Review: The Secret of the Watchmaker, Harz Escape, Wernigerode, Germany
Fun Factor 9
Harz Escape
Klintgasse 3, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
Date we played: September 13, 2025
Booking size 2 to 4 (we recommend 2 to 4)
Game time: 60 to 75 Minutes
Objective: As stated on their website, “Next to our Escape Room, there is a small watchmaker’s shop. The owner, Regina Jürgensen, appears to be a quiet and unassuming person. But then why are there these strange and sometimes alarmingly loud noises coming from her shop? We would very much appreciate your help in finding out.” So your job is to help Harz Escape investigate and report back if their neighbor is okay.
Horror Theme: No – but there are some brief moments of heightened intensity and content. The company’s website recommends the game for those 14 and older.
Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced
Our Experience - so much FUN!
We had an absolute blast playing The Secret of the Watchmaker at Harz Escape and highly recommend it, awarding it a Fun Factor of 9. That rating reflects an engaging, cinematic storyline supported by a set and props so authentic that a real watchmaker would feel right at home. My family had a jewelry store when I was growing up and much of the equipment feels organic and real…probably because it is! Every detail—from the tools on the bench to the ticking ambiance—feels carefully chosen to immerse players fully in the mystery.
Without giving anything away, what unfolds is a beautifully constructed and steadily escalating experience. The progression of the story and puzzles feels organic, logical, and, at times, jaw-dropping. Harz Escape achieves with remarkable success what many rooms aspire to do: create a seamless blend of story, environment, and puzzle-driven discovery.
Thanks to Harz Escapes for allowing us to share some photos of the amazing set. No spoilers here!
Team Size & Puzzles
This game can be booked for two to four players, and we feel it is one of the very best two-person escape rooms we’ve played anywhere in the world. The story’s scope and pacing are ideally suited for smaller groups, and the space—while modest in footprint—is used masterfully. Every inch contributes to the unfolding narrative.
We recommend two players for the most balanced and immersive experience, though groups of three or four will still have plenty to do. We understand that some aspects of the game are scalable to ensure that everyone has a role to play. The smaller set makes two or three players ideal, while a larger team might appreciate the extra brainpower—especially since the puzzles lean toward the advanced side, with layered logic and nuanced design. For us, that complexity made the experience deeply satisfying.
The game time is listed as 60 to 75 minutes, which is great for us as we like to savor the journey and not rush through the game.
Practical Tips & Local Flavor
Wernigerode itself feels like a storybook town—colorful, charming, and worth exploring before or after your game. It took us a couple of hours to drive there, but it was absolutely worth the detour. In retrospect, I wish I had investigated the area in greater detail, as we should have planned to stay here for a day to enjoy the area.
Parking, however, can be its own little puzzle. The company’s website wisely suggests parking in the garage at the Hotel Gothisches Haus, just around the corner. This worked perfectly for us—it’s a typical paid lot where you pull a ticket on entry and pay with a card on exit. Street parking on Marktstraße is another option, but availability is limited, and local speed limits (25–30 km/h or roughly 18 mph) make it essential to plan extra time to find parking.
In retrospect, we should have planned to stay longer and enjoy the town. Thanks to Julia, owner of Harz Escapes, for taking one of the few non-selfie photos of our travels!
The trip here was out of our way – but we are so glad we made the trek. We wish we could have stayed to try their other rooms—several of which are also playable in English—and to enjoy a meal and more sightseeing in town.
Final Thoughts
Regular readers of Fun Factor Escape Room Reviews know how much we value games that unite puzzle design and storytelling. The Secret of the Watchmaker does precisely that—each discovery feels earned and meaningful within the narrative. Very few games have been this much fun for us, which is why we felt this was a 9 on our Fun Factor.
Harz Escape’s attention to detail, immersive craftsmanship, and heartfelt hosting make this a standout experience. If your travels take you anywhere near north central Germany, make the trip. And trust us—don’t look up too much about what happens inside. Just go, play, and let the gears of this story start turning.
Please drop us a note if you play - we would love to share stories about this escape room.