Present, in January 2025, were: The Ant, Aunty Ant

Live actor games – where a Games Master or staff member are in the room with the team for some or all of the game time – have been around since the early days of Escape Rooms. Trapped In A Room With A Zombie was one of the earliest experiences I remember reading about, and I can’t say that those examples sold me on the idea. There’s always the possibility that the actor will detract significantly from the gameplay or even make a bad experience worse. But there’s always the flip side, as in the case of Deadlocked, where actors will make a terrific experience outstanding. 

We did approach The Reading Witch with a degree of trepidation. It is Reading as in the town (not as in reading a book) and if you replace the Reading with Blair (and are familiar with the 90s cult hit) you will get an idea of the vibe here. We’re not wild about out-and-out  horror games, and probably even less so with the prospect of real-human jump scares, over an extended running time (two hours!). But we had enjoyed The Cabin from Unsolved Mysteries (which is tonally similar), we loved all Deadlocked’s on-line games and had just had a ball in The Time Machine, so we knew it was worth risking the trauma…

Deadlocked pitches teams into the immersion immediately – the briefing is in character and absolutely integral to the plot – and doesn’t let up, even beyond the end… The closest experience I’ve had previous to this was probably The Lost Treasure in Berlin and I think this matches up in terms of commitment and how brilliantly the set-up has been thought through. Super-super-hard not to talk too much about the game without spoilers! And so frustrating, because I really want to tell you about all the genius reveals and manoeuvres and shocks, because they are so cool! But, sshh… the Witch might get me if I do, and you do NOT want to mess with them…

Unlike some horror rooms, the puzzle ratio (and lighting level) here is good. The minimum team size is more because of live actor costs than because of puzzle logistics, but as a two we were very busy throughout. I couldn’t think how to describe how they have melded puzzles with scares, until someone on the UK Escape Room Forum described it as cut-scenes in a video game, which is a spot-on observation. The team is free to puzzle (more or less) and then the live actor sections kick in to progress the story, and this works really well. We mostly enjoyed the tasks, although got annoyingly stuck on a simple one. The main clue system is on-theme through walkie-talkie-type comms with your “director”, but the absolutely seamless alternative remedy employed on this simple task to help us out was equal parts brilliant and deeply creepy!

The set is ridiculously expansive, with clever use making the space feel much bigger than it probably is. We did a lot of scampering as a two, but there will be places when a six is a squeeze. There is a hint of homemade charm, rather than big-budget polish, to some of the props, but the content convinces where it really matters. Some fabulously deceptive shocks are built into the scenery and there is an excellent use of tech combined with some traditional locks. Be aware that it is a very physical game, with all of the team having to crawl (the game is also down a slightly perilous flight of stairs!) and it will certainly elevate your heart rate.

But what absolutely elevates this game, contrary to our initial fears, is the actor element, managing to create hysteria (in a couple of senses of the word) and subjecting teams to a complete rollercoaster of an experience. For those brave enough to take on even mild horror rooms, it is a must-play. Creepy, cheeky, clever, cinematic and a masterclass in immersive puzzling.

• Storyline: A clever framing device makes this into a proper story. Wasn’t quite sure of the nature of the big bad we were facing (but it was big and it was very bad).
• Theming and Set: Immersive and used to great effect.
• Searching: Had a classic “right in front of my face” moment but it isn’t the team doing the hunting in this game.
• Puzzles: Good practical tasks and rational choices required, as well as classic puzzles.
• Physicality: Got to go, go, go with this, particularly as a two. 
• Scare factor: Pretty high – couple of sections properly got me. But very cleverly modulated and enormous fun. I think they would only terrorise those who were asking for it!
• Company Age Guidance: “18+ or Parental Advisory”
• Age suitability: Yeah, don’t take your kids. Some older, robust teens would be fine, but make sure they are happy with what they are getting into.

Deadlocked website