Score
– Overall
– Immersion
– Puzzles
– Hints
– Fun
– Scenario
Summary
– 60 minutes
– 1-10 players (we suggest 2-3)
– Room Escapers
– Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Played on January 25th 2025 by: 
Panacea was the first room we tried at Room Escapers in Boston. In this scenario, an ancient disease has been released from melting permafrost, and we must find the cure—the panacea—before it’s too late! We thought the storyline could have used more details and a unique twist, but our game master did an excellent job introducing the game. She was enthusiastic, professional, and really set the mood. We also loved that they decorated the lobby and the exterior doors of each game according to their theme—it looked amazing and helped build anticipation before starting!
The décor inside the room looked fine overall, but some parts were a bit rough and overused, with a few broken elements. It also felt somewhat empty and could use more props to bring the space to life. A few finishing touches and repairs would really help improve the immersion. The room design allowed access to most tasks and clues from the start, so it lacked a sense of progression. We opened the second area very quickly, making it feel more like one big space rather than a gradual discovery, which reduced the excitement a bit. And music was missing during the game!
The puzzles were fun and fit the theme well, though a few felt a bit simple and a coupe had a similar logic. It was mostly automatic mechanisms with a couple of traditional locks. Some puzzle ideas were quite original and clever, but we wished there were a few more to solve. We liked that the room was non-linear, allowing us to work on several puzzles at once. Hints were displayed on a screen after we called out for them, which worked well enough but didn’t add much to the immersion.
Overall, we thought the room was okay—fun puzzles but décor that could use improvement. It’s a family-friendly room, though some puzzles might be challenging for kids, and it’s best suited for small groups of 2–3 people. We were happy with our performance since we completed it quickly and only asked for one hint. We liked it okay, and we escaped!
: Yes
Andrea