Point of OriginThe Fire EscapeEscape roomIRLFor a location that actually trains firefighters, this was such a unique escape room experience!Itās not often that firefighting facilities use their expertise to give the public a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes. Before you begin, everyone gets assigned a different role, which was a fun way to get the group involved in the story from the start. You also watch a how-to video explaining what you should and should not do in the room and let me tell you, the video was hilarious! I was not expecting them to be as funny as they were and the intro injected personality and made the experience memorable for me. Once you get inside, the game takes place primarily in one room. Because of that, I think the sweet spot would be around 4-5 players. Any more than that and I could see the space getting a little cramped or having people run out of things to work on. The story itself is semi-linear, which I saw mentioned in other reviews and I agree with. There are opportunities for people to work on different things, but certain discoveries need to be made before the story can really move forward. There was also one VERY small detail that we somehow got by accident but other groups may need help with. Overall, I would recommend this room, especially if youāre interested in fire science, investigations, or just want to try an escape room that feels different from the usual themes. Come for the story, stay for the hilarious training video, and leave with a little more appreciation of what our first responders do behind the scenes.
The ChopshopRAGESCAPE Rage & Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLChop Shop was an okay escape room overall. We managed to get through the puzzles with just the two of us, so it's definitely doable with a smaller group if you have some escape room experience. The room relies pretty heavily on first-gen locks and one of our biggest challenges was trying to figure out which lock went with which puzzle. There were a few times where we had the right answer but weren't totally sure where we were supposed to use it. Luckily our game master gave us nudges in the right direction. I did like the theming! The motorbike and garage setting helped sell the whole chop shop concept and made the space feel more realistic. The ending was also pretty cool and one of the more memorable parts of the room. Customer service was a little meh the day went. Nothing particularly bad happened, but the reception didn't feel as welcoming or as enthusiastic as could be. Overall, it was fine. I liked the setting and ending. Between the lock-heavy puzzle design and service that day, I would still recommend going since they have other fun activities to do.
Bigfoot: Secrets of The SwampThe Escape Ventures - Orlando I-DriveEscape roomIRLBigfoot is a great game originally created by Puzzle Corp and now hosted by Escape Ventures, which makes sense since they were the ones who designed the room in the first place! The room is rated a 7/10 difficulty, and I think that's pretty accurate. The puzzle flow felt smooth, and our group was able to split up and work on multiple puzzles at the same time without feeling lost. There were a good mix of puzzle types, and everything tied together logically. There's also a live actor who helps move the story forward. They definitely add to the suspense, but the scares are more fun than intense. The storyline itself was easy to followāwe're stranded after our boat breaks down, trying to repair it while collecting evidence that Bigfoot is real before making our escape. One final piece of advice: if you're playing this room... just know that Bigfoot has a thing for big feet. That's all I'll say. š£
Cinema 7Will To Escape - OrlandoEscape roomIRLCinema 7 starts you off in a small movie theater lobby, where you're part of a haunted walking tour. It doesn't take long before you realize there's a much darker story hiding inside this abandoned cinema. Our game master did a great job explaining how the locks worked beforehand and pointing out a few things to watch for so we wouldn't waste time during the game. The puzzle flow is linear, which let our entire group work through everything together. Even without a live actor, the atmosphere was creepy enough that we kept expecting someone to jump out at any moment. The only downside was that the speakers in the first room were a little quiet. When we asked for clarification on one of the puzzles, it was difficult to hear the game master. My favorite puzzle involved the film reel and projector! It fit the theme perfectly and was really satisfying to solve. There's also a fun crawling room challenge that only one person in your group needs to physically but will require some collaboration from two different levels! Of the rooms at Will to Escape, this was the one that stood out to us the most. We were also interested in trying Disappearance, but unfortunately they didn't have any time slots available on the day we visited. Canāt wait to come back!
At The Hop Ice Cream ShoppeDare 2 EscapeEscape roomIRLDare 2 Escape prides itself on offering more challenging puzzles than many of the escape rooms in the area, and At the Hop Ice Cream Shop definitely delivered. The room was not only packed with puzzles but was also a visual treat from beginning to end. Note: This is a 75 minute room! The puzzle flow is mostly linear. In the first room, our group was able to split up and work on different puzzles, but the second room became much more linear, which brought everyone back together. Our game master, Kat, provided hints through a screen instead of over speakers, which I actually preferred because we didn't have to rely on audio. I know some reviews mention the sound as a downside, but I thought the background music fit the theme well and helped set the atmosphere. Most of the puzzles were logical and satisfying to solve. There was one puzzle that tripped us up enough that we needed an extra hint to understand the original clue. Before we started, we were told that all of the letter locks would use full English words, but one of the solutions wasn't actually an English word, which made that particular puzzle feel a little inconsistent with the guidance we were given. Customer service was excellent throughout our visit. Since it was my birthday, Kat surprised us with a thoughtful keepsake that incorporated the occasion, which was such a nice personal touch and made the experience even more memorable. This one is a must if you are visiting and I canāt wait to do more of their rooms in the future :)
The Video StoreDare 2 EscapeEscape roomIRLVideo Store was the second room we played at Dare 2 Escape, and it was probably the room we heard the most about while doing our research. Even before we played, we met other escape room enthusiasts in the lobby who were still raving about it years later. Our game master also shared that the room was homemade, which made us even more curious. Thankfully, it completely lived up to the hype. The room has a mostly linear puzzle flow, but there were still plenty of opportunities for our group to work on different puzzles at the same time. We ran into a couple of bottlenecks, but those were honestly our own faultāwe got ahead of ourselves and hadn't found the key that unlocked the next step yet. The nostalgic video store theme was one of my favorite parts of the experience. Growing up during the VHS era definitely worked to my advantage because I instinctively knew how to rewind a tape. It did make me wonder whether younger players who never used VHS tapes might need a little more guidance for that interaction. Most of the puzzles felt fair and well thought out. There was one visual that came across as a bit of a red herring since it seemed more important than it actually was, but aside from that, everything was logical. I also appreciated that the DVDs you weren't supposed to interact with were glued shut. It's a small design choice, but it kept us from wasting time opening every case and helped keep the puzzle flow moving. This was a fun, nostalgic room with clever puzzles, and I can definitely see why it's become one of Dare 2 Escape's most talked-about games.
Magic KingdomMaze Rooms - VermontEscape roomIRLMagic Kingdom pretty much sums up how I feel about Maze Rooms as a whole. They come up with some genuinely creative concepts, but the execution doesn't always live up to the idea. During our game, the tech stopped working, and several of the props looked noticeably worn and could definitely use some refreshing. That said, I did enjoy the storytelling. The room weaved its lore into the puzzles well, and we encountered giants, fairies, and gnomes along the way, which helped bring the fantasy theme to life. Our game master was warm and friendly, and while it sometimes took a little longer than expected to receive a nudge, she was helpful whenever we needed guidance. The puzzle flow is linear, though a few of the puzzles required some leaps in logic. Feedback also wasn't always obvious. There were a couple of moments where we entered the correct code, assumed nothing had happened, and only realized later that something had opened on the opposite side of the room. My biggest piece of advice is to be patient and pay close attention to your surroundings. You may have solved the puzzle without realizing it.
Specter InspectorsSurf City EscapesEscape roomIRLThis room is spooktacular. My group has experienced all three games in this location at this point (fourth one - Sherlockās Mystery is coming soon) and this has to be my favorite even though all the other ones are also must plays! I cannot emphasize enough how much I love the immediate feedback. The feedback is immediate if you were on the right track to the answer or not. From the sheer number of puzzles, I would recommend 4-5 people. The puzzles are clever, challenging, and satisfying to complete. Ending brought out the laughs! Best ending I could think of for the night. Thank you Ben and Katie and Surf City Escapes for your warm customer service and for making the creative vision come to life for all of us to enjoy.
The Winery InfiltrationSurf City EscapesEscape roomIRLNo āwhiningā here - this was a wonderful start to our 3-escape room day with Surf City Escapes! Puzzles were thematic and tied to the wine heist storyline well, which made the experience feel immersive. I am no connoisseur but it also had the right amount of wine education as well. Educational escape room? Whaaaattt? The guard interrupting every so often could have mixed reviews - some people from my group felt like it added the right amount of pressure and chaos to keep everyone on edge. I was on the camp that I wish we were not just hiding and we did something else more creative but thatās just me! The room had a fun balance of challenge, teamwork and laughs. A pour-fect escape room experience and a standout for its creativity in the OC area!
Surf's UpSurf City EscapesEscape roomIRLThis room really made a splash in the OC scene! Our experience was a tidal wave of fun and clever puzzles. Ben and Katie, the escape room owners, should win an award for how fantastic this room was. Storyline is hilarious. Puzzles actually made me learn about surfing culture and there is something different for everyone to work on. Itās refreshing to have such a creative idea as this. A respectful homage to surfing that also has top-of-the-line production value in such a small place, Surfās Up is totally rad and is a must play!
EdelineCloud EscapeEscape roomIRLAs one of Cloud Escapeās older rooms, some of the props were showing wear and tear but it added to the whole spooky atmosphere of a house falling apart. Production value was not lost on me despite this! I donāt know how they made props appear and walls move and I ledt feeling genuinely impressed by the mechanics of it all. This is a story-driven experience unlike other escape rooms trying to beat the clock so take your time. This room was alloted 80 minutes and we finished with 15 minutes to spare. We had a group of four and we worked on all the puzzles together as this was a linear flow, which met our expectations. Touching and memorable, I hope they keep Edeline for others to enjoy in the future!
Kapow KomicsCloud EscapeEscape roomIRLThis was my first room at Cloud Escape and it was truly comic book collectorās paradise. Our game master shared with us that enthusiasts would overthink some of the puzzles and we sure did. Just to get in, we needed a nudge in the right direction. Overall, my review for the puzzles would be mixed. Some puzzles felt like a leap to get to the answer but others were clear. They did put an effort to combine tech elements with lock-and-key puzzles, which I appreciate but the beginning just felt so lock-and-key heavy that I wish they broke it up just a tiny bit. A couple of tech puzzles sprinkled in would have kept the momentum in going in the first segment. We accidentally opened up some backup puzzles so we got confused over where those inserts would go. Itās good to know that they have redundancies in case the tech fails! During their promotional weekend, they were giving away funkos, a thematic way to close out the room! š I love the quirkiness of this experience (and last thing Iāll say) I do wish the story was more cohesive. I got lost in the sauce as we were working on the puzzles. My conclusion is that this is a wonderful room that is a must go if you are ever in the area. Puzzles were fun to solve, service here is impeccable, and production value couldnāt get any more authentic than seeing those comic books up close. Ideally, you would bring 4-6 players maximum. After 6 people, I imagine it getting stuffy.
Neon Shadows: The Polybius FilesThe Escape Artist - West SeattleEscape roomIRLWe did this room with a group of six players, ranging from newbies to experienced players and I would say that this is an ideal number. There was so much to do and Iām glad that we had as many people and brains as we did. There was no dull moment. I genuinely felt like a kid again and it did help that we were transported back to the 80s. A non-linear experience that I wish I could forget just so I could do the puzzles and relieve this all over again. They mentioned to us that it would help to know 80s reference and this is true but there are clues to help if you do not! By the time we experienced this room, it seems like all the glitches were resolved because the pacing was perfect. The narrative felt chaotic at times but our game master helped us make sense of the ending. Expect puzzle heavy and get your game on. This one packs a punch but you will be sure to have a great time.
Spell StruckThe Escape Artist - West SeattleEscape roomIRLWhen booking this room, I thought to myself - Iāve seen so many witch-type rooms. How could this one be different? For us, it was our game master, Ava. She made this game go from ordinary to extraordinary. Her being in character made me remember the puzzles more even though we didnāt really need any hints! The puzzles themselves were in-theme and they all made sense. Everything was accounted for! My hubby and I did it with just the two of us and there were moments when we had to divide and conquer so non-linear flow is the way to go. The set design wasnāt as impressive when you walk in, but have patience and you will rewarded :)
Ruins: Forbidden TreasureThe Escape Game - Westfield UTCEscape roomIRLWe have heard about the Ruins room in Nashville and have yet to make the trip out there. But this smaller version that Escape Game had exceeded my expectations that it definitely makes me want to go to Nashville even more. Itās an easier room than the other Escape Games (6/10 difficulty) but I enjoyed all the puzzles and found them intuitive. One of the production effects made me laugh out loud and depending on how jumpy you are, it could be a memorable experience (warrior heads). We had Angela as our game master and she went above and beyond for us. I was taking my younger sister to one of her first escape rooms and she made sure that we had a great time. I will be sure to recommend our friends to this location specifically. They have a Wall of Fame for individuals who finished all of the Escape Game rooms, which we happened to have done, so that is a nice touch! Great service and I would recommend no more than four people for this particular game.
Alice SuiteThe Locked InnEscape roomIRLThe name of the company intrigued me because of the pun - Locked Inn so I persuaded our family to check them out! We only got to try the Alice Suite room in this location. We are already looking forward to coming back and completing their other two rooms, hopefully before they replace the Pumpkin Kingās Christmas at the end of the year. Alice had surprisingly layered puzzles but a few of them did not have enough clues to lead to the solution. We needed a couple of hints. An example is one of the props requiring us to gently press down on it to make a sound but we were too scared to break anything so that was on us! There were a mixture of Gen 1 and Gen 2 puzzles that appealed to the different strengths of our group so that was a plus! Overall, we had a great time! As for the story, I wish the flow was a little more seamless from one room to another. Moving around felt jarring at times, like descending into madness and into a rabbit hole. The theme was whimsical in that way. Props could use a little love but worked fine. We played with six people so it got a little cramped during certain moments. I would recommend 4 people maximum for this experience but pairing up works too! On the day that we went, our game masters were unexpectedly busy but they took the time to get to know us even with the back-to-back schedule they had! Thank you for squeezing us in and giving my father-in-law a great first escape room experience.
Enter the Dark Wizard's PursuitEnter Escape RoomEscape roomIRLEnter the Dark Wizardās Pursuit is my favorite room in this location thus far because of the theming, the puzzle flow, and the production value. This experience could rival some of the magical rooms with the big parks, like Universal Studios. Four people is a good number for this experience even though it could be done with two. It could get chilly inside but they provide you with wizard robes, which adds to the whole experience. Because we just did their Jungle room right before, our group felt the most in sync here. Story line is linear but there were many components that allowed for group work and efficiency with more brains focused on the same task.
Enter the Twisted TrialsEnter Escape RoomEscape roomIRLAfter Enter the Dark Wizardās Pursuit, this would be my next favorite room. I have never watched Saw the movie but the room was so fun and thematic that it made me curious how Jigsaw (the villain) actually designs his games. Definitely less gore here! The puzzles were unique and even though Iāve played other rooms that had a similar premise (escape to survive a sadistic killer), this is a standout for its originality and visual effects. Itās on the spookier side and there is no live actor. One person does have to be chained up to a chair while everyone else is in chains. Our game master, Patrick, made sure we had a great time and asked us if there were any puzzles that we wanted to go over. Would recommend this room as well as the others in this location!
Enter The JungleEnter Escape RoomEscape roomIRLEnter the Jungle has such a cool premise, actually using the Jumanji board game to drive its puzzles forward. The technology worked seamlessly for us. You can expect some lock-and-key with tech activated puzzles here. When you walk in, it may feel like youāre walking into a Tiki room at first but the second room has more of that production value that most folks are expecting in an escape room. I liked the minimal decor because there were four of us and most of the puzzles were on the wall, which afforded us space. I could imagine these rooms getting cramped with more people.
Enter WonderlandEnter Escape RoomEscape roomIRLEnter Wonderland was the last room we did for the day, and maybe thatās why we liked the other rooms more. We would rank this at the bottom of our list. We still had a good time, but the other experiences had the wow factor that this one lacked due to production value. The puzzles were more challenging in that they were time-consuming. Itās a cute game but the lighting felt dim to me the entire time and some of the props could use a little love. The ending could be flashier and I think that would help provide more of that satisfying ending feeling. Maybe I did get lost in Wonderland since I lost track of the story towards the end.
