Venus

Venus is a brisk, tech-led room with real character. Rather than a straight sci-fi rescue, it puts you in the role of support engineers trying to steady an AI that has decided to go off script. That framing gives the game a sharper identity than most compact rooms: playful, direct and keen to make the system itself part of the fun.

The big draw is the banter. Venus does not just provide clues and disappear into the background, it has a personality, interrupts the flow and keeps the room moving with mischief. That is where this experience wins its points. The best versions feel “laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish”, and that comic energy is the reason it stands out in Guildford.

The puzzle set sounds solid and sensible rather than punishing. Expect logical, often multi-step tasks with a technical edge, plus moments that reward watching, listening and coordinating information. This is not a physical room, and it is not trying to generate tension. It is more about pattern-spotting, working cleanly as a team and keeping pace with the AI’s antics.

Venus is at its strongest with smaller groups, especially two or three experienced players who want to stay involved throughout. Bigger teams may find the workload thins out a little, and seasoned players could see it as on the gentler side. Still, that is less a flaw than a sign of where its strengths lie: personality, interactivity and a game that knows how to be memorable without being overcomplicated.

If you want a room with humour, clever tech and a proper sense of attitude, Venus deserves attention. It should suit first-timers who want something fair and entertaining, as well as enthusiasts who are happy to trade brute difficulty for charm and invention. For the right group, this is a neat little standout rather than just another themed escape.