Crane ManorClue IQEscape roomIRLWhile I didn't enjoy this room as much as a lot of people seem to have liked it, it was still an enjoyable room. There were some minor tech issues, but our game master, who was really excellent, fixed it quickly and got us back on track in no time.
Fall Harvest13th Hour Escape Room - WhartonEscape roomIRLThis is another great room 13th Hour. The set and atmosphere is top notch as always. If there is anyone in the United States with more impressive sets than 13th Hour, I've never played them. Lots of puzzles, lots of satisfying and magical moments, and plenty of wow factor. I'd feel bad for anyone who played this early in their escape room adventure, because very few places are going to be able to meet the standard. Without spoilling anything I'd say that I feel like there is one aspect of the room that felt out of place and didn't really need to be included, but it did not diminish the overall game. We drive 10 hours one-way to play Fall Harvest. It was worth every second and we will do it again as soon as the next room opens!
Heresy: 1897Doors of DivergenceEscape roomIRLClearly a lot of time, effort and love went into creating Doors of Divergence. It is one of the most unique experiences we have participated in. We drove to North Carolina to play at another location and left North Carolina taking about Doors of Divergence. We will definitely be back! If you're looking for something a little difference than your standard escape room, Doors of Divergence is what you're looking for.
Magician's WorkshopEscape Room HerndonEscape roomIRLGreat room with lots of fun moments, especially for people who know the story that inspired it. This is one of my favorite magician-themed rooms with a really satisfying finale.
8-Bit EscapeEscape Room HerndonEscape roomIRL8-Bit Escape is my favorite 80's-themed escape room. It has all of the things you want it to have. The set feels authentic, the sounds were nostalgic and there were several fun and unexpected moments.
Cryptid GroveEscape Room HerndonEscape roomIRLThis was my first room at Escape Room Herndon and I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being really great. While some rooms aim for authenticity, Cryptid Grove fully embraces what it is; a fun, cartoonish escape game. I love authentic rooms, but well-done rooms like Cryptid Grove are a breath of fresh air when we come across them.
Defenders of the Sunken RealmThe Keepers of BalanceEscape roomIRLIf anyone else had created this room, it would be considered an excellent room, but I think our expectations were so high after previously playing Temple of Light, that we felt a little let down by this room. Was it a bad room? No. Was it a phenomenal room? Also no. It has an excellent set, which is where Keepers of Balance really shines, but the actual game play was just ok, tarnished somewhat by game masters nudging us despite the fact that we escaped with ~20 minutes to spare. I did not hate this room. I had fun, but after driving 18 hours to play it, i'd be lying if I said we weren't a little disappointed. I hate to say that because we really like Keepers of Balance's vibe, but players beware: This is not Temple of Light.
The Heart of the MountainBeyond EscapeEscape roomIRLHeart of the Mountain is a really well-put together room start to finish. The atmosphere is excellent with non-linear gameplay that flows really well. There is a solid mix of puzzle types and tasks so that everyone should be able contribute and enough puzzles that our family of 4 was able to split up without running out of puzzles. Beyond Escape does a great job adding unique elements to their rooms and this one is no different. You can tell the owners really care about creating experiences beyond your run-of-the-mill escape rooms, and their passion really shines through in this room.
System Overlord: Dawn of the MachineThe Keepers of BalanceEscape roomIRLThis was a fun, if easy, room to play. It is probably the last impressive room at KoB when it comes to set design, but it it still manages to capture the atmosphere of the theme. I am not a big fan of the way they choose to handle the ending of the room, but it was unique and I am sure there are plenty of people who will love it. I feel like the biggest issue for this room is that KoB set the bar so high with Temple of Light that expectations for this room are probably too high for a lot of people. I know it was for us. This is not a room that I would have driven 18 hours to play had I known what to expect, but it is definitely a room I would play if I was already in the area.
Escape from TimeoutBeyond EscapeEscape roomIRLEven though this is their easiest room, my family and I had a lot of fun playing it. The owners did a great job using their space to create an immersive environment and they have some creative, fun and unique puzzles. This would be THE room I would tell first time players to play. It has all the elements that make escape rooms fun. Puzzles were logical, had great flow and there were some really unique puzzles we had not seen before.
