The Alchemist

Back then when I started playing escape rooms regularly and people would ask which were the best ones, a game regularly mentioned was The Vault. It’s therefore not surprising that in the first Terpeca awards that game made it into the Top 10.

Many years passed until Sherlocked announced a new room was coming and given the groundbreaking nature of The Vault, expectations were of course high. It was quite a wait but as the saying goes: “Good things take time, great things take a little longer”. I am glad it took longer, as this game is certainly a great thing.

A fundamental component of every great game is the start, and when you start a game like this you can be certain that you are up for a ride. The game takes place in a beautiful setting, in which it’s enjoyable just to be there.

The game could be briefly summarized by two words that Jackie said after playing it: “Visually stunning”, but you could also say in a clear allusion to the game’s name that it is “pure gold”.

It is a game, in which what you have to do becomes apparent relatively quickly and the signposting and guidance through the game is well done. The tasks were really engaging and fun to do. There were beautifully clever riddles and succeeding was satisfying.

Alchemy requires usually a secret element and in this game it was the props and unique constructions that made us open our mouths in wonder. Another Dutch owner mentioned to us they were cheering at certain moments during the game and after having played it I clearly see why.

The experience was memorable as such, but for us particularly special, as we were celebrating Heiner’s 2000th room and I had the pleasure of finding an “Easter egg” in the room commemorating such a special moment.

To finish like I started, if someone asks today about the best escape rooms, I believe The Alchemist belongs to that selected list. Terpeca will tell if other enthusiasts think the same, but no matter what make sure to include this room in your next visit to the Netherlands.