13th BasementExit Game OC - AnaheimEscape roomIRLI had been waiting to play the 13th Basement for many years and I’m so glad I did. It is a very unique game that plays on horror escape room tropes in a really cheeky way. I really enjoyed it and especially love that they designed this game and away that colourblind people can enjoy every puzzle. When colour was involved in a puzzle, they had a little note that indicated what colour the item was. There’s also a fantastic moment in the game that I will never forget. Bonus points to the props, which are beautifully made, and a lovely homage to the Saw franchise. I’m looking forward to the new games that they build at the Exit Game OC.
40 ThievesMindTrap Escape Room - TemeculaEscape roomIRLRight from the beautiful intro that mixed projection video with real-life environments, I could tell this was a special game. 40 Thieves was so much fun. For our group of three experienced players, we just barely made it out. There is so much to do in this room so larger groups are encouraged.
49 Boxes - The Magic of Thayer49BoxesEscape roomPop upI played 49 Boxes at RECON 2024 Los Angeles and WOW what a beautiful, moving, and thoughtfully designed experience this was. The props are high quality antiques and the storytelling is rooted in true magic history. I’d love to do this again to see more of the artifacts and puzzle tracks, as there are many.
80's Radical Radio RampageEscape Games at the RiverEscape 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
Area 53Bust Out Escape Room - PaseoEscape roomIRLWasn’t really a fan of this game. It felt like a much older style escape room with multiple puzzles all over the place that didn’t really have any connection to each other and I’ve seen in other rooms. The storyline was hard to follow and despite one very unique use of chemistry in the room, I didn’t get any “wow” moments.
AtlantisEscape Room LAEscape roomIRLFun room with tons of puzzles. You need to divide and conquer to get out of this one. I am obsessed with the sets. There’s one room in particular that was so beautifully crafted and I’d never seen anything like it.
AvalancheMaze Rooms - Robertson BlvdEscape roomIRLAvalanche at Maze Rooms is a finely crafted room with some incredible technology and special effects. In fact, one particular moment is one of my favourite moments I’ve ever encountered in an escape room. Unfortunately, the story is near incoherent, and very difficult to follow. It took away from the overall experience and left me feeling confused rather than celebratory at the end.
Black DragonEscape Room LAEscape roomIRLSuch a gorgeous escape room with beautiful sets and a clever opening scene. Our whole group really enjoyed it and there are some very fun puzzles.
Blackwell ManorNew Mexico Escape Room - McLeod LocationEscape roomIRLBlackwell Manor has some of the most beautiful sets I’ve ever seen in an escape room. The exterior facade plus the interior of the house are next level. I absolutely loved the atmosphere. The puzzles are good, not great. Some of the puzzles are things I’ve seen before. One puzzle is particularly frustrating but overall we enjoyed it.
BombshellNew Mexico Escape Room - McLeod LocationEscape roomIRLBombshell is one of my favourite games in New Mexico. The use of sets, lighting, and sound really immerses you in the story of the mafia family. The use of technology in one scene of the game really adds to the experience. There are also a very good mix of puzzle types in this game to activate all different parts of your brain. My group really enjoyed the game and wish it was a bit longer because we felt it ended abruptly.
