What could possibly be waiting for you inside these walls? Once you step inside there is no turning back. There is only one way to discover the secrets of Phobia.
Where is Escape Asylum?
In Leicester lies Escape Asylum, a horror-themed escape room in the basement of a very swanky bar called ‘Spirits’.
Chambers lie within the basement containing a variety of rooms suited to all difficulties and scare ratings. Naturally, we went for one that was listed as the scariest as we were told to expect to face our fears.
What transpired was a unique experience but certainly not a scary one.
Check out my Escape Asylum review below.
Phobia Room Review
Escape Asylum’s entrance is a little unusual. Placed at the end of the bar is a wooden desk with some poor theming and steps down to the basement.
It’s very strange indeed and not welcoming or in keeping with the horror rooms that await.
The lad at the desk looked a little bored to be there upon entry but when he guided us down to the entrance of the rooms he came into his own and set up the rooms mystique rather impressively.
Whilst I won’t spoil the ins and outs of the room experience I will say that you start out exploring claustrophobia (the fear of small spaces) and your Nyctophobia (fear of the dark) as you work your way through a maze.
With essentially 4 rooms in total Phobia is an experience but more a frustrating one to begin with than a scary one.
Some of the puzzles throughout are not as simple as they really should be and many red herrings lie within that set you off course considerably.
Most of the puzzles are numbered codes for locks and a few keys dotted around. There isn’t anything as technical or intricate as the puzzles at Game Over Derby or Escape Stoke for that matter.
Is Phobia at Escape Aslyum Scary?
Being a basement location everything is a little dusty, dirty and rough. That is in keeping with the ‘horror’ theme, certainly setting the tone.
There’s no need for scenic embellishment or anything of the kind within the rooms. But being a horror room they really should have ramped up the rooms with atmospherics and additional props and details.
All the rooms are very basic looking indeed and the props are rubbery and run of the mill.
The music playing throughout the game was a nice touch. The musical scores were actually the creepiest part of the game.
The games masters creepy voice over the tannoy guiding us was a nice touch. If you needed help you had to call out to the demon and he would provide you information. I really liked this added touch.
Whilst Phobia capitalises on some key fears it sadly didn’t capitalise on any of mine.
The puzzles were a little trickier than expected and we felt even dumber when we realised we could have escaped if not for a prop we dropped much earlier on in the game. Escape Room rookie mistake101.
Escape Asylum Phobia Room Overall
A little basic looking in most places but the trickier puzzles made up for it.
There is room for improvement to really make it scary but as it stands it appeals to all ages.
Sadly, not the scary experience the promotion claimed it to be.
Escape Asylum review by Sean Evans.
