Hunt and Seek: Escape games in Laval
The popularity of escape games is skyrocketing across the globe, and Quebec is no exception, thanks to its high-quality offering. In the opinion of experts, the concepts of escape games created here are comparable to the best of what's being done elsewhere in the world, and offer an equivalent experience.
But what is an escape game? A truly immersive experience, players are immersed for a predefined period of time in a particular universe, recreated with credible scenery, music and sometimes screens. Participants (between 2 and 8) are isolated in one or more closed rooms crammed with riddles, codes and padlocks to unlock. You have to be alert and quick, and work together to escape! There's really no time for stubborn teamwork.
A "voice" can provide clues when you're "going round in circles" (employees hear everything in an adjacent room), or add spice to the adventure by taking the adrenalin up a notch.
Here are three games I played in Laval with my children and friends. I write with a lot of restrictions, so you can understand why!
Escaparium: The Golden Jubilee
The "Golden Jubilee" game takes you to another world, in just 10 seconds! I can't reveal the number of rooms or the challenges involved, but this game takes place in a Gahcho Kuay mine, and you'll have one hour to find the world's biggest diamond!
There were four of us, including two young children (aged 7 and 10). Our reflex was to split into two teams and each focus on a task or enigma. We were given clues along the way. All in all, our tactics paid off, as we found the Golden Jubilee with 15 seconds to spare! This game is rated at the second difficulty level, unlike the others on offer, most of which are more difficult or scary. On the way out, my two children asked me, "Shall we do the others, Mom?"
*Please note that the new game "Armoire for Sale" will be released for Halloween 2021. This antique armoire is said to have belonged to a famous writer, Monsieur Jack, who stored his works full of mystery in it. It's a Level 4, so can you manage it?
Immersia: Weekend at the cottage goes wrong
Do you know Roseline Filion, the Olympic diver who made Quebecers proud, notably at the Rio 2016 Games? The retired athlete is now co-owner with her cousins of an escape game in Laval: Immersia.
Of the 3 scenarios on offer, we tested the "Weekend at the Chalet" game.
We enter two perfectly reconstructed rooms of an old chalet, where our fictitious "friends" are supposed to be waiting for us for a supposed weekend of relaxation. But, small problem, they're not there. And so the quest begins. Top time: 60 minutes!
This time there were seven of us (three adults, a 16-year-old, two 10-year-old girls and a 7-year-old). The level of fear (atmosphere, little surprises that startle) really broke the concentration of the three youngest, so we didn't complete the challenge in the allotted time. The good news is that it seems that 20% of participants succeed in this game. That's reassuring! Adrenalin and suspense guaranteed. We loved it.
The Secret Cube: Lucky the Mafioso-2
We also delved into the world of Lucky Marciano, now in its second season, at the Secret Cube, a world of booze, gambling, horse racing, prostitution and heroin trafficking.
Phew! Despite our best efforts, we didn't succeed in our race against the 65-minute clock. A clever riddle, perfectly put together with the new integrated technology, but difficult to solve at the end of the evening!
I recommend that you get to know your teammates' strengths and weaknesses before tackling the Cube. Here's a tip: every little detail can be a clue. So pay attention and read between the lines!