Belgrade Escape Rooms – Aladdin’s Lamp

I’m still waiting to find a truly good escape room inspired by the story of Aladdin. The theme holds so much potential—rich, exotic, vibrant—but time and time again, creators fall into the same trap: tossing a few “oriental-looking” props into a dusty room and calling it a day.

This was one of those cases.

We walked into a space filled with random decor—shishas, old wooden spice boxes, a worn-out carpet—and while the intention might have been to create an “Eastern” atmosphere, it just felt lifeless and superficial. I imagine the Orient as colorful and full of energy, scents, and secrets, not as a collection of tired stereotypes and broken props.

To me, Aladdin should evoke mystery, magic, and romance—an ancient love story filled with wonder and legend. It could be the Middle Eastern version of Egypt-themed rooms, many of which I’ve enjoyed thoroughly. But here, once again, Aladdin was reduced to a dusty room with basic, underwhelming puzzles.

There was no enchantment, no immersion, and no real sense of narrative. Sadly, this room didn’t meet expectations in any shape or form.

Final Thoughts: A missed opportunity. The theme of Aladdin deserves so much more than a few props and generic puzzles. I hope one day someone gets it right.