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 Casino Heist60 to Escape - MilwaukeeEscape roomIRLRating: 4/5 - Unique theme with a cool gimmick Pros: âSet looked good and was fairly immersive. Lots of custom builds and some special effects. âPuzzles were mostly likeable and fit the theme, seemed like there was a bit more variety than a lot of their other rooms. âSome tactile, physical inputs (instead of buttons) âGood use of audio âAlmost all tech (buttons, screens, sensors, maglocks), no combo locks and just a couple of key locks but they were used where they made sense. âThe room's gimmick was cool and well implemented âMultiple rooms to explore âGM was friendly and helpful when needed Could be better: âSome areas of the rooms felt a bit sparse, could've used a bit more detail to add to the immersion. âNo animatronics or fun characters like many of 60 to Escapes other rooms, they have spoiled me đ I'd recommend 2-3 enthusiasts, we finished as a team of 2 with no hints. My ranking of 60 to Escape rooms (all locations) starting with my favorite. 1. Lockbuster Video â¤ď¸ 2. Cheesie's Pizza Party â¤ď¸ 3. Invasion â¤ď¸ 4. Pirates Curse â¤ď¸ 5. Mystery Manor â¤ď¸ 6. Hidden Temple â¤ď¸ 7. Duke's Farm â¤ď¸ 8. Casino Heist â¤ď¸ 9. Merlin's Legacy â¤ď¸ 10. Blast From The Past đ 11. Starship: Final Frontier đ 12. Jurassic Outpost đ 13. Arctic Expedition đ 14. Museum Heist đ 15. The Storm đ 16. Magic Heist đ 17. Containment đ
Merlin's Legacy60 to Escape - MilwaukeeEscape roomIRLRating: 4/5 - Tech filled room with an exciting ending Pros: âSet looked great and everything you see and touch fits the theme âExciting ending with an entertaining encounter âGood use of lighting effects, audio/music, and even scents. âAll tech based puzzles (sensors, buttons, maglocks), no combo locks with some tactile inputs. Only 1 padlock but it fit the time period. âAlmost all tech (buttons, maglocks), only 1 combo lock âMultiple rooms to explore âGM was friendly and helpful when needed Could be better: âToo dark, it was hard to find things, read, and distinguish colors. âOne item was hidden in an annoying location. âPuzzle types were a bit repetitive (though still likeable), 60 to Escape tends to do a lot of puzzles involving pushing/pulling things in a specific order. I'd recommend 2-3 enthusiasts, we finished as a team of 2 with around 5-10 min left. My ranking of 60 to Escape rooms (all locations) starting with my favorite. 1. Lockbuster Video â¤ď¸ 2. Cheesie's Pizza Party â¤ď¸ 3. Invasion â¤ď¸ 4. Pirates Curse â¤ď¸ 5. Mystery Manor â¤ď¸ 6. Hidden Temple â¤ď¸ 7. Duke's Farm â¤ď¸ 8. Casino Heist â¤ď¸ 9. Merlin's Legacy â¤ď¸ 10. Blast From The Past đ 11. Starship: Final Frontier đ 12. Jurassic Outpost đ 13. Arctic Expedition đ 14. Museum Heist đ 15. The Storm đ 16. Magic Heist đ 17. Containment đ
The Storm60 to Escape - MilwaukeeEscape roomIRLRating: 3.5/5 - Cool set, homage to Twister, but puzzles weren't great Pros: âLove the theme, it's clearly inspired by the 90s Twister movie âSet. lighting, ambient audio, and special effects looked great, everything was weathered appropriately, it felt immersive âAlmost all tech (buttons, maglocks), only 1 combo lock âStory and characters were enjoyable and videos were well done. âI liked how a cell phone was used in the game âMultiple rooms to explore âGM was friendly and helpful when needed Could be better: âToo dark, it was hard to find and read things. I wish they provided flashlights âPuzzles were mediocre at best. 60 to Escape tends to do a lot of puzzles involving counting or pushing/pulling things in order which can get repetitive. âToo much was available before we had all the information needed to solve. âEnding was a bit anti-climactic, the final puzzle felt like it had too many ways to interpret it which killed our momentum. âNo animatronics like many of 60 to Escapes other rooms, they have spoiled me đ I'd recommend 2-3 enthusiasts, we finished as a team of 2 with around 5-10 min left. One player will need to crawl. No jump scares, but there are some loud noises. My ranking of 60 to Escape rooms (all locations) starting with my favorite. 1. Lockbuster Video â¤ď¸ 2. Cheesie's Pizza Party â¤ď¸ 3. Invasion â¤ď¸ 4. Pirates Curse â¤ď¸ 5. Mystery Manor â¤ď¸ 6. Hidden Temple â¤ď¸ 7. Duke's Farm â¤ď¸ 8. Casino Heist â¤ď¸ 9. Merlin's Legacy â¤ď¸ 10. Blast From The Past đ 11. Starship: Final Frontier đ 12. Jurassic Outpost đ 13. Arctic Expedition đ 14. Museum Heist đ 15. The Storm đ 16. Magic Heist đ 17. Containment đ
Lennox MutualCandle HouseEscape roomVirtual Very strange and intriguing. I only did one call but I immediately booked another session because I want to see where this goes. This experience gives me Severance vibes and is immersive theater, not an escape room (there aren't really any puzzles). The actor is great at simulating an automatic phone tree voice. I'll try to update this review as I go through more sessions. Update: 3 calls in and I'm still intrigued about how deep this goes, the experience can be introspective, confusing, and funny. I like how you can stay with the story or go off-script and make the actor improvise.
ClawsCandle HouseEscape roomVirtual I've never felt so creeped out just sitting in my own room. I loved this psychological horror experience, it's personal, thought provoking, and thrilling. The voice actor was fantastic and completely convincing in our interactions. The more of yourself you put into it, the more creepy it can be. People who shy away talking to actors may not like this, but the upside is that you do not really need to role play as a character, you can just be yourself. It's more of a creepy experience, than scary, there weren't really any jump scares for me.
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.
Sword in the WallCo-OperativesEscape roomIRLEnjoyable concept, there are only about 4 puzzles on a wall but each one requires communication and teamwork. We played as a team of 2 and each of us had different information we had to combine to solve each puzzle. The puzzles made sense and were satisfying to solve. The wall was cute and it was entirely combo lock based. We played this at Gen Con and the hints were presented on cards, but there was a GM nearby that we could ask for help, he was friendly.
Role for Escape: Party One - CLOSEDCzech Games Edition: CGE at Gen ConEscape roomPop upThis was fine for a pop-up room made just for Gen Con. Very lock heavy, with one piece of simple tech. Only a handful of basic puzzles but that's fine for a 45 min game that's targeted for beginners. We only got stuck due to search fails as it's a very search heavy game. The set is just off the shelf stuff and is themed to D&D, a tiny bit of D&D knowledge is helpful but nothing specific to the Codenames Critical Role game which this is promoting.
Alice's Wonderland AdventureThe Escape Room USAEscape roomIRLRating: 2.5/5 - Decent set and puzzles, but the AI slop is a huge turnoff Pros: âNice set, well decorated, lots of props and items that would fit well in Wonderland. âMix of tech (buttons, lights, maglocks, screens) and padlocks âNumerous distinct areas to explore âPuzzles were decent and mostly made sense. No red herrings, outside knowledge, math, etc. like some of their other rooms. However, the puzzles weren't very interesting or satisfying. âGM was friendly and helpful when needed. Cons: âThe video cutscenes in the middle of the room are poorly edited AI slop. There were words getting cutoff, people clipping through objects, inconsistencies from scene to scene, cups with too many handles, etc. If generative AI is used tastefully and thoughtfully, then I'm OK with that, but this is straight up slop. âThere are touchscreen based puzzles. I inherently dislike these since I can interact with screens at home, it lacks immersion. The screen is also in a corner with enough room for only 2 people to interact with it, which results in a bottleneck. This wouldn't be a problem if the room didn't have a 4 person minimum. âOne tech puzzle didn't seem to work and we somehow bypassed it. Even the GM was confused about what happened. âThe gating could've been better on the puzzles, we wasted a lot of time trying to solve things because it wasn't clear that we didn't have all the information we needed. I'd recommend a team of 4 since that's the minimum, but 3 might be better since there are a couple of bottlenecks where only 2 people can be solving things. No crawling or climbing.
EXIT: The Game - The Haunted Roller CoasterThames & KosmosEscape roomTabletopDecent game, but nothing too special. Puzzles all made sense and there were a couple that I particularly liked. Story was forgettable though. I would not play this with more than a team of 3.
Pipes And A PrincessIchabodâs EscapeEscape roomIRLRating: 4/5 - All tech room with great flow, perfect for Super Mario fans Pros: âSet looks cool with lots of custom built pieces. The theming and design feels straight out of Super Mario, it doesn't just feel like it's vaguely inspired by it, it's not "we have Mario at home." âIt's bigger than expected with multiple areas to explore, even some use of vertical space. âEverything is tech (buttons, sensors, maglocks), no padlocks. âA fun physical challenge (though you can bypass it) âPuzzles make sense and are enjoyable, good variety and they fit the theme. âGreat flow for a 2 person team. We both were constantly busy and didn't even need to split up since many of the puzzles require teamwork. âThey allow use of phones and even let you take pictures inside Room for improvement: âParts of the set lacks polish, not enough fit and finish. It's a scrappy build, some bare wood visible. It's also showing some wear and tear. âLooks like there's 1 GM for multiple rooms, he didn't come get us when we finished which was a bit awkward. He was friendly though and we didn't need any hints. I'd recommend 2-3 enthusiasts, there may be some crawling, stairs, and an optional mild physical challenge.
It Came From The Attic!Looking Glass AdventuresEscape roomIRLRating: 3.5/5 - Enjoyable room, not too flashy but lots of charm Things I liked: âFun theming, it has some Stranger Things and X-Files vibes. âThe set has some special effects and a lot of charm, it's a more modest mom & pop type feel. âPuzzles were enjoyable and made sense, there is some non-linearity. âGood use of lighting and audio effects. âMore than a single room to explore. âFlashlights and writing board provided âMix of tech and padlocks âGM was friendly though we didn't really need any hints. We finished with plenty of time left as a team of 2 enthusiasts, I'd recommend 2-3 players. Room is not really creepy or scary (unless you're a young child), it has a light-hearted spookiness. No crawling or climbing needed.
VHSReady Set Go Adventures - MississaugaEscape roomIRLRating: 2/5 - I like challenging games and scary games...just not at the same time Pros: âThe set was appropriately creepy with multiple rooms to discover and explore. It looked pretty good. âLots of tech with some padlocks mixed in. âThe VHS collection concept was cool, I enjoyed the creepy videos and how everything tied together at the end. âPuzzles were challenging but made sense. It was non-linear so you can split up. âThe GM was friendly and helpful when needed. Room for improvement: âTheir hardest room should not also be their scariest room. I think the best horror rooms should have easier puzzles if you're being harrassed by an actor. If they have hard puzzles, they should give you some safe time so that you can concentrate. The actor here can scare you while you're doing hard puzzles. It was particularly annoying when we had a time limited puzzle and the actor scared us causing us to fail and start over again. âUse of the scare actor could've been better. Not much build up or suspense, no climax at the end. He just pops in randomly like it's a haunted house. He was also didn't really have a costume, just a basic store-bought mask. âSome of the audio puzzles were annoying, especially when there's other distracting audio playing constantly. You also have to listen to a bunch of static or extraneous info before you get to the info you actually need. Since there's nothing to take notes with, you have to replay the audio a lot. âPuzzles requiring memorization but nothing provided to write on. âWith the points based system, it was clearly designed for majority of teams to fail due to the density and difficulty of puzzles. I'm just not a fan of this style 2026, it's unsatisfying. This game feels like it should be at least 75 min. I'd recommend 5-6 enthusiasts due to the non-linear puzzles and difficulty. There is some crawling but no chasing in this room. My ranking of the games I played here starting with my favorite: 1. The Descent 2. VHS
The DescentReady Set Go Adventures - MississaugaEscape roomIRLRating: 3/5 - Likeable room, but not a fan of the repetition and memory Pros: âThe elevator effect was done well âSet looks good with multiple rooms to explore. âSome puzzles were fun, many were non-linear so you can split up and stay busy âTeamwork required âMostly tech with just a couple of padlocks âGood use of lighting and audio âGM was friendly though we didn't need any hints Room for improvement: âPuzzles are repetitive, you have to solve them multiple times at increasing difficulty. âMultiple memory puzzles and they do not provide anything to write with. We played as a team of 3 and finished with plenty of time left. Though I'd probably still recommend 4 since many puzzles need 2 people. No crawling or climbing needed.
Volcano Views: Aerial ToursEscape From The 6Escape roomIRLRating: 4.5/5 - One of my favorites! An ambitious, action driven game with unique set. Pros: âMain part of the set looked so cool and made great use of the vertical space, it was decorated floor to ceiling and they made use of all that space. It's way more than just a single room game. âThe entire narrative had a sense of humor and felt like something out of an action movie âNumerous surprises and "wow" moments, everything from the intro to the finale. âPuzzles were fun, they were more task-like but I really like that for an action oriented game. âEverything was tech based, tactile, and/or physical, no padlocks. âIntro and outro videos were funny and well done âGood use of ambient audio to add to the mood. âGM was friendly and helpful when needed Minor nitpicks: âSome parts of the set are not quite as immersive and detailed as the rest âDue to some wear and tear, one thing got stuck and required the GM to come in to help. âTheir standard is to have the GM come in to give hints. We played as a team of 3 (paid for 4) and finished with 10-20 min left. I would stick to 3-4 players. My ranking of the rooms I played here starting with my favorite: 1. Volcano Views (this is a must-play) 2. Firefighter Rescue If you play both, I'd recommend starting with Firefighter Rescue since it's an older game.
Motel BettyOmventure - MarkhamEscape roomIRLRating: 4.5/5 - Fun, scary game with some cool moments Pros: âThe actor did a great job scaring us, good timing and body movements. They used the set well. âLove longer games. Between the large set, creepy moments, and challenging puzzles, the length was justified. âA mechanical object in the set was a surprise and something I've never seen before, it was fun! âMoments forcing the team to separate and work together by communicating. âDecent narrative with an exciting ending. âSet looks good and appropriately creepy with many rooms to explore. âMostly tech with some padlocks mixed in. âPuzzles were decent, some required teamwork or were a bit creepy. âNumerous scary moments. I like this style where the actor does not really scare you when you are concentrating on puzzles (though you're still scared that they might). The puzzles here are a bit challenging so I would hate to be distracted by the actor. Room for improvement: âThe GMs watch multiple rooms at once and will check in randomly even if you aren't stuck, this is distracting. I also dislike when rooms use walkie talkies. âWhile darkness is good for scariness, it's not good when there are multiple color puzzles and you can't tell the difference between blue and green because it's so dark. They need better spotlighting or just get rid of the colors. They do not allow phones or flashlights. âSome of the puzzles were disconnected from the narrative with too much escape room logic. We were successful as a team of 4 (3 enthusiasts, 1 newer player) and I think that was a good number. Everyone on the team may need to crawl and run. My ranking of the rooms I've played here starting with my favorite: 1. Motel Betty 2. Hong Kong After Dark
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