Review: Austin Panic Room - Cabin Fever

RATING: 3 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 12:25

Who knew a blizzard could be so… quiet?

Story

A fierce blizzard has hit your secluded ski resort! So much for that relaxing trip. Caught in the snow, you and your friends were forced to take shelter in a nearby cabin. But beware! The old wooden structure can only stand the brunt of the storm for so long. Can you find a way to save yourself and your companions? Or, will you succumb to the fury of the blizzard?

We just wanted to enjoy our skiing trip, but someone forgot to check the weather report. We have luckily found a warm cabin to thaw our bodies off while the blizzard is pounding on the roof and only getting stronger. Unfortunately, this shelter does not look too sturdy, so we must find a way to dig ourselves out of the snow.

While the narrative in Cabin Fever is fairly simply, it is at least one we do not see too many times in the escape game genre. It almost goes without saying that any theme that strays from the norm will pique our interest. Unfortunately, some parts of the game fall short to fully immerse us in our impeding doom.

Scenic

Cabin Fever takes place in a two story cabin that has an authentic feel and smell to it. There’s a couch pointed at a television and a chess board in the corner to keep its inhabitants occupied. There is plenty of decor on the walls without feeling too distracting.

There is a pantry stocked with numerous types of canned vegetables, which is especially useful in the current situation. We need to keep our stomachs full if we want to have any chance of surviving the storm.

The room upstairs is smaller, but it still has a cabin feel to it. However, the fake window bolted onto the wall looks out of place. We would have preferred something more realistic – like a real window. There is a radio on a desk that gives us hope that we will be able to communicate to the outside world.

Puzzles

The puzzles in Cabin Fever are a mixed bag. Some of them help to further the narrative of being stuck in a blizzard, while others are just puzzles for puzzle’s sake. Most of the tasks are enjoyable, but there is also nothing groundbreaking.

The game starts off non-linear, but it progresses into a linear game towards the finale, which causes most of the team to be standing around without any way to contribute. There is one specific step that is a bit of a stretch in logic, so we required a hint to understand how to approach it.

Cabin Fever contains mostly searching, observation, and deduction steps. The game is on the easier side, so it is approachable for beginners to escape rooms. Overall

Austin Panic Room has created an overall enjoyable experience. The look and feel of the cabin are mostly impressive with a few exceptions. Unfortunately, there is not too much of a story or anything that furthers the narrative. Where are the sounds of the whistling wind and snow pounding on the structure?

Cabin Fever ends on a weak note, which will always sour an experience no matter what came before it. If Austin Panic Room had created a stronger ending and a more immersive environment through sounds and other elements, the game could have been significantly more engaging. Austin has several highly immersive games, which causes Cabin Fever to feel a little cold in comparison.