RATING: 3 Keys          RESULT: Win          REMAINING: +0:45*

Sometimes even the world’s greatest detective needs a little help.

Dr. John Watson has called upon you because you are some of the finest detectives in the area.

Sherlock has gotten himself into a bit of a conundrum and needs your help.  The game is afoot!

Sherlock has gone missing while attempting to crack his latest case, but we hardly have the time to focus on helping him once we learn Moriarty’s men are on their way *for us!* With only one access point into The Study, we’ll need to find some other way to escape before they arrive.

Luckily, we’re not in this alone, as Sherlock’s personal driver stayed behind to not only act as look-out against the impending arrival of Moriarty and his goons, but also lend a helping hand in our quest to solve what could be the greatest mystery of all. After all, who has heard more of Sherlock’s thought process than his personal driver himself!

221B’s Study – though at its core an “office game” – transformed itself into another time period through the use of vintage-looking wallpaper and ornate furnishings.

The space felt distinctly Sherlock’s, with a large desk as its focal point in front of an old fire place. A book shelf well stocked with research material no doubt has helped our Master Detective crack more than one case. In one corner, a chess game set up because even Holmes himself deserves a break from time to time.

As with all of their games, 221B The Study also features a (this time not-so-) hidden goat!

221B The Study treated us to a healthy mix of tech driven and more basic puzzles, creating a flow that both fits the theme well without feeling out-dated. It also provides a satisfying mix that appeals to both a newer player as well as more seasoned ones like ourselves.

The puzzles in this game – appropriately – are far more of the logic-driven variety, requiring thought and analyzation. This provides a great balance when compared to the venue’s second original game, Camp Echo – which itself featured far more physical and activity-based puzzles.

The best venues find a balance between their game offerings, leaving each to feel like a unique, stand-alone attraction. Escape Goat definitely checks those boxes.

221B The Study was Escape Goat’s very first game, and marked a solid outing into the Orlando market. Their use of character-based game masters in the room finds a really healthy balance between an actor in the room and more straightforward game-play, allowing it to appeal to both sides of the “games with actors” preference spectrum.  Being of the camp that very much enjoys a good actor- 221B The Study makes a good use of theirs without becoming burdensome to the gameplay experience. For those who prefer to be left alone while they play, you will also likely be pleased that this approach offers “the flavor” of theatrics without ever getting in the way of your progress.

Perhaps most impressive to us is the constant evolution and improvement that Escape Goat has shown since the day we first played 221B The Study prior to their grand opening. Not only are they constantly polishing and improving their existing games, but new game has been even better than the one before it. There’s no doubt that this is a venue that truly cares about quality and strives to always create the highest caliber experience possible for their guests.

This venue is everything we love to see — a family run mom & pop establishment where literally everyone plays a part – in some cases literally. The amount of passion and pride in their product is evident and infectious. You’d be hard pressed to visit and not leave happy.

Venue:  Escape Goat

Location: Winter Garden, Florida

Number of Games: 3

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 6 people

Group Type: Public  / You may be paired with strangers.

Cost: $28 per person