Haunted - District 3 - Remote

"♫ All alone and so afraid of the dark... ♫"

If you're not familiar with my reviews, click here for some notes and definitions...
Room name:

Haunted

Location:

District 3, Regina (http://www.district3.ca/)

# of Players:

2-8 (4-6 recommended) (Played with 4)

Duration:

60 min

Multi-Room:

Yes

Interface & Controls:

Remote play (Zoom), Dedicated website, 360° viewer, Inventory control

Language:

English

Hints:

Unlimited (Delivered by in-game avatar)

Tally:

19 Locks, 19 Deductions, 14 Tasks (including a bonus puzzle)

Official Description:

The family of this home is searching for a good trustworthy group of people to housesit their manor for the Winter. During your time there, you learn about the caretaker and the family, the manor's secrets, and that maybe this isn't the dream stay you were after.

Played in:

Summer 2021

Made it?

YES - With over 13 minutes left - no hint used (88 pts on the board)

Verdict:

As my friends and I scoured the world for the best and/or cheapest and/or most original online rooms, we heard a lot about Regina's Mystery Mansion but not so much about its neighbors. (That's right, as far as I can tell, there are 3 Escape Room companies in Regina, each within a 5-min drive of the others.) I thought we should do something about it.
The overall vibe I got from District 3 is that it sure seems like a great place to visit in person. The set uses space cleverly, manages to convey the right feel, and has several clever touches (such as the lighting level changing as the game progresses).

Photo de la salle réelle, tirée du site web
Actual room picture from their website

Here's the thing, though: what put Mystery Mansion "on the map" during the pandemic was the clever ways in which their online experiences were designed. With quirky avatars and unexpected tricks that leverage a remote experience, MM managed to create memorable experiences, particularly in light of their below-average price point.
Not to say there was anything wrong with D3's offering. Our host (the owner himself) did a perfectly adequate job as our avatar, and everyone had a good time. It just fell squarely into the "gosh, I wish I could've played this in person" category. If you happen to be in Regina, I'm sure the place is worth a visit. Maybe I'll get to go there myself, who knows?

Lessons Learned (or re-learned):

• Players... Try to remember which locks currently need opening, and not just for their obvious input ("Ok, we need a 3-digit number and a 4-letter word..."). Some locks require unconventional input. "Push button" padlocks, for instance, require a bunch of digits in no particular order. If you found digits but don't know how to order them, well... 🤔
• Designers... Instilling fear in your players can be fairly hard to achieve remotely. Rather than making a half-hearted attempt at it, you might want to take the "Scooby-Doo" route and go for campy horror, with your avatar scaredy-cat's attitude becoming its own source of fun. 👍

Photo de la salle réelle, tirée du site web
Actual room picture from their website

Si vous n'êtes pas un habitué de ce blog, cliquez ici pour quelques explications et définitions...
Nom de la salle:

Haunted

Emplacement:

District 3, Regina (http://www.district3.ca/)