Escaperoom Antwerp - "Hunting Season"

Updated: Apr 22

LOCATION:  Zoersel, Belgium

Photos above are property of Escaperoom Antwerp

Photos above are property of Escaperoom Antwerp

Date Played: September 16, 2021

Genre: Thriller

Difficulty (Based on 5 PPL): 7/10

Total # of Players: 4-6 PPL

Length of Time: 60 Minutes

Price: €119/Team

Booking Type: Private

Escaped? Yes

📖 THE STORY

As we were driving to the place, we were enjoying the beautiful Belgium countryside. The sun setting and the radio playing. To get to the escape room you do have to drive a bit but considering many people have advised me to play it, I knew that the drive wouldn’t be so bad (But it was the builder first and only room so far, so you never know…). But halfway there the weather started to turn around very quickly as if it knew we were approaching and before we knew it, a storm was let loose.

“Despite the windscreen wipers, our view remains cloudy due to the torrential rain on the windscreen. This really wasn't the time to break down. Yet we see the lightning close by, throwing off the silhouette of an old house and we decide to ring the doorbell. Through the window, we can see the log fire a group of hunting trophies staring back lifeless. Their gaze betrays that it is better to turn right, but the door is already opening.”

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

The set design is so on point! Nothing feels out of place, yet it feels lived in and full.
Puzzles are well thought out with some being really original and fitting the environment really well.
The introduction is masterfully done by a professional actor.
Ingenious hint system that I’m surprised not many have come up with that idea.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

There are some minor spoilers at the beginning that makes the climax of the room feel less… climactic. Keep the twist of the story as hidden as possible.
Some parts aren’t that accessible for physically disabled people or people who have trouble fitting through smaller crawl spaces. There are chairs and other things. But that is something that could hinder a group.
Just some very minor post-signing between puzzles that could be improved (or it could be that our group was just a bit too hasty.) that involves communication towards the players.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

With the description of the room you read earlier, it was almost as if real-life wanted to blend in further into fantasy. Once we got there and parked right in front of the house, we just had to enter a sliding door, and we were immediately in a very cozy waiting area. Benches made from what seemed old wooden pallets, drinks and some snacks we could freely take, some flyers of other escape rooms, a neon sign and a bathroom.

The Game master was still running around, probably resetting the room and making sure everything is working properly. As for merchandise, there wasn’t a lot to buy, except for from drinks and snacks. But once he took us to the room, the magic started to happen. The Game master is a trained actor in musical theater. And the way he explains it makes it very clear. He’s putting on a performance that makes you immediately on the edge and into the whole story of the room, as he explains he also shows the ingenious way he implemented the emergency exit in the room. But once he gets out of the room. You’re in for a ride of a story. The rest …. You’ll have to figure it out for yourself.

But all I can say is simply … WOW… This is the kind of room that many builders should aspire to be. It’s a masterclass in story-building and design (The very last room gave me chills when I discovered it.). But the most ingenious part of the room is the hint system, which I can’t say much about it without revealing too much. But I can say, no screens or walkie-talkies are involved.

Should you take a shot? Absolutely! This room is one of those rooms that you have to have done as a player or a builder. The way it’s built and the very clever tricks and integration of the puzzles in the environment and story just show the potential the builder has for his future projects (and there is a new one on the way.). And as far as first rooms go. This room has certainly knocked it out of the park and made sure that we would keep them on our radar for any other room they would bring. Not only as a player but as builders to inspire us to get on such a level of finish.