Agent Brains Escape Games - "Back to the Future: Escape the 80’s"

Krista Jones

Jun 15, 20243 min read

LOCATION:  Letchworth, England, United Kingdom

Photo above is property of Agent Brains Escape Games

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Back to the Future: Escape the 80's
📅 DATE PLAYED: March 8, 2024
🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: £18-30/ pp (based on # of ppl and peak vs. off-peak booking times)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

The infamous Dr. Nogood, the nemesis of Agent Brains, has created a time machine and gone back to create some mayhem! As agents of Agent Brains, you’ve been sent back to the 80’s and his teenage bedroom. Now, you must find the time machine and use it to escape back to the future, getting it safely out of his hands.

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

Great Scott! We really felt like we were right back in the 80s. The owners have done an incredible job in the theming, with authentic 80’s nostalgia galore! In a fun twist, they even give you a choice before starting of which 80’s mixtape to play as the soundtrack for your game. So whether your group prefers hair bands, synth pop, or whatever else, there’s something sure to keep you jammin’ out. The 80’s memorabilia is so extensive, it’s definitely tempting to spend a lot of time just playing around and checking out some of the pieces. As children of the 80’s, we were had an absolute blast, and I can imagine it would be fun for younger folks to experience what it was like “back in the day”. (This is seriously what video games were like when you were a kid?!)
It was easy to be distracted from the puzzles by the delightful decor, but they were well-integrated and themed. There is some tricky searching to be done, and some fun discoveries along the way. There are quite a few padlocks, but also some tech-based puzzles and reveals.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

The story didn’t 100% make sense to me, and I would have loved a bit more info. I hate to suggest any changes to the room set, because it’s an absolute gem! But it would be awesome to see a little more of Nogood’s villain-y side represented, like with posters of famous 80’s villains perhaps (though those are probably harder to source).
While I certainly wouldn’t take anything away from the awesomeness that they’ve created, it’s worth noting that some items could be perceived as mild red herrings. There are definitely aspects of the room that are just there to help recreate that 80’s bedroom feel but may still draw you in!

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

"Back to the Future: Escape the 80's" is an absolute dream of a game for children of the 80’s, and I’d venture to say for anyone who appreciates a whimsical environment. It’s hard not to smile in that room. It’s certainly family-friendly (with kids 10+ allowed), would be do-able by newer players (potentially with some help), and a top pick for those looking for an immersive experience. So…there’s really no excuse not to play. This game just might be your density. I mean your destiny!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Agent Brains Escape Games has two locations a few minutes walk apart. Their main one, where this game is located, is on a super cute little street in Letchworth Garden City, a short walk from the train station. There are lots of coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and other stores aplenty to check out and fuel up before or after your game. There’s a nice little reception area, bathroom (with some quirky branding), absolutely lovely staff, and hooks in the rooms for your things.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

BOOK NOW

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank Agent Brains Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.