In summary
Teams compete in a 60 minute immersive experience, as they take on five challenges inspired by the global hit dystopian survival horror series - Squid Game.
Where is it located?
Squid Game: The Experience is located at Immerse LDN at the Excel London Waterfront - with the derelict Millennium Mills (which calls to mind the zombie infested hospital in The Last of Us series 2) looming opposite, the scene is set for a thrilling dystopian experience. Hop on the Elizabeth Line or DLR to Custom House, and it's a short five-minute walk. There's plenty of signage outside the venue to guide you. We visited on a Wednesday evening and had a bit of a journey. We drove so the kids could sleep on the way home. We pulled in at the Excel car park but did a quick turn around when we discovered we'd have to pay a £25 day charge. Instead, we pulled in and booked a space on someone's driveway through YourParkingSpace. We discovered that this residential street was actually free to park on during our late evening visiting time, but still, we were happy to pay £7.50 for three hours parking, rather than the hefty £25 car park charge.
Address: Immerse LDN - Excel Waterfront, London E16 1XL
What age is Squid Game: The Experience suitable for?
The immersive experience is open to all, and parents are encouraged to use their judgement about their child's ability to participate fully in the games. I visited with my husband and our two young sons, Odhran, 9, and Reuben, 7. While the boys are too young to have seen Squid Game, the show has had such a huge cultural impact that its influence has reached far beyond TV. The boys are familiar with it through memes and YouTube videos, and Reuben knows all of the games involved, as he plays child-friendly versions of them on Roblox. They're also fans of Beast Games (a reality competition where hundreds of contestants compete for a huge cash prize by taking part in various challenges). Beast Games is inspired by Squid Game and the boys loved the idea of taking part in this kind of competition. They were both able to fully participate in Squid Game: The Experience, and it proved to be a fun family-friendly activity.
What does the experience involve?
In the car on the way to the experience there was great speculation as to which games from the show would be included in the experience, and lots of backseat strategising from the boys. We arrived about 10 minutes before our booked time slot and we were thrilled to see lots of props and photo opportunities. If you've come with bags and coats, a limited number of lockers are available to rent at an additional cost.
We were given a tagged wristband (different colours for different time slots), and waited for our colour to be called. There was plenty of time to take pictures, and lots of props to take images of your own. But some pictures are taken against a screen and you're given a QR code if you wish to purchase them at the end of the experience.
The boys were really excited to put on their numbered bibs and step into the photo booths to have their pictures taken for the honeycomb shaped leaderboard. There were about 40 people competing in our group.
The first door opens into the holding room with bunkbeds, like in the show. From here, we tentatively entered the first game room. This was Memory Steps, and I have to admit that as part of the first group of four to step on to the tiles, I felt a little nervous. But I made it across, and Odhran and my Husband followed. Reuben and a few others had a misstep along the way. 'I'd be dead if this was the real Squid Game,' Reuben said, clearly invested in the storyline.
After each challenge, you need to tap your interactive wristband into either green, amber or red plinths, depending on how well you’ve done, and your points appear on the leaderboard.
We then moved on to Marbles, where our family group split in two and paired up with other contestants. As I scooped the first win at our table, Odhran pleaded 'Let me win Mammy, please give me some of your marbles.' 'Sorry son,' I replied. 'It's every player for themself.' But he quickly mastered the game and beat me and the two other contestants at our table.
Then it was on to Tug-of-War, which was a harder challenge than it looked. Next up was Red Light Green Light, with the iconic Young-Hee Doll and her creepy eyes. They added a little trick to make the game more challenging and several times, contestants were sent back to the starting line to try again, in a race against the clock. Not everyone made it and there was a hairy moment where my husband wobbled a little but luckily wasn't caught by the guards, who were otherwise quick to spot the slightest movement. Odhran and Reuben were great at this game and made it across the finish line ahead of me and my husband and with plenty of time to spare.
Finally, it was a version of Mingle, and if skill has got you to the top of the leaderboard at this point, all that can change in this game of chance. Throughout the experience, the eerie and suspenseful tunes from the show played, and guards wearing the iconic red jumpsuit and black masks prowled around, brandishing fake submachine guns. And yes, the Front Man does make an appearance.
In keeping with the show, Squid Game: The Experience is a game that's part skill, part luck. As long as you accept that you're unlikely to win, you're in for a fun time. After the games, you can unwind with a drink and snacks in the Korean-inspired Night Market. There are soju-infused cocktails and beer bundles starting at six Terra beers for £37. There's also a gift shop selling exclusive merch. The boys enjoyed browsing, and we bought two Squid Game mugs. (If memory serves me correctly, these cost around £12 each).
How much does it cost?
Tickets start at £34.10 but prices vary depending on time and date.
Take a Break's verdict
We really enjoyed Squid Game: The Experience. We'd have preferred more skill-based challenges, but the experience stays true to the show by adding in the element of luck. The sets were great and we loved all of the photo opportunities. The staff were friendly and enthusiastic, and compared to other immersive experiences we've visited, this one didn't feel too rushed. We also liked how the Korean theme extended into the bar area. We'd rate Squid Game: The Experience a 4 out of 5. Find out more here