Forsaken TempleOmescape - SunnyvaleEscape roomIRLAttention to detail is key here using unique props and set design to propel the story forward. Some unique puzzles although some can be gimmicky if not done perfectly. A great room for beginners and experienced teams.
Kingdom of Cats - CLOSEDOmescape - San JoseEscape roomIRLA great game for beginners, this room is more linear in nature allowing for groups to work together one task at a time. Some interesting puzzles that require senses not normally used and great use of a smaller space.
The Curse Of The Black KnightEscapeX Rooms - IrvineEscape roomIRLThis room excels with its unique puzzles that combine logic and physicality. It uses its smaller space well with multiple levels of puzzles that intersect which requires quite a fun ordeal of running up and down stairs plus crawling.
Lab RatHatch EscapesEscape roomIRLWow! Finally a game that is unique from top to bottom using a hilarious twist from the very start to propel the story and game forward. Every part of this game allowed you to use all your senses in unique ways that I have never seen before. Cool aha moments and clever deception also allowed the player to question their own thinking. This definitely allowed even the most seasoned veteran an amazing new and inventive experience. It’s rare that a game combines seamless gameplay with an overarching story but Lab Rat fully achieves it with satisfying results!
Red Giant - CLOSEDQuest Room - HollywoodEscape roomIRLThis location is definitely in a sketchy part of town..part of the excitement to start I guess… This room is decent with great set design and variety of puzzles. However gameplay is fragmented and much of it is in low light which is a big negative for me. Also, some puzzles are illogical and require leaps of logic. Unfortunately Quest rooms seems to sacrifice solid puzzles for aesthetic.
Houdini60Out - Silver LakeEscape roomIRLA really unique experience that takes the theme of Houdini to the next level. The puzzles themselves were not overly complex but the way in which they are designed were interesting and fit the style of the room perfectly. One particular “trick” was pretty awesome and the GM was nice enough to show us how it was done after. Definitely worth the visit just for that experience!
UndercookedOmescape - SunnyvaleEscape roomIRLNot your typical escape room, Undercooked is more of a live action video game completing as many tasks/puzzles as you can within the allotted time. It is quite daunting at first as there is no set direction to start but once you get going, it’s a crazy fun sprint to figure out how everything in the room relates. The set is spectacular and the only thing you wish is to be able to see everything. The ending though is a complete shock and such a fun payoff to end your game.
Scooby-Doo™ and the Spooky Castle AdventureEscapology - Town SquareEscape roomIRLA straightforward and easy room that is still fun with great theming and nostalgia with creative tricks up its sleeve. Great for beginners and still entertaining for veterans.
The Asylum: PlaytimeLost GamesEscape roomIRLThis room continues the story of Doctors Secret with a more expansive set and more variety of puzzles. However the flow in the room is jagged and many times puzzles were done out of order and were rendered useless. Also some puzzles were a stretch which became frustrating although the hint system in this room is one of the most unique.
The Asylum: The Doctor's SecretLost GamesEscape roomIRLThe highs of this room stem from the live actors that begin from the moment you step in to the minute you hopefully escape. The actors we had were very well trained and kept in character the whole time. Gameplay itself was just ok with typical logic puzzles and standard progression. The room also was very dim and could use some touch ups.
The AttractionPalace GamesEscape roomIRLThis is a tough review as Palace Games set the bar for immersive, dynamic escape rooms. This is not a true escape room and more of an experience so going into it it was surprising not having the thrill of a time crunch. That being said you appreciate the originality and deep concept the creators took to create this however I still prefer the traditional escape mechanic.
Fair GameRed Door Escape Room - San MateoEscape roomIRLEasily the best game of Red Door this uses traditional carnival games as their setup for their puzzles creating a whimsical, nostalgic structure of play that is more physical in nature and in my opinion more fun. Some puzzles were a little out of reach but that is the way Red Door likes to do things. Thankfully this room is less annoying than all their other offerings.
The Father of Silicon ValleyBreakout Studios - San JoseEscape roomIRLIllogical, small, and frenzied this room unfortunately contained puzzles that were more frustrating then fun. There were no aha moments and when you feel you need to ask for help more than intuitively solve puzzles there is a huge problem.
Ghost PatrolTrivium GamesEscape roomIRLStory + Atmosphere + Originality = Winner Ghost Patrol takes an interesting take on a classic narrative and flips it on its head for an enjoyable experience that needs to be done. Full integration of puzzles into the set with unique tasks not seen by this enthusiast really set this room apart. If you want multiple aha! moments with a satisfying payoff, this is the room to do!
PlaygroundThe Escape Game - San FranciscoEscape roomIRLTEG is more of a mid tier chain with solid production value but usually mediocre gameplay. Playground is the one exception! The use of nostalgia combined with puzzles specifically geared towards school based games was ingenious leading to sometimes hilarious and satisfying results! There is so much going on here that it is hard to appreciate the thoughtfulness of how this room is structured but it is a joy to be brought back to your childhood in such a fun and inventive way.
Chaos In The GalleriaOmescape - SunnyvaleEscape roomIRLThe sheer scope of this room is something to behold. Grab your A-team because you are going to need it. This room requires multitasking to its finest with a multitude of puzzles that require out of the box thinking. With unique tasks I’ve never seen before and a central “dispensing” object you need to interact with that is so neat, you will be enjoying every minute of this room.
Bank HeistLimitless Escape Games - LivermoreEscape roomIRLSolid room with a good mix of physical and logic puzzles. Not too technologically advanced but used it’s space well and kept within the theme effectively.
The CabinNumber One Escape RoomEscape roomIRLGreat premise, set design, and technique in ramping up the scare factor. However puzzles were lacking in complexity and there just wasn’t many of them resulting in a very quick escape as well as wanting more for the ending.
Escape The Mad Hatter - CLOSEDRyptic Room Escape - Mountain View - South Bay LocationEscape roomIRLOh man. This was bad. Imagine a high school project combined with a ludicrous style of play and you get this room. Atmosphere was a joke with hand drawn puzzles and paint slapped on. Room dynamics made no sense with time limits on each section before moving on to the next. If you were done with your puzzle, you just sat there until the time was up to move. Non sensical. Unfortunately this concept seemed like it was literally conceived from someone who was Mad.
Heretics [prev. Bloody Elbow] - CLOSEDQuest Room - KoreatownEscape roomIRLSet design always reigns supreme at Quest rooms but it is unfortunately at the sacrifice of gameplay. The puzzles were simplistic and one dimensional resulting in a quick linear escape with no dramatic payoff.
![Heretics [prev. Bloody Elbow]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/19484bfe-3a27-4e45-9d7b-46df4e3701c7.jpg)
