The Hidden Story x Thorn & Key - "Once in a Speakeasy: In Pursuit of Love"

LOCATION:  Singapore

Photo above is property of The Hidden Story

Photos above are property of The Hidden Story

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📝  ETR DECODER

• 🔑 GAME: Once in a Speakeasy - In Pursuit of Love

• 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 20, 2025

• 🎬 GENRE: Romance, Speakeasy, 1920's

• 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 1 ppl): 4/10

• 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 2 ppl

• 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: ~30 Mins.

• 💰 PRICE: SGD 48+/ pp

• ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public - Prebookings encouraged - Patrons can play the game after purchase of “Layers of Love” cocktails

• 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Star-crossed lovers Lily and Robert have this one chance to run away together. Finding her way to their secret speakeasy, Lily will have to find the clues Robert left for her - then make the choice of whether to do so under vintage Tiffany lamps, authentic Peranakan furniture, and evocative paintings. All of which they need to do before Lily’s father comes to stop her.

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

• Straightforward mission - You start with a note which spells out your end stage and gives you a logo that appears through the mission, serving to differentiate anchor items from regular accessories or furniture in the space.

• Subconsciously immersive details - One thing I mentioned to the game’s creator was how clever setting this story in a speakeasy was. Playing the role of someone thinking of running away with her lover, setting the game at a place only the both of them will know about, away from public sight, just adds more immersion to the story.

• Push the observation buttons - Here’s a tip I’ve learnt with this experience - the more you rush, the less you see. Different from those in self-contained rooms, a game set in a publicly-accessible place pushes us to take our time and focus on details in the space that we would usually gloss over.
  

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

• Symbol clarity - One of the puzzles could easily confuse players who may not notice or are not able to differentiate between depictions of certain items in the bar. Having photos of similar puzzle pieces and their surrounding items during this puzzle stage will help greatly.

• Space invasion - Take note that you might have to step into the spaces of other patrons if the bar is crowded - one of the clues will require finding information close to the walls (where patrons can be seated - so do be polite with other patrons!).
  

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

If I had friends who wanted to dip their feet into puzzle hunts or escape rooms, but without the pressure of being in an actual room, this would be an experience I would recommend as a start.

And what better to help you relax during your first few (or otherwise) escape experiences than the experience-aligned, crafted cocktails that will trigger the series of puzzles? Enjoy the hints of citrus in bright grenadine or beach-like blue curacao with either gin or rum as you attempt to bring this woman to the decision she ultimately needs to take.

On a final note, this game is an experience that was only available until 15 March 2025. If you’re in the area and want a little experience to go with your cocktail night, head up to The Hidden Story and ask for the “Layers of Love” package to get the game going!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

• Players who succeed in “escaping” also qualify for a lucky draw at the end of the game’s run - and can stand to win prizes from several of the game’s sponsors.

• Finally, this game will be running for a limited amount of time, so check out Thorn & Key’s Instagram for news on future games (and the locations they will be collaborating with, among others).

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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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 Thorn & Key for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.

#JoelynAlexandra #IRLEscapeRoom #PuzzleHunt #TheHiddenStory #ThornandKey #Romance #Singapore