Virtual Escaping - "Detention"

Updated: Apr 28

Photo above is property of Virtual Escaping

Company: Virtual Escaping

Game: Detention

Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱

Language: English, Dutch

Type of Game: Point-N-Click 🖱️

Genre: Adventure

Date Played: April 23, 2022

Difficulty (based on 5 players): 5/10

Size of Team: Up to 6 Devices

Time: 90 Mins. (Normal version)

Price: $28.00/ team

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As the semester reaches a close, you are feeling the exhaustion of homework, papers, and tests piling up on you. After another all-nighter, you nod off in class thinking it’ll just be a quick resting of the eyes… except when you jolt back awake you find that your classroom looks quite different. As you look around the room, you realise the school has been abandoned! With locked classrooms, chained doors, and no power, you must search the halls to find the clues to help you figure out what has happened and figure out a way to return back to your reality!

Video above is property of Virtual Escaping

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Each member of your team is required to sign up on Virtual Escaping's website before inputting the group code provided in an email after you purchase your game. Through their website you will be connected with your group via Jitsi (a video/ audio platform built into the game) once the introduction video plays through - no need for Skype or Zoom! After all the players are logged into the game, you have an option to play an easier version (un-timed) and a harder version (90 mins). This point-n-click adventure takes place across rooms and hallways in an abandoned school with the goal of unlocking various doors and lockers. I couldn’t help but stop and admire the details in the game animation from the rough looking bathroom to the worn out teacher’s desk. Once one member has solved a puzzle, other teammates are notified and have access to whatever was discovered. So make sure to keep everyone in the loop via the built-in communication screens. I also recommend that you have your group spread out across the different scenes to help cover more ground and share information. When you get stuck, there are hints available in the top right corner.

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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The puzzles for this game generally consisted of four digit locks and four letter locks but they had a creative way to solve each. In addition, they broke up the patterns with intermingling of puzzles where you also plugged in special codes but they were thematic and relevant to the story. Like the previous game that we played, the game started off gradually with a lot of searching to then having pattern recognition, tracking, and logic puzzles that kept my group moving around the game quite a lot. The key thing to remember is to check all areas of the rooms and to look for visual sign posts that match locks you have seen. Some of the clues needed can be easily missed so don’t be afraid to click away! I really enjoyed the thematic puzzles that used regular items that you would find in schools like phones, games, and filing cabinets. I think we got the most “aha''s from cracking these more challenging puzzles. Overall, I found that this game combination of theme and puzzles was engaging and collaborative for my group!

Photos above are property of Virtual Escaping

🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂

"Detention" consisted of beautiful animations, an interesting premise, and thematic puzzles that made for an enjoyable experience that consistently had our group stopping to review how each member solved a puzzle. This game is a great option for groups looking for a smooth virtual gaming experience that can easily be completed in an hour (our group took about 40 minutes). Once again, I am impressed with Virtual Escaping games and cannot wait to see what more they offer!

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(If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank Virtual Escaping for providing us with a sample of the game. Although complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.