RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 12:00
One night… one fight… never say Uncle!
Distant dogs bark. The street is quiet and the moon illuminates the old metal door to the Brotherly Love Boxing Club, in Olde City, Philadelphia…
It’s 1988 and you are “The Midnighters,” a group of mischievous kids from the neighborhood. From your legendary break-in at the local arcade, to that time you snuck a “Midnighter’s” jacket on the statue of William Penn at City Hall, you feel like you’ve accomplished it all. Tonight, however, awaits your greatest adventure.
A moon rock gifted from NASA for Philadelphia’s 1976 bicentennial time capsule has been missing for over a decade. To this day, “The Heist of ‘79” remains an unsolved mystery. Urban legend has it that your crazy Uncle Mick, owner of the Brotherly Love Boxing Club, was in on the job. For years you’ve listen to your grandpa spill his suspicions about Mick having the time capsule stashed away in his gym…but no one’s ever had the guts to sneak in successfully to find out.
With recent headlines reporting the value of lunar rocks soaring on the black market, time is running out to recover the moon. Break into the old boxing club and follow where the mystery leads you as you try to uncover the undiscoverable in this Stranger Things meets Goonies-style adventure…but watch out because ol’ Mick’s probably already expecting you…
A storyworld overflowing with Philadelphia culture and 80’s nostalgia throws The Midnighters into an adventure they won’t soon forget. Uncle Mick is on his way back to the club, so there’s no time to waste!
Immediately upon entering the Brotherly Love Boxing Club, new members of The Midnighters are transported deeply into the world of a 1988 Philadelphia gym. Beat up lockers, benches, a punching bag and speed bag to get the heart rate up, and an abundance of posters advertising past and future fights provide an extremely authentic atmosphere. The only thing missing is the musty smell of years worth of sweat.
Uncle Mick runs a clean operation, but with his moon rock thieving past he of course has some secrets hidden in his gym. The magic of those secrets is so well disguised that it becomes easy to forget this is an escape game. The impressive scenic is consistent from start to finish, building the narrative and growing the lore that surrounds the club.
The set design is covered with puzzles, but each so seamlessly blends with the environment, making them only discernible as more than just scenic once enough information is available. One of the hallmarks of a 5 Key game is an immersive scenic that transports players into the storyworld, blurring the lines between reality and game. Olde City Escape Games absolutely nailed it here.
While The Midnighters shines in scenic, it excels in puzzles. The entirety of the game is a smooth, logical, satisfying, and fun flow of challenges.
The tasks required to locate Uncle Mick’s hidden moon rock are varied in nature and difficulty. One common attribute that ties them all together is that they are never just a puzzle for puzzles sake. This makes it very easy to slip into the world that Olde City Escape Games has created here, letting reality – and the fact that this is actually an escape game – fade away for an hour.
A perfect mix of combination locks, keys, well hidden tech, and unique tricks makes this a memorable experience. Each puzzle fits the storyworld in a logical way, further building upon the reality that this is actually a gym with secrets to uncover.
Combination locks are only found on lockers. Tech is used in ways that it would be in the real world. Scenic elements that at first appear to be just that eventually become puzzles as the story unfolds. Audio clues and phone calls use quality voice acting in a humorous and effective manner.
Most importantly, many of the puzzles leave The Midnighters gang laughing with satisfaction. The tasks lead to several fantastic “Ah-Ha!” moments, great reveals, and a desire to dive deeper into the world of the Brotherly Love Boxing Club.
The Midnighters has been on our radar for quite some time. It absolutely lived up to the hype as it provided an immensely fun experience. A unique story, detailed and quality scenic, and fantastic puzzles all come together to create something truly special. It is one of those games where it is hard to pick a favorite part because there are so many contenders, while also being difficult to select a least favorite part because, well, there weren’t any.
One of the best compliments a product in this industry can receive is that guests don’t feel like they are in an escape room while playing the game. That is definitively the case here.
Olde City Escape Games designs their adventures in-house. The creativity of the team is on full display as they showcase a unique approach to deliver a fun experience. With a brand new game opening in the not-to-distant future, as well as possible plans for further expansion, this is without a doubt one company to keep an eye on.
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Venue: Olde City Escape Games
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Number of Games: 2
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 10 people
Group Type: Public / You may be paired with strangers.
Cost: $30 per person ($45pp to book privately)
We thank Olde City Escape Games for inviting us to play this game. Although a discounted admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.