TL:DR A high-octane adventure that pushes the boundaries of the escape room genre and will have you furtively looking over your shoulder all the way home.

We stepped into the lobby of Hopkins Stearne and were asked to take a seat as we waited for our meeting to begin.

“Are you going to be OK Hannah?” my friend asked, seeing my face as I read the ‘in case of death’ clause in the waiver with more care than usual. “You know with the lift?”

My anxiety over going to The Drop had started a few weeks previously, upon receiving an email that advised the recommended age had been raised from 14 to 18.

I am a very PG kind of girl. The last and only time I watched a horror movie was The Ring (only rated a 15 by the way) as a 14 year old and suffice to say: never again. I’m also mildly claustrophobic. Now I was faced with being put in an 18-rated lift on some sort of international crime adventure.

This did not bode well.

I pressed on because I really like Swamp Motel, the production company that gained international acclaim over lockdown when they released Isklander, an trilogy of online escape experiences.

Fans of Isklander will recognise Swamp Motel’s signatures in The Drop: Moody noir storytelling underscored by hair-raising sound design and a compelling, disorientating blend of reality and game.

Seeing that the pre-show advice required audience members to have at least one charged phone between them I had an inkling that some broadly similar puzzles might be at play and was not disappointed.

The hour-and-a-bit that followed was tense and exciting, with medium-difficulty puzzles that beautifully leveraged and spoke to their settings (particularly, it must be said, the lift, which engendered puzzles I had never come across before).

This was helped along with pre-recorded footage and extremely thoughtful help mechanics run by live actors which added multiple layers to the story and guided us through with flawless pacing.

The puzzles are doable but challenging as a two, which I think is ideal. There’s lots to do which allowed us to bounce off each other, taking turns being ‘the brave one’ taking the lead.

Also - twists! Daaaaammmmnnn.

The result is a satisfying journey that pushes the boundaries of the traditional escape room format in realism and storytelling.

If I had mild qualms it would be the ticket price (one of the highest per minute of experience I have seen on the market) and the lack of clarity regarding autonomy and outcomes.

These issues are interrelated for me. The website suggests that there are multiple endings:

“Each experience is unique to you and your team… Will you beat the villain, or become one?”

If I could be sure that I could get a reasonably different outcome, I would be tempted to do the experience again… but to run the risk of getting the same outcome for that price? I am just not sure I can legitimise it.

Anyhow, bottom line, was The Drop experience scary?

Yes, but it’s thriller scary rather than horror scary and, while my friend and I both thought it wasn’t for the faint of heart, the design is thoughtful. There is a definite line to the intensity and the hairy moments add to the story, rather than feeling gratuitous.

That said probably compared to anything you’ve done before, including Isklander if that’s the case, the realism has been heightened in The Drop. It falls well short of West World levels of entertainment dystopia… but it’s ambling in that direction. It was an odd experience seeing ‘giveaways’ such as IKEA furniture in a supposed high rolling investment firm and feeling reassured instead of disappointed.

The trailer gives you a pretty good sense of the level to expect, so if you’re broadly happy after watching that you’ll be fine.

Should you go?

If you like escape rooms and thrills, emphatically yes. Indeed if you feel like you’ve seen all there is to see with escape rooms The Drop will restore your faith.

But, if you’ve had a rough day and want a metaphorical hug of a show, perhaps not. Maybe try Dr Who: Time Fracture instead?

We left with our cheeks flushed bright red from adrenaline and smiling with a sense of epic accomplishment, only occasionally feeling the need to look over our shoulders as we walked home in the dark.

Key stats

Standard Ticket Price: 150£ - 176£ depending on day and group size (2-4)

Deals: Time Out Tuesdays £112 for team of 4

VIP Experience: NA

Running Time: 1hr15 (ish)

Age: 18+

Nearest Tube: Aldgate

Fan of immersive theatre? Find out about the best shows opening in 2022

Read more reviews and news here