RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 15:38
Smell the adventure, listen for clues, and prove you’ve got wild instincts on your first day on the job!
Welcome to your first day as the newest Zookeeper in-training. Today, Zookeeper Jones will lead you through our accelerated training program filled with numerous puzzles and tests which are designed to teach you all that you need to know about the animals that call our zoo their home. By the end of this training program, you will know if you have what it takes to be a world class zookeeper. Get ready for the wildest escape room experience in Tacoma inspired by our local zoo at Point Defiance!
Welcome to the Zoo! Today, trainee zookeepers are getting onboarded at their first day on the job. Teams will begin getting their photo taken and then be sent into the training program. Here, they will meet Zookeeper Jones, via a (simulated) video call, to guide them along the curriculum. She is a great character who provides humor throughout the game.
Trainees will explore the different exhibits of the zoo to test their skills, including felines, aquarium, aviary, and more. The story is simple yet effective, zookeepers would hate to let the animals down, so it’s time to prove that they belong to work at this world-class zoo!
Zookeeper takes place in a small, singular room. The set is cute and is packed with zoo-related elements from ceiling to floor, while keeping it highly accessible, even for kids. Does this set look like a real zoo? Not necessarily, rather, it is more of an interactive classroom for one. This provides the perfect training grounds for up-and-coming zookeepers.
Although this game does not break the bank in budget, it is clean, attractive, and has fun reveals throughout. The colors are bright and have nods to the local Point Defiance Zoo. It encourages trainees to engage with everything as no inch is left untouched.
Cityscape Games smartly uses light to guide players. It provides some unexpected reveals and allows them to maximize the compact space. The game is appropriately sized for up to four players, leaving plenty of space to move around.
The training tasks at the zoo can be described as being on the easier side. It allows children to get involved throughout the game. That being said, there are a lot of puzzles with four or more to solve in each ecosystem, including a pleasant surprise at the end.
Zookeeper is incredibly smart with its design. The game has a non-linear, choose-your-own adventure feel, but is linear with clear direction the entire time. This gives trainees fun moments throughout to change the flow.
The puzzles are exceptionally varied. Trainees will need to demonstrate their zookeeping skills through tests that utilize all their senses. Be ready to fish, smell, listen, and observe!
The pacing of this game is done well. Although the tasks can be described as being simpler, even the most experienced of groups will use the bulk of the time. On the flip side, newer players can manage to win this game without asking for help every step along the way. Cityscape Games has struck a balance that is uncommon in beginner-friendly games, making it playable for any group.
This game was originally a 60-minute experience, and this is the version we played. Since then, it has been increased to a 75-minute game with additional content added in.
Zookeeper is a cozy game for all players. The space is small and is suitably sized for two to four trainees. The puzzles flow well and are varied, allowing trainees to prove they are qualified using all their senses.
The game is polished and it is clear that Cityscape Games knows what they are doing. Zookeeper proves that you do not need a massive budget to make an excellent experience and has put itself on the map with another high-quality Seattle-based escape.
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Venue: Cityscape Games
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Number of Games: 2
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 75 minutes
Capacity: 4 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $40-50 per person depending on the day of the week and player’s age
