ESCAPE rooms are a unique type of entertainment, immersing you in a whole new experience. Instead of being an observer of the game, you are actually part of the story. Here, we round up some of the best experiences on offer in Dorset...

Marvo Mysteries Escape Room, 251 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth

Teams of 3-6 players must search for clues, solve the mystery, recover the Artifact and try to escape all before their time runs out. But all is not what it seems. Old myths and legends give a glimpse into another world, a mirror world, a wonderland filled with powerful Artifacts, has someone found a way to travel between them?

U-Escape, The Corner House 1-3 Poole Hill, Bournemouth

Suited to teams of 2-6 people, you have 60 minutes to unravel the mysteries and complete your escape. You need to use the power of your mind and communication to solve mental puzzles and physical challenges to ensure successful completion of your assignment and secure your safe return to the real world. The venue promises a "fully immersive, uniquely themed" adventure packed with twists, turns and surprises.

The MacGuffin Project 205, Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth

Escape from reality by immersing yourself into the dark but beautiful world of the long forgotten MacGuffin Carnival. It’s down to you and your team to work together, unravel the mysteries and overcome the challenges that unfold before you. Interact with machines, communicate with lost souls and piece together the past as you race against time to complete your mission.

The Lockey, 35, The Triangle, Bournemouth

Challenges you to make fast decisions, and pay attention to small details. You need to solve a set of puzzles to unravel the mysteries. It will hold you captive unless you work as a team to earn your freedom. Rooms range in levels of difficulty and themes include Ace Ventura, with a minimum age of eight, VR Technology and Hannibal.

Escape Dungeons, The Richmoor Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth

There are three small rooms all under the Esplanade that teams are locked in for one hour, challenged with solving a sleuth of clues and hidden messages to unlock multiple locks in order to escape. Current themes include Defuse the Bomb and Prison Break games. Each room is re-done every 6-12 months so players can visit multiple times. Team sizes can range from two people per experience to a maximum of fifteen, with a maximum of five people per room.

Cyantist, 9 Upper Norwich Road, Bournemouth

Teams are locked in a room and given 60 minutes to escape by finding and solving puzzles in a team. Puzzles at Cyantists are mostly based on something related to science, and billed as being educational as well as fun. Common sense and elementary school knowledge essential. Cyantist now also has a venue in Southampton.

Ouija, 123 Charminster Road, Bournemouth

Not suitable for minors, Ouija offers teams of two to six players an hour to complete a mission using common sense, logic and teamwork. Something has been experienced in this house and players will also become the part of the storyline, with the chance to become a starring character.

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