Join us all at The Drunk Druid for a chat on all things Puzzles vs Narrative in game design. For this episode, we're joined by the fantastic Nathan and Marcus who are hosts of the Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum podcast, and designers on hugely popular video game, Rise of the Golden Idol.
Enjoy!
As always the team have recommendations for your better enjoyment. This month, they are!
 
Jamie Death and other detailsMandy Patinkin being Poirot on a cruise ship. What's not to like.
Mike James Lee - How I think CreativelyYT video - Frankly terrifying Youtuber giving advice on creativity as if he's cast himself in Sin City.
Nathan Blue PrinceHonestly the entire team lost their minds so completely as soon as this game got mentioned that I was sick a little in my mouth. 
Marcus Elyot - 30 Puzzle Design LessonsAnother YT video - Frankly obscenely wide ranging and deep (and I mean deep, like, Oceangate deep) on puzzle design.
Mairi Uketu Strange PicturesAN ACTUAL BOOK. ACTUAL PROPER CULTURE. THANK YOU MAIRI, THANK YOU. Oh wait it's by a Youtuber. However, a Youtuber that wrote a book that Mairi polished off in a single sitting. And, frankly (my word of the day), I have never met someone as easily distracted so, hats off Uketu. You broke Mairi.
Recommendations summarised by the editor, Jon; who was, by the end, so utterly enraged by having this entire set of show notes accidentally deleted that he really went off on one and then began writing about himself in the third person.
What a guy.

Having begun the ritual to bring about the rising of the Sun, the team must now complete it. To do this, they step, in pairs, into the most hallowed structure of the ancient Druidic religion, the Portaloo. Maybe leave your UV torches at home, folks.
In this episode, we're joined by Marcus Richardson and Nathan Hicken, the fantastic hosts of the murder mystery podcast Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum.
Puzzle Maestro: Mairi Nolan
Solvers: Mike Collins, Jamie Gibbs, Marcus Richardson and Nathan Hicken
Episode Art: Dom Jordan
Editor: Jon Saunders
All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom
Check out Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
...and wherever you get your podcasts usually!

The sun is setting at Stonehenge, and we must bring it back with out wits, a wasp and a jam sandwich!
Part 2 in the Summer Solstice series finds the gaggle of puzzlers at Stonehenge just in time for the sun to rise. The only problem is, if they don't perform the ritual correctly, the sun might not rise at all. In this brain-melting, time travel twisting episode, we'll have to master the past, present, and future if we want to make it out in time.
In this episode, we're joined by Marcus Richardson and Nathan Hicken, the fantastic hosts of the murder mystery podcast Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum.
Puzzle Maestro: Mike Collins
Solvers: Jamie Gibbs, Mairi Nolan, Marcus Richardson and Nathan Hicken
Episode Art: Dom Jordan
Editor: Jamie Gibbs
All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom
Check out Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
...and wherever you get your podcasts usually!

The gang find themselves on the summer solstice in Wiltshire, at Stonehenge no less! There's a great festival happening to celebrate the longest day, but before they can get there they'll have to enter through the gift shop. Before the night is up, they'll have to perform the ritual to get the sun to rise again. Easier said than done!
In this episode, we're joined by Marcus Richardson and Nathan Hicken, the fantastic hosts of the murder mystery podcast Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum.
Puzzle Maestro: Mairi Nolan
Solvers: Mike Collins, Jamie Gibbs, Marcus Richardson and Nathan Hicken
Episode Art: Dom Jordan
Editor: Mike Collins
All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom
Check out Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
...and wherever you get your podcasts usually!

This week's episode is Part 3 in our special "London Jolley" series. After a weekend of escape rooms, Mike gave us the challenge of each designing an improvised 10 minute escape room on the spot, and hosting it for the other three solvers. The location? A legally distinct, formerly independent coffee chain in the heart of London. The doors are chained shut, but will we be able to escape..?
Puzzle maestros (in order): Jon Saunders, Mairi Nolan, Jamie Gibbs, and Mike Collins
Solvers: Mike Collins, Jon Saunders, Jamie Gibbs, and Mairi Nolan
Episode art: N/A
Editor: Mike Collins
Note: There'll not be an unedited version of this recording, as there wasn't a lot we cut out!
All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom

In the second episode of our special, in-person London series, we took a quick break for a drink at the Dirty Dicks - yes, that really is it's name, and it's great!
In this episode we do Two Truths and a Lie, discuss Cold vs Hot openings in escape rooms, and give our recommendations for this month.
This month's recommendations are:
Jamie - The Code Book by Simon Lehna SinghJon - Notes From an Execution by Danya KukafkaMairi - The Electrifying Incident (2025) by Draknek & FriendsMike - Slow Horses by Mick Herron, and Prey (2017) by Arkane
Note: There'll not be an unedited version of this recording, as there wasn't a lot we cut out!
All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom

In this special episode, we're reporting from our first all-producers, in-person trip to London! For the first time, all four of The Infinite Escape Room hosts were in the same space at the same time.
Over this and the next few episodes you'll hear all about our puzzle thoughts on some of the games we played, including:
The Emerald Phantom at Secret Studio
Phantom Peak
Escape Arcade at Enigma Quests
Clays Bar
Listen out in this episode, where we've also got a very special interview with two of the excellent creators of The Emerald Phantom, Oscar and Andrew, who you can find out more about at Secret Studio.
All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom

You have been eaten alive by an irradiated Koala. What a day. But don't worry, there's a pub in here! Join Jamie, Aled, Mike and Bailey as they reflect on a question that should haunt the dreams of more Escape Room designers than it probably does - What is a puzzle?
AND THAT'S NOT ALL. A prize draw. A real one. With a real prize. Well, two, actually, but one of them will probably go a bit funny before it reaches the winner.
Also, our recommendations for this month:
As always, we closed out the episode with some handpicked recommendations from the team:
Bailey – TreeAppPlant a tree a day for free by watching short ads—an easy way to support global reforestation.
Aled – Piper AlleyBagpipe covers of metal songs. Yes, it's weird. Yes, it's brilliant.
Mike – Hardspace: ShipbreakerA relaxing puzzle-like space salvage sim with corporate dystopia vibes. Great on Steam Deck.
Mike – Slow Horses by Mick HerronA witty, gritty spy thriller about MI5’s least wanted. Also a TV series starring Gary Oldman.
Jamie – Maniac (Steam)GTA-style, top-down bullet hell chaos. Perfect for blowing off steam in 20-minute bursts.
Hosts: Mike Collins, Jamie Gibbs, Emma Bailey, Aled Hughes
Editor: Jon Saunders
All links to our social media profiles and our Patreon programme over at https://linktr.ee/theinfiniteescaperoom