RATING: 5 Keys          RESULT: Win          REMAINING: 4:21

“The Puzzlemaster” has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.

You are federal agents tracking the notorious international criminal known only as “The Puzzlemaster”. After several years of investigation, you have finally found his hidden lair. You are moving in to take him down, but now the question looms: have you trapped him, or has he trapped you?

The story is introduced through an extremely well-crafted and entertaining video clip, and is evident throughout the entire game. The Puzzlemaster consistently reminds detectives of his presence by taunting them over the room’s intercom system.

The game’s theme seems to draw inspiration from the classic whodunit “Pink Panther”, albeit with many unique twists of its own. Investigators are tasked both with stopping The Puzzlemaster and determining his identity once and for all. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the progression of the storyworld throughout the game.

Upon entering the Puzzlemaster’s den, detectives are greeted with a highly ominous message, and the room begins to fill with presumably poisonous gas. This introduction establishes a massive sense of urgency among adventurers.

The first space is extremely well-decorated. The high-quality furniture, wooden wall paneling, interesting artwork, and area rugs enhance the formal ambiance. One set piece leads to a truly shocking reveal that investigators will never see coming. The next space is equally well-acquainted, although its design could not be more different. The concrete floor and unfinished walls add an authentic feel to the lair.

One complaint about the design in the Las Vegas location is that there are no true ceilings, so it is easy to hear individuals talking in neighboring rooms. This slightly detracts from the game’s immersion factor. This simple issue is an easy fix; a bit of soundproofing would resolve it entirely.

Puzzle design is definitely Lair of the Puzzlemaster’s strongest feature. From the first challenge to the last, every single task connects directly to the storyworld, and makes complete sense in sequence. The game progresses from a logical starting point to an equally logical conclusion, and completing many of the game’s tasks provides detectives with an immense sense of satisfaction.

Trapped! Escape Room tends to find an excellent balance between the use of innovative technology and simple mechanics in their games. Lair of the Puzzlemaster is no exception to this rule, as puzzles of various technological prowess are equally entertaining.

It is of paramount importance to pay attention to what clues have already been discovered and what tasks have already been completed. The game’s penultimate puzzle rewards those who organize and keep track of their progression. Fortunately for those of us who did not remember their progression and could not retrace their steps, there is a highly clever alternative path to redemption.

Trapped! Escape Room recommends three individuals to successfully complete Lair of the Puzzlemaster. We requested to play with just two, and they allowed us to, with the caveat that one puzzle would likely be frustrating for two individuals to complete, no matter how experienced they are with escape games. This certainly reigned true, and we would strongly encourage bringing at least three detectives to take down the Puzzlemaster in order to avoid agitation.

Trapped! Escape Room has produced yet another excellent game with Lair of the Puzzlemaster. A strong storyworld, excellent scenery, and well-crafted puzzle design come together to produce a unique and exceedingly entertaining adventure.

Adventures at Trapped! Escape Room tend to be very solid across the board. This was definitely the case in Lair of the Puzzlemaster. While nothing stood out as truly groundbreaking, each component of the game was very well-crafted, and combined to form a terrific escape game experience.

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Venue: Trapped!

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Number of Games: 3

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 8 people

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

Cost: $35 per person