Played: 2025 | Team Size: 5 | Escape Time: 48:18 (+ 9 Happily Ever Afters) | Success/Fail: Success
Back in a magical time, the Brothers Grimm were the guardians of the land of fairy-tales, but something is wrong. The brothers are nowhere to be found and the stories are in disarray. We need your help brave adventurers to restore the stories and collect the “Happily Ever Afters”. We have just enough magic to send you to their realm for 75 minutes, after this time you must return to our world. How many will you collect before your time runs out?
Short Review (For Quick Readers)
✅ Incredible Set Design – The room is visually stunning, with immersive props, atmospheric lighting, and sound effects that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a twisted fairytale.
✅ Unique Puzzle Mechanics – A refreshing experience with cleverly integrated puzzles that don’t rely on combination locks, making for a seamless and engaging challenge.
✅ Great Flow & Variety – The room offers a well-balanced mix of logic, teamwork, and adventure, ensuring every player stays engaged throughout the 75-minute experience.
✅ Bonus Side Quest Adds Depth – Completing the main objective is just the beginning—collecting the ‘Happily Ever Afters’ adds extra gameplay and replay value.
❌ Side Quest Feels Unfinished if Incomplete – While a great addition, failing to collect all ‘Happily Ever Afters’ can leave you feeling like you haven’t fully completed the mission.
❌ 75 Minutes May Not Be Enough – The main quest is achievable, but finishing every side mission requires serious speed, making it difficult to experience everything in one go.
❌ No Vocal Hints, Only Text-Based – Having to read hints from a screen slows down gameplay, whereas vocal hints would keep things more immersive.
Long Review (For Escape Room Enthusiasts)
Grimm Up North – A Fairytale Escape Like No Other
After hearing glowing reviews about Enigma’s Grimm Up North escape room, we simply had to investigate, especially with it being right on Agent 1’s doorstep. Having previously infiltrated their Murder Motel, the check-in process was seamless. This time, our Games Master was Kieran, who was attentive from the moment we arrived. He provided us with a detailed backstory on the Brothers Grimm, setting the scene before letting us loose on this 75-minute fairytale-mending expedition.
A Storybook Set Worthy of a Tale
From the moment we stepped inside, it was clear that Grimm Up North is something special. The set design is breathtaking, with meticulous attention to detail, stunning props, immersive soundtracks, and puzzles that blend seamlessly into the unfolding adventure. The entire experience feels like stepping into a living, breathing fairytale.
The puzzles are intricate, cleverly crafted, and thematically perfect, each one tailored to the fairytales in crisis. Enigma makes no secret of the fact that there isn’t a single combination lock in the main quest, and I’ll admit, as someone who takes pride in cracking a good padlock, I was initially a little disappointed. However, having played through the room, I can say with certainty that it makes no difference to the overall experience. The unique mechanics and creative interactions were just as, if not more, rewarding.
A Smooth Yet Challenging Flow
The game flow is phenomenal, with each puzzle seamlessly contributing to the overarching adventure. Grimm Up North is a 75-minute experience that consists of a main objective, followed by a collectible-style side quest with any remaining time.
With a team of five, we were kept fully engaged from start to finish, eventually collecting nine ‘Happily Ever Afters’ in addition to completing the main mission. And for those still craving their combination lock fix, fear not, they make an appearance in the side quest, so patience is key!
A Slightly Bitter-Sweet Ending
One personal note: While the side quest adds great replay value, it can leave you feeling like you’ve fallen short, even after successfully completing the main mission. Gathering every single ‘Happily Ever After’ in just 75 minutes is no easy feat, and as a completionist, I found myself wishing for more time to wrap things up. But that’s not a flaw, it’s a testament to how much I wanted to keep playing.
Masterful Hosting & Immersive Gameplay
Our Games Master, Kieran, was fantastic, delivering just the right amount of guidance to keep things flowing without making the game too easy. The hint system worked well, though as I’ve mentioned in previous Enigma reviews, I personally prefer vocal hints over text-based ones. Reading hints off a screen can eat into valuable time, whereas audio-based clues allow for a smoother experience.
After our escape, Kieran took the time to walk us back through the room, answering our questions and highlighting any puzzles we had missed, a great touch, especially in a game packed with so many intricate elements. He also provided us with our official team photo and business card, complete with our time and score, a small but fantastic addition that I think every escape room company should adopt.
Final Verdict: A Fairytale Triumph
Grimm Up North is an exceptional escape room, combining masterful set design, clever puzzle integration, and an unforgettable sense of adventure. The puzzles and mechanics are top-tier, and the additional side quests provide make for an even better experience. My only frustration? Not collecting all the ‘Happily Ever Afters’, but that’s on us for not being quick enough! Honestly, I’d happily jump back into the story just to see what we missed.
This game is more than worthy of a ‘Top Rated’ badge from EscapedHQ. If you haven’t experienced it yet, go and mend the fairytales for yourself—you won’t be disappointed.
Location: 8-10 Teall Street, Wakefield. WF1 1PT
Website: Grimm Up North – Enigma Rooms Escape Rooms
