The prisoner – Roundabout

Played on May 19th 2024 by:

Prisoner was the last room we played that day at Roundabout. In this scenario, you and your friends have been wrongly convicted of murder and are facing an impending death sentence. Drawing inspiration from the prison’s history of successful escapes, you must work together, follow the clues left behind by former inmates, and plan a daring breakout before it is too late. We felt that the scenario was somewhat generic and could have benefited from more detail and personality. However, a video shown before the game provided additional context and made the story more engaging.

The decor was well done, although a little basic. From the moment the game begins, you can see most of the playing area from your prison cells, so there are no major new spaces to discover as the game progresses. However, we all started in separate cells, and the way we had to escape them was very original and completely unexpected. The sets were well executed, in good condition, and successfully created the feeling of being inside a prison. We also appreciated the connection to their other game, Butcher’s Basement, through the use of shared names and references. It was a nice touch that helped create a sense of continuity between the rooms. We also enjoyed the music and overall atmosphere throughout the experience.

The puzzles were fun to solve and all connected to the theme and story. The room relied mostly on traditional locks, with only one exception. The game was non-linear, which meant there was always something to work on in each cell. We particularly enjoyed having to communicate and share information with one another in order to solve the puzzles. Most of the puzzles were fairly straightforward and consisted of single-step solutions, making the room accessible to a wide range of players. We thought the variety was good, and the pacing kept us engaged throughout. Hints were provided by the game master through a walkie-talkie system.

Overall, we enjoyed the game because the puzzles were fun and the decor effectively supported the experience. Since the room is not scary and the puzzles are relatively easy, it is a great family-friendly option. We think it is best suited for groups of two to three players. We were very happy with our performance, as we completed the room quickly, only needed one hint, and even made it onto the leaderboard! We liked it, and we escaped!

: Yes

Andrea