Birth Machine

This is a review of the Escape Room “Birth Machine” offered by Mad Machines in Milan, Italy.
  • ⭐️ 10/10
  • 🌡 Medium
  • ⏳ 60 Minutes
  • 👥 2 – 6 Person

Try the impossible! That is Dr. Mad’s motto and that’s exactly what he has achieved with his latest invention. No one can remember their birth, so wouldn’t it be phenomenal if we knew exactly how it all happened? Thanks to the Doctor’s incredible Birth Machine, we are now able to experience our birth again consciously, from the baby’s perspective. The whole process takes, how could it be otherwise, 9 months or 40 weeks.

Of course, we all know the story of the birds and the bees, and we know that pregnancy doesn’t happen by itself. First of all, two people (at least) have to like each other … uhhhm … let’s say … quite a lot. And so our story begins a little earlier. More precisely, in a comfortable and cosy double room at the Motel Mariella. Designed in the eighties, the motel has never been renovated but this is where the doctor has already arranged everything so that “the thing” quickly gains momentum. What happens in the room, stays in the room!

Mad Machines in Milan have been around for almost 3 years. It’s hard to believe that they still haven’t made the international breakthrough and received the attention that I think they absolutely deserve. The reason, in my opinion, is that the Italian market has never been as big as in many other European countries. There are very few enthusiasts who would be justified in nominating such rooms for TERPECA, for example, and virtually no Escape Tourism. I guess that’s why no Italian Escape Game has ever made it onto the Terpeca world map.

The development and construction of the machines took almost two years, their creators, Giulia and Antonio, told us. They put all their energy, creativity, heart and soul, and whatever else is required into this major project, and in the midst of the openings of Birth Machine (March 2019) and Time Machine (October 2019), the pandemic has set them back violently (closures, etc.), so not so many enthusiasts have been granted the chance to try out these delightfully crazy machines of the Doctor either.

Back to the game…It starts directly, without a long introduction from a gamemaster. That’s how we like it. We are greeted by one of the Doctor’s assistants, Arturo, who seems a little, shall we say, listless.After we have restored his motivation, we are granted access to the afore-mentioned motel room, where things take their course.

I’m always happy when, after so many rooms played, I can still be surprised. The two creative geniuses Guilia and Antonio from Mad Machines have definitely delivered in this aspect. It’s a theme I’ve never experienced in an Escape Room before. Moreover, its realisation was marvelously executed. You could say the plot was absolutely well-rounded.??

With the cool soundtrack, really great ideas, creative puzzles, and funny physical tasks which always fit perfectly into the plot, we laughed a lot. Special praise also to the set builders. The set is so beautiful! I wanted to take my shoes off so as not to get anything dirty.

If you ever come to Italy, be sure to visit Mad Machines in Milan and play both games!

Heiner Stepen

Heiner Stepen