RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 11:52
There’s gold in them there hills – and we’re certainly in a rush to get our hands on it!
Gold Rush is a remote play version of an existing, physical escape game at the venue’s brick and mortar location – retrofitted to be offered as a live, online experience. Although altered slightly to better flow in this new medium, the game is, at it’s core, essentially the same as what guests will find should they visit The Escape Game in person. To read our Pro-Tips on how to best enjoy this new Remote Play genre, click here.
For nearly two centuries, the hope of gold has lured people to the hills of Northern California. No one was captivated more than Clyde Hamilton, a greedy gold prospector who loved to gamble.
Clyde made too many bets with the wrong crowd and now he’s missing. You’ve been tipped off to where he stashed his gold.. but so has the mob. Find it first!
After a long trek through the digital mountains, gold prospectors reach Clyde Hamilton’s cabin in the woods. His current whereabouts are unknown, but one thing is for sure: he’s got gold – lot’s of it – stashed away somewhere nearby.
The team of treasure hunters has some inside info that Clyde may be hiding his riches right beneath this very cabin. He has left a trail of puzzles and challenges that protect his secret. Any person who dares attempt to make off with his hard earned gold will have to first crack his conundrums.
Seeing as this is a highly dangerous mission, one member of the team has been selected to do the actual breaking in while the rest of the group directs them from afar.
The Escape Game has a reputation of crafting detailed scenic that solidly transports adventurers into the storyworld of their games. Gold Rush is no exception.
Upon reaching the mountainside cabin, prospectors are greeted by a forested space filled with woodland animals. The exterior of a log cabin is locked up tightly, but a window allows a glimpse inside giving a taste of what’s to come.
The interior of the cabin is appropriately decorated with hunting trophies, a bear skin rug, and a large fireplace to keep the cold away during the long Northern California winters. Rumors of Clyde Hamilton’s secret gold mine lead prospectors on a hunt for the access point – a highlight that becomes one of the many memorable moments in Gold Rush.
The hidden mine is authentic down to the dirt. Literally. Tracks for a mine cart cross over the gravel covered floor and lead to a stash of the precious ore that is tantalizingly out of reach. All wood and steel materials give this space a rustic and gritty appearances that perfectly matches the atmosphere of the storyworld.
The forward momentum through each distinct space creates a solid and compelling story flow that truly does carry a sense of adventure.
Showcasing an entirely intuitive flow from start to finish, Gold Rush succeeds in telling a story through its puzzles and challenges. Each space within the game has a series of tasks that so perfectly fit the narrative they become totally believable steps in finding Clyde’s gold.
With the exception of one moment that teeters dangerously close to being too math heavy, there are no puzzles for puzzles sake to be found in Gold Rush. Each action fits the storyworld and helps to further the adventure in an organic manner, making for a truly immersive and exciting experience.
Gold Rush benefits from several fun “ah ha!” moments that provide a satisfying sense of achievement and advancement through the game. With clearly defined “checkpoints” along the way, prospectors can truly appreciate how the puzzle track is bringing them closer and closer to locating the hidden gold.
Gold Rush starts of strong with it’s puzzles and never lets up, finishing with a bang that will keep adventurers talking well after the game has ended.
The Escape Game has built a reputation as being one of the top chain companies in the country. Gold Rush is a clear example of why that is an accurate label. A well fleshed out storyworld pairs with quality scenic and intuitive puzzles to create a fun game that instills a true sense of adventure. While some puzzles have been slightly altered or removed altogether to accommodate remote play, the overall experience is not at all harmed.
In true TEG fashion, Gold Rush uses the company’s own remote play platform that was built specifically for this medium. A themed portal connects guests to the prospector at the cabin. Built into the system is an area that displays inventory items for all to see throughout the game. There is no need to switch between windows or manually add items as that is all taken care of behind the scenes. This provides for a streamlined experience that allows would be gold prospectors to immerse themselves into the storyworld completely.
*Montu, Escape Authority’s VP, Dog Business™ and lead home game correspondent endorses the opinions found within this review.
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Venue: The Escape Game
Location: Remote online play at home, broadcast live from Chicago, IL (and several other TEG venues)
Number of Remote Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 7 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $28 + tax/per person
We thank The Escape Game for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.