CryptX Escape Rooms - "The Curious Case at McGuffin’s"

Updated: Apr 23

LOCATION:  Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom

Photos above are property of CryptX Escape Rooms

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: The Curious Case at Mcguffin's
📅 DATE PLAYED: September 22, 2021
🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Detective, Film Noir
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: £15.71-27.50 (pending on the group size)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Your group takes on the role of Detective working for a Hollywood Private Investigator. Contacted by one Ms Femme Fatale, your boss has chosen to go off to the country to watch her play golf instead and left you with her case. Retrieve a specific book from the bookshop of the famous McGuffin, who has fortunately gone out to the dentist and left his shop empty for an hour. This book contains all the sensitive data of a notorious gang so as you would expect, everyone wants to get their hands on this book. You can therefore be sure he has hidden it well - it won’t just be a case of locating it on a shelf! Can you uncover the secrets, locate the book and get out before you are caught?

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

Our briefing was detailed and contained the back story and all the information we needed to know for the room.
On entering, the space is small, sparse and neat. But don’t be fooled!
There is a great piece of music playing quietly as you play which adds to the atmosphere.
The decoration is very in theme, rich and opulent with genuine antique furniture.
Puzzles when you start are non-linear but change to linear - we were never left wondering what to do next, time was spent just solving the puzzles. The puzzles all made sense and were logical.
Plenty of locks, codes, maths, physical, logic puzzles at all levels and a couple of nice bits of tech - catering for newbies, families and experts alike.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

Nothing really to report, as it’s a great room and venue! One thing maybe I could maybe pick on if pushed is that the hint system is given via a modern computer screen in the room, which while of course very helpful and easy for the GM to implement, doesn’t blend into the theme as well as they could in this room (but it really does in their other room!). This is a relatively minor gripe!

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

Both players in our team had been to CryptX before and completed their other excellent room, Moriarty’s Academy, which has a non-linear “solve what you can in the time” mechanic and thoroughly enjoyed it. We went as a large group back then and half did Moriarty and the others McGuffin’s, so the two of us were very keen to come back and tackle McGuffin’s as well as the original team had only good things to say!

It’s very clear that Jo and Kate, the owners love their work and the rooms at CryptX. As a film fan and having studied film, Jo’s passion for good storylines and rich backstories shines through. There are references to film, literature and history peppered through the room. The furniture and props have been carefully selected and you can see the amount of effort they have gone to to make it feel authentic.

The room and venue are more accessible than some others I have been to. The initial space is small and doorways are narrow but everything is on one level and there are no obstacles to navigate. Anyone who loves film, books, detective novels, film noir, gangsters etc will love this room, but it really is suitable for all. We know a 13-year-old from our group was MVP in a group of 6 when they did this room and when my friend and I took it on we’re both keen puzzlers and worked very co-operatively on everything - it seems it works well for any group size!

We escaped in 49.22 with just a couple of nudges via the hint system and having located the requested item, and spent the rest of the time talking shop with Jo - which you get the feeling he loves to do and would happily do all day! Jo and Kate have exciting plans for the future and I cannot wait to support them through them, as I can imagine they will create some very enjoyable experiences!

Above photos are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

Additional Info

Plenty of parking onsite
Not reachable by public transportation

*** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website***

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 CryptX Escape Rooms for providing a media discount for this game. Although a discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.