Played: 2024 | Team Size: 4 | Escape Time: 54:02 | Success/Fail: Success
All kinds of folk come to stay at your small motel, faces come and go so fast you barely remember their names. They all have stories to tell, and some have a secret or two. A few people stick around for a while in between jobs or houses. Sam is one of these. He pays his rent on time, keeps himself to himself and doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to move on. There’s something about him though, something that causes your stomach to twist when you see him around, something not right. On seeing him leave one stormy night you decide you have to know what he’s hiding, but some secrets are best left undiscovered.
Short Review (For Quick Readers)
✅ Engaging Mystery Theme – The room’s design effectively captures the eerie motel atmosphere, creating an immersive experience.
✅ Well-Structured Puzzles – A variety of logical and clever puzzles keep teams engaged with a strong sense of progression.
✅ Great for Mixed Experience Levels – Balanced difficulty makes it ideal for both beginners and experienced players.
✅ Excellent Games Master – Lucy provided a warm welcome, great storytelling, and well-timed hints to keep the game flowing.
❌ Not as Scary as Expected – Feels more like a mystery than a horror room; may not satisfy those looking for frights.
❌ Limited Special Effects – The immersion relies mainly on set design; added sound or lighting effects could elevate the experience.
❌ On-Screen Clue System – The hint system caused slight delays, and the countdown timer being visible from the outset is distracting.
Long Review (For Escape Room Enthusiasts)
Arrival & First Impressions
Located in the heart of Wakefield, right across from the cathedral, Enigma is in a prime spot, perfect if you’re planning to make a night of it. We were warmly welcomed by our Games Master, Lucy, who was eager to hear about our escape room experience before setting the stage for the mystery ahead. Her storytelling and enthusiasm instantly got us in the mood to crack the case.
Gameplay & Puzzles
The moment we stepped inside, the room’s design transported us straight into a rundown motel. While not the most extravagant set, it nailed the eerie, unsettling atmosphere they were aiming for. The puzzles were a mix of styles and difficulties, offering plenty to keep a team of four engaged for over 50 minutes—especially with two first-timers in the group.
The puzzle flow was strong, with logical and clever challenges that fit well within the theme. However, while Murder Motel sounds like it leans into horror, it felt more like a mystery. If you’re after real scares, their Séance room might be a better fit. One downside was the lack of additional effects to enhance immersion—beyond the initial set design, there was room to build tension further.
Games Master & Hints
We hit a couple of stumbling blocks, and hints came via an on-screen system, along with a visible countdown timer. While having the timer is useful, it can be distracting when you start obsessing over every second even when there are 30 minutes left.
The hints themselves were on point and helped nudge us in the right direction, though the slight delay in receiving them (compared to vocal clues) meant some valuable seconds ticked away. Despite this, Lucy was a fantastic Games Master, running the experience smoothly and wrapping it up with our team photo.
Final Thoughts
Murder Motel is a well-crafted escape room, ideal for teams with mixed experience or a group of intermediate players. The puzzles are solid, and the overall mystery is engaging, but the set design and immersive elements could be fine-tuned to take this room from great to killer. With some added atmosphere and refinements, it could easily push into the 40-45 scoring range.
Location: 8-10 Teall Street, Wakefield. WF1 1PT
Website: Murder Motel Escape Room – Enigma Rooms Escape Rooms
