Carnivorous

Containaphobia (Geelong, Australia)

Time limit: 80 minutes

Age limit: 18+

Player limit: 3-4

Difficulty: Expert

Date visited: October 2025

Be prepared to run...

Some time over the past year, a legend began to grow about an escape room so wild, so insane, and so terrifying — yet so brilliant — that it had to be played to be believed, probably even multiple times. Countless people cried and gave up just minutes into the game, or worse, assaulted the live actor. Meanwhile, escape room enthusiasts and owners sung its praises, with some even declaring it their favourite game of all time.

But more recently, a devastating rumour started to spread: This game destined for the annals of escape room lore was set to close down at the end of the year. And when I saw that the minimum number of players required was reduced from 4 to 3 (the maximum remained at 4), I realised it had to be done. A team of 3 from three different states was assembled, and together, we drove down to Geelong on a chilly, rainy October evening. We turned down a dark, empty road before stopping in a deserted paddock, a giant farm shed in the distance. There was no introduction. There was no gamemaster. We simply exited the car, and Carnivorous thus began...

To call Carnivorous an “escape room” would almost be underselling it. This was a god-tier experience of immersion, dread, and horrifying fun. Even though I knew it was just a game, there were many times my body couldn’t help but react on instinct. I flinched. I screamed. I dodged. I ran. In the first few minutes of the game, when the thought “Could this be real?” flashed through my mind — something that had never happened before an in escape room — I knew the game had me hook, line, and sinker.

Naturally, to create such an atmosphere and level of immersion required theming that was off the charts. Everything — and I mean everything — in Carnivorous was a labour of love. From the biggest props to the tiniest of details, from realistic hacked limbs to blood splatters and even mould stains, the amount of passion, painstaking thought, and effort put into designing and building this room was beyond what I could have fathomed. Even the video, audio, special effects, and acting (both recorded and live) were top notch. It was mind-boggling to learn that this was a solo build on a “tiny” budget (his words), and essentially rushed to completion due to financial pressure.

However, what lifted Carnivorous above other immersive experiences were the puzzles. Simply put, this room had some of the most clever, innovative, and challenging puzzles I had ever seen. The most amazing part was that every single puzzle was diegetic or at least fell in line with the theme, made perfect and practical sense in the space, and served to propel the action and story forward. In fact (a pro tip here), you could say that every prop, everything you see and hear, and every item you pick up along the way could prove to be essential later on. The flow felt extremely smooth and well-paced — speeding up by forcing you to run, slowing down by requiring you to think, or throwing both at you at the same time!

In addition, the scale of Carnivorous was just incredible. Being located in a remote area offers Containaphobia the opportunity to create sprawling games, and Carnivorous took full advantage. I don’t want to give anything away, but suffice it to say that it felt at times like we would never find a way out.

All of the above culminated in an off-the-rails, balls-to-the-wall (sometimes literally lol) experience that filled me with an unshakable yet glorious mix of dread, terror, exhilaration, and satisfaction. By the end, our bodies were exhausted but our minds were buzzing, and we could not stop talking about the game all the way back to Melbourne.

From what we could see on the system, bookings for Carnivorous have improved as of late, and we really hope it can survive and keep running, because it would be a damn shame if it were to close down at the end of the year. It’s a game every enthusiast who can handle horror should experience. It’s a room that deserves to be booked out every night. My Melbourne-based friend, who had only played a handful of escape rooms, said the experience probably ruined other horror escape rooms for him for life, and he couldn’t wait to bring other friends back to do it all over again.

Theming	Atmosphere	Puzzles	Creativity	Fun
A+	A+	A+	A+	A+

Verdict: Carnivorous was the ultimate immersive escape room with an insane horror atmosphere and some of the best puzzles I have ever done, amplified by an immense sense of scale, breadth, and depth. Right now, as far as memorable horror experiences go, it’s hard for me to imagine anything ever surpassing it.

RANK: S