Great Big Game Show: The Original [Immersive Experience]Great Big Game Show - OakbrookEscape roomOther So much fun! I played this with my spouse 1v1, this is the only time I wish other people joined our public booking but we still had a blast and got through 7 games out of 19 total (only 2 aren't playable 1v1). I think ideal teams would be 2-3 each. I loved each of the mini games, many were based on actual game show games but with an interesting twist. I like that they gave us a menu beforehand and let us pick some games to prioritize or not. Otherwise, the games are random or the GM can pick based on vibes. Our host was fantastic and kept the energy flowing, the video they send at the end is also great.
BRKthrough RoomsBRKthrough - CincinnatiEscape roomOther Rating: 4/5 - Fun challenge arcade with lots of rooms and a decent variety of game types including physical, mental, and skill based challenges. I've been to 8 challenge arcades so far and this is one of the better ones, though not among my favorites. 42 rooms is a lot, though not quite as many as Prison Island (Indianapolis) or Level 99. Every room was working and none of the tech seemed broken. Some games are better than others, but overall the games weren't quite as high tech (most of the tech is just buttons) or innovative as I've seen elsewhere. The staff here was friendly and helpful and it's nice that they sell hot food and drinks/alcohol. It took us about 1hr 45 min to play every room with some repeats. Here are some things they could improve based on what I've seen other companies do: âLittle to no explanation on how to play, this trial and error style is intentional and will result in instantly failing rooms. There are some vague hints that aren't super helpful though there were plenty of employees to ask if you needed more help. âQuantity over quality, not a ton of variety of unique game types. A few were fun but a lot of the games just involve different ways of pushing buttons. Some other companies have more innovative games, tech, and sets. âMany games aren't very replayable (unlike Activate) âMost rooms do not have a separate exit door, so its awkward when a team is trying to come in when you're trying to leave. BRKTHROUGH and Prison Island (Indianapolis) are a part of the same franchise from Europe. The games are very similar with the same core gameplay and tech. Some are identical but others are reskinned and with different layouts and theming. I prefer BRKTHROUGH (BT) over Prison Island (PI) since it feels newer and more optimized/polished despite them opening up in the same year. BT had more staff to help, multiple maps so you don't get lost (PI's hallways feel like a maze), an RFID wristband instead of an annoying lanyard with multiple things hanging from it, hot food and drink/alcohol, and a brighter modern feel (similar to Activate). PI is annoying for teams of 2 since many of their games have a 3 player minimum while everything at BT is playable by 2. However, I did like PI's theming and set builds more than BT, plus they have a few more rooms available (47 vs 42).
Prison Island [Interactive Arcade]Prison Island IndianapolisEscape roomOther Rating: 3.5/5 - Fun challenge arcade with tons of rooms, but not my favorite, go as a team of 3. Had a good time, the place is huge with nearly 50 rooms and decent sets and tech, but not quite as intense or high tech as Activate. We booked 1.5 hours and only played around 30-35 rooms, some rooms are mental challenges, while some are physical or skill based. I would've enjoyed this more if I haven't already been to better challenge arcades elsewhere, this was my 7th. One thing I particularly liked was the stat sheet at the end which tells you rooms played, times, and score. Room for improvement, these are things I've seen other companies do better: âLittle to no explanation on how to play, this trial and error style is intentional and will result in instantly failing rooms. There are only very vague hints and they claim employees can help explain if you can't figure it out but there was no one around to ask. âQuantity over quality, not a ton of variety of unique game types. A few were fun but a lot of the games just involve different ways of pushing buttons. âMany games aren't very replayable (unlike Activate) âTheming is a bit repetitive since everything another prison cell. âNot as modern feeling as Time Mission or Activate. The many of the games here feel dated in comparison. âMany games are designed exactly for 3 people, if you have 4 then 1 person will have nothing to do. And playing with 2 means you're below many of the rooms' minimums. âMost rooms do not have a separate exit door, so its awkward when a team is trying to come in when you're trying to leave. Prison Island and BRKTHROUGH (there's one in Cincinnati) are a part of the same franchise from Europe. The games are very similar with the same core gameplay and tech. Some are identical but others are reskinned and with different layouts and theming. I prefer BRKTHROUGH (BT) over Prison Island (PI) since it feels newer and more optimized/polished despite them opening up in the same year. BT had more staff to help, multiple maps so you don't get lost (PI's hallways feel like a maze), an RFID wristband instead of an annoying lanyard with multiple things hanging from it, hot food and drink/alcohol, and a brighter modern feel (similar to Activate). PI is annoying for teams of 2 since many of their games have a 3 player minimum while everything at BT is playable by 2. However, I did like PI's theming and set builds more than BT, plus they have a few more rooms available (47 vs 42).
The Black Mirror Experience [VR]The Black Mirror ExperienceEscape roomOther I thought it was decent as a fan of VR experiences and Black Mirror. They say there are physical sets but the majority of it is VR. It does do something weird and unique that you can't experience anywhere else, but the technology used might be off-putting to some people. The graphics quality could be better though, some of it feels like a Meta Quest game. I enjoyed it overall but I'd only recommend it if you like VR.
Into the Mysterious Mine: A Minigolf AdventureParcadiaEscape roomOther Loved this even though it's not even finished yet. CU is doing something magical here, so much whimsy, cute little details, and Easter eggs. The mini golf has tech, lighting, and sound effects. All the employees were friendly and in-character, so dedicated! The puzzle hunt wasn't too difficult and had satisfying puzzles. It's a great place to just hang out too, they have a room with a bunch of board games and a bar with lots of interesting drinks and cool merch. I can't wait to come back and try the entire experience when the full courses are built out! If you enjoy mini golf and escape rooms, this is a must-do if you're in the area.
Masquerade [Immersive Theater]MasqueradeEscape roomOther Absolutely amazing, I don't say that about many experiences. Loved the immersion, live singing, small actor interactions, set/lighting/tech/props. The experience is guided by ushers so that you don't have to deal with chasing people or fighting crowds for a good spot like in Sleep No More or Life&Trust, they make sure everyone has a good experience throughout, if you are in the back in one room youâll get to be in the front later on. I am not even a huge fan of musicals or Phantom but I had a wonderful time due to how immersive everything was. I plan visiting again next time Iâm in NYC.
The Adventure MuseumThe Adventure MuseumEscape roomOther Rating: 4.5/5 - My favorite so far out of the 8 challenge arcades I've played, though I've yet to visit Level99 which everyone raves about. I particularly like this one since the sets are very detailed and immersive (the owners also create escape rooms), there are so many fun rooms and mini-games (around 30), and I love the physical challenges (some with multiple floors). 2 hours was just enough time to try basically every room and play some repeats. Some of the rooms are replayable with multiple levels. We went on a busy Sat evening but there were always rooms available so we were rarely waiting long. The games had a ton of variety between mental, skill-based, and physical challenges, though some were more fun than others, a couple were confusing. I would recommend a team of 3, some games were a bit too hard with only 2. For the most part, everything was working and not broken so they are maintaining things. I like format here, the screens give you info about how to play and they have a dedicated entrance and exit door to each room. Some challenge arcades only have a single door in or out so other teams can get in your way.
Squid Game: Survive the TrialsNetflix House - DallasEscape roomOther Rating: 4/5 - This was everything I hoped it would be, I had a great time as a huge Squid Game fan. The 5 games were fun and exciting, some had my heart pounding. Obviously they couldn't do exactly the same games on the show but they modified them so that they would be more fair for people of different physical abilities. The games are enjoyable even if you never saw the show but it's better if you did watch at least season 1. The last game was the weakest though and not very climactic. The sets looked good with many large, iconic props from the show, lighting/sound/tech, and costumed employees, though they didn't talk except for pre-recorded voice-over for the Front Man. One GM leads you through the experience, ours was pretty good. I would definitely do this again if I'm back in Dallas and had other people to go with. You can do this solo or with friends (all the games are individual) but you go through as a group of 24. No one drops out, the positions are score based.
Stranger Things: Face the Dark - CLOSEDNetflix House - DallasEscape roomOther Rating: 4/5 - This is a theatrical haunted house with some mild jump scares. I love haunts though, so I really enjoyed it despite only watching the first season of the show (this takes place around season 4-5). There are no puzzles or challenges, you mostly just walk through and look at things. I do like the headphone idea, the audio is location specific and is synced to things that happen around you and provide instructions/voice-over. I did have a minor sync issue towards the end but the headphones mostly worked. The flashlight idea was decent, shining them on things will trigger effects, but you only use them in the first part of the experience and there arenât that many effects. Overall the sets looked fantastic, fairly high budget with an epic finale scene. There is a lot of tech, dramatic moments, and easter eggs for fans of the show. There were multiple really good actors that added to the immersion. You go in as 4 groups of 10 people, but eventually all 40 people come together. It is a lot but they designed the experience to handle that group size decently. I feel like this high quality of experience would fit right in at a theme park Halloween event.
SENSAS - A Unique Multi-Sensory ExperienceSensas Multisensory ExperienceEscape roomOther Rating: 4/5 Super interesting if you like sensory experiences. But less so if you don't like having certain senses deprived, this is not for everyone. There are no real puzzles. If you're the type that hates doing pitch black escape rooms, tasting/touching weird things, or doing scent puzzles, then you probably won't enjoy it as much. I thought it was cool how each challenge involved one specific sense like taste, touch, smell, and hearing. They did a good job making each challenge/game unique and fun with some teamwork involved and even some minor puzzley aspects that will be familiar to escape room enthusiasts. The theming is pretty light but there are multiple rooms involved with a relatively exciting ending. Some of the challenges involve some minor physical activity and there are moments that could be considered mildly scary to some though this is definitely not a horror or scary experience overall. Our GM was also very friendly, funny, and super enthusiastic, he made our experience better. The main downside is that the bookings are public but we got lucky and the other players never showed up so we got a private experience. It's playable as a team of two but I think it would be better as a team of 3-4 since you need to split up during the challenges.
Glow or Go: A Thrilling Group ExperienceGlow or Go - DallasEscape roomOther Rating: 3.5/5 I had fun, it's similar to a challenge arcade except you have to do the rooms consecutively. There's button pushing, a laser maze, throwing/trivia, and floor is lava. All the challenges were fun and were very physical so be prepared to sweat a bit. You keep playing until the time is up, each challenge has multiple levels, though I feel like some rooms felt like they went on for too long. Then the finale has an additional challenge and then you get sprayed with paint. They provide plenty of protection so that the paint doesn't get anywhere except your hands. The video they send is also a nice keep sake. Overall I would play this again if I had other friends who wanted to try it. Note that this appears to be very similar to Beat the Bomb but I haven't played that before.
The Real Unreal [Immersive Art]Meow WolfEscape roomOther My 2nd Meow Wolf after Convergence Station in Denver. I love the large, immersive sets and it's fun going from room to room, opening doors and finding secret passageways and strange new environments. That's part of what I enjoy about escape rooms. The artwork is fascinating with many small (and large) details all over, no two areas are alike. The reproduction of a Midwestern house is also very well done. However, Meow Wolf lacks the same interactivity you get from escape rooms, you mostly just walk around and explore. There are some games, pianos, computer screens that you can use here and there but they are not that common. There is some backstory and narrative available on the app but I don't like having to stare at a screen when I'm trying to be immersed. Overall I prefer this over Convergence Station because I had more fun exploring the intimate spaces and I feel like there was slightly more interactivity and storyline available here. Convergence Station felt less cohesive, though it had much bigger and more impressive sets. We visited on a Friday 10am and it was not busy at all which is ideal. Took us a bit under 2 hours to explore the entire experience.
Classic Showdowns [Immersive Experience]Game Show Battle Rooms - IndianapolisEscape roomOther Really fun gameshow, great with friends, family, or coworkers. The host and game master are both energetic and funny. The set has lots of lights and sounds which makes things exciting. My team lost this time but we still had a blast. The first game is basically Family Feud. The second game is a modified version of Wheel of Fortune that works well for team-based gameplay. The last game is based off of Price is Right, they use real items purchased from Target. Between the Primetime and the Classic games, they are both equally fun and it'll be mainly just down to preference. Note that the audio is VERY loud, but I think it is so that the other team cannot hear your answers when you are deliberating.
Time Mission [Interactive Arcade]TimeMission - Mount ProspectEscape roomOther Rating: 4/5 - Great challenge arcade with cool sets, I prefer this over Mish Mash or Cube Challenges. Pros: â~25 rooms with a ton of variety between physical and mental challenges âA unique set/theme in each room, they are all visually interesting âLots of tech and mechanical builds âYou get a score so you can try to beat it when you replay the room âThe time travel theme ties everything together, each room has a backstory that you can choose to read or ignore âThere's a short explanation before you go in so that you aren't completely confused at the start âNo tech issues or major wear visible, though the place has only been open a couple months Cons: âSome rooms are hard to understand or just aren't that fun âSome rooms are too short or basic âThe audio feedback is hard to hear at times, due to audio bleed from ajacent rooms and a lot of screaming kids âA couple rooms were closed/unplayable when I visited 90 minutes was plenty of time to play all the rooms with some time to repeat favorites, even on a busy Sat afternoon. I would recommend 2-3 players. Overall, I'd rate this on a similar level as Activate, but both places have a different vibe. Activate is more video game-like and more tech heavy with no immersion or theming. I like Activate's very physical nature, it's like a fun workout. Their games are also more replayable with different levels and rule variations. However, Time Mission has way cooler sets and theming and more variety of games and more puzzle type challenges.
EmotionAir [Immersive Art]Balloon MuseumEscape roomOther This was better than I thought it was going to be, a lot of very unique things I haven't seen before at other immersive art places. It reminds me a lot of TeamLab in Japan, though not as innovative or immersive as TeamLabs. The exhibits are visually appealing, high tech, and quite large. They make great use of the high, warehouse-like ceilings. Almost every exhibit is tactile, they can be touched, not just your hands, you can get your whole body into it. I recommend it if you're in the area and enjoy immersive art.
Activate [Interactive Arcade]Activate - FishersEscape roomOther Rating: 4/5 - Super fun, physically active challenge arcade! I'm so glad one of these finally opened in Indy, this is my 2nd time, I played in another city before. The games are high tech with lights, buttons, sensors, lasers, pressure pads, and screens. Be prepared to jump, run, dodge, throw etc., you'll get a cardio workout. There are about 10-12 different rooms/games and each one has various modes with increasing challenge levels so it's very re-playable, I will be coming here regularly for sure.
Gamegrounds [Interactive Arcade]GamegroundsEscape roomOther Rating: 4/5 - Very fun challenge arcade with unique games, tech, and interesting artistic style. There were about 12 different games available, most of them had different modes where you could pick between competitive and collaborative play which lasted a couple minutes each. The games were a mix various types of carnival, arcade, and video games with a twist, most had some light physical activity. I thought every game was enjoyable, some were more fun than others, but they all worked with no game-breaking tech issues. We played on a Sat. evening, 9pm (it is 21+ at that time so there weren't any children running around) and it wasn't too busy. The 75 minutes was plenty of time to try all the games and all the modes while repeating our favorites multiple times.
Cube Challenges [Interactive Arcade]Cube Challenges - SchaumburgEscape roomOther Rating: 3/5 - Decent challenge arcade, I liked the variety of mental and physical challenges but some games were better than others. Most games worked well though a couple had minor tech issues, the employees immediately worked to address the issues once we reported them.This is a chain brand from Greece so the theming and games felt polished, unlike Mish Mash at Fox Valley Mall which had some jankiness. Overall I prefer Activate over Cube Challenges, mainly because I like the more physical games that Activate has and additional challenge levels. Some of the Cube rooms have better and more interesting theming than Activate though. If you want to try everything with time to replay your favorites, I recommend 90 minutes. UPDATE: I'd recommend going to Time Mission over Cube Challenges or Mish Mash.
Escape The City - Indianapolis [Outdoor]Escapely - IndianapolisEscape roomOther Nice walking experience with a decent variety of puzzles, there are around 6. They were more on the easier side but not too easy. I did like the mix of phone use, real-world objects, paper, and physical items that come in the box. You do not need to download any app, it web-based and everything worked smoothly. If you start at the suggested location, it is just under 1.5 miles to the last location. However, the path is mostly linear and heads West and does not loop back so you may walk almost 3 miles to get back to the start if that's where you parked. We did it at a leisurely pace and took us around 2 hours. I do wish it was less walking and more puzzles. Personally I felt the outdoor walking part was a bit boring, but I am very familiar with the area, it may be more fun in a new city that I don't know as well.
Convergence Station [Immersive Art]Meow WolfEscape roomOther This was my first Meow Wolf and I enjoyed it, but wish it was more interactive. I gave it a heart, just because I was impressed by the size and quality of the place, it's hard to find immersive attractions built to this scale. Some of the art and rooms were very cool, though it felt too random for my tastes. There were also not enough physical interactions, so it mostly felt like a walk-through place. There were a few things that were fun like playing music on a giant organ and a couple mini-games that you can play with a partner, but these were few and far between. I did not do the QPass because I heard mixed things about it, the story seemed convoluted and I didn't want to spend all my time looking at screens. Update: After going to the Real Unreal in Dallas, I think I prefer that one to Convergence Station. The Real Unreal seemed to have a more focused story, a bit more interactivity, and more intimate environments with lots of exploration (which reminds me of immersive escape rooms). Though Convergence Station has bigger, more impressive sets.
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