We swapped our usual newsroom desk for adrenaline-fuelled prison cells—and wow, what a ride! Prison Island, Melbourne’s latest attraction, blends escape rooms, obstacle courses, and a dash of friendly competition into a fresh adventure. Spoiler: we loved it. Here’s an inside look at what had us buzzing.
Picture this: a prison-themed arena with 34 individual cells, each housing a unique challenge. The best part? We could choose which cells to tackle, in any order we liked. That flexibility meant we could tackle more physically demanding cells or plunge into logic-heavy puzzles, depending on what we were in the mood for. Plus, replaying cells was not only allowed, it was encouraged. Watching everyone lean into trial, error, and improvement was pure fun, and the ability to go back and aim for a better score made the competition feel fresh, even within the same session.
Without giving away any of the juicy details, there were a few cells that stood out to us. Whack A Mole was a fast and energetic sprint that had us whooping every time a pop-up mole appeared. The Burglar became a masterclass for us, with the vague instructions adding to the mystery and intrigue. We repeated the cell a few times but it only added to the fun, getting us problem-solving to crack the code. Our motor skills were also severely tested in the Penalty cell, which led to lots and lots of laughter.
Overall, Prison Island’s game format and point-scoring system tapped into everyone’s competitive spirit, and we’re not afraid to admit we loved that extra spark! We had teams racing to beat each other’s scores, but what stood out was how naturally we all pitched in when someone got stuck. With limited time, clear roles emerged: some tackling puzzles with logic, others lending physical agility, and a few acting as cheerleaders. The variety of cells meant everyone could contribute, making it a welcoming experience for personalities of all kinds. That’s a huge win in our book. It’s rare to see a workplace team flex such perfect chemistry in a totally new setting but Prison Island made it happen.
If you’re after something that gets your heart racing, your brain spinning, and your team bonding harder than a Monday meeting ever could, Prison Island is it. Flexible, fun, and fiercely addictive, it’s exactly the kind of immersive challenge we love showcasing here in Melbourne. And yes, we’re already planning to go back. Maybe to try rooms we missed this time, or maybe just to beat our old high scores. Get your tickets here and we’ll see you there!
