LOCATION: London, England, United Kingdom
Photo above is property of Escape Plan Ltd
Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Roll out the Barrel
📅 DATE PLAYED: March 7, 2024
🎬 GENRE: History, War
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: £28/ pp (£65 minumum)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
It’s 1945, and you and the rest of the squadron at RAF Tangmere are looking forward to a massive V-day celebration! You’ve heard that the higher ups have secured a keg of the finest but don’t intend to share with you lowly plebes. But the Air Commodores have been summoned to Sector Control for the next hour, and you figure you’ve earned that keg…so now’s your chance to sneak on in and see if you can steal that barrel, so you and the squad can live it up tonight like you deserve!
Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
I loved the vibe of Roll Out the Barrel! While it’s still in the WWII theme of their other games, this is very light-hearted, focused on a celebratory prank. And it even has a very cute, unexpected little start that had me amused from the get-go!
Once again, Escape Plan shines in their use of unique, tactile wooden puzzles and mechanisms that are just fun to engage with! There are a variety of puzzle styles, and the largely non-linear flow allows for folks to work in different areas as desired.
This game really makes you feel like you might be back in the 40’s, with great antique-looking pieces, appropriate music, etc. There are even fun costume pieces you can throw on for your end-game pics! While this room may not have quite the same extent of personal history as found for The Adventure Begins, there are still ways in which the owners’ family history is integrated (and folks who’ve played their other games may spot some Easter eggs).
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
I mMy eyes are no longer so young, and there were definitely some items here that I found really hard to read - mostly due to tiny font, though in some cases also because of lighting/glare or wear.
There were a couple of puzzles that required longer processes - nothing too painful, but they got just a bit old before we were done (even when 3 of us were working on one). Overall, they were still a very minor part of otherwise very satisfying puzzling, and they could also be a place that folks who struggled with other components could feel that they were contributing.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
"Roll Out the Barrel" is a delightful game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Even if you’re not a history buff, they’ve created a lovely jaunt into another time, with unique, highly tactile puzzles. While the room may be more designed with enthusiasts in mind, they have some ways to simplify gameplay for those with less experience. So, next time you’re looking for that little something to add to your celebration, head to Escape Plan and see if you can steal that barrel of the good stuff! I bet you’ll leave smiling…
Additional Info
Escape Plan is housed within Rich Mix, a non-profit artists’ collective of sorts, where you can also see films and other shows! It is just a couple minutes walk from the Shoreditch Tube Station. They are generally able to adjust their rooms to be wheelchair accessible (with the exception of their newest offering); contact them in advance to confirm.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
Check out our interview with the owner to understand more on the development side of these games:
Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(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 Escape Plan Ltd. for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
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