11/22/2025
Thanks for one of our greatest time as gamemasters
👪 THE FAMILY - Escaparium (🇨🇦 Shawinigan, QC)
👁️ Review by Fran
The Family – A little off the beaten path for our trip, but absolutely worth the detour to play.
First things first: the hosting at this venue was exceptional. I won't go into detail, but it was beautifully handled and really elevated the experience. From the start, we were immersed in the mysterious home of a seemingly normal family. The game opens in a living room adorned with hunting trophies and a warm, rustic décor — a strong, atmospheric set that hinted at something darker to come.
As we progressed, the story deepened and took a much darker turn — with one of the most stunning transitions and reveals we’ve seen.
Every space we entered felt intentionally designed to reflect the ever-darkening narrative, and this is where The Family truly shines: the storytelling.
The lighting, sound design, and pacing all worked together to draw us deeper into the world. It was immersive in the best way — evoking emotion, thought, and genuine curiosity.
One little touch I particularly appreciated: having an in-game ally who actually corrected one of our teammates. It was both funny and satisfying! The clue system was engaging and relevant.
The first half of the game was the strongest for us. It featured, well-constructed puzzles — nothing too complex, but satisfying to solve.
While the story was strong overall, there were moments where we struggled resulting in some strained moments — hard to pinpoint exactly why. We also had a miscommunication as a team (okay — I didn’t, but there’s always one!) during a section that was already giving us a bit of a hard time. After regrouping, we managed to get back on track.
That said, the final portion of the game felt frustrating. The flow slowed down. It didn’t offer the same clarity as earlier sections, this was maybe our team and not the game. and we ended feeling slightly deflated. However — and this is important — the game was brand new when we played it. As an owner myself, I understand that early versions often evolve quickly. I have no doubt that adjustments have since been made, and players visiting now will likely experience an even more polished version of what we played.
Sometimes I wonder if the more escape rooms we play, the more critical we become — especially compared to how we might have viewed things back when we were only 100 games in.
Despite that, The Family remains a fantastic room with strong narrative, excellent hosting, and the reputation of a company clearly committed to quality. I’m excited to see what they create next.
#️⃣ 2756
📆 Sun. 22.06.2025 ⏰ 15:30
🏘️ Escaparium
🧩 THE FAMILY
🌐 https://www.escaparium.ca/shawinigan-escape-game/
📍 1852 Av. Georges, Shawinigan, QC G9N 2N3, Kanada
⭐️ Rating: 5.4/6 Stars
🏅49 (TERPECA 2024)
⏳ 75‘
🗣 🇬🇧🇫🇷
👥 2-6
💶 87-261 CAD (54-161€)
🌡 Level: medium
🎃 Scary: 3 (🦄)0-10(☠)
🎭 Acting: no
🔑 Solved (70 Min.)
🎸 Mark 🇬🇧
🎸 Fran 🇬🇧
🎃 Meyah 🇬🇧
🧙🏼♂️ Heiner 🇩🇪
🎬 A seemingly exemplary family is not what it claims to be. Its well-kept secrets will test your decision to intervene to expose the truth.
