Bank holiday with no work to do (apart from working on my next novel…) – obviously that means it’s time to try out the Blackbeard’s Treasure escape room at the all-new Escape Hunt venue in Colchester, Essex.
Blackbeard’s Treasure: Storyline
Blackbeard is dead, his loot lies unguarded. Sink or swim? It’s up to you.
Step onto a pirate galleon in the middle of a battle for control of the High Seas. Your captain, the terrifying Blackbeard, has just been killed and his ship is shot to pieces and sinking fast.
With no chance of victory, you and your scurvy shipmates decide to jump ship – after helping yourself to the contents of Blackbeard’s legendary treasure chest.
You’ve broken into his cabin to grab all you can, but now the door has jammed shut and you’ve just 60 minutes to escape; any longer and you’ll drown – if the sharks don’t get you first.
What did we think of the Blackbeard’s Treasure escape room in Colchester?
We’ve done a few Escape Hunt rooms in the past and the branding is immediately recognisable inside the venue. We arrived a little early and were left to wait in the bar area.
The game itself begins with the briefest of briefings (‘pinkie strength only’) and then we’re shut into a dimly lit room. As you would expect, the room has been themed to look a little like a ship. There’s also a brief audio intro by a pirate who reminds us the ship is cursed, sinking and that we have 60 minutes to escape.
As is our preference, this is a one-and-done game, although the puzzles do not have to be completed entirely linearly. This is handy because it allows us to work on puzzles in parallel, according to our personal strengths.
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This non-linear approach means that Blackbeard’s Treasure is a good choice for larger teams. There’s also a reasonable amount of space to move about in, especially as you begin unlocking rooms within rooms. And yes, you will have to go backwards and forwards between the rooms as new puzzles are uncovered.
There’s mental, physical and even musical puzzles to be solved, some much easier than others. And of course, there’s a handful of padlocks.
The theming is generally excellent and the room is still in good condition. But then it is only a few months old, so that may change over time…
Our game stats:
Team name: Twodini
Number of players: 2 (aged 47 – 62)
Time taken: 36:54 minutes
Number of clues: 0
Did we escape? Yes
Did we have fun? Yes
Games master: Joe and James
Price: £62.70*
Would we recommend? Yes
Rating: 3 out of 5
* Over-60s can claim a 10% discount on games played Monday-Thursday
Linda’s comment
Arrrr…..
There’s plenty of seating in the bar, making this a good place to hang out and get off the street, even if you aren’t playing a game.
Check out the Complete Escape Room Discount Code List for the latest codes and offers
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Criticisms? Quirks?
There are two potential criticisms, both of which are down to our personal preferences. First, we find smell-based puzzles rarely work as intended – the scents are neither strong nor distinguishable enough to work effectively.
Second, there is a puzzle involving magnets. Obviously, magnet placement must be precise – but the trigger points aren’t as obvious, or sensitive, as they need to be in this room.
On the quirky side, our games master made all his in-room announcements in a pirate accent which was a nice touch.
Blackbeard’s Treasure escape room review – conclusion
Blackbeard’s Treasure is reputed to be the hardest game in the Escape Hunt franchise. And first-timers may indeed struggle with a few of the puzzles. However, the fact that we were able to complete the game in under 37 minutes without trying for speed suggests that this room may be too simple for more experienced players.
There is a sense of accomplishment having set the second-fastest time for Blackbeard’s Treasure at Colchester. But it also means we probably won’t be playing any more Escape Hunt games in future.
Perhaps this would be a good room for introducing escape room virgins to the basic concepts and themes of escaping.
Other important stats for the Blackbeard’s Treasure escape room:
Time limit: 60 minutes
Mobility rating: 4.5 out of 5
Live actors: No
Escape Hunt difficulty rating: 5 out of 5
Official website: Escape Hunt Colchester
Email: [email protected]
Where is Escape Hunt, Colchester?
Escape Hunt is located just off Colchester High Street:
Address: Unit 4B Foundation House, Culver Street East, Colchester, CO1 1LF
Can you park at Escape Hunt, Colchester?
No, the premise is located on a pedestrianised square. There is plenty of paid parking nearby – we tend to park at Britannia Car Park behind Colchester Town station and walk up the hill into town.
Accessibility info
The Blackbeard’s Treasure escape room is located on the first floor of the Escape Hunt premises – but there is an elevator from ground level. That said, there are still a couple of steps between the bar/reception area and the escape rooms and toilets.
There are no steps or crawling in the Blackbeard’s Treasure escape room. You may need to do some shuffling sideways however.
It would be worth contacting Escape hunt Colchester before booking if you need further guidance.
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