"The Tenants" room, done with 5 people who had previously experienced about ten + escape rooms.

Summary:

Not an escape game. -Unappealing puzzles and progression. -Group-oriented setup, no personalization of the experience. -Driven towards consumption before being pushed towards the exit. -No game master, no hints -Only the actors and decorations save the situation.

Let's say it plainly, this (at least this room) is not an escape game.

It's an immersive experience with a score as the goal, yet even that remains unclear.

The sense of progression within the room is quite poor, clearly too small for 5 players; there should be a limit of 4 to hope for a pleasant experience.

Brightness often poses a major challenge, which doesn't provide a particularly stimulating endeavor.

The puzzles tend to be repetitive, and solving one doesn't really give the impression of advancement. The most challenging puzzles will likely never be solved, and you'll move on to the next one with a sense of frustration. You'll understand that regardless of your actions, progress will occur, whether your group is skilled or not. on top of that, you don't have the option to get hints, you succeed or not, but you won't get anything, which can make the experience very frustrating in case of difficulties The story holds promise, but in reality, it's linear and hollow.

The end is abrupt and lacks flavor; you go out to a bar where you have to wait 10 minutes to receive your score. You are subtly encouraged to drink something. The irony is that you will eventually be led out as other groups arrive after you. After ordering your not-so-cheap (still good) cocktail, it feels like a factory-like production line, where you have to move on at all costs or risk stopping the production line.

It's impossible to obtain any explanation about your room, your experience, or understanding what you did right or wrong, as there's actually no game master. The actors, who are there to immerse you in the story, are coerced and compelled to manage entries, exits, and service, leaving no room for feedback.

You exit with a score that you'll compare to the average score, without fully grasping what just transpired and with a sense of incompleteness, unable to improve or not, as you won't know any more than that.

I do not recommend this room for anyone wanting a real escape room, it will nevertheless be ideal for an introduction to immersive experiences.