Puzzle Break Seattle - "Puppeteer's Workshop"

Updated: Apr 6

LOCATION:  Seattle, Washington, USA

Photo above is property of Puzzle Break Seattle

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Puppeteer's Workshop
📅 DATE PLAYED: June 5, 2022
🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Puppeteering
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 4/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 PPL
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins
💰 PRICE: $200/Team
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Puppeteering master Harry Keller is looking for a new apprentice, and you’re hoping you might make the cut! He has set up a series of challenges to test you, and you never know what else you might stumble upon…

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

While I enjoy a good heist or a wizarding world as much as the next person, I really appreciate unique themes. "Puppeteer’s Workshop" delivers on this front with a fun, charming, and (at times) mildly creepy theme and set design. Entering the room to see the marionettes on the stage, with the beautifully detailed backdrop, is a fabulous way to start the game!
There were several particularly fun and creative puzzles in this game! As with "The Eventide Departure", thoroughly searching and observation is critical. The GM actually has the ability to somewhat adjust the difficulty of one puzzle based on group experience, which is nice, and there is also a very cool, unexpected surprise towards the end that we really enjoyed! All of the puzzles and gameplay flowed well, and everything was very fair and cleanly designed, making it really satisfying to experience. We felt there was a nice combination of traditional locks and tech-based interactions.
There was some progression of the story throughout the game through audio messages and some items that you discover along the way.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

While I did really enjoy the puzzles in this game (and our group often worked on them together), there were none that really required or strongly encouraged cooperation, which I always appreciate in escape rooms (if you prefer to work independently, this could be a plus for you)! Given the cool theme, I also would have loved the opportunity to do a bit more “puppeteering” as a player.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

We had a fabulous time immersing ourselves in the puppeteer’s world! It is an easier game; our group of 3 finished in about 34 minutes, and we got stuck for quite a while on one puzzle that I suspect some of you would solve quickly. This makes it a perfect game for beginners or smaller groups! For enthusiasts, it is a great room to be able to just relax, savor the atmosphere, and appreciate the well-crafted puzzles. Puzzle Break is open to those 12+ (with adult supervision), and in normal play of the game some mobility is required, but I think there could be a workaround if needed. While parts of the theme were a bit dark/occult, the overall gameplay is definitely not scary, assuming you don’t have a general fear of dolls (apparently known as pediophobia) - including rather creepy ones… In fact, overall, I found it quite playful, with some delightful details. If you’re looking for a unique theme with clean and creative puzzle design and some really charming elements, I think you will enjoy the "Puppeteer’s Workshop"!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Puzzle Break (in Belltown) has two lobby/seating areas (one with some small physical puzzles to play with), and bathrooms available. There are designated areas within the rooms themselves to leave your things. You do access their space via stairs. It is reachable via public transportation or there are both paid lots and street parking (free on Sundays!) nearby.

🔎 HINT

If you’re feeling stuck, try changing your perspective.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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 Puzzle Break Seattle for offering us a media discount for our tickets to this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.