If you’ve ever wanted the gaol experience without the accompanying arrest record then Adventure Rooms: Gaol Break is for you.
In this interactive adventure, players assume the role of prisoners and must race against the clock to find clues, crack codes, solve puzzles and hopefully gain their freedom before the hard-nosed warden returns. Locked in your dingy cells you have just one hour to complete a series of mind-boggling challenges and escape – but be warned, the warden doesn’t tolerate trouble and the hangman’s noose awaits anyone caught attempting to run.
After a brief introductory message from the warden himself, the cell doors are closed and your time begins. As ominous music begins to play from overhead speakers you may find yourself feeling a rush of adrenaline (or is it desperation?) and this adds a real sense of authenticity and excitement to the experience.
Working together you and your team mates must search the sparsely furnished cells for hidden clues – but keep in mind that while each new discovery could be a vital piece of the puzzle, it could just as easily be a red herring designed to mislead or confuse.
As the game advances the clues become more cryptic, and you are encouraged to “think like criminals” – which is easier said than done. A large clock on the wall counts down your hour and as the minutes tick by and the pressure builds, it’s easy to become absorbed in the urgency of the game.
While some may thrive under such pressure, others will find their ability to think creatively hampered, and it’s easy to second guess yourself. Could the answers you seek be hidden in plain sight? Are you over-thinking the puzzles? Or not thinking deeply enough?
Cameras inside the room allow staff to monitor your every move and they can provide you with hints via a small wall mounted screen should you get stuck – but of course half the fun is trying to solve the puzzles on your own.
The brainchild of a physics professor from Switzerland, Adventure Rooms has become a global phenomenon and the rooms boast an impressive 30 per cent escape rate. Although Adventure Rooms Adelaide host three differently themed rooms, Gaol Break is the only one being offered through the Adelaide Fringe and it is guaranteed to test your mental prowess.
Suitable for up to eight players, ‘Gaol Break’ is the perfect experience for puzzle lovers of all ages.
★★★★☆
