Improbable Escapes - "Neverland: Heist on the High Seas"

LOCATION:  Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Photo above is property of Improbable Escapes

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝  ETR DECODER

• 🔑 GAME: Neverland: Heist on the High Seas

• 📅 DATE PLAYED: March 15, 2023

• 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Pirates

• 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 Players): 8/10

• 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-14 PPL (Recommend 2-8PPL)

• 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.

• 💰 PRICE: CAD $29.95/PP

• ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private

• 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: YES

📖 THE STORY

You’ve been captured by Captain Hook and taken prisoner aboard the Jolly Roger! You heard a rumor that somewhere on board lies a map leading to a great treasure. Can you get free, take hold of the ship, and find the gold before Hook returns in an hour?!

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🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

• Once again, Improbable Escapes really delivered on the set design – clearly a strength for this company! We felt each step of the story, from being locked in the brig, to exploring Hook’s ship, to disembarking at the beach to search for the treasure. There were multiple levels used to make the most of the space, and at least one person in your group should be able to climb stairs. However, there was also a workaround for people who need (or prefer) to avoid them.

• This is an exceptionally cooperative room. By far the majority of the puzzles required communication between team members in different locations, facilitating a great sense of teamwork. Several of them also sparked curiosity about the other side of the experience sufficient to make us switch roles mid-solve. They managed to make some puzzles more challenging than they initially appeared, and they delivered an excellent rendition of an audio puzzle that made it far more accessible for those without a musical ear. The puzzles directly related to tasks you would expect to perform in this scenario, fulfilling many of our pirate fantasies. Overall, the puzzles shone for their variety, quantity, and cohesion with the theme.

• From the intro in the gorgeous storybook hallway to the final outro that creates some additional final urgency, the game sweeps you up in the world they have created. There is one particularly magical moment early in the game. It was such a beautiful concept that was excellently implemented, and they placed it at the perfect moment when players are unlikely to be distracted to maximize the likelihood that people will catch it. Keep your eyes peeled from the start!
  

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

• There was one puzzle where we found the lighting system signaling your status and what you needed to do next very confusing. It was hard for us to know if we were getting the wrong answer or just unsure which one we should be working on. This would be an easy fix to keep from detracting from what was otherwise an entertaining and cooperative puzzle.
  

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

Neverland was easily our favorite room at Improbable Escapes – not because they don’t have other great games, but this one took things to another level. (Caveat – we have not played Seven Dwarfs in person, only online – so this could be another in-person contender!) This unforgettably playful experience delivers fabulous immersion and rewarding cooperative, hands-on puzzles within a cohesive storyline. We were hard-pressed to come up with meaningful criticisms, and see it as a room with widespread appeal – it was certainly family-friendly and could accommodate larger groups, but also worked well for us as two enthusiasts. If you’ve ever dreamed of joining Peter Pan’s crew and taking on Hook, this is your chance – and the trip to Kingston is well worth it! (Note: this experience is also available online, if you don’t think you’ll have the opportunity to play in-person.)

🔎 HINT

What’s in the hand might be left behind.

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ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

This game is located at their Wonderland location, about 15 minutes drive from their downtown headquarters. There is plenty of free parking here, and a fantastic board game café with drinks, light snacks, and nearly 600 games you can play (excellently organized), as well as a number for sale. The entire venue is crafted with the same care and creativity evident in their rooms, with a whimsical Alice-in-Wonderland theme that pervades everything from the pendant lights over the café counter to the drawer pulls in the bathrooms. Once again, the staff is incredibly helpful and enthusiastic. It’s an absolutely charming and welcoming environment.

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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 Improbable Escapes 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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