漆黒の悟り [Shadow Zen]Studio Escape Daikoku-choEscape roomIRLA must play for any escape room enthusiasts visiting Osaka! This experience will scratch your itch if you are looking for a game themed to the Land of the Rising Sun during your Japan vacation. Studio Escape has crafted a uniquely cinematic escape experience. I loved how they tied the history of the surrounding area into the experience. Once through the front door, you feel as though you have stepped onto the same city streets you were just exploring but 100 years ago. The customer service is top notch and you can tell the owners have put a lot of pride and care into this experience. Bonus points for being able to enjoy a beverage in the room afterwards. Pro-tip: ask to see the book they created documenting their build process for this room.
Starship | Interstellar EscapeWild Goose Escapes - FullertonEscape roomIRLStarships were meant to fly 🚀 and this one flew near the top of my list! The Smuggler's Run comparisons are apt, but unlike that attraction, this one is actually a blast to play. So much technology packed into the room and it is used very well. Space/Sci-fi games are never my favorite but this one doesn't have all the trappings that make me frustrated with them such as overwhelming use of symbols or math. Matt was also excellent GM. Take this starship for a ride!
Inksidious - CLOSEDEscape Room 66 - Los AngelesEscape roomIRLInksidious will satisfy any enthusiast! It is a puzzle lover’s paradise with a unique theme and story. It will make you feel like you have stepped onto the pages of a black and white cartoon. Bonus: Disney lovers will recognize the love letters to a certain classic attraction immediately. 2nd Bonus: Beans the cat!!!! 🐱
The Trials Of MerlinTrapped! Escape Room - UplandEscape roomIRLDisclaimer: we beta tested this room.This game has a ton of wow moments and very impressive reveals that make it stand out amongst other wizard rooms which is hard to do when there have been so many good ones recently in SoCal like Wizard’s Treasure and Warlocked. I especially love that it features adaptive gameplay and additional puzzles to keep even the most experienced enthusiasts entertained for the whole 60 minutes. It’s a must play in the IE!
Madness: 1917Doors of DivergenceEscape roomIRLJust as incredible as the first chapter! The spookiness is raised up a little in this one but it’s still not too bad if you’re worried like I was. It was awesome to see how our actions in Heresy played out in this game. It’s a split game, but a first for me in that we were split for the entire game, although could still hear and talk to each other. Like the first game, the basic escape room rules are delivered in a way that I’ve never seen done before that fits perfectly with the story. There are opportunities for one on one moments with the actors and I will surely not forget mine any time soon!
Heresy: 1897Doors of DivergenceEscape roomIRLA fantastic blend of immersive theater, choose your own adventure and escape room. Probably one of the most ambitious companies I have ever had the pleasure of visiting and I am sad I might not have the chance to visit the Paradox Bar again in the future. This company has really thought of everything. The way that the standard escape room rules are delivered is so clever, I didn’t even realize that was happening until about halfway through the process, and it left me with such a grin. A must play in the New York City market!
Carbon: 3708Mission Escape GamesEscape roomIRLI’m not a huge fan of sci-fi rooms, but this one managed to keep my interest due to the high number of challenging yet fair puzzles. We were definitely rushing with two of us to get through them all but it was a blast overall. I think this is a must play if you are in NYC if you are more experienced. Otherwise stick with Hydeout or End of Days which are both good as well.
Armory Ambush - CLOSEDBreakout WaikikiEscape roomIRLA pretty okay room. There are some quality of life improvements that could be made including better lighting. Some of the puzzles are quite tedious and include morse code. The staff and GMs are wonderful!
Secret Sabotage - CLOSEDBreakout WaikikiEscape roomIRLIt’s a decent room, much less tedious than the first room we played at this company! It will scratch that itch if you’re looking to do an escape room during your Hawaiian vacation. Some frustrating puzzles due to finicky tech. The room looks great!
Prison BreakEscape Room 66 - Laguna HillsEscape roomIRLProof that a gen 1 room with some solid puzzles and locks is all you need for a satisfying experience! Don’t go in expecting the most elaborate set and decor or tech, this is a good old mechanical lock and key room and it succeeds in delivering a fun experience with numerous puzzles. The owner is super sweet! Looking forward to their next room!
AvalancheMaze Rooms - Robertson BlvdEscape roomIRLSuper unique game! Go into this one as blind as you can. All tech room so don’t expect any traditional locks. Fairly linear gameplay as well, just watch the twists unfold in front of you after each solve. Fun fact this game also exist in Andorra and was on the TERPECA list one year, so exciting to have this game in SoCal.
Witch HouseNumber One Escape RoomEscape roomIRLReally fun game, more whimsical than scary, think Hocus Pocus and Maleficent. Linear game so keep groups small. There is a bonus puzzle, make sure to do that first since there’s no going back after the last puzzle.
Escape from The Runaway TrainTokyo Mystery CircusEscape roomIRLThe gameplay is incredibly unique making your way from train car to train car. I have some issues with the policy of buying 10 mins for 1000 yen per person. The room seems designed to encourage people to buy the extra time being only 50 mins and with the sheer number of puzzles. Also, there was something that confused me about the ending that made me think they want you to play (and pay) the game twice to complete it.
Sal's CyberneticsThe Immersive MachineEscape roomIRLSo much fun!!! I loved the Cyberpunk 2077/sci-fi inspirations. The puzzles are interesting and clever, all with a unique hint system. Great owners/GMs that care about giving players a total immersive experience, staying true to the company’s name. One of the must-do’s in the Phoenix area!
欲望のダイヤモンド [The Dame & the Diamond] Version 1 - CLOSEDStudio Escape NipponbashiEscape roomIRLFor a market without many options, especially for English speakers, this game is a standout that would rank among the best back home. There is a high emphasis on the story and giving you a cinematic experience. We really felt like we were in a noir-detective film!
80's Radical Radio RampageEscape Games at the RiverEscape roomIRLThe pre-game video gave me Rock N Roller Coaster vibes! How about some backstage passes? Fun game with everything you would expect from 80’s nostalgia. Puzzles are all diegetic to the theme and fun! On the easier side so enthusiasts bring 2 or 3.
The Secret Of Dragon’s SpireEscape Games at the RiverEscape roomIRLThis is their oldest game now but it still holds up imo! I would recommend it last but only because their other games are so so good! The GMs here are wonderful!
Tomb Raiders: Scepter Of EgyptEscape Games at the RiverEscape roomIRLA room with a common theme but still manages to separate itself with its interesting puzzles, great atmospheric lighting and sound design. There is a warning on the website which made me nervous, but it ended up being fine! A little dark in the beginning but not scary.
The Family CabinQuicksand Escape GamesEscape roomIRL90s nostalgia! The puzzles are fun and themed well to the era. The theming in the first room is a bit sparse but once inside the cabins, it’s great!
The Tipsy TailorIntrepid Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLOmg I loved this room so much! It’s a complete puzzle fest so enthusiasts will love this one. The puzzles fit the tailor/speakeasy theme well with a wide variety of them while being interesting/fun to solve. The point system adds that extra layer of frantic fun to solve all the puzzles and find all the bottles! Great, passionate owners as well. One of my fave rooms in OC now!
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