Kraken's Revenge at Kelpstone NarrowsPuzzle Theory - MiddletownEscape roomIRL7.9/10 Kraken’s Revenge is definitely the standout room here at Puzzle Theory in Middletown. The set and room design definitely immerses you the moment you step in the room. The puzzles in here were fun and enjoyable. The one downside when it came to the puzzles is that we didn’t feel they had a connection to the story. Overall, there was never a moment that we felt bored throughout and we would definitely recommend others to give it a try!
Defenders of the GalaxyPuzzle Theory - MiddletownEscape roomIRL7.2/10 Defenders of the Galaxy is a fun payoff to Marvel’s favorite team. This is a nonlinear experience where everyone can branch off to complete all the different tasks needed to complete the room. It definitely is on the easier side and we finished with about 30 minutes left to spare. Although each of the tasks/puzzles are fun, the room can use some updating. We did feel like we were in an office building with fun props scattered throughout, unlike in Kraken’s where we did feel fully immersed.
Legends of the Lost TempleEscape from RealityEscape roomIRL7.4/10 Legends of the Lost Temple is another strong addition to Escape from Reality’s lineup! This room does an excellent job building a temple/jungle atmosphere and the deeper you go, the darker and more immersive it feels, exactly what you’d expect from an expedition like this. It’s a well-paced linear experience with smooth puzzle flow and very few mechanical locks. The puzzles integrate beautifully with the hidden-temple theme. Our only real critique is that we wanted more. More space to explore and more puzzles to solve in each section. It felt like it ended just as we were fully locked in. We had Whitney as our Game Master again, and her energy is what made our overall experience even more enjoyable. We’re excited to see what they build next!
The Christmas Countdown: Checked TwiceEscape from RealityEscape roomIRL7/10 The Christmas Countdown: Checked Twice is a charming room that works really well for all ages and families. It has a very cute story that’s easy to follow, and that story begins before you even enter the room. We always do appreciate when the immersion begins right away and Escape from Reality executed it very well. The puzzles tie nicely into the Christmas theme and successfully got us in the holiday spirit, even on a 90-degree day. That said, the room is quite basic overall, with straightforward puzzles that don’t offer much challenge for experienced enthusiasts. Because of that, we’d recommend pairing it with their other room(s) if you’re looking for more difficulty. It’s a perfect “first room of the day” or lighter experience. We had Whitney (one of the owners) as our Game Master for both rooms, and she was fantastic. Her energy and love for escape rooms is contagious and really elevated the visit. We’re looking forward to coming back when their third room opens!
Fall Harvest13th Hour Escape Room - WhartonEscape roomIRL9.6/10 Fall Harvest is not just our favorite game at 13th Hour, but our new top rated game that we have ever played. 13th Hour just doesn’t know how to miss, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park with this two hour experience. My girlfriend and I finished with 28 minutes left on the clock, but don’t get it twisted. This game is MASSIVE, and there wasn’t a single moment where we weren’t both fully locked in and working on something. The set is the biggest and grandest we’ve seen from 13th Hour, packed with a harvest of “wow” moments, probably the most we’ve ever experienced in any room. Without spoiling anything, there’s one element in this room that we’ve never seen before and honestly don’t think we’ll see again anywhere else. Every reveal kept one upping the previous one, building toward a very satisfying ending that ties beautifully into the story and all connects perfectly. This is a two hour experience and has every right to be, with impressive puzzle density and so many things to do. We were constantly engaged with no downtime whatsoever. The puzzles themselves were fun, intuitive, consistently rewarding to solve, and we always felt a sense of satisfaction when cracking them. There wasn’t a single puzzle that didn’t make sense. Each one felt purposeful, helped progress the story, and delivered that seamless flow from start to finish. Fall Harvest is clearly designed with enthusiasts in mind, and puzzle lovers will truly appreciate the craftsmanship and care that went into every detail of this room. As we’ve said, this is now our highest rated experience and an absolute MUST DO for anyone reading this. Do yourselves a favor. Head over to 13th Hour Escapes, play Fall Harvest, and drop us a message after. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
WreckedMasterpiece EscapesEscape roomIRL9.2/10 No pun intended, but Wrecked was a masterpiece. The unique setting of the room and story were great, but what really stood out for us was the puzzle design and flow. The puzzles were unique and fit each part of the story so well. The complexity of the puzzles in the room added to the experience and was a highlight for us. There was one puzzle in particular that had so many different parts to it before we ended up getting the code we needed. This is a puzzler’s dream and we absolutely loved it. The incoming storm element was also done very well and really added to the immersion. We wouldn’t say this room was scary, but it was definitely spooky and this storm really added to that spooky feeling. We got to speak with one of the owners, Joseph, throughout our time playing 2 of their rooms and he was beyond great! He opened up early to be able to accommodate us and we couldn’t be more grateful. Masterpiece is in greats hands and we cannot wait to return to see what they have up their sleeves.
Quest For The Temple of LightThe Keepers of BalanceEscape roomIRL9.4/10 First things first, if you haven’t had the chance to play Quest for the Temple of Light, find time to go play it. This room has the greatest start to a game we have ever experienced and don’t get us started with the set. We walked in to one of the rooms asking, “Is this the Disney World of escape rooms?” For the set design and immersion alone, Quest for the Temple of Light makes our top 5 rooms ever played as of writing this in February 2026. With an absolutely amazing set, we wished the puzzle design was just as grand but we felt like that’s where this room fell a bit short. The flow from room to room didn’t really make sense, especially to the overarching story, which left us a bit confused as well. The name of the room is the Quest for the Temple of Light, but we didn’t even capture this light in a temple. Speaking with each other afterwards, we agreed that as their first room, Keepers of Balance were showing everyone what they are capable of with their sets by adding all these different types of rooms, we just wish it was advertised as that because it would have made more sense to the story. Overall, these are just little knit picks because this room was amazing. By far the greatest and most beautifully designed room we ever played. From the moment we stepped in the door we were instantly captivated and that’s what we all hope for when playing an escape room. We will be back, no doubt about it, to play Defenders of the Sunken Realm and their newest game coming out soon.
Haunted HouseEscapology - DanburyEscape roomIRL7.8/10 Haunted House is the best Escapology game that we’ve played. After playing, and beating, Haunted House with 20 minutes left, we came up with a comparison that sums up Escapology as a whole. Escapology is like the Panera Bread of escape room businesses. They’re everywhere, and you know it will be solid no matter which one you go to, but regardless of what you choose, many of the options feel pretty similar. That’s how we feel about Escapology games overall. Even though the themes are different, the experiences tend to blend together. Don’t get it twisted, we really enjoy the games at Escapology. We almost always give them a thumbs up, and Haunted House is no exception. In fact, it’s our favorite out of the bunch. There are some unique elements and puzzles throughout, and the flow between rooms makes sense. It’s definitely on the spookier side compared to their other games, but there aren’t any crazy jump scares. The room was immersive, and overall it was a really good experience. If you’re heading to an Escapology location and they have Haunted House available, make sure it’s at the top of your list. Maybe you can go to Panera afterward
The TerminalEscape Rooms ConnecticutEscape roomIRL5.4/10 We’ve had Escape Rooms Connecticut on our wishlist for years, so when we finally made the trip, we jumped at the chance to play two of their rooms: The Terminal and Sector X. We enjoyed the theming and concept with The Terminal. The nostalgic NYC subway station vibe was well done, and most puzzles flowed smoothly (though one or two felt more tedious than fun). Our game master was excellent overall, especially with the immersive story setup before we entered. That said, our biggest critique applies to both rooms we played: the games haven’t been well maintained over the years. The GM had to enter to open a lock for us because it was broken and rarely works with the key. Several props were loose and kept coming out of place, which disrupted the experience. The potential is clearly there with the strong theme and puzzle flow. If better upkeep addressed these issues, this could be a standout room. As it stands, maintenance holds it back.
Sector XEscape Rooms ConnecticutEscape roomIRL4.1/10 Our biggest complaint with the other room we played at this venue was the sense that the games haven’t been properly maintained over time, and unfortunately, we felt the same here with Sector X. The atmosphere is a real standout: the space station theme is excellently executed, with strong props and set design that genuinely immerse you in the environment. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fully enjoy it because we had to be walked through a majority of the puzzles. Broken elements and missing pieces were frequent, forcing our game master to explain solutions directly. This heavy intervention broke immersion and reduced the satisfaction of solving things ourselves. Like The Terminal, the concept and potential are clearly there, but poor maintenance holds Sector X back significantly. It falls short of what it could be with better upkeep.
Dead CityOccultus Room EscapeEscape roomIRL8.9/10 Dead City…..wow, never a dull moment. This game had a little bit of everything; from crawling, climbing, sliding, searching, and even a jump scare here and there. It was an absolute blast from the second we started to the moment we escaped. There is a lot to do here and you will need to be somewhat active throughout the room. There was one puzzle that was very “fidgety” and wish it worked a bit better. Other than that, the puzzles throughout worked well with the theme and were unique. Our gamemaster was great and they even opened early to allow us to experience their room as we could only play before they opened. Dead City was a standout during our trip and you can best believe next time we are in Porto, we will be back to experience their newest game, “Gotham.”
Stranger MysteryD3 Escape Room - Praça da RepúblicaEscape roomIRL6.4/10 During our watch of the final season of Stranger Things, completing Porto’s only themed room, Stranger Room, was a must. There were a couple moments during this room that stumped us that were more due to leaps of logic than anything else. Although this was a bit frustrating there was enough here to make this a fun and enjoyable experience, with the final part of the room being the greatest part. Although this room was on the “older” side, it fit the 80s theme well with the props and puzzles used throughout. Overall, there are other rooms we would recommend before playing Stranger Room in Porto, but if you are a fan of the show, you will definitely get enjoyment here with a decent amount of callbacks to the show.
UndergroundEscape2Win Lumiar - UndergroundEscape roomIRL8.9/10 During our vacation to Portugal, our goal was to play the country’s top-rated escape rooms we hadn’t experienced yet. To start us off, we had to play THE highest ranked room in Portugal, Underground. To no surprise, this room was an absolute thrill ride from the moment we knocked on the door. Our gamemaster, Andre, is what made this experience truly special. The amount of work he put in throughout the game made it really feel like we were in a thriller/action-packed movie. There are some moments in this game that we will never forget about. The one downside of this game was the lack of puzzle variety. We wish there were more puzzles to solve throughout the game. Overall, there is a reason why this is ranked Portugal’s top room and if you are ever in this beautiful country, make Underground a must stop!
Master of IllusionsEscape Time AdventuresEscape roomIRL8.8/10 Masters of Illusion had our jaws dropped as soon as we stepped inside. You are immediately sent into the investigation and feel as if the story came to life. As a 90 minute room we were impressed at the level of attention needed throughout, with a nice “intermission” clip from a friendly helper to refresh our minds and keep us on the right track. As this was a nonlinear room, players can work on different tasks simultaneously to reach the answers within the time limit. The amount of puzzles and various styles kept us intrigued as we explored different rooms. Something that this room made us question is if there is ever too many red herrings or if it all just adds to the immersion. In addition, with such an immersive room and different puzzles, the ending was a little of a let down. Overall, Escape Time Adventures did an amazing job with Master of Illusions and highly recommend giving it a try!
The Body ShopRed Fox EscapesEscape roomIRL9.3/10 What a game, what a story! The two biggest things we look for in escape rooms are immersion and puzzle flow/design. When a room can fully immerse us with such awesome and unique puzzles, while creating such a unique and memorable story, then you are in for a truly unbelievable experience. And that is exactly what we felt after playing The Body Shop. The level of detail put into this room is some of the best we’ve seen. The puzzles were unique to the story and just made sense! The flow from puzzle to puzzle slowly uncovers more and more of the story, and is done in such a clever way where after finally putting all the pieces I remember saying, “Oh my gosh…. This is crazy.” The twist comes out of no where, but the buildup was done so perfectly that it all made sense. This room had just about everything. The laughs, the scares, the “WOW” moments, and everything in between. Easily one of the best rooms we’ve ever done and would consider this a MUST DO room!
Vegas HangoverEscapology - DanburyEscape roomIRL7.6/10 Vegas Hangover is one of the better rooms Escapology has to offer in our opinion. This room is not as immersive as we would have hoped, but the reason we liked it so much was because of how many puzzles they were able to fit into the room. All the puzzles flowed super well and all logically made sense. You definitely get your money’s worth.
Be'WitchedLara's Labyrinth - WethersfieldEscape roomIRL6.1/10 We did the R-rated version and we completely understand why it’s made for a more mature audience. The interaction with the “gamemaster” is what makes this game so unique and brought us to giving it a thumbs up. This is not a puzzle heavy room at all. I remember 2 actual puzzles that we did on our own without the guidance of the “gamemaster.”
PlaygroundThe Escape Game - NYC MidtownEscape roomIRL8.2/10 Sometimes, an escape room doesn’t need to be intense or deeply mysterious to deliver a great time. It just needs to be fun, and that’s exactly what Playground accomplishes. What stood out the most was just how genuinely fun it was from start to finish. The puzzles were clever, varied, and encouraged both mental and physical engagement. From interactive challenges to tactile surprises, there was a childlike joy in progressing through each “subject,” and we couldn’t help but smile the whole time. Even though we were paired with two random teammates, the experience still flowed really well. The room is non-linear, so there’s plenty to work on at once, which helped keep everyone involved and active. The report-card-style progress tracker was a great touch, helping us stay organized while adding to the classroom immersion. Playground might not be the most complex or atmospheric room out there, but it delivers exactly what it promises, a good time!
The BirdMyssTic RoomsEscape roomIRL8.7/10 The Bird by MyssTic Rooms proves that an escape room doesn't need sprawling square footage to deliver an unforgettable experience. What this room lacks in size, it more than makes up for in immersive design, clever puzzle construction, and exceptional attention to detail. From the moment we entered the de Lille apothecary, we were drawn into a richly themed world that felt both mystical and intimate. The set design is stunning, and every element and detail felt intentional, down to the smallest decorative touch. Where The Bird really shines is in its puzzle flow. Each challenge transitions seamlessly into the next, offering a variety of different kinds of puzzles that just work with the ambiance of the room. At no point did we feel stuck in a frustrating loop or unsure of what to do next. The room does an impressive job of guiding players naturally through its narrative while still leaving enough room for satisfying “aha” moments. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just looking for an imaginative escape, this room is absolutely worth your time.
