Unlocking the Joys of Austin’s Puzzle Rooms

(Page 2 of 7)

Puzzle Room Austin

Clearly, if you have the chance to graduate from Wizard School, you have to take it, so I gathered some colleagues and signed us up for that scenario at Puzzle Room Austin. Our group – half friends, half strangers – met in the cozy waiting area, where toys and brain-teasers are provided to warm up prospective escapees. When our time came, the gentleman at the front desk donned a satin cloak and launched into his introduction: For our final exam, we must complete the challenges laid out by the headmaster, unlocking a chest containing our diplomas and, of course, the key that unlocks the exit door.

The room we entered was adorned with all the trappings of a medieval institution of higher magical education: walls painted like a castle's, house banners, moving portraits, and plenty of doors and chests with locks awaiting the key to lead us deeper into, and eventually out of, the experience. We quickly spread out, searching the chamber for clues, which soon opened the locked door of a second room, which contained more puzzles.

The challenges were widely varied, including logic puzzles, mathematical and language problems, and trials requiring use of our tactile, musical, and even olfactory senses. (Fortunately, pencils and paper were provided for note-taking and problem-working.) The vast array of puzzles made it difficult for our group to tackle them all in an organized manner, and we often encountered the problem of not knowing who had worked on what or if a problem was completed or abandoned.

Some puzzles demanded individual focus (which was at times hard to achieve in a busily crowded room), and others required teamwork between two or more players. With the aid of our mystical proctor, who generously dispensed hints from the entrance of the main room, we managed to finish our tasks until they narrowed to one or two final obstacles. As a few people scrambled to complete the last puzzles (while the rest waited with little to do but offer encouragement), the buzzer sounded; we had failed our wizard exam.

The room was nicely ornamented, everything fit the theme well, and the challenges were varied and well-constructed, but ultimately the game was overwhelming. I felt I missed out on some interesting puzzles due to the difficulty of coordinating so many people in a densely packed space. We benefited from having a diverse group to solve the different kinds of puzzles, but suffered from disorganization and keeping track of everything that needed to be done. Still, the experience and process were enjoyable for everyone.