Review: The Escape Warehouse

RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 16:57

A horrific twist to a timeless childhood game—what’s the worst thing that could happen?

Story

All he ever wanted to do was play a game. Now it’s his turn. You’ve been kidnapped and set up to play the ultimate game of hide & seek at an abandoned house where your capturer is attempting to relive his lost childhood. With 60 minutes until he comes to find you, use the countdown to find a way out. If you run out of time, then you better hide well.

Can you escape this thriller before he seeks you for the last time?

All Owen ever wanted was to play a game of hide and seek. Well now that he’s older, that innocent desire has morphed into something much worse. It seems like no one willingly plays with a middle aged creepy man, so he’s resorted to kidnapping his participants. After being abducted, blindfolded, and left in a dark room, there’s sixty minutes to escape his house. When time is up, Owen will finally get to live out his twisted childhood dream as the seeker in this horrific game no one signed up for.

With only an hour to make it out, those held captive will have to uncover and navigate the hidden passageways throughout the home. As Owen watches, his impatience grows. He’s ready to seek, and those trapped may soon be taunted by the hollowing sounds of his favorite song—’Ready or not, here I come… I’m gonna find you, and I’m gonna take it slowly.’

Scenic

Immediately after being left blindfolded, Owen’s captives find themselves alone in an unknown location with no obvious way out. This isolated place is hidden deep in the home to keep victims unseen. After finding a way out of this space, participants are acquainted by Owen’s bedroom. What’s to be seen are the looks of a teenager’s messy sleeping quarters from the ’80s. From the record player on his nightstand playing some of his favorite tracks, to the old drawings on the wall, it doesn’t seem like he has changed much since his schooldays.

While exploring the house, victims are likely to find the unsettling remnants of previous players. These uncanny sights all evidence the absolute necessity to escape quickly.

One place that might be uncovered in the desperate search for escape is the attic. Owen’s darkest thoughts take form in this unique space of solitude. From journal entries, to tools and equipment, this attic is more than just uncovered insulating foam and wooden framing. This vantage point is just what Owen needs to watch, wait, and meticulously plan every sinister move he makes.

Puzzles

Many interactions in Hide + Seek rely on low tech mechanics, incorporating everyday objects Owen uses. As kidnapping victims work to find a way out, they will make troubling discoveries as more information about his childhood is given.

Most of these challenges are straight forward yet engaging and entertaining from start to finish. New opportunities for discovery continuously reshape the experience, making it feel more and more like a real kidnappers house.

A certain task within the home requires someone to get their hands wet. While the setting is naturally grimy and messy, Hide + Seek never feels uncomfortably dirty. Unlike some experiences that may leave some dirty, everything needed to dry off and clean up is there for Owen’s guests after.

Those in search of an exit may find fragments of past victims left behind. This unique feature brings an added layer of realism to the game while still serving its original purpose.

Overall

While many may not want to play hide and seek under these circumstances, there’s no choice—it’s time to play Owen’s twisted game. Kidnapping victims are thrown into an unknown space and know only one rule: escape before time runs out. Owen has set up many challenges for his participants, and along the way, signs of those who never made it out lie as grim reminders of the consequences of not making it out.

Like Shhh!, Hide + Seek continues to display the The Escape Warehouse’s ability to masterfully combine an interesting narrative with detailed and expansive sets, all while being tied together by exciting interactions. The environment feels alive, with every place uncovering more of Owen’s story. Even with the mounting fear of his return, every moment inside the house is engaging. Whether it be uncovering new areas or making troubling discoveries about the kidnapper, each second is tense yet exciting.