The Escape Artist - "Spell Struck!"

Updated: Apr 6

LOCATION:  Seattle, Washington, USA

Photo above is property of The Escape Artist

Photo above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Spell Struck!
📅 DATE PLAYED: June 4, 2022
🎬 GENRE: Magic, Witches
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 7/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 PPL (Suggest 3-4PPL)
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins
💰 PRICE: $36-45/PP (pending on group size)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

You are hiking on a familiar trail, but somehow seem to get strangely turned around and end up somewhere you don’t recognize. Now it’s getting dark, you’re not sure how to get back, and the woods are seeming none too friendly. A mysterious woman finds you and warns you of a dangerous coven of witches known to inhabit these woods! She kindly offers you the use of her cabin for the night to keep safe. But as you enter and the lock clicks behind you, you fear you’ve been tricked! Can you escape the cabin before the witches arrive and sacrifice you to fuel their dark magic?

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

The classic witchy vibe was a fun change from the “Harry Potter” - type rooms you often see with spell-based names! I appreciated it having a somewhat spooky story without it actually being horror/scary.
The decor, particularly in one area, was quite memorable and set the scene really well, and there was some fun tech. One piece in particular also gave a great, magical “reveal” in response to solving one of the puzzles! It definitely fulfilled some of my potion-brewing dreams!
There is a nice variety of puzzles, which facilitate good teamwork, as well as some creative spell-casting. One of our hints came from not searching thoroughly enough, so be sure to keep your eyes out!

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

There was a puzzle that we completed that resulted in a very clear response. However, we were left thinking that we had only half completed the task and there must be a second part, which was not the case. We were able to quickly confirm this with our GM via the handy walkie-talkie, but it’s possible that this could be more obvious.
There was also one puzzle where we somehow discovered a piece before we should have been able to, which led to us skipping a puzzle and some future confusion. Apparently this is very unusual.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

“Spell Struck!” has fun, spooky vibe that would be perfect for Halloween (or any other day you’re looking for a bit of creepy, supernatural fun), but this is not a scary game. It would certainly be appealing for many kids ages 11+ (the minimum age to play), though they would likely need help with some of the more challenging puzzles. The game is located up a set of stairs, and there is small amount of bending/crawling required. The Escape Artist has crafted a magically engaging experience with some great surprises and memorable moments. If you are ready to cast some spells and fight the dark magic, grab your wand and prepare to be spell-struck!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

There is a lobby/waiting area where you check in and have your rules/intro, with lockers, seating, and a coat rack. You can get a key for the bathroom that is down the hall and up the stairs. There is a paid lot right behind the building, as well as street parking in the area. If you are not from Seattle, be aware that traffic to West Seattle is a challenge until they finish construction on the bridge, so allow plenty of time to get there!

Photos above are property of The Escape Artist

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(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 The Escape Artist for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.