But we also know that being scared WIT-less doesn’t work for everyone (and their puzzle solving capability). Never fear! You can still enjoy spooky season; we have included some tamer escapes that are guaranteed not to scare, but that fit in perfectly with the Halloween season. You may recognise this as the game Ariana Grande played on the Late Late Show with James Corden (just at a different branch, somewhere in the USA, rather than Sheffield). Set in a dilapidated ex-children’s home, local urban legend claims that many moons ago the home’s Headmaster used to pay for his own immortality with the souls of these poor unfortunate children. Of course this means that exploring the place you uncover unnerving items, things that go bump in the night and downright creepy goings-on. IF you want to break the curse, set these poor children’s souls free and make it out of the derelict building unscathed, you may have to RUN! Designed with the player in mind, it’s easy to navigate the world of Hollow with puzzles designed for both the novice, and hardcore player.

You can find out more and book to play the Hellevator at https://cluehq.co.uk/birmingham/escape-games/#thehellevator You can find out more and book to play Afterlife at https://cryptologyrooms.co.uk/sheffield/afterlife Ward 13 – Enigma, Doncaster A brilliant, dark and unnerving twist on a well-known fairy tale! We loved this room and enjoyed just how cleverly the elements are woven together. Would you enjoy a game that can take you into cursed catacombs, or a mysterious jungle, or into outer space, or has you playing as a special agent? If you’re new to the genre, here are the first choices of many players and even pros who run their own rooms. Who will enjoy escape room board games? Haunted by visions of your past, and suffering from amnesia for almost ten years, you embark on a quest to discover buried secrets, putting the pieces of the puzzle together of the life you once had, and to find out once and for all, what happened to your missing family, and this once thriving village.

In Escape Tales: The Awakening, you take on the role of a father trying to wake up your daughter from a 2-month coma. During your journey, there will be many difficult decisions you have to make that will all play a role on which of the many endings you will get. To your surprise, you have awoken in a strange room with seemingly no way out. There is an old piano, a couple of bar stools, and a cryptic handwritten note on the countertop. Let’s get trapped in some of the best escape room board games, shall we?

We had a great time playing this as a pair and can safely say there were lots of nervous giggles following being made to jump. This game was highly inspired by the classic 90's survival horror games. However, this game has no combat or survival mechanics whatsoever and your only method of surviving is trying to escape the enemy. Likewise the length of this game is understandably nowhere near those games. I chose to rather keep it shorter and tighter than trying to artificially lengthen it, which would have only resulted in a leaned out and milder experience. On the delivery of the horror theme, I chose to leave out all the jump-scares and opted for constant oppressing and dark atmosphere. We haven’t yet played the 13utcher (we’ve been working our way up to it), but we have heard amazing things- including overhearing a lad scarred by the fact that the butcher stole his shoes! If you like hardcore scares, this is the game for you!

Games

The game is fairly linear, but seems more open, giving players a sense of control without being overwhelmed or confused Scary, but not “scarred for life” scary. These rooms will make you jump! Sleepover – Escapologist, Cleethorpes Escapologic again?! Yes! And while this is a significant step down in terms of outright terror from the 13utcher (no live actor for a start), it is still a creepy room set in a disturbing toy shop with the ability to prompt some good jump scares! Escapologic have really thought about the *special* touches to send a shiver down your spine in this game. We absolutely loved this game, in particular the amazing clue system they use, which lends itself completely to the theme and fans of spooky stuff will LOVE! You can find out more and book to play Phobia at https://paralysisescaperooms.com/rooms/phobia-escape-room/.