LOCKED IN FUN: PRISON ISLAND’S 31 CHALLENGES

By Natasha U’Ren-Ashdown | @tasha.ua ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Step into a world of locks, puzzles, and high-stakes fun with this immersive prison-themed experience, where players can tackle 31 unique cells that vary in how they challenge your skill, strategy, and physical ability. This experience is perfect for teenagers and young adults who enjoy a mix of light physical activity and mental challenges.Prison Island keeps you on your toes with 90 minutes of fast-paced, inventive gameplay that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

My group and I were pleasantly surprised by the variety of mini-games, each lasting around a minute and a half and requiring strategic thinking, such as locating hidden buttons to bypass alarms or navigating tilted floors and climbing walls. However, we felt the experience at the venue itself could be improved. Arriving ten minutes early, we encountered stress due to the lack of Wi-Fi and poor mobile signal on the street, which made downloading our tickets difficult (I recommend downloading and screenshotting them beforehand). After signing in, we were asked to wait by the tables, but ended up waiting twenty-five minutes with minimal guidance. Even brief updates during this time would help guests feel less confused and more acknowledged. While the staff were not unkind, they seemed unenthusiastic during the briefing, which took place in a courtroom-like setting. We felt this was a missed opportunity to fully immerse visitors in the prison atmosphere.

USE CODE PRISONGLAM10 FOR 10% OFF YOUR BOOKING

Once inside, the games proved highly enjoyable and engaging, as they are short but challenging, and we often found ourselves replaying them simply to improve our score. Many designs were inventive, featuring twists on classics like whack-a-mole or map-based puzzles. Although most games were exciting, a few proved frustrating for our group. Despite warnings about the physical or strategic demands of certain cells, some felt overly difficult, were faulty, or unclear about the objectives. Clues were provided on the back of each door, with additional hints available via QR codes in the halls, but offline accessibility would reduce frustration when Wi-Fi or mobile service is unavailable.

Though some games and organisational elements were inconsistent, the overall experience remained enjoyable. I recommend groups of three for friends or family outings, while larger groups or work outings may benefit from splitting up across the cells, as the entire space is accessible and each cell can be entered with a fob when available. My group found the experience more engaging than initially expected. Though inconsistent at times, we still wished we had more time to complete all 31 cells. With a few improvements, it could be even better, but I’d still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mix of problem-solving, interactive challenges, and physical and mental gameplay.

If you’re tempted to give Prison Island a go, you can save 10% on bookings using the discount code PRISONGLAM10, which makes it even better value for group outings

WEBSITE

⭐⭐⭐

Photo Credit: Fever