BEAUTY LIES IN SIMPLICITY
Although I’ve played around ten escape room games so far — and in each one I was fascinated by some hidden detail, a secret passage to another room, a “wow” effect, or something similar — I must admit that in Mr. Fox’s Secret Study, I initially felt a bit deprived of that. However, this game quickly won me over with its simplicity. Even though it doesn’t rely on spectacular effects, it delivers that pure sense of satisfaction every successful room escaper feels after finishing a game. Perhaps because this game was previously called Back to School or Library, or mostly because of the room’s design, the feeling after the game was as if I had spent some time inside the office of an old school library headmaster — and that the very same character (the inevitable Mr. Fox) had been there just moments before me.
The story itself is also very simple. You are the chosen ones of Mr. Fox, the greatest and most mysterious secret agent in the world, who has prepared a series of puzzles and tasks in his office specifically for you — his alpha team — which you must solve in order to become secret agents.
Mr. Fox is successful in his profession because he reads books, and the first thing you notice upon entering the room is exactly that — books. Lots of books. And not just any books… The shelves are filled mostly with classic literature in hardcover editions, carefully selected volumes that you experience in a unique way simply by taking them off the shelf and holding them in your hands — even without reading a single page. There are also dictionaries, encyclopedias, and professional literature. I think that during the game, I spent at least five minutes — if not more — just staring at the bookshelves, searching for a title that would remind me of a time when books held immeasurable value and were the primary source of knowledge. I found two — I won’t mention their titles — that instantly took me back to a part of my past. Unfortunately, today’s “millennial” generations don’t really have that same connection to books. Still, I sincerely hope that at least some of them will find inspiration here and fall in love with books. I would love for my own children, when I bring them here one day — either with their friends or with me during a family visit — to experience that magic of books firsthand.
The entire room is beautifully decorated in a retro style. In the center stands a large antique writing desk with many locked drawers, topped by a typewriter. There’s also an unavoidable globe, subtly hinting that geography might play an important role, and even the ceiling is decorated with a segment of an old world map. Paintings hang on the walls, and in one corner there’s a special table marked with an 8×8 grid of an ancient game. The room’s decoration is flawless and faithfully captures a moment from the not-so-distant past, infused with tradition. Mr. Fox is truly a complex character, I thought to myself — which is why a well-balanced team is required to tackle the logic behind the puzzles. Solving them demands at least basic knowledge of mathematics, literature, art, geography, the English language, and even the rules of chess — along with all the essential escape room skills such as observation, teamwork, logical reasoning, and more. In all these aspects, Mr. Fox’s Secret Study truly excels.
The game flow is seamless and becomes increasingly complex and engaging as time goes on. A few unexpected puzzles and surprises, combined with everything else, make this escape room my top recommendation for anyone who hasn’t yet tried this type of entertainment — as well as for school groups, students, families with children, and similar audiences.
To sum it up in just two words: Simple and beautiful. Just like reading a book can be a simple yet beautiful experience in today’s modern world.
Emir,
Room Escape Games BiH