Escapology Escape Rooms (Holmdel)

LOCATION:  Holmdel, New Jersey, USA

Photo above is property of Escapology Escape Rooms (Holmdel)

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Saving Santa
📅 DATE PLAYED: December 2, 2022
🎬 GENRE: Fantasy
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 4.5/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $36.99/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the... "Knock, Knock". Who could that be at the door? Santa goes to answer it and he is greeted by Mick MacNasty and his gang of evil Christmas thieves. They are here to steal all the toys and keep it for themselves! They kidnap Santa and the North Pole immediately goes into chaos! Mrs. Claus contacts a group of clever children to help - "The Worldwide Child Detective Agency" (which is YOU)! Can you save Santa and ultimately save Christmas?

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

The décor was festive and colorful with plenty of things to search through. One of those things was a fully decorated Christmas tree! Kids would probably forget that they're playing an escape room and start rummaging through the presents!
We love the storyline and the introduction of "The Worldwide Child Detective Agency" to the rescue! What better way to get kids to participate then assigning them a task to rescue Santa and earn brownie points on the "Nice" list!

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

The puzzles were a lot of fun and creatively implemented. However, it did take us awhile to adjust our approach to solving the puzzles. We were reminded by the game master to change our thought process. Since the room was designed for kids, some things must be "interpreted" from their point of view.
One puzzle was very time consuming. They did intentionally added it in there since we're enthusiasts to increase the level of difficulty (so you might not have it or you might get the easier version). This was one of those game design aspects we don't really enjoy in escape rooms. As players, we would assume everything in the room would be movable and that it won't affect game play. If the difficulty level was caused by the fact that we've moved an element and have to remember where their original location was, then we don't think that's fair to a player.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

Although "Secret Santa" was a room designed for kids, some puzzles might not be easy as it seems. Kids see things differently and have different perspectives than adults. We were definitely over thinking on a lot of the puzzles in that room. So if you decide to play this game, go in with a simple mindset. Because it's a seasonal game, Escapology re-decorated one of their pre-existing rooms to "spruce" it up and add that magical holiday touch! The room that they temporarily transformed into "Saving Santa" at the Holmdel location is "Budapest Express" which made it feel like we were on the "Polar Express"! Christmas is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than an escape room with your family and friends? Come save St. Nick and you might just earn yourself a surprise ending 😜

🔎 HINT

Make sure you're looking at it from "eye level"....

Additional Info

Lobby area with seats
Located in the Bell Works Center
Event space available
Parking lot available

Photos above are property of Escapology Escape Rooms (Holmdel)

*** 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 Escapology Escape Rooms (Holmdel) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.