Stigmata

We arrived at a rustic ticket office and were asked where we wanted to go. As this was the last game of the day none of us could remember what the website said. Luckily the signage gave us limited options and I picked Pluckley, as it is reputed to be the most haunted village in England… luckily it was the correct answer and we were shown to our transport. The carriage journey was a great transition to move us from the ‘real world’ into the dark and murky village of Puckley, and also gave us the chance to get accustomed to the low light levels and to read the introduction text. Once the carriage has stopped we disembarked into rural Pluckley and began our search with just a couple of candles between us.

Both the transportation and the interaction with the actors at the start were a little reminiscent of Lockhill, but this feeling was soon dismissed as both elements are instrumental to the narrative and not just part of the introduction.

Even in the very low light, you can see that this is a stunningly detailed and beautifully made set, everything you interact with fits the theme and the time period. We soon gained entry to the humble dwelling and met the desperate father.

From then on we experienced some real wow moments, both with actor interaction and in movement through the space, with one transition being particularly wonderful in both physical and psychological terms.

The use of space is excellent and with all the twists and turns I found myself quite lost, which increased the feeling of apprehension, this was further amplified as more than once we were surprised by an appearance that we didn’t expect or anticipate.

The narrative develops well and the story is enhanced as key plot points are conveyed through both the written information and through the puzzles themselves, giving a real feeling of discovery.
The puzzles are well-themed and varied and not too elaborate so we progressed through the spaces well and we weren’t in one space for long.

The final stages of the story are exceptional, with a high-adrenaline finale that completed this story but also lay the foundations for the narrative to continue with a new chapter.

Stigmata was a real highlight of our Athens trip for me, as it was one of only a very few horror rooms where I actually became emotionally invested in the plot and the outcome for the characters. It’s a real must-play room with some brilliant interactions and wow moments and I hope they continue the story so I can return for more.