Baddie Academy

Baddie Academy wins attention straight away with its comic-book pitch: a supervillain training school where you are trying to pass an entrance exam, not save the world. It is mischievous rather than menacing, and that tone gives the room a clear identity without drifting into horror or heavy satire. This is the sort of setup that should appeal to groups who want a game with personality as well as puzzles.

The strongest draw is the theme itself. Instead of another generic lair, you get the pleasingly absurd idea of earning your place among the best of the bad, which should keep the story frame moving neatly from start to finish. Escapemark would expect a lively, theatrical feel here, with enough character in the premise to make the room memorable before you have even solved a thing.

Puzzle-wise, this looks like a proper team effort. The venue explicitly designs its games to encourage teamwork and communication, and Baddie Academy sounds built around a varied spread of challenges rather than one dominant style. That makes it a sensible pick for mixed-ability groups, especially if you want everyone involved rather than one person doing all the work.

A sensible read on the room is broad appeal rather than bruising difficulty. There is no strong sign of heavy physicality or high-tech trickery, so the emphasis appears to be on accessible, collaborative solving with a playful coat of villainy. If you enjoy rooms that feel clear, characterful and cooperative, this should land well.

For a group of four to six, Baddie Academy looks like an easy recommendation if you want fun over fear and theme over menace. The best rooms in this lane know how to stay light on their feet while still giving you enough puzzle substance, and this one sounds very much in that mould.