Trouble In The Toy ShopEnchambered Live Escape Room AdventureEscape roomIRLWe absolutely love the sets at Enchambered. Trouble in the Toy Shop is a simple one room experience that is perfect for groups of 2-3. The fun storyline and hint system made for a unique experience. We struggled a bit (a lot) with the puzzles and the kind game master kept us moving along. The first time we played a game at Enchambered we thought it was just us. But after three rooms we can confidently say it’s not us. The puzzles are downright hard. So don’t be afraid to ask for help. Even the best of us need a little bit (a lot) of help from time to time.
Prison - CLOSEDPanIQ Room - Nob HillEscape roomIRLPsycho: A psycho serial killer had locked us in his apartment. We had to escape before the sadistic psychopath returned to kill us. Geek: As employees of a tech company we found ourselves locked in the office. Our boss had lost his mind and determined to end it all with a bomb. We had to find the bomb before it detonated. The Prison: Our group of jailbirds were locked in opposite cells. Together we had to work out a plan to breakout of the joint. Pros: The waiting room was nice and large with a variety of games and opportunities to socialize before our escape game began. The game rooms were nicely decorated and clearly tied to the storyline. Each room had a good introductory story that helped set the tone for the game. We really liked the setup of the prison room and the separation of the groups was a nice added element that enhanced game play. Cons: These were the most expensive rooms we have ever played. We do not mind paying for high-quality games and since this is a chain we expected high quality rooms. However, we definitely felt like it did not live up to the hype. The game moderator was unenthusiastic and monotone. While we were waiting to play, we could hear him giving hints to the group that played before us. We all had to try to not hear what was being said. When it was our turn to play, we quickly found that we needed help. When we requested hints during the game his responses were delayed and condescending. Rather than giving hints, he gave full answers. At one point, we pointed out that we were unable to solve a puzzle because the information on the hint did not match the lock. He insisted we were just doing it wrong and did not come into the room to check it out. At the end of the game, he looked at the lock and insisted that it was indeed the wrong lock (and therefore the puzzle was unsolvable). Rather than apologize, he simply insisted there was "problems with management." Similarly one of the hints provided to another puzzle was completely wrong and when we pointed this out he simply dismissed it. Our concern was that he would do nothing to fix the problems for the next groups. The puzzles in all the rooms were not tied to the theme of the rooms. They were both too simplistic (crosswords, sudoku, simple mechanical puzzles) and yet overly complex and time-consuming. We felt more like we were doing homework than playing a game. Not our favorite experience.
Back to ChildhoodClockwise Escape Room - PleasantonEscape roomIRLWe loved the creative storyline and unique puzzles at Clockwise. The game masters were welcoming and fun giving us much needed guidance throughout our game. We struggled with a few of the puzzles in this game. More signposts and removal of red herrings could help. The set was fun and definitely a trip back to 90s childhood!
Saving FrankensteinClockwise Escape Room - PleasantonEscape roomIRLWe loved the set design and storyline for Saving Frankenstein. Thank goodness for the amazing game masters or we wouldn't have made it out. A few technical difficulties and some missed clues on our part hampered our progress. A few of the puzzles need refinement for better game flow. But this was overall a solid escape room experience.
Treasure IslandBrain Games Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThe set of Treasure Island was totally awesome! Loved the unique puzzles and friendly game master. Our only hang up was the sheer number of puzzles. But we rose to the challenge and escaped with time to spare!
Ghost StoriesBrain Games Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThe storyline of twenty ghosts was exceptionally creative and definitely full of interesting vignettes. There were many “puzzles” to complete though it often felt more like tasks to be done than puzzles to solve. Game masters were very professional and engaging. Set was spooky and set the mood.
The Mad Scientist [prev. The Laboratory]Brain Games Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThis simple storyline and set design were nothing much to talk about. However, if you enjoy puzzles this is a good game with clearly articulated flow (it’s literally charted out for you). Great game masters keep the story flowing!
Pirates Of TortugaPanIQ Room - Long BeachEscape roomIRLAhoy Mateys! Pirate themes are our fave! So always a win there. Immersive set design and logical, linear puzzle flow make our day. Awesome time at PanIQ!
The Time Machine [prev. A Steampunk Story]PanIQ Room - Las VegasEscape roomIRL𓆜𓋘𓄁 𓊛𓇙𓋸𓌤𓌥 𓌦 𓅐𓆢 𓆣 𓀉𓆤 𓆥 𓅑𓆘 𓆙 𓅒𓄙 𓄚 𓄛 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 𓅔 𓅕 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 𓎷 𓄁𓎸𓅖 𓅽 𓅾 𓅿𓅗 𓅘 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 𓅚 𓁵 𓁶𓂵 𓂶𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 𓂺𓅜 �𓅝𓃄 �𓄁𓅞𓂙 𓅟𓂿 𓆜𓋘𓄁 𓊛𓇙𓋸𓌤𓌥 𓌦 𓅐𓆢 𓆣 𓀉𓆤 𓆥 𓅑𓆘 𓆙 𓅒𓄙 𓄚 𓄛 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 𓅔 𓅕 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 𓎷 𓄁𓎸𓅖 𓅽 𓅾 𓅿𓅗 𓅘 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 𓅚 𓁵 𓁶𓂵 𓂶𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 𓂺𓅜 𓂨𓅝𓃄 𓄁𓅞𓂙 𓅟𓂿This review contains spoilers.Unscramble𓀗
Pandemic ZeroOmescape - San JoseEscape roomIRLKingdom of Cats: Trapped in a kingdom of felines, we were compelled to compete in a tournament to crown the wisest cat in the kingdom. The only way to escape perpetual imprisonment was to compete alongside our feline friends. Dark Altar: We found ourselves trapped inside the Copenheimer Museum where an archaeology obsessed collector had initiated a dark ritual. Our goal was to work our way through the museum to discover and stop the ritual. Joker's Asylum: A maniacal Joker was locked away in an asylum after a tragic incident at the circus. The Joker had escaped. We were tasked with discovering the Joker's secrets and escaping the asylum. Pandemic Zero: A super virus has sickened the city. We must break into the lab and finish work on the cure. Pros: The physical layout of Omescape from the waiting area to the game-play areas is clean, orderly and visually appealing. The puzzles are mostly linear, less about searching and more about thinking critically. Set-design is appealing and clearly tied to the overarching storyline. The games are scaled at different difficulty levels and geared toward different group sizes. Game moderators can be helpful and willing to provide assistance if asked. Cons: The puzzles in their rooms tend to be geometrical or symbol-based. We found the puzzles quite complex in all three games and extremely difficult to solve without assistance from the game masters. Scaling of the puzzles within each individual game could have helped us with the puzzle-solving process. Overall, we find their games overly complex. The friendliness of the game masters and their willingness to offer relevant clues helped prevent frustration and a complete mental melt-down of players.
Mob Boss - CLOSEDLockdown Escape Rooms - HighlandEscape roomIRLHostage Rescue: Sent in to rescue a kidnapped friend, we quickly discovered that the kidnappers were demanding a steep ransom. Our goal was to locate a bank account number in order to successfully wire money to the kidnappers and successfully free our friend. Mob Boss: There is a rat in the pack! The mob boss assigned us the job of identifying the informant and saving the mafia family before the police arrived on scene. Crazy Professor: A mad scientist is working on a secret experiment. But what is it? We had to make our way through his lab before activating the self-destruction sequence. Pros: We entered the building to find a very nice set-up and comfortable waiting room. We had some time in between each game but enjoyed hanging out in the waiting room. The game began with an introductory story which helped guide the direction of our game play. The goals for each game were clear and each room was appropriately decorated and set to the theme. Some of the puzzles directly tied to the storyline, others were more basic. The game master provided hints as necessary. We especially enjoyed some of the unique puzzles in the Mob Boss room. We successfully escaped each game and even broke a record for Mob Boss! Cons: Some of the puzzles in Crazy Professor were very difficult and one required more luck than actual puzzle-solving skill. Some outside the box thinking helped at times, but sometimes outside the box thinking borderlines on breaking some of the conduct rules for a room. It is a fine line for escape room owners. This brings up a point worth making here to escape room owners. Do you want players to move furniture, take down props from walls, or take apart items in order to solve a conundrum? If not, then do not require ANY puzzles that require such behavior. After encountering such puzzles at one establishment, we have noticed, in ourselves and in other players, a tendency to deconstruct the next room at the next establishment in a similar manner (much to the chagrin of very annoyed room escape owners). The industry would benefit if escape room owners could agree to certain universal rules that apply across the board. We highly recommend checking out Lock Down. Great rooms, fun puzzles, and overall good time was had by all!
Hostage Rescue - CLOSEDLockdown Escape Rooms - HighlandEscape roomIRLHostage Rescue: Sent in to rescue a kidnapped friend, we quickly discovered that the kidnappers were demanding a steep ransom. Our goal was to locate a bank account number in order to successfully wire money to the kidnappers and successfully free our friend. Mob Boss: There is a rat in the pack! The mob boss assigned us the job of identifying the informant and saving the mafia family before the police arrived on scene. Crazy Professor: A mad scientist is working on a secret experiment. But what is it? We had to make our way through his lab before activating the self-destruction sequence. Pros: We entered the building to find a very nice set-up and comfortable waiting room. We had some time in between each game but enjoyed hanging out in the waiting room. The game began with an introductory story which helped guide the direction of our game play. The goals for each game were clear and each room was appropriately decorated and set to the theme. Some of the puzzles directly tied to the storyline, others were more basic. The game master provided hints as necessary. We especially enjoyed some of the unique puzzles in the Mob Boss room. We successfully escaped each game and even broke a record for Mob Boss! Cons: Some of the puzzles in Crazy Professor were very difficult and one required more luck than actual puzzle-solving skill. Some outside the box thinking helped at times, but sometimes outside the box thinking borderlines on breaking some of the conduct rules for a room. It is a fine line for escape room owners. This brings up a point worth making here to escape room owners. Do you want players to move furniture, take down props from walls, or take apart items in order to solve a conundrum? If not, then do not require ANY puzzles that require such behavior. After encountering such puzzles at one establishment, we have noticed, in ourselves and in other players, a tendency to deconstruct the next room at the next establishment in a similar manner (much to the chagrin of very annoyed room escape owners). The industry would benefit if escape room owners could agree to certain universal rules that apply across the board. We highly recommend checking out Lock Down. Great rooms, fun puzzles, and overall good time was had by all!
Crazy Professor - CLOSEDLockdown Escape Rooms - HighlandEscape roomIRLHostage Rescue: Sent in to rescue a kidnapped friend, we quickly discovered that the kidnappers were demanding a steep ransom. Our goal was to locate a bank account number in order to successfully wire money to the kidnappers and successfully free our friend. Mob Boss: There is a rat in the pack! The mob boss assigned us the job of identifying the informant and saving the mafia family before the police arrived on scene. Crazy Professor: A mad scientist is working on a secret experiment. But what is it? We had to make our way through his lab before activating the self-destruction sequence. Pros: We entered the building to find a very nice set-up and comfortable waiting room. We had some time in between each game but enjoyed hanging out in the waiting room. The game began with an introductory story which helped guide the direction of our game play. The goals for each game were clear and each room was appropriately decorated and set to the theme. Some of the puzzles directly tied to the storyline, others were more basic. The game master provided hints as necessary. We especially enjoyed some of the unique puzzles in the Mob Boss room. We successfully escaped each game and even broke a record for Mob Boss! Cons: Some of the puzzles in Crazy Professor were very difficult and one required more luck than actual puzzle-solving skill. Some outside the box thinking helped at times, but sometimes outside the box thinking borderlines on breaking some of the conduct rules for a room. It is a fine line for escape room owners. This brings up a point worth making here to escape room owners. Do you want players to move furniture, take down props from walls, or take apart items in order to solve a conundrum? If not, then do not require ANY puzzles that require such behavior. After encountering such puzzles at one establishment, we have noticed, in ourselves and in other players, a tendency to deconstruct the next room at the next establishment in a similar manner (much to the chagrin of very annoyed room escape owners). The industry would benefit if escape room owners could agree to certain universal rules that apply across the board. We highly recommend checking out Lock Down. Great rooms, fun puzzles, and overall good time was had by all!
Dark AltarOmescape - San JoseEscape roomIRLKingdom of Cats: Trapped in a kingdom of felines, we were compelled to compete in a tournament to crown the wisest cat in the kingdom. The only way to escape perpetual imprisonment was to compete alongside our feline friends. Dark Altar: We found ourselves trapped inside the Copenheimer Museum where an archaeology obsessed collector had initiated a dark ritual. Our goal was to work our way through the museum to discover and stop the ritual. Joker's Asylum: A maniacal Joker was locked away in an asylum after a tragic incident at the circus. The Joker had escaped. We were tasked with discovering the Joker's secrets and escaping the asylum. Pandemic Zero: A super virus has sickened the city. We must break into the lab and finish work on the cure. Pros: The physical layout of Omescape from the waiting area to the game-play areas is clean, orderly and visually appealing. The puzzles are mostly linear, less about searching and more about thinking critically. Set-design is appealing and clearly tied to the overarching storyline. The games are scaled at different difficulty levels and geared toward different group sizes. Game moderators can be helpful and willing to provide assistance if asked. Cons: The puzzles in their rooms tend to be geometrical or symbol-based. We found the puzzles quite complex in all three games and extremely difficult to solve without assistance from the game masters. Scaling of the puzzles within each individual game could have helped us with the puzzle-solving process. Overall, we find their games overly complex. The friendliness of the game masters and their willingness to offer relevant clues helped prevent frustration and a complete mental melt-down of players.
The Next Civilization - CLOSEDEscape Or DieEscape roomIRLThe Next Civilization: Disease and sickness have winnowed the world's population. A new civilization is recruiting a select few members worthy of creating a new world order. Our group had to prove our intelligence by escaping the room in order to be selected to be members of the elite new world. Biohazard: Suspected of being infected by a zombie virus, our group was sent into quarantine. We had to bide our time and find a way to escape without being infected by the virus along the way. Pros: This room escape has an AWESOME waiting room with a cool introductory video, a fog machine, props and the general ambience that the zombie apocalypse is in progress. The storyline was compelling and generated lots of enthusiasm preceding our game play. The owners were friendly and enthusiastic. We love the work they have put into creating the mood. Cons: As much as we enjoyed the zombie theme and the spooky set-up of the place, we felt that the puzzles largely failed in design and function. The Next Civilization was set in a basic office that did not live up to the general ambience of the waiting room and the promotional material. The puzzles in this room were extremely complex and at times completely illogical. Hints were not allowed which essentially left us stuck for the majority of the game. Biohazard had a much better setup but since we spent over 30 minutes in complete darkness with one member of our team locked in a room incapable of assisting in any way, we quickly grew frustrated. Help from the game moderators came too little too late. We were able to move forward in the game but because of the delay we did not successfully escape. Part of the issue was mistakes we made in searching for clues, but mostly the general set-up of the room made locating items difficult. Oftentimes items were located in places that were less logical especially for frequent players of escape rooms. By the time we were able to reunite some of the missing members of our team, everyone was generally annoyed with the unnecessary complexity of the room. We really wanted to love this place, but in the end we left disappointed. We failed to pass the test for the Next Civilization and died in Biohazard. Maybe The Zombie Virus is a better game, if we ever rise from the dead to play again, we will let you know.
Biohazard - CLOSEDEscape Or DieEscape roomIRLThe Next Civilization: Disease and sickness have winnowed the world's population. A new civilization is recruiting a select few members worthy of creating a new world order. Our group had to prove our intelligence by escaping the room in order to be selected to be members of the elite new world. Biohazard: Suspected of being infected by a zombie virus, our group was sent into quarantine. We had to bide our time and find a way to escape without being infected by the virus along the way. Pros: This room escape has an AWESOME waiting room with a cool introductory video, a fog machine, props and the general ambience that the zombie apocalypse is in progress. The storyline was compelling and generated lots of enthusiasm preceding our game play. The owners were friendly and enthusiastic. We love the work they have put into creating the mood. Cons: As much as we enjoyed the zombie theme and the spooky set-up of the place, we felt that the puzzles largely failed in design and function. The Next Civilization was set in a basic office that did not live up to the general ambience of the waiting room and the promotional material. The puzzles in this room were extremely complex and at times completely illogical. Hints were not allowed which essentially left us stuck for the majority of the game. Biohazard had a much better setup but since we spent over 30 minutes in complete darkness with one member of our team locked in a room incapable of assisting in any way, we quickly grew frustrated. Help from the game moderators came too little too late. We were able to move forward in the game but because of the delay we did not successfully escape. Part of the issue was mistakes we made in searching for clues, but mostly the general set-up of the room made locating items difficult. Oftentimes items were located in places that were less logical especially for frequent players of escape rooms. By the time we were able to reunite some of the missing members of our team, everyone was generally annoyed with the unnecessary complexity of the room. We really wanted to love this place, but in the end we left disappointed. We failed to pass the test for the Next Civilization and died in Biohazard. Maybe The Zombie Virus is a better game, if we ever rise from the dead to play again, we will let you know.
Secrets In The AtticBeat the LockEscape roomIRLThe Spy Room: Our mysterious neighbor had been acting very odd lately. Naturally, we assumed he must be a spy. After sneaking into his room, we were trapped and had to find a way out while discovering his dark secret along the way. The Attic: Granny has hidden the secret to her fortune somewhere in the attic. We had to find it if we hoped to inherit her fortune. Pros: The owner/game moderator was very friendly, clarified the rules, and provided timely assistance when we were stuck (Which was unfortunately quite often in this room). The set was neat and tidy. The puzzles were solvable with hints and there were some nice surprises along the way. Cons: Multiple puzzles at once confounded us at times. The puzzles themselves had some logical fallacies that required us to ask for clarification. We needed a lot more help due to some complex clues. The storylines were simple and common for the escape room industry. The set-designs were basic and nothing to write home about.
The Spy RoomBeat the LockEscape roomIRLThe Spy Room: Our mysterious neighbor had been acting very odd lately. Naturally, we assumed he must be a spy. After sneaking into his room, we were trapped and had to find a way out while discovering his dark secret along the way. The Attic: Granny has hidden the secret to her fortune somewhere in the attic. We had to find it if we hoped to inherit her fortune. Pros: The owner/game moderator was very friendly, clarified the rules, and provided timely assistance when we were stuck (Which was unfortunately quite often in this room). The set was neat and tidy. The puzzles were solvable with hints and there were some nice surprises along the way. Cons: Multiple puzzles at once confounded us at times. The puzzles themselves had some logical fallacies that required us to ask for clarification. We needed a lot more help due to some complex clues. The storylines were simple and common for the escape room industry. The set-designs were basic and nothing to write home about.
Special Ops: Mysterious MarketThe Escape Game - San JoseEscape roomIRLGreat set design and fun puzzles made for an overall great experience at The Escape Game. Special Ops: Mysterious Market was our favorite game at this location! A great game experience!
Prison BreakRed Door Escape Room - SacramentoEscape roomIRLGreat game with excellent puzzle flow. Game master was awesome! Definitely recommend!
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