It’s been almost three months since our last trip to Athens and the next trip is just three weeks away. So now it’s time for the promised review of our last trip. We played a lot of rooms, 31 in total, met lots of super nice people and had a lot of fun. We – this time it was Katja, Noah, Ozzy and me.

As you can read in the preview, Katja and Ozzy only arrived on the second day, so Noah and I played six rooms together. It was also fun for two, but much more intense and exhausting. As you can also read in the preview, two rooms were unfortunately canceled because the technology didn’t work(Mea Culpa) or the actors fell ill at short notice(Axe Murders of Villisca). We will make up for both rooms on our next trip. Instead, we found short-term replacements in Terrified Market and Rebellion. We also spontaneously played two more rooms, Sixxxtiy Nine and Jumanji.

So much for the short introductions. Now off to the review. As it’s always interesting to hear different points of view, I’ve decided to organize this review by questions and all of us will give our answers – independently of each other and without having discussed them beforehand. Have fun with it!

What expectations did you have when you went to Athens? Is there a particular room that you were most looking forward to?

Katja: When I set off for Athens, I had no specific expectations – I was just incredibly excited! I wanted to plunge into this completely new world and eagerly find out what to expect. Anticipation and excitement mixed together in an exciting cocktail. I knew I was in for some intense moments, but that was exactly what I was looking for: to be really shaken up. I just thought to myself: “This is going to be wild – perfect for me!”

Noah: For my trip to Athens, I just wanted to let myself be surprised this time and left the planning entirely to Philipp. I was particularly looking forward to “Chapel & Catacombs”, my favorite room from the last trip, which I really wanted to experience again.

Ozzy: Because of the first trip, I was looking forward to experiencing escape rooms with actors, good stories and a high scare factor again and I wasn’t disappointed! No trip to Athens is the same! I was most looking forward to Hide N Seek!

Philipp: Since my first trip to Athens, I’ve played far fewer rooms in Germany. But that has less to do with the quality of the rooms in Germany (maybe a little) and more to do with the quality of the experiences in Athens. You rarely find anything like Athens in Germany. I am totally enthusiastic about the storytelling and the acting. I’m also a fan of atmosphere, emotion and horror – Athens has it all. As I planned the trip completely on my own this time, there wasn’t just one room that I was looking forward to the most. If I had to pick one, it would probably be 03:15.

What were the highlights for you on the first day and are there any lowlights?
We played: The Grudge, Otherside, Amen, Boogeyman

Noah: The rooms Amen and The Grudge were particularly good horror experiences for me. However,The Grudge was really stressful for two people. Amen was very nice and both rooms were highlights for me. The Other Side was a puzzle room that was too much for two people and I didn’t really like it.

Philipp: There were no real high or lowlights for me on the first day. Otherside was less suitable for two people and not the best room, but still okay. The Grudge is a really good room, just like Amen, but both also have their weaknesses, so although they are among the great rooms in Athens, there were also some better ones on our trip. Boogeyman is really relaxed for a horror room. I found it really relaxed, especially late at night. Really cozy.

What were the highlights for you on the second day and are there any lowlights?
We played: Gustave Eiffel, Hellavator, Mary’s Doll, Operation Black 1

Katja: Mary’s Dolls was definitely one of the highlights. The atmosphere? Breathtaking. It felt like I was immersed in a completely alien, surreal world. Everything was so powerful, so alive – simply amazing! Operation Black 1 also had it all. The mixture of exciting puzzles and gripping horror was exactly to my taste. I would particularly like to highlight the actors, who simply delivered an outstanding performance. They brought the story to life, and the makers of the room even took the time to ask about our impressions – that really was a special highlight of the trip.

Unfortunately, there was also a low point: Terrified Market. The room was the lowlight for me. Too many unnecessary shock moments, but not enough depth.
It was more about being scared than immersing yourself in the story – a shame.

Noah: Unfortunately, the second day was the weakest of the trip for me. Gustav Eiffel and Hellevator were great in terms of quality, but I didn’t like them because they were frustrating and no fun in pairs. Terrified Market was just a bad joke and one of the worst horror rooms I’ve ever played. The real highlight of the day for me was Operation Black 1, which I really enjoyed. Mary’s Dolls from the same provider was also good.

Ozzy: The highlight was Mary’s Dolls. I was standing in the room, loud music, thick fog, creepy atmosphere, good actors…I was finally back in Athens. Terrified Market was the only room on the trip that I didn’t like at all, although it also had its highlights…right TRÖT KATJA! Special thanks to the team at Ilias for letting me play Operation Black on the other side, as I already knew the room!

Philipp: Both Guastave Eiffel and Hellavator are very good puzzle rooms, as you would expect from Escapepolis. Not quite as much of a highlight as Creepy Store, but still good. Terrified Market was unfortunately very bad. Only the actors really tried to make the best of it, but neither the story, the setting nor the puzzles were even remotely good. Unfortunately the absolute lowlight of the whole trip. Mary’s Dolls and Operation Black 1 were the highlights. Both very different rooms, but the timing and flow in particular were outstanding. Really great experiences from really great people!

What were the highlights for you on the third day and are there any lowlights? We played: Scooby Who?, Bride in Black, Curse of La Llorona, Outcast, Jumanji

Katja: Scooby Who? was so much fun! The room was perfectly designed to capture the atmosphere of the series. Although it wasn’t really scary, it was all the more fun. The movie clips in between provided many a laugh. Definitely a recommendation if you like light entertainment! Curse of La Llorona, on the other hand, had one of the tightest atmospheres of the day. I was totally captivated and the setting was simply breathtaking. The room felt like it was cut straight out of a movie – pure goosebumps. Outcast , on the other hand, thrilled me with its theme alone. I love anything to do with asylums and this room was right up my street. Jumanji was also wonderfully entertaining. The puzzles were rather loose, but that didn’t detract from the fun – perfect for families. Bride in Black A dream for any fan of the Insidious series. The connection to the movie made the experience even more intense.

Noah: On the third day, the highlights were Curse of La Llorona and Outcast. I really enjoyed both rooms and they were great horror experiences. Jumanji was the lowlight because I didn’t really like the acting concept with the humor.

Ozzy: Scooby Who? was a total highlight for me. Lovingly made, great puzzles and lots of little surprises with a few laughs! But Curse of La Llorona is also an absolute MUST play room. No low lights that day! Jumanji is rather funny, but was a great way to end the day.

Philipp: Another day without a lowlight. But definitely with an absolute highlight. For me, Curse of La Llorona is one of the best rooms in Athens. Fantastic setting, great atmosphere, great story and perfect acting. A must-play. The other rooms on this day were also all very good, even if there was a bit too much screaming in Bride in Black and Jumanji had a bit too trashy a backdrop and puzzles. All in all, it was a really great day with lots of wonderful experiences.

What were the highlights for you on the fourth day and are there any lowlights?
We played: Chapel & Catacombs, Houdini, Santa Sofiana, 03:15, The Butcher

Katja: The Houdini room was simply magical. The effects, the atmosphere, the backdrops – it felt like you were immersed in a completely new, fascinating world. A real feast for the eyes! Santa Sofiana, on the other hand, didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. But then came The Butcher, an exciting change of pace. The game of hide-and-seek in this room gave me the feeling of being constantly hunted – a completely different adrenaline rush from the classic horror scenarios. 03:15 was convincing with a great idea and a good creepy factor, but was a little too loud for my taste.

Chapel & Catacombs: Stunning sums it up perfectly here, as the sheer size and variety of this room were overwhelming. You felt as if you had been transported to another age, amidst gloomy walls and winding catacombs. The detailed backdrops made the experience incredibly intense and completely captivated me. The special feature? The movable walls. Every time a wall moved, the maze transformed, creating a completely new experience. It felt like being trapped in an infinite puzzle that constantly offered new challenges. This dynamic design was unique and created constant tension – you never knew what was coming next.

Noah: The fourth day offered me great highlights, especially 03:15 and Houdini. Houdini was special and new, while 03:15 offered the best tour of light and sound I’ve ever seen in a room.Chapel & Catacombs was a bit disappointing the second time around because you saw details that weren’t noticeable the first time, and the room didn’t seem as well built. Santa Sofiana was a rather mediocre experience and I didn’t particularly like it.

Ozzy: Butcher and Houdini were absolute highlights of the day in terms of intensity and staging and should not be missed on any trip to Athens! Santa Sofiana and 03.15 were rather solid Athens rooms, without that special kick, but still playable. We’ve already playedChapel once and you can tell that the room has been around for a few years, but it’s still a must-play of course!

Philipp: Chapel & Catacombs was a completely different experience this time. Of course, I didn’t get the WOW effect from my first visit, but I really enjoyed the catacombs this time. We were really hunted, kidnapped, tortured and stressed a lot this time. The horror factor was much higher, which I really liked, especially for a second visit. Houdini was a really great room with very good acting and beautiful scenery. 03:15 was very intense horror, which reminded me a lot of M’ama. Overall a bit too loud, but otherwise very good. Santa Sofiana was a bit the lowlight of the day, even though the room itself is not bad. I found some of the puzzles not just bad, but annoying and there was unfortunately no flow at all. The acting and the jumpscares, on the other hand, were very good. Butcher was a real highlight for me, which I didn’t expect at all, as Escapepolis was previously only known for puzzle rooms. It was a very realistic and intense horror. A really great (or rather scary) experience.

What were the highlights for you on the fifth day and are there any lowlights?
We played: The Attic, Sixxty Nine, Supernatural, Metanoia, Sinister, The Ghost Writer

Katja: Unfortunately, The Attic remained rather pale – the small setting couldn’t really grab me. Sixxxty Nine was just crazy and really fun. It was one of those rooms that you don’t take too seriously, and that’s what made it so entertaining. The humor was cheeky, and the setting was – shall we say – special.
It was like a night best kept under wraps. Sinister completely blew me away again. The sets were amazing, the atmosphere dark and gripping – a real highlight. The Ghost Writer probably had the most exciting and crazy finale. The tension built right up to the end and the acting was phenomenal – an experience I won’t forget in a hurry.

Noah: On the fifth day, Sinister and Ghostwriter were the highlights. Sinister had a great overall concept and was a lot of fun. Ghostwriter was also good, especially the nice operators made the room. The Attic was a lowlight due to the old room and the simple puzzles, after 45 minutes we were already out. Metanoia, the second part of Amen, was still good, but I was expecting more. The nice staff saved the room a little, but overall I didn’t like it that much.

Ozzy: I don’t remember much about The Attic and Sixxty Nine, so no lasting impression. My highlight of the day was Ghost Writer! The location, the team and the action in the room right up to the finale were great, even if the puzzles were a bit easy.

Philipp: A day full of highs and lows. The Attic was definitely the worst room of the day, perhaps also because it’s a bit older. All in all, boring jumpscares and very simple puzzles. Sixxxty Nine wasn’t a highlight either, but not bad for a purely fun room. Especially when I compare the room with similar rooms in Germany, the level here is significantly higher. Supernatural was unfortunately the disappointment of the trip to Athens for me. The room is not bad and certainly has its strengths. But I simply expected much more from it and also hoped for much more reference than just having props lying around everywhere. Metanoia was also rather disappointing, as I was hoping for an improvement after Amen and unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Amen is the better room here. Ghost Writer and Sinister, on the other hand, were absolute highlights and two of the best rooms during the trip. Both were very well realized and we had a lot of fun.
Both are among the best rooms in Athens, even if Sinister is a tiny bit better – it was just more well-rounded.

What were the highlights for you on day six and are there any lowlights?
We played: Toxic, Rebellion, Zoe, Deadlock, Deadlock: Redemption, Hide N Seek

Katja: Toxic was a real highlight. It’s a puzzle laser tag room with a horde of zombies, lots of clever tasks and even more action. Hiding, sneaking through the dark corridors and eliminating the zombies was simply great fun. The missions were so varied that it never got boring – quite the opposite! I could have easily spent the whole day cracking every single puzzle. What was particularly cool was that you could record the whole adventure with an action cam. For 20 euros, you not only get memories, but also lots of laughs when you look at the footage later. These moments stay in your head – even when everyday life starts again.

Rebellion, on the other hand, was more of a stopgap. Nicely done, but not a room you absolutely have to play. The puzzles were okay, and the interaction with the actor provided the odd chuckle, but it didn’t really stick in the memory either. I was particularly impressed by Zoe’ s interaction with the actors. It was great that they played so intensively with us and accompanied us through the room. There was a wonderful plot twist that took everything to another level – an absolutely gripping experience.

Deadlock 1 and 2 was a journey with highs and lows. The first part was unfortunately quite unstructured. The puzzles seemed half-hearted, and the lack of logic made the room seem more frustrating than entertaining. But then came the second part – and what a twist! It was as if the room had turned 180 degrees. Suddenly the puzzles were well thought out and the tension was back. It actually managed to turn the experience back into a positive one.

But the absolute highlight – the room that outshone everything – was Hide N Seek. I don’t want to give too much away, because this room simply has to be experienced. The perfect blend of acting, tricky puzzles and an incredibly intense adrenaline rush. It was thrilling from start to finish, the atmosphere was electrifying, and the finale? Breathtaking. If you ever travel to Athens, Hide N Seek is an absolute must!

Noah: Hide N Seek was not only the highlight of the day, but of the whole trip and an absolute highlight. Deadlock 1, on the other hand, was one of the worst rooms of the trip. The puzzles were very frustrating and the experience was not good. Deadlock 2, on the other hand, was good again.

Ozzy: Toxic was just laser tag with zombies, but the atmosphere was super cool. Hide N Seek was THE room of the trip for me and Deadlock 2 was also incredibly intense! Both rooms were some of the best escape rooms I’ve seen in terms of atmosphere and mood.

Philipp: So many highlights in one day! But not only. Rebellion was a pretty average room that scored points for the interaction with the actor, but otherwise didn’t really have anything to offer. Toxic was very special and it was simply fun. You felt like you were in a PC game. Then there was Zoe, a definite must-play room that just totally flashed me. The great story and actor interactions in particular were simply gigantic. The two deadlock rooms were the really like heaven and hell. Deadlock 1 was really not good. The creative beginning and the basic story were positive, even if it was difficult to follow at times. Deadlock 2, on the other hand, was an absolute highlight. The story, atmosphere, acting and setting were all top notch. There was also a lot of physical contact (more than Lethal Decision 1), but everything was very well timed and very fitting.

Then, as the last room, the absolute highlight: Hide N Seek. It really doesn’t get any better than this. Everything was just right here. A really great experience. There was nothing, really nothing, that wasn’t perfect. I don’t want to go into any more detail as I’ll save that for the review of the room. But first things first: I’ve never experienced such a brilliant finale.

What were the highlights of this trip to Athens for you?

Katja: Honestly, it was the people. The best experience wasn’t just the game itself, but the fact that the creators took the time to talk to us about our experiences after each room. They were open to criticism, ideas and requests and made us feel truly valued. Even when we got stuck, there was no pressure – we were able to experience the rooms at our own pace. This positive, open atmosphere made the trip really special. And then the actors! Not only were they incredibly talented, but they managed to draw us into the action time and time again without ever looking out of character. The cinematic moments in particular made the illusion perfect.
Plus the Greek hospitality: these people are warm, funny and have just the right dose of craziness. It’s not just the rooms that made this trip unforgettable, but the new friendships and the feeling of being part of a small, exciting world. I highly recommend this trip to everyone – Athens completely enchanted me!

Ozzy: When Katja was scared of her own reflection and how she became braver room by room! It was mostly: “SEND THE GIRL – SEND KATJA” and I’m the biggest shyte in the group! Eating together with Ilias, Elen and Artemis and the team from C9H13NO3 Donors!

Philipp: First and foremost, the multitude of great experiences, the many brilliant actors and the operators and staff who simply put their hearts into their work.
It’s not as anonymous as with many providers in Germany and most of them really care about our opinion. They don’t do it for the money (at least not only), but because they want to offer great experiences. I also think it’s great how much focus is placed on stories, atmosphere and emotions and not so much on the most expensive, high-quality backdrop – which is now also available.

Then of course there were also some very funny moments, when I think of how we try to crawl under a table with three people to escape the Butcher or how Katja hides from Michael Meyers under mountains of laundry or how Ozzy kept standing there without ammunition and we had to help him against the zombies. Then there were some really great moments with actors: Zoe, Ghost Writer and Mary’s Dolls in particular stick in my mind.

Which rooms stood out positively?
Which are the top rooms of this trip?

Katja: Clearly in 1st place: Hide and Seek. This room was simply unbeatable. The combination of thrills, acting and challenging puzzles surpassed everything else. There was so much tension in the air that I completely lost myself in the story. From start to finish, this room was a masterpiece – absolutely fascinating and a must-see for any traveler to Athens!

Closely followed by Mary’s Dolls. The atmosphere was simply magical, almost surreal. You feel like you’ve been immersed in a strange, eerie world. Every moment was intense and the attention to detail made the experience simply unforgettable. For me, this room is a true work of art and deserves to be in 2nd place.

Also incredibly entertaining was The Butcher. It wasn’t so much about solving puzzles as it was about the suspense and the feeling of being hunted. This room really got the adrenaline pumping – you felt like you were constantly on the run, and it was a great change from the classic escape rooms. Another highlight was Toxic, an action-packed puzzle room with zombie laser tag elements. The room offered a perfect mix of tactical hiding, clever puzzles and pure fun defeating the zombies. As a huge zombie apocalypse fan, I was completely in my element and would have loved to play the room several times. It was just so entertaining and varied that it would be worth playing again and again.

Of course, such reviews are always a matter of taste, and I have to say that each room had its very own magic. The creators put so much heart, creativity and love into the details that it would be almost unfair to draw up a definitive ranking. But these four rooms have that certain something for me that makes them unforgettable.

Ozzy: Hide N Seek – Hide N Seek – Hide N Seek! Afterwards Butcher, Houdini, Curse of La Lorona, Mary’s Dolls

Philipp: Pretty simple: Hide N Seek. There is no room of the 200 I’ve seen so far that was anywhere near as perfect as this masterpiece. And the finale was simply the most brilliant thing I’ve ever experienced in escape rooms. Apart from that, there are other must-play rooms for me with: Curse of La Llorona, Sinister, Zoe and with a little distance Ghost Writer, Mary’s Dolls and Deadlock: Redemption. We really had a lot of highlights on this trip and our top lists have been diced up.

Were there any disappointments, lowlights or moments that you didn’t find so great?

Katja: Unfortunately, there were also some disappointments. At the top of my “no-go” list is the Terrified Market. The room really disappointed me. It seemed loveless and was completely overloaded with shock moments that simply had no depth. It was just about being scared without any real story behind it. This was an absolute lowlight for me and I would definitely not recommend this room.

Another dampener was the first part of Deadlock. There was a lack of structure here and the puzzles were poorly thought out. There was no real flow to the game and this caused frustration instead of fun. Fortunately, the second part was able to save the whole thing a little, but the first Deadlock was unfortunately a big disappointment

Ozzy: Terrified Market does not need to be played. And: That we had to go home again after a week.

Philipp: The absolute lowlight was Terrified Market. The only room that I would really rate as a “don’t play”. It was really really bad. Apart from that, there were a few rooms that weren’t really good, but not bad either. These include rebellion, Attic, Sixxxty Nine, Deadlock 1 and Otherside. And finally, there were two personal disappointments with Supernatural and Metanoia. Metanoia is a good room, but I had simply wished for a must-play event after Amen. And Supernatural unfortunately didn’t take advantage of the great series and story. It was a pretty standard horror room with a few Supernatural props and allusions.

Is there anything else you would like to share here about your last trip to Athens?
A conclusion?

Katja: One thing is certain: What are you waiting for? Book this trip! It’s worth every minute, but let me tell you: a week is far too short to experience all the great rooms and really immerse yourself in the world of escape rooms. You will enjoy every second and go home with incredible memories. The whole experience in Athens was simply magical – from the rooms to the people to the cinematic moments. It was absolutely worth it!

Ozzy: Always happy to be part of this team and With Love for Artemis, Ilias and Elen – Now Friends 4 Ever!

Philipp: It was just great. Great people in the team, but also on the “other side” with the operators. It was very exhausting, but it was really worth it. We had a lot of fun and brought back so many great memories.

And as they say: After Athens is before Athens. We’ll see you again in October!