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Reviews

Reviews

Kingdom Of Cat-tastrophy

Kingdom Of Cat-tastrophy

Omescape - Sunnyvale

  • Escape room
  • IRL
I went through several different phases of anticipation before this game. First: "Oh that sounds so cute!" Second: "Oh no, it better not be Cats the musical themed." And finally: "OKAY IT IS ITS OWN THING. Thank God." Overall, I wish that they took the cat themeing even farther than it actually was, as this game had a very cute premise for cat lovers. Solid room. Nothing about this game felt incredibly novel, but flow, decor, story, puzzles all showcased Omescape's excellent builds. Story felt like there was room for the players to make an impactful choice, but we were unfortunately disappointed by the illusion of choice when there was none. This room contains a lot of sound based puzzles and cues. This can be difficult to navigate due to ambient noise that impacts sensory sensitivity as well as difficult for people who are hard of hearing. Fortunately, players are given a walkie talkie to speak with the GM should they need help with with any information that was played and missed. I always appreciate being able to receive help when it is necessary.
Big Brain Labs

Big Brain Labs

60Out - Hollywood

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Kevin and I have always enjoyed Grant's builds, and Big Brain Labs was extremely fleshed out and a high quality build. The difficulty of the room is adjustable, but the puzzles are on the easier side, with a bias towards timing puzzles. The set was a step up from anything else at the venue. This set was very colorful, charming, and bright. The game was playful and fun. Big Brain Labs even includes an accessibility panel with options to adjust volume, turn off strobing effects, etc. This was super thoughtful and touched my heart as a hearing impaired player.
The Freak Show

The Freak Show

DarkPark Delft

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Freak Show is a small but well done room with solid themeing. Unlike Dark Park's other games, the room itself lacked a coheisive story. The puzzle, decor, and ambiance are very on-theme, but the story comes from the premise of the game. You don't discover anything new along the way that adds to the experience. This room was on the easier side and can be done with a smaller group due to its size and familiar puzzles. It has a creepy atmosphere, but this primarily comes from the premise of the room, where you're escaping from the circus, rather than any scary elements of the game or story. Because of this, I would not say the room was scary. This is a great warm up room for Dark Park's more intense adventures.
Pray

Pray

Escape Room Katwijk

  • Escape room
  • IRL
First thing's first: this room is overrated. While Pray certainly deserved a spot on TERPECA, it is ranked #13 on the 2024 TERPECA list. This made everyone in our group come into the room with high expectations, and it missed the bar. If this was ranked lower on the list, I don't think I would have been as underwhelmed. However, Pray really represents the type of escape rooms that Dutch players are looking for right now, and live actors are a relatively new element in the games in the area, so this probably bolstered the reviews and rankings for this game. Pray is a room that embraces a religious horror but subverts your expectations in unique ways. This made for a very unique story that stands out from others. Pray uses its set and atmosphere extremely well to build suspense throughout the game, but because of this, the ending felt very theatrical but emotionally and narratively fell flat. There are effects that don't actually make any sense, but are just there for the sake of making something visually dramatic. Signposting issues left our group feeling very scattered-brained before the finale, which also made the ending less impactful. This room has an extremely strong smell because of the funerary service setting/theme. Because of this, I wore a mask the whole time.
Haunting at Haruka High

Haunting at Haruka High

Omescape - Sunnyvale

  • Escape room
  • IRL
When you are investigating a haunt or a mysterious death, you know that you can expect the room to be very lore heavy and very story driven; however, this room in particular spends a lot of time developing the story. As such, your opinion of the pacing of the room (and especially the puzzles) can very much depend on how you take it all in. While I enjoyed how cohesive the storyline was, I found myself getting a little frustrated from it. There are long periods of storytelling performances that are delivered through audio. Even before the room, the GM warned us that some of the voice lines cannot be replayed and will contain important information, so we needed to pay attention. As someone who is hearing impaired, I would have really struggled if I didn't have a reliable partner to help summarize things for me, and it meant that there were long periods throughout the room where I simply didn't feel like I could do anything, when all we were doing was listening to a story that I couldn't hear. Even for others who do not struggle with hearing impairment, the pacing may leave heavy puzzlers wanting. This is all to say that I feel as though this room relied a little too much on audio and could have been placed a bit better. In general, I think plenty of people will enjoy the story, but YMMV. Please see the rating breakdown for my thoughts on the scariness of the room, but overall I did not think it was too scary, although it is quite spooky.
Mission: Mars

Mission: Mars

The Escape Game - Chicago

  • Escape room
  • IRL

π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ �𓅝𓃄 οΏ½π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ 𓂨𓅝𓃄 π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ

Magic Heist

Magic Heist

60 to Escape - Schaumburg

  • Escape room
  • IRL

π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ �𓅝𓃄 οΏ½π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ 𓂨𓅝𓃄 π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ

Mystery Manor

Mystery Manor

60 to Escape - Schaumburg

  • Escape room
  • IRL
In terms of puzzles, this is the easiest game at this location. Our little trio was super casual going through the experience, but we spent 10 minutes being stupid (missing something right in front of our faces). πŸ˜‚ While it's a haunted mansion, the vibes were very friendly, which I would liken to Disney's Haunted Mansion. I enjoyed the ambient music, which I found to be a lot more fun and entertaining instead of spooky. All the games at this company have great sets and their puzzles are integrated well. For Mystery Manor in particular, I enjoyed all the areas the areas that opened up as we progressed.
Shhh!

Shhh!

The Escape Warehouse

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Shhh! was by far my favorite game at this venue, and even my favorite in our self-directed NOLA tour (included 13th Gate Escape, Escape My Room, Escape Warehouse, and Clue Carrie). We did Hide & Seek, then Unidentified, and finally Shhh! Being their newest room and a 90 minute experience, Shhh! felt like it was a tier above the others. I don't want to spoil much, but the game was sufficiently creepy but still approachable. The puzzles were just as strong, if not stronger, than the others at Escape Warehouse, and they flowed well and fit appropriately into the time allotted. All of the games at Escape Warehouse take place in the same universe, so there are stories interwoven into the games. They do not require you to play them in any particular order, but piecing together the full plot for a more complete picture really added to the charm.
Timeliner: Train Through Time

Timeliner: Train Through Time

The Escape Game - Rancho Cucamonga [prev. at San Bernardino]

  • Escape room
  • IRL
As expected from the Escape Game, Timeliner had a very solid set. I thought that the train vibes would feel cheesy, but the screens (high definition train windows) were actually very fun to use. You don't really spend a lot of time in each era, but feeling as though you are traveling to a different time period and location with a train ticket was surprisingly enjoyable. The room was very easy, but I generally recommend The Escape Game chain to newer players as a way to get them into the hobby. Even without rushing the room, my group had plenty of time left. As someone who has done other Escape Game rooms, I think that this one is better than Special Ops or Prison Break, but Depths and Playground are stronger rooms. I definitely did not regret driving out to the San Bernardino location so that I could get the opportunity to play it.
The Weeping Witch

The Weeping Witch

Cross Roads Escape Games

  • Escape room
  • IRL

π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ �𓅝𓃄 οΏ½π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ 𓂨𓅝𓃄 π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ

L'Île perdue de la Reine Vaudou [The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen]

L'Île perdue de la Reine Vaudou [The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen]

Escaparium - Laval

  • Escape room
  • IRL
This game had the strongest puzzles at this location, and the set was equally amazing. Some of the other large games at escaparium are moving more towards immersive theatre, but this game maintained it's gameplay more similarly to a traditional escape room. Puzzles use a lot of tech, but feel pretty mechanical. They were very on point with the theme, and I can't overstate how amazing the set is.
Rain Corp.

Rain Corp. - CLOSED

Escaparium - Laval

  • Escape room
  • IRL

π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ �𓅝𓃄 οΏ½π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ π“†œπ“‹˜π“„ π“Š›π“‡™π“‹Έπ“Œ€π“Œ₯ π“Œ¦ 𓅐𓆒 𓆣 𓀉𓆀 π“†₯ π“…‘π“†˜ 𓆙 π“…’π“„™ π“„š π“„› 𓅓𓃺 𓃻 π“…” π“…• 𓃕 𓃖 𓃗 π“Ž· π“„π“ŽΈπ“…– π“…½ π“…Ύ π“…Ώπ“…— π“…˜ 𓇆 𓇇𓅙 π“…š 𓁡 𓁢𓂡 𓂢𓃝𓋲 𓋳𓀬 𓅛𓁃 π“‚Ίπ“…œ 𓂨𓅝𓃄 π“„π“…žπ“‚™ π“…Ÿπ“‚Ώ

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