Add this new fantasy escape room to your bucket list

Exeter Today tried out an independent escape room business’ latest experience, The Wizards of Wyvern, and walked away feeling accomplished and thoroughly entertained.

Prodigy Escapes, located on Clifton Hill just minutes from Exeter’s high street, has recently launched its third escape room, offering players a glimpse into Exeter’s magical legacy.

Prodigy Escapes is operated by husband and wife duo, Dan and Lisa, and is the only venue in the UK’s Southwest to strive for 100 per cent completion.

Rather than allow you to get stuck on a task, their experiences are guided by welcoming and dedicated hosts who offer their tailored support throughout.

The Wizards of Wyvern is designed to feel like a fully immersive experience, featuring some of the most advanced technology found in escape rooms.

Much of this technology is powered by magnets and sensors, which send signals between rooms to unlock the next puzzle.

Although The Wizards of Wyvern is the smallest of Dan and Lisa's rooms, it is packed full of surprises and popular fantasy references.

“We wanted to create something that captivates everyone, whether you’re a fan of Harry Potter, Azeroth, or Westeros," said Dan.

The aim of the experience is to find Exeter’s magical dragon egg and use your courage to return it to its rightful place within the hour before magic in Exeter disappears completely.

Above: Image: Prodigy Escapes

Dan added: “Our core ethos is to focus on the fun of escapism. When I was first told about escape rooms, my first response was, ‘Why would I go into a room to find awkward ways to get out of it?!" Fast forward a few years, and we realised that escape rooms should be more about immersion in adventures and escaping the wider world into different stories rather than the room itself. At Prodigy, we pride ourselves on creating worlds for teams to share experiences together. Building bonds and developing a genuine sense of achievement from completing our tales.”

Dan is a self-proclaimed spreadsheet enthusiast and charts the progress of each team that uses their escape rooms, monitoring whether certain puzzles are significantly more challenging than others. 

He and Lisa are always looking to improve their experiences and use this data to make any potential amendments.

Additionally, if they notice a team taking longer than average in a particular area, they’ll send audio and visual hints to nudge them in the right direction. 

Teams do have the option of declining this tailored support if they'd prefer a more challenging experience.

One recent player said: “There was a lot of variety in the tasks to keep us really entertained for the whole experience and a brilliant surprise at the end. I’d recommend this for anyone visiting Exeter looking to try something different.”

Dan explained that his recommendation is for people to pick an escape room based on their favourite genre. 

Horror enthusiasts may most enjoy Prodigy Escape’s eerie The Haunting of Mount Clifton Manor, whereas fans of adventure should try The Lost Temple, which has an optional hard mode.

Prodigy Escapes offers flexible pricing for teams of all sizes, with discounts available for larger groups, students and those with Blue Lights cards.

You can book your experience and find out more about Dan and Lisa through their website.