Deadly Dinner - Escaplex Escape Rooms (Adelaide, Australia)

The Collector - Urban Mysteries Co (Adelaide, Australia)

Western Australia:

Zenith Prime - Realmz Escape Game (Perth, Australia)

Pipeline - Red Vs Blue - Ultimate Roomscape (Perth, Australia)

Tasmania:

Diamond Heist - Evolo Room Escape (Moonah, Australia)

The Cipher Room - The Cabin

Date: 29/09/2024

Company Name: The Cipher Room

Room: The Cabin

Cost: $62 per person (Team of 6)

Time Allowed: 60 Minutes

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

Location: 640 King St, Newtown NSW 2042

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

Succeeded: Yes, with about 2-3 minutes remaining

Room Description: 

You're a detective who's been investigating a serial killer case. One day your team gets a promising lead about someone acting suspiciously. They have been visiting an abandoned old cabin and strange noises have been heard coming from it. You obtain a search warrant and you and your team go in to investigate.

What is inside the mysterious old cabin? Have you finally found the killer? Can you discover their identity?

Comments:

Heading back to what might just be my all-time favorite escape room venue, The Cipher Room, we had a little shake-up in our team. With six of us on a mission—not only to tackle an amazing escape room but also to find parking in a jam-packed Newtown on a Saturday night—we somehow managed to snag a spot nearby. Small victories!

We kicked off the evening with a great meal and a few drinks at Buddy's Bar before heading towards the beautiful establishment that is The Cipher Room.

Luke and I were particularly excited for this one, as it marked our fifth and final badge (at the time of writing) from The Cipher Room. And let me tell you, the theming in The Cabin is next level once again. As self-proclaimed escape room enthusiasts, I couldn’t help but take a moment to wander around and soak in the ambiance. Every inch of the room is brimming with intricate details that draw you in. From the moment we stepped inside, we were transported from the busy streets of King Street in Newtown to a remote cabin in the woods. The immersive combination of sounds, lighting, and expertly crafted props transformed the space into something truly special. It’s clear that a ton of thought and artistry went into every single aspect of the design.

When it comes to puzzles, The Cabin delivers a fantastic variety. What really stood out were the handmade puzzles—many of which we hadn’t encountered before, even after completing close to 50 rooms! That’s a rare find for seasoned escape room players. There’s an impressive balance of low-tech and high-tech puzzles, with some really clever mechanisms woven throughout.

It’s worth noting that this is not your typical family-friendly room. The Cabin leans towards the eerie and creepy, but rest assured, there are no jump scares. It’s more about building a sense of suspense and atmosphere.

I’d rate this room as quite challenging. Our team did end up utilising a few hints to make it through within the 60-minute time limit. As always, the game masters at The Cipher Room are always ready to offer guidance and aid in any way possible.

I sincerely can't wait for what the future lies for The Cipher Room and genuinely look forward to any future rooms that may or may not be on the horizon.