Trapped! Escape Room Upland - "The Trials of Merlin"

Dave Bristol

Jun 27, 20244 min read

LOCATION:  Upland, California, USA

Photo above is property of Trapped! Escape Room Upland

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: The Trials of Merlin
📅 DATE PLAYED: April 25, 2024
🎬 GENRE: Fantasy
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-8 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins
💰 PRICE: $42.00 - $45.00/ pp (depending on day of the week)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Long ago, there was a great evil that existed in our world. The wizard Merlin and his cohort used their powers to dispel this evil. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and the evil force has found a way back. As Merlin and his companions are no longer around in human form, they have left behind a series of trials that, should you prove yourself worthy, will show you the way to defeat this evil and banish it from the land once more.

Video above is property of Trapped! Escape Room Upland

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

This is a room about magic, and you will be performing a wide range of magical stunts! Potion making, spell casting, conjuring, teleportation - so many key elements are represented; it is Dungeons & Dragons come to life!
There are some very cool set pieces and surprising reveals, adding to the 'whoa!' factor.
It featured adaptive difficulty in such a smooth way that we weren't even aware that it was being implemented, outside of a feeling of 'oh good we get to use that too!' (While we evidently did end up getting all the puzzles, we could imagine ways that they could implement removal of some of the puzzles without making people realize that they had missed out.)
While there are many things to do, the room keeps the action moving forward at a good pace so you won't feel cramped for time or fear you're missing something.
The GM has several fun 'roles' through which they can interact with you - not just for hints and nudges, either. This was a cute touch that made the game even more entertaining.
Between the props (even some costumes), tangible objects to work with, and large set pieces, it is a very fun and whimsical room to play. For instance, the grimoires and tomes provided had an authentic feel, enriching the experience. The ending takes an unexpected turn, providing an excellent conclusion!

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

There is one very cool segment that didn't last long enough for us to take in every aspect - it could've been stretched out to allow for more participation and appreciation.
The game is quite linear, so larger groups will want to take turns with the various tasks. Too big of a group will have people standing around watching the fun.
Tech wasn't always responsive in anticipated timeframes or manners, so we weren't always sure if we had done something right and needed to wait, or wrong and needed to rethink things. There were also a few situations where a bit more signposting would have been helpful.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

If you've ever dreamed of being a wizard, now's your chance! Lovers of fantasy and spell-casting will find this charming. The physically interactive nature of most of the puzzles makes it well suited for kids, parties, and groups who are new to escape rooms. Seasoned veterans who can let go of their need for brain-busting puzzles will be able to enjoy the fanciful fun of upskilling their wizard side. While it’s listed as a minimum of 3, it seems like you might be able to make 2 work (but check with Trapped and anticipate paying for 3). It is definitely a delightful, whimsical experience with a memorable conclusion!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Trapped is on the second floor of a complex and was a bit tricky to find.
GPS got us to the parking lot, we just had to keep our eyes open from there to find it in building B.
Plenty of parking all around, and there is a bathroom around the back (just grab the key from the lobby).
The lobby is small (as were the lockers), with drinks and merch available for purchase and a couple simple puzzles for while you wait.
They have two other locations (San Dimas, CA and Las Vegas, NV) with different experiences at each one, worth checking out if you travel out west.

🔎 HINT

Keep things you've used in mind, as they may be relevant again later!

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more:

Video above is 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 Trapped! Escape Room Upland for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.