RATING: 5 Keys          RESULT: Win           REMAINING: 22:00

An ancient Mayan tomb, a tightly sealed door, and only one way out; to venture deeper into the ruins!

You and your group of explorers came across an ancient tomb. While investigating the tomb, one of you accidentally triggered a trap and now you are locked in the tomb. Can you unlock the secrets and get out in time?

We should know better by now than to go exploring random ancient tombs, but the mysteries behind the massive stone doors are too tempting to be left unchecked.

Locked inside a Mayan ruin, puzzles left by a civilization 1,500 years ago test our worthiness. Will we escape or become just another heap of bones rotting alongside the many others who came before us?

The first glimpse explorers get of the Mayan Tomb is before their experience even begins. Adventurers are briefed outside the entrance of the tomb, and if the exterior of these ruins are any indication of what awaits inside, they are about to embark on a truly beautiful expedition.

Moss and vegetation cover the intricately detailed stone walls, and a heavy carved door entices anyone brave enough to enter.

The scenic inside Mayan Tomb only builds upon the expectations set out in the beginning. Each new chamber is more detailed and immersive than the last. The environment created within the walls of the tomb is so believable that players may quickly forget they are in an escape game.

One small issue with the scenic very slightly diminished the ability to fully suspend disbelief. There are several drums on the wall that need to be manipulated at one point during the game. When rotated, an opening is revealed that can be looked through. The back of this opening goes outside of the game space and reveals the backstage area of the venue. A fix to this issue would make the entire experience fully immersive.

What really stands out with the scenic here is that it is not only believable, it is artistically beautiful. Every last inch of the game space, from the walls, to the props, to the floor – which may at one point be about as sturdy as expected from an ancient ruin – is thoughtfully designed to fit the storyworld.

If we could change one thing about Mayan Tomb, it would be the hint delivery system. A TV screen is glaringly out of place inside an ancient ruin. While it would be much more difficult to implement, a talking stone head on the wall, similar to what they have on display in their lobby, would be the absolute perfect in-game guide for when explorers need that little nudge in the right direction.

From the very beginning of the game, explorers are faced with a variety of challenges. Visual, auditory, and physical puzzles combine to make this a very well-rounded experience.

Although Mayan Tomb has fewer steps to complete than some escape games, each task is creatively woven into the storyworld and requires abstract thinking to complete.

Spread throughout the multiple chambers of these ancient ruins, explorers will be wowed with several great “ah ha!” moments. Teamwork is absolutely crucial at several stages of the exploration, leading to very satisfying moments of group success.

The flow was a bit slow at the very beginning of the game, but as we progressed through the tomb our intuition evolved, allowing us to think like the ancient civilization who set these traps for us. Once overcoming the initial slow down, the puzzles flowed from one to the next in a smooth and connected manner.

Mayan Tomb culminates in a physical puzzle that is counter-intuitive in the perfect way. This last challenge again requires teamwork and communication. If adventurers try to rush through the task they will almost surely find themselves having to restart more than once. If they can put aside the stress of being trapped in an ancient tomb, freedom is right around the corner!

Mad Escape Room Challenge knocks another one out of the park with Mayan Tomb. It is a wonderful thing when a game blends phenomenal scenic, quality puzzles, and a storyworld players can easily jump fully in to. Mayan Tomb hits all of those marks, helping Mad Escape Room Challenge earn its place among the best venues in the region.

The puzzles in this game are fewer in number and a bit more abstract in nature compared to those in the experience across the hall, Bank Heist. This difference makes for the perfect opportunity to pair the games together, and get the best of both worlds!

Mad Escape Room Challenge will eventually have six games at this venue, with possible plans to expand beyond that in the future. The level of quality seen here makes us very excited to see what they have in store next!

Note that this venue was orignally branded as The Great Escape Room Challenge and has since changed names to Mad Escape Room Challenge.

Venue: Mad Escape Room Challenge

Location: Cherry Hill, NJ

Number of Games: 4

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 8 people

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

Cost: $28 per person (Adults) / $22 per person (Ages 5-17)