While Singapore may be a tiny red dot on the world map, we can vouch that there are plenty of things to do here – Scout’s promise! From hiking and clubbing to museum-hopping and shopping, it’s almost impossible to run out of awesome hangout plans. And if you’re one who prefers fun brainy activities, you can either opt for rounds of enjoyable board games sessions with your pals, or read on and discover an alternative intellectual form of entertainment that has taken Singapore by storm – real-life escape room games. Trapping yourself in a room may sound silly at first, but don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it! Interesting plots, a plethora of puzzles, mysterious clues and a nerve-wracking time limit, it will put on an adrenaline-pumping ride like you’ve never experienced before.
Trapped
Situated at *SCAPE, Trapped is one of Singapore’s family-friendly escape rooms. With hardly any strenuous physical stunts to do or dangerous props around, Trapped welcomes everyone – be it the little ones (as young as 7 years old) and even seniors who are young at heart. If pop culture’s your thing, some of the rooms here are designed according to blockbuster Hollywood films such as Friday the 13th, The Avengers and, once, a Hunger Games room (we volunteer as tribute!). Psst…it closes as late as 2am on Friday and the weekend, perfect for some fun after grabbing a hearty supper with friends!
Trapped, #02-20/21/22, *SCAPE, 2 Orchard Link, Singapore 237978, p. 6636 9722. Prices start at $22 per person on weekdays (11am- 6.30pm) and $24 per person on weekdays (6.30pm onwards) and weekends.
Xcape Singapore
Singapore’s biggest escape room – 6000 sq ft with 40 game chambers, Xcape Singapore is the most popular spot to put your intelligence to the test. This April, Xcape will be launching its Xcape Haunted series, offering you the eeriest haunted house escape game experience ever. But if spooky’s not your cup of tea, you can always opt for its current 10 themes such as Resident Evil, Whisper of the Dead, Doraemon – A Dream Come True and Kungfu Panda X – The Return of Tai Lung.
Xcape Singapore, 152B (level 3), 160A (level 2) & 158B (level 3), Bugis Village, Rochor Road, Singapore 188435, p. 6337 4905/6338 4451. Prices start at $22 per person on weekdays (before 6pm) and $28 per person on weekdays (after 6pm), weekends & Public Holidays.
Lockdown
Nestled at Clarke Quay Central and Suntec City Mall, break free from Lockdown by searching for clues from your surroundings and solving witty riddles. Creating thought-provoking entertainment for all, this international brand provides a selection of shrewd challenges that are cleverly weaved within interesting concepts – The Forgotten Temple, and Circus of the Dead, just to name a few. Calling all CSI fans: here’s your golden opportunity to unleash your inner investigative alter-ego and try out its CSI: A Good Night to Die room. But if you’re more of a Nancy Drew kind of girl, Top Secret might be of your interest.
Lockdown, 2 locations at Clarke Quay Central and Suntec City Mall. Prices start at $19 on weekdays (before 7pm), and $22 on weekdays (after 7pm) and weekends.
LOST SG
A huge hit in Hong Kong, this escape room eventually made its way to our sunny island, providing various enigmatic themed escape rooms like Aokigahara, Al Catraz, Exodus and Isometrick. On top of 75 minutes (longer than your average 60 minutes) of brain-squeezing exercises, you’ll definitely have to make full use of all five senses to escape; okay, maybe not so much of taste, but you’ll have definitely to werk your sense of sight to search for clues in the dimly lit rooms and tap onto your sense of hearing to solve some puzzles. And keep your head in the game; don’t get too distracted by its impeccable attention to detail, from brilliant high-tech settings to its selection of music that creates fitting ambiances. You’ll be so fascinated, you won’t even feel like escaping!.
LOST SG, #03-01/02/03, Peace Centre, 1 Sophia Road, Singapore 228149, p. 6717 1688. Prices start at $23.90 per person on weekdays (11am-5.30pm), and $29.90 per person on weekdays (5.45pm onwards), weekends and eve of/and Public Holidays.
Captivate
Priding itself as Asia’s highest-rated escape room, Captivate in Singapore is an international outpost of its Melbourne flagship edition. Captivate in Singapore offers two original rooms with local twist, in addition to the three rooms which are brought here from its parent company. And if you have a penchant for great tales, you’re in for a treat as Captivate is recognised for its mind-boggling original story plots, interjected seamlessly with quirky and innovative puzzles. Kellar’s Magic Emporium is a hit with many players – with its interesting storyline that keeps you on edge every second you’re in the room. Up for a challenge? Try its Black Out room or the Labyrinth: Dead Men Walking room – g’luck!
Captivate, #06-28, Singapore Shopping Centre, 190 Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore 239924, p. 9182 2552. Prices start at $56 per person and each additional person is $20.
Escape Hunt
You don’t have to wonder what it’s like to be a slick, crime-solving, Sherlock Holmes-type hero anymore, thanks to Escape Hunt Singapore. Trapping you in different rooms according to various themes and difficulty, the only way out is to solve its assortment of mysteries. The rooms are admittedly dark, with antiques and oddities everywhere to add to the creepiness, but nothing too dark and twisted that would trigger your worst nightmare. If you’ve successfully escaped, strike a pose with your pals with the quirky props and adorable detective costumes to commemorate your victory (and for keepsake)! The Honeycombers team has firsthand experience with Escape Hunt – read our review here.
Escape Hunt, #02-43/44/45/46 Concorde Hotel & Shopping Mall, 100 Orchard Road, Singapore 238840, p. 6100 0828. Prices start at $76 for two persons, $99 for three persons, $120 for four persons, and $140 for five to six persons.