LOST Hong Kong escape room review: Solving puzzles in the dark is more fun with friends
The escape room craze has taken the world by storm. But in this cramped city, can the designers craft a fun experience in limited space?
Lost Hong Kong will test you in a variety of ways. The lobby of Lost Hong Kong in Causeway Bay is well-decorated with Instagrammable objects (like a magnifying glass and antique photos) to get guests in the sleuthing mood. There are many different themed rooms to choose from, such as the Resident Evil-inspired zombie scenario Nemesis or the appropriately-named Alcatraz jail experience.
We chose to try Inferno, where players are tasked with figuring out how to escape from a series of rooms decorated in the style of 1950s Hong Kong.
The props and production values of the rooms are good, with an old-style TV flickering in a sinister fashion with black and white static, and a set of metal teapots from that era setting up the mood nicely. Another nice touch was the sturdiness of all the items in the room, with players not having to wonder whether each part of the room would be able to withstand wear and tear.
Zombies found in the heart of Causeway Bay and it's up to you to kill them
The puzzles themselves are mostly well-designed. They will test you in a variety of ways, such as your ability to decode a message after physically manipulating a series of objects. Most of the clues work well, and can be logically figured out with diligence and teamwork.
Escape rooms are always more fun with friends, and it is suggested that players try the experience with a group they know well because there will definitely be a bit of yelling and finger-pointing going around as frustration builds up.
As is usual for escape rooms, players have a set number of hints they can use up if they are stuck, and the staff members are fairly competent at giving players a nudge in the right direction without giving away the puzzle outright. However, there may be some slight language barriers for non-Cantonese speakers, so bear that in mind.
One complaint is that most of the rooms are dimly lit and they do not give you enough flashlights for the entire group. This may have been intended as a gameplay mechanic to up the difficulty, but sharing two flashlights among six people just leaves the other four wandering around in the dark. Another quibble is that sometimes it’s not immediately obvious that the correct solution has been found. For example, when the positioning of a set of home decorations was off by just a tiny amount, the solution did not register as being solved and more time was wasted.
Overall, Lost Hong Kong offers a fun experience for a group of six or less. However, at HK$150 per person per 45-minute session, it’s on the expensive side so make sure you really enjoy team-based puzzle rooms before investing your time and money.
Location:
1/F, 1-3 Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay
Price:
Monday-Thursday:
45 mins game: HK$150 per person
Friday–Sunday, public holidays:
45 mins game: HK$180 per person
(Cash only)
Hours:
11am-11pm
Website:
www.losthk.com