The Antiquary’s Testament

This is a review of the Escape Room “The Antiquary’s Testament” offered by Trip Trap Bazar in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • ⭐️ 9.5/10
  • 🌡 Difficult
  • ⏳ 60 Minutes
  • 👥 2 – 5 Person

Trip Trap has taken over the Timescape location, which now goes by the name “Trip Trap Bazar”. With “Trip Trap Secret Floor” and the “Grand Trip Trap Hotel”, there are now three Trip Trap locations in Geneva. The former Timescape branch is no longer recognizable. The appearance has completely changed to a rustic antique shop with numerous displays in the shop windows. It is not obvious at first glance that this is an escape game provider.

We had played the Timescape rooms, “THE SECRET OF THE 3 PHARAOS” and “THE LOTUS TRAP”, 2020. The latter room was modified by Trip Trap and will continue under the same name. According to their own information, however, it is not recommended to play it again if you already know the original version. The second room didn’t really convince us at the time, so we were very curious to see how Trip Trap Bazar managed to redesign the pharaoh rooms, which were located in the basement of the building, into an adventure that made it to the Terpeca finals in 2022.

When we arrive at the bazaar, the excitement mounts. Hopefully we will soon find out whether the rarities in the shop windows are really valuable. The notary who takes care of the estate of our distant relative has summoned us here to sign the deed to our surprise inheritance.

I love such immersive starts, as known from Spain and Greece, among others. The adventure starts immediately when we enter the premises, without having to watch a lengthy introductory video or a GM reading out the rules of the game and behaviour for minutes on end.

I don’t want to reveal too much about the game itself. I think the less you know, the better the experience. While I thought it might be good, I was simply blown away by The Antiquary’s Testament. The in-character GM, the storytelling, the excellent setting with all the attention to detail, lighting and sound, all the mystical props I was constantly worried about breaking something precious. Nowhere a don’t touch sticker or anything like that. No walkie talkies or monitors to break the immersion. The help system – phenomenal! We also needed some tips, because it is by no means an easy mission. Cryptic writings, hidden mechanisms, mystical boxes, heavy doors that are perhaps better left closed… Wonderful!

For me, everything here – from the extraordinary beginning to the breathtaking end, which actually gave me goose bumps – was absolutely coherent. If there is anything to complain about, it’s that the adventure had to end after 60 minutes.

Heiner Stepen

Heiner Stepen