Haunted HarborThe Escape Ventures - Winter Garden [prev. Escape Goat]Escape roomIRLThe room was okay. Very well built, as always, but the puzzles weren't that good in my opinion. After the game, the game master openly acknowledged a known issue with one puzzle that lets players skip ahead and break the game, and said they're working on a fix. The clue itself could also be a lot clearer, though I suspect it's left that way on purpose to slow players down. Just a hunch. Even so, a solid 3/5 and worth a go.
Galactic Beef: The Cosmic Adventures of Star CowDoldrick's Escape RoomEscape roomIRLHave you ever played a video game with unskippable cutscenes? They don't give you a timer, so we timed ourselves, and there are twenty full minutes of video where you sit there and do nothing. The room is 90 minutes and you pay for all of it, so bring a lawn chair and some popcorn cuz you'll be watching a movie, not solving puzzles. And when you do finally get to solve something, it's repetitive busywork before the next round of movie time.
Spoopy's Ghoulish Graveyard GameshowDoldrick's Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThis room was decent and worth doing. I'd give it a 🫳 if that was an option, maybe 2.5/5 stars. It was very amusing, but the puzzles really fell off in the second half. Overall it's worth a play if you're in the area, but it doesn't quite cross my threshold for a 👍
The Locked WardrobeBreakout AdventureEscape roomIRLVery fun game, and better than its predecessor in my opinion. Many modern escape rooms are abandoning puzzles in favor of tasks, but this one holds on to the true spirit of a classic escape room while bringing in innovative tech and impressive prop builds. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Curse of the Light KeeperEscape UEscape roomIRLAmbitious new room that tries some things you don't see in most games. You can tell a lot of thought and effort went into it. Worth checking out.
Vanishing ActBlack Mountain EscapeEscape roomIRLThis is a great game, and it's proof that you do not need to spend a lot of money to make an incredible escape room. I highly recommend it.
Quest For The Temple of LightThe Keepers of BalanceEscape roomIRLThis may be my new favorite room. I absolutely loved it.
NevermoreNocturne AdventuresEscape roomIRLThe gameplay was so smooth, the puzzles were satisfying, and we were treated very well. This is a really unique venue, I highly suggest paying them a visit.
RipperNocturne AdventuresEscape roomIRLHeart pounding game. Perfect for adrenaline junkies. I loved the puzzles.
Operation: RingfallEscape Artists - SanfordEscape roomIRLIncredible room. Classic Escape Artists non-linear gameplay, and perfectly executed. I appreciate the way this company designs games. Checks most of my boxes for what a good game requires.
Ninja - CLOSEDEscape Artists - OrlandoEscape roomIRLBoo to the haters. This game is top notch. The puzzles were fantastic. The review below me is unreasonable, Escape Artists builds non linear so any mention of "flow" is moot. Non linear games don't have flow, by design. It was an excellent game and probably my favorite one from this company. I highly recommend it.
Strange MagicMind MastersEscape roomIRLWe loved this room. All of the props were handmade by the owner, and a lot of thought went into each piece. It is very challenging!! Lots of minds required for this one, and preferably a lot of experience. We played without nudges, but that isn't recommended unless you've played hundreds of games.
The ArchiveDare 2 EscapeEscape roomIRLIt was alright. The set design was well done, the puzzles could have been better. We were treated very well.
Camp Harvest Moon: Prank Wars '92Dare 2 EscapeEscape roomIRLSingle room game. It was cute. Nothing impressive, but was a fun game to play.
Cornstalkers: Lost in the MaizeThe Escape Ventures - Orlando Waterford LakesEscape roomIRLFantastic game. I didn't care much for the storyline, but that's only because I'm a curmudgeon who hates what this world has become. Other than the cringe parts for an old man like me, I loved everything. The set design was incredible, the gameplay and tech were outstanding, and the acting was superb. It's everything you could ever want in an escape room and more. I highly recommend it. Our gm had adequate social skills.
Sherlock's Escape - Moriarty's RevengeBreakout AdventureEscape roomIRLGreat room by Breakout Adventures. It is more manageable than the other games at this location. Everything was the perfect amount of difficulty and flowed very nicely.
Basement 2 Mama's HouseIntense Escape - Tampa LocationEscape roomIRLThe Experience: After enjoying Basement 1 and other rooms at Intense Escapes, I tackled their sequel with nearly 190 escape rooms under my belt. Basement 2 promises to be their scariest offering, though fellow enthusiasts had hyped it as something truly extreme. The reality fell somewhere in between. The Good: The staff at Intense Escapes deserves praise—friendly, attentive, and genuinely interested in our feedback. Live actors are the highlight here, bringing energy to what could otherwise be a standard escape experience. The sheer size impresses with roughly 7 distinct areas to explore, making this one of the more ambitious rooms in the region. I particularly appreciated puzzles requiring genuine collaboration among teammates, forcing us to communicate rather than split up. The thoughtful use of scents throughout the environment added a layer of immersion that enhanced the overall atmosphere. The Disappointing: While fellow players had built this up as an extreme experience comparable to California's 17th Door, Basement 2 delivered only basic jump scares that might startle but never truly terrify. This disconnect between reputation and reality clouded my experience. The absence of a visible timer created unnecessary frustration. Without knowing how much time remained, we couldn't strategize effectively or know when to request hints. This directly contributed to our failure to complete the room—we simply didn't realize we were running out of time until it was too late. Technical issues further hampered the experience. Several interactive elements malfunctioned during our session, and while the gamemaster informed us about some broken components, others went unmentioned, leaving us wasting precious time on unsolvable puzzles. These technical difficulties highlighted the budget limitations evident throughout. Most frustratingly, our game ended abruptly when time expired, without the option to see the conclusion despite the venue appearing uncrowded afterward. This left our experience feeling incomplete and unnecessarily cut short. The Verdict: Basement 2 shows genuine potential but suffers from inconsistent execution. The impressive scale and live actors are undermined by technical issues and puzzling game management decisions. For a room from creators who clearly know how to craft enjoyable experiences (as evidenced by their other games), these shortcomings feel especially disappointing. With some technical fixes and clearer expectations about timing and hints, this could be a solid addition to Tampa's escape room scene. As it stands, however, it's difficult to recommend Basement 2 over Intense Escapes' more polished offerings, including its predecessor.
Lost City of AtlantisGame Over Escape Rooms - JacksonvilleEscape roomIRLAtlantis offers adequate set design, though nothing groundbreaking. New players with fewer than 30 rooms of experience might find it impressive, but seasoned enthusiasts will likely be underwhelmed. The puzzles suffer from repetition and lack innovation – it feels like a missed opportunity for creative challenges. While some effects weren't functioning as intended, we could still complete the experience. The room has potential to improve with time, but in its current state, it delivers a decidedly mediocre experience that fails to stand out in any meaningful way.
School of MagicGame Over Escape Rooms - JacksonvilleEscape roomIRLGame Over, the escape room franchise from Greece, has opened a location near Jacksonville. Let me be frank: this room was abysmal. The technology consistently failed throughout our experience, and I struggled to find a single positive aspect worth mentioning. While I've generally appreciated Game Over's rooms in the past, this one fell spectacularly short of their usual standards.
Phantom Files: The Investigation Of Lockturne ManorThe Escape Ventures - Port CharlotteEscape roomIRLPhantom Files earned Escape Ventures their first TERPECA recognition, ranking #83 globally. While Camp Dreadwood remains my personal favorite at this location, Phantom Files' TERPECA accolades are well-justified through its exceptional set design and technical achievements. For enthusiasts who prioritize immersive environments, this room delivers spectacularly. The attention to detail is remarkable, from the meticulously crafted ceiling features to the finest decorative elements. Escape Ventures' expertise in special effects truly shines here, enhanced by their innovative modular set design approach that ensures flawless execution. Having completed all three games at this location, I can confidently assert that Port Charlotte houses Escape Ventures' finest collection across all four of their venues.
