darthkumar37

Reviews

Reviews

Cheesie's Pizza Party

Cheesie's Pizza Party

60 to Escape - Schaumburg

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Ah, definitely added this to my top 5. I absolutely LOVED this game, a standout in company full of great games. I was living in a Five Nights at Freddy's game with this and took time to enjoy it from beginning to end. Where to start? The set was perfect giving off the sense of an abandoned Showbiz/Chuckie Cheese restaurant where something felt off...The game just flowed beautifully with intuitive puzzles and so well themed. From start to finish, this is just FUN! Sixty to Escape is one of Chicago’s best escape room companies, and like the others, it’s a bit outside the city proper, where you’ll have to drive about 45 minutes from downtown to a mall in Schaumburg. It's absolutely worth the drive and if you are going, be sure to do this room and Lockbuster video. If you have time, add in Arctic and Magic Heist. Heck, just spend the day there and do them all! You'll be glad you did!
Mystery Manor

Mystery Manor

60 to Escape - Schaumburg

  • Escape room
  • IRL
This was our first game of Sixty to Escape: Schaumburg's offerings as we ran the gauntlet. A good start and a fun time! Also, the best rooms in Chicago are actually outside of the city proper. This was about a 45 minute drive from downtown to Sixty to Escape (which is located in the Woodland Mall FYI), but totally worth it! Taking place in a haunted house, you need to complete the tasks so some long departed folks can finally get their rest. It took us a little bit in the beginning to get our brains turned on, the flow was solid with intuitive logical puzzles. Not a lot of mechanical locks, which was appreciated. As with all their games, their was an actual satisfying ending (and not just the gamemaster walking in to tell you "congratulations, you did it!") which helped the experience. And reading many of the reviews, this is considered one of their easiest rooms (which is why we scheduled it first). That much was true, but it certainly wasn't a cakewalk either. (If you can't do them all), come to Sixty to Escape: Schaumburg for Cheesie's and Lockbuster & if you can, throw in Arctic and Magic Heist. I'm ONLY putting this one lower because of it being an easier game and the others are not to be missed!
Jurassic Outpost

Jurassic Outpost

60 to Escape - Schaumburg

  • Escape room
  • IRL
So a heads up. While anywhere else, this would be a standout game, I was not very enthused on this one, it was my least favorite. It's not a must-avoid, in fact, I still gave it a thumbs up, but there were issues. First off, there's a lot to do. And it's thrown in your face all-at-once. Which is probably why the flow felt off. The game is semi-linear, but the best games let you discover them with one leading to another and so on. What's even crazier is that their other games successfully do this. The puzzles themselves were well themed, but not that intuitive. And without spoiling anything, the end felt very out of place. The whole game is based off of the Jurassic Park movies, yet it was as if they wanted to show off a random special effect that seemed a little too sci-fi for a game related to those dinosaur movies. All in all, things just felt clunky. all in all, things just felt clunky. 60 to Escape is one of Chicago's best companies (although it's a 45 minute drive from downtown, but worth the drive) and it's in a Mall. If you are there, definitely do Cheesie's and Lockbuster and throw in Arctic and Magic. Time permitting, add Mystery Manor, but I would put this one as the lowest priority. If you do do it, bring your crew. There's a lot to solve.
Arctic Expedition

Arctic Expedition

60 to Escape - Schaumburg

  • Escape room
  • IRL
What a great room!! Really enjoyed it as it gave me vibes from Operation: Arctic Storm (one of my top 5) in Orlando. Located in Schaumburg inside a Mall, this is one of Chicago's best escape room companies and also a 45 minute drive from downtown, but worth it. The set was great, you really felt like you were up North! The puzzles flowed nicely, intuitive and well-themed. (It was a mix of tech and some locks.) Even the story perfectly synched with what we were sent to do. All in all, this is definitely one to do. You won't go wrong doing any of Sixty to Escape's games here, but come for Lockbuster & Cheesie's (their standouts) and if you can do this and Magic Heist also.
Outage: No Vacancy

Outage: No Vacancy

The Escape Ventures - Wilmington [prev. The Exit Games]

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Ok, now THIS is how you do a "dark" escape room! I loved this room. (Although admittedly, I was window dressing while my wife pretty much did the room by herself. Apparently, she excels when there's no overload on visual input. Who knew? 🤷🏾‍♂️) Most lights-out rooms are a novelty. They don't even have a plot. This one had one that made perfect sense. You are part of a construction crew that's fixing up an old hotel and hopefully you can get done before a storm knocks out the power... The puzzles themselves were quite good also. Mostly intuitive and the ones you do in the dark make sense (or at least they did for my wife!) The set design was superb (especially when the lights were on!) & you really felt like part of the crew. Like many of their newer games, a live actor helps get you started and it totally works. Exit Games is killing it lately. Come play EVERY game (Tattoo, Riddler St and this one) at their Princess St location & their White Rabbit one at the other location a block away. (I do hear they are moving everything to Princess Street sometime in the next year.)
Afterparty: Dorm Room Disaster [prev. Hangover at Riddler State]

Afterparty: Dorm Room Disaster [prev. Hangover at Riddler State]

The Escape Ventures - Wilmington [prev. The Exit Games]

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Man, was this room great! Exit Games has been on a roll with every game since White Rabbit with Hidden Needle, No Vacancy and this all as must-dos when you are in the area. Don’t be deceived by the name. You might think this is going to be your typical college dorm room game but it’s so much more! No spoilers, but trust me when I say the set is brilliant and a multi-room experience where there’s a lot of brilliant rooms even before you get to your dorm! Like many of their other rooms, they have a live actor to introduce you to the room and he was perfect in the role! Throw in some classic 80’s college movie nods and this is an experience you should not miss!
Quest For The Temple of Light

Quest For The Temple of Light

The Keepers of Balance

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Wow. how do I describe this game? You’re gonna love it. It's an epic adventure across time and space with nods to Indiana Jones, The Goonies, Lord of the Rings and more! Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that each room in this game is different. All puzzles flow nicely and are intuitive, but that’s not to say they are easy. If you need a hint though, the hint system becomes hilarious! The set. Amazing! This is a huge space, a mini warehouse that you feel goes on forever. It’s all beautifully done too. This company is special and I absolutely cannot wait for the subsequent games. It's people who get it. If you use and love Morty, then THIS is a must-do!
The Coral Kingdom Aquarium

The Coral Kingdom Aquarium

Masterpiece Escapes

  • Escape room
  • IRL
As always, Masterpiece delivers. What a really enjoyable game! In a sequel to Metro Mayhem, you have to thwart the evil Dr. from polluting the water supply! The set was good and a nice novel change of scenery having this take place at an aquarium. The puzzles flowed really well (mostly linear at first) and then semi-non-linear at the end. The live actor will make you giggle for sure. All in all, this is another must-do. If you are at Masterpiece, come for Wrecked and stay for Ghastly Escapes and throw this one in as well, time permitting. But honestly, there's not any to avoid!
Baruta's Revenge

Baruta's Revenge

Exit Strategy - North

  • Escape room
  • IRL

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 �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 𓅟𓂿

The Asylum: Playtime

The Asylum: Playtime

Lost Games

  • Escape room
  • IRL
So I loved the Doctor's Secret and as per recommendations, played this one right after as it continues the storyline. It was even better than the first! It’s a newer game, and the set (despite being an old asylum) looks newer. Without ruining the live actor/hint system, I'll just say it's enjoyable and unique. The puzzles were excellent and flowed really well. There was at least one that we saw that we had not encountered before which is always appreciated. When one goes to Vegas, there's an expectation of a grand show, and Lost Games nails it with Playtime. If you want the full experience, sign up for Doctor's Secret and do that one right before.
The Asylum: The Doctor's Secret

The Asylum: The Doctor's Secret

Lost Games

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Man, this was so much fun! So we did this and the follow-up game back to back (as is recommended) with this one (the older game) first. So much better this way. First off, the set design is perfect. It's a huge asylum. I will not spoil the opening/introduction, but it sets the mood perfectly with a mix of creepy & off-the-wall humor. The puzzles flowed well and were pretty intuitive. I enjoyed the hint system which kept things quite immersive. The live actors were the icing on the cupcake for sure. I had recently reviewed some other rooms in Vegas calling them solid but nothing new or novel. And that's the thing. One expects A SHOW when you are in Vegas. The Asylum series at Lost provides that for sure. I highly recommend you do this room and immediately follow-up with Playtime (in that order). You'll get the best experience.
Pandora’s Box

Pandora’s Box

Trapped! Escape Room - Las Vegas

  • Escape room
  • IRL
We played One Eyed Jack as it was highly rated and we did it last minute. With a little time to kill, they were able to squeeze us into this one, which also rated well and had won some awards. All in all, a great time! There were A LOT of puzzles in a mostly non-linear experience. While intuitive, they still provided a solid challenge. We were lucky to make it out with just the two of us, but I do recommend having 3-4 on your crew. The storyline was straightforward...or was it? The twist set up a nice sense of urgency. The set itself was a bit worn and you get the sense the game has been around for a while. All in all, I definitely recommend this and One-Eyed Jack. Neither is very novel, but for the enjoyment of solid escape rooms, you'll be pleased.
One Eyed Jack

One Eyed Jack

Trapped! Escape Room - Las Vegas

  • Escape room
  • IRL
We picked this room as it was highly rated on Morty & we were looking for something last minute. This was a solid experience on a common theme (escape the serial killer's lair), but there were still some standout parts and we had a great time. The game flowed really well. The puzzles were all intuitive. Almost all the puzzle types, we had seen before, but this still wasn't a cake walk. The set design worked. Some companies will take the easy way out with a bare-bones approach for a serial killer basement, but this game offered more than that, especially when you make it out of the first area. It feels a little weird to recommend doing a classic "escape the serial killer's basement" because you are in Vegas & there are certainly a ton of escape rooms, many with much more interesting themes. That said, the execution was well done and you are not going to come out of this game disappointed.
Dracula

Dracula

Nerd Escapes

  • Escape room
  • IRL
I REALLY wanted to like Dracula. It's their newest room and yet because of some technical issues and a gamemaster that was especially unhelpful, the experience was tempered. Let’s start with the basics: the set design was beautiful (which was a nice change from doing the rest of the rooms, which operate on a minimalist design). Like all of their games, the puzzles are not easy. But the lack of help from the gamemaster really hurt the flow and we spent way way too long on one puzzle. There was also some confusion at the end due to a tech glitch so we weren't sure if we succeeded in the end. This is still a room I would say to do if you are checking out Nerd Escape. You'll hopefully have a better experience.
The Return

The Return

Nerd Escapes

  • Escape room
  • IRL
After doing several games by Nerd Escape, my wife finally felt like she "got it". Nerd Escape's rooms are not easy. They have a minimalist game design so things do not jump out at you. EVERYTHING is used. And for her, this was the room where things clicked. Therefore, the flow felt better. Things seemed more intuitive. Maybe our enjoyment of this room came from because we started clicking and had less frustration. Either way, recommend this one and City without Sun. If you have time, stay for Dracula and Chernobyl.
The Showdown

The Showdown

Nerd Escapes

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Someday Morty may institute a "meh" rating. When that happens, I'll have to update a few of my reviews. This will be one of them. It's just ok. First off, Nerd Escapes runs HARD rooms. They aren't bad, just hard. A lot of their rooms are older, this one included. So while this room compared to their others has a bit more "tech", it's older tech. The theme is good, standard gangster with Godfather homages. No major surprises. I would recommend this only if you want to try to knock out everything or if you have time between other rooms. (Come for City without Sun, Dracula & Chernobyl.)
City with No Sun

City with No Sun

Nerd Escapes

  • Escape room
  • IRL
I was impressed. I really enjoyed this game. After doing a few games in the dark, I went in with low expectations. Most games like this are just a gimmick, where it ends up not being much fun. City with no Sun is markedly different. First off, it's a great game! They make a point that during the course of the game, you will encounter different puzzles that use ALL of your other senses (yep, including taste!). And the puzzles are solid and interesting and fun! Second, there's actual flow to this and it works. If there's a weak point, it's the story. Apparently, the city suddenly went into a full blackout. I'm not sure how you navigating through this game restores light to the masses. If you are in the Raleigh area, come for this game and check out Chernobyl as well. Time permitting, throw in Prison Break or Dracula or The Return.
Chernobyl

Chernobyl

Nerd Escapes

  • Escape room
  • IRL
Chernobyl was one of Nerd Escapes' better rooms. Set in the 1980's and taking place in an apartment in the Soviet Union, they did a great job of conveying that Cold War feeling. We were warned Soviet soldiers would be coming back for us in an hour & it felt like it! Like every one of Nerd Escapes' rooms, they aren't easy, so bring your thinking caps! A minimalist use of design sometimes prevented us from seeing the puzzles that were right in our face. This game is mostly linear and all in all, a solid experience. Come for Chernobyl & City of No Sun & time permitting, throw in The Return & Dracula.
Prison Break

Prison Break

Nerd Escapes

  • Escape room
  • IRL
I have done MANY prison escape rooms & at some point, you start rooms with a little bit of bravado. Yeah, that went out the window soon after. I'll say this. NERD escapes do not make easy escape rooms. We needed hints, we needed nudges, but eventually we started feeling the vibe. The cell was so simple, one could be forgiven in thinking something must be off, but eventually it all started to flow. You don't necessarily need a larger crew, but you do need to bring your thinking caps! It 's hard to describe the flow because often times we would be stumped on a puzzle just as we started getting momentum. The story was decent: we were imprisoned but innocent, and kudos to revealing why we were held as the game played out. Over the course of two days, we played all of Nerd Escape's rooms. I don't know if I'd recommend this for beginners, but if you want a challenge and are in the area, do this room. Come for City of Darkness and Chernobyl. Time permitting, add this one and The Return.
Bustin’ Out of the Eighties

Bustin’ Out of the Eighties - CLOSED

Whole Brain Escape

  • Escape room
  • IRL
I really enjoyed this room. I’ve done a number of 80s themed rooms, but this may have been one of my favorites. First off, the game designer really went above and beyond with 80s props as compared to most other 80s rooms. (Magic Snake anyone?). There were a lot more puzzles and little things like answers to clues had some nice obscure 80s references. In addition, they were kind enough to explain the reference after you solved the puzzle. Like their other games, it's older, so expect a lot of locks. Also, the set is just a large room with LOTS of 80's references and puzzles. That said, it still works. there’s a nice flow, the puzzles keep you engaged and you the background music soundtrack was bitchin'! It's not an easy room so I'd advise at least 3 unless you have a lot of experience. If you are ever in the Raleigh area, come for this game and Curse of the Crimson Dragon, and time permitting, throw in the other two. Heads up though. According to the owner, this game will likely be retired later on this year.
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