RATING: 5 Keys          RESULT: Win          REMAINING: 3:25

It is finally someone else’s turn to go explore an Egyptian tomb.

Mystery at Maryweather Mansion 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 Looking Glass Adventures in person. To read our Pro-Tips on how to best enjoy this new Remote Play genre, click here.

Ms. Maryweather is a world renowned archaeologist and explorer. Upon her current travels, she has received word that her collection of artifacts is in jeopardy. She has asked for help, you and your team will have 1 hour to navigate through her stately manor and try to find the most prized possession. You need to make some choices to decide what it is that she wants protected the most.

As the infamous explorer has been busy on her many adventures around the globe, rumors have been circulating that her most prized possession is in grave danger. Local robbers have gained intelligence on her dwelling’s coordinates, and they know that she is not home to stop intruders.

Ms. Maryweather does not have enough time to fly back home and hide the artifact herself, so she has asked a local student to do it for her before it is too late. The loyal pupil needs some outside help to scour through the the mansion and find the prized possession.

Apparently purple is Ms. Maryweather’s favorite color – it is the prominent hue of her estate. The mansion contains many antique furniture pieces, but a door with lime green trim gives it some cartoony flair.

The home looks exactly like what you would expect from a renowned adventurer. The walls are decorated with plates and pictures from many different countries, and an oriental rug lays on the floor in front of a floral couch. One of the more impressive pieces is a large old-timey radio standing against a wall.

Digging deeper into the home, we find two large tapestries with the Egyptian gods Horus and Anubis painted on them. There are more framed pictures collected from around the world and even a suit of armor. Where all has Ms. Maryweather traveled?

Ms. Maryweather does not want just anyone to be able to find her valuable treasure, so she has left cryptic clues in her estate that only her students would understand. Along the way, her pupils encounter ancient artifacts, post cards, and other possessions from around the globe. While some of the puzzles be in ways recognizable to enthusiasts, the steps all fit into the narrative of navigating an explorer’s home.

The linear flow of Mystery at Maryweather Mansion works exceptionally well in the digital medium. While a pencil and paper could help during this adventure, there is never an abundance of information to juggle all at once. The would-be adventurers are not needlessly pulled away from the experience trying to remember items found along the way.

The tasks throughout Mystery at Maryweather Mansion are approachable to families and explorers new to the escape room genre. Although some of the steps will be on the easy side for enthusiasts, there are enough clever moments to satisfy even the most experienced players.

Mystery at Maryweather Mansion may look like just another escape room from the outside. However, as the saying goes, “don’t judge a book by its cover”. There are many surprises throughout the adventure that are just plain fun to solve, and every step intuitively connects to the next one. The experience is also packed with enough content in order to escape with just a few minutes on the clock.

Looking Glass Adventures has designed an experience that will not only make newcomers want to sink their teeth into more escape rooms, but will also satisfy the enthusiast crowd. The house is easy to search with no impossible to find objects, and the puzzles intuitively connect to one another. The avatar inside the manor remains in character and discovers things alongside the players at home, so she is truly an extension of the team. Ms. Maryweather will be happy to know once her prized possession is safely tucked away.

*Montu, Escape Authority’s VP, Dog Business™ and lead home game correspondent endorses the opinions found within this review.

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Venue: Looking Glass Adventures

Location: Remote online play at home, broadcast live from Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Number of Remote Games: 2

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 1-8 people

Group Type: Private  / You will not be paired with strangers.

Cost: $25 CAD per person (minimum 4)

We thank Looking Glass Adventures for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.