The LadderHatch EscapesEscape roomIRLWe usually do all rooms as two players, so The Ladder was in our list for so long. Finally we found friends, whose first ever room was going to be this one! Oh boy. Towards the end of it, it became pure madness 🤣 Definitely recommended, and as it is not a traditional room, maybe find friends who have done at least a few rooms before this one to appreciate its uniqueness and madness. Also the corporate theme is so on point that I became triggered remembering all the corporate America BS I witnessed 🤣 We will come back and maybe become something other than a ninja 😝
EdelineCloud EscapeEscape roomIRLBefore I experienced the game, I was questioning how the room has so many good scores and no awards (yet?). After the room, I get it, it leaves a mark on you… It was a beautiful experience where the integrity of the story, theme, puzzles, personas, music, and everything was perfect. It is spooky, especially if you are not a fan of dolls, or darkness. Puzzles were very interactive and creative but a bit on the easy side. There was one puzzle that we started attacking and it get triggered before we finished it, then the GM told us that certain pieces were enough to pass. Onto the story, poor Emma… it was certainly heavy. We needed time to heal after the room. The resolution was beautiful and hopeful for sure, but it needed to be extended to a few more steps so that we can also get over the heaviness. In any case, a unique room that I recommend to everyone. Hugs to Edeline.
Steampunk AliceMaze Rooms - LAXEscape roomIRLEach room teleports you to a new stage in the story, maybe the most unexpected Alice version you can encounter. The set, the props, the characters are amazing, very detailed, and you can feel the love that went into the world building. Each character you encounter on the way are pulling you more into the story. That being said, the puzzles are unique and creative but most of them are a bit “in your face” — you solve if you see, you don’t if you don’t read. Maybe except the first one… anyway. Lastly, Persy was our GM, very helpful, very enthusiastic, and fun to play together.
Murder in LondonThe Ultimate Escape Rooms - Marina Del ReyEscape roomIRLThe game starts low key but turns into a marvel of clues to find the ultimate ending. Not super high tech in terms of lasers or interactive screens but things do get triggered unexpectedly, and sounds and visuals are clear. Our GM was amazing!! I think I fell in love😍 We asked for two clues, one of them was due to darkness the other one waz due to our fragility threshold 🤣 As a special parting gift, you get to keep an unexpected personalized souvenir 🤭 Location is also amazing, you can randomly see a sea lion right outside! All in all, it was such a nice experience ❤️
The Curse Of The Black KnightEscapeX Rooms - IrvineEscape roomIRLThe production value of the room is so high! You really teleport into the castle, as if you’re a part of the story. They even have thin screen holograms! Our GM was also amazing. The room is relatively easy, fun but easy, you always know what to do. We escaped with 20+ mins remaining, we spent that time chatting with our GM — best 20 mins spent! He was so knowledgeable not only about their rooms but every room from LA to Temecula! Such a pleasure to meet a fellow escape room connoisseur! Just to emphasize again, decór, story, plot, puzzles, all so in harmony.
PlaygroundThe Escape Game - TorranceEscape roomIRLOh the fun! This room was lower in my list due to its theme before it became a Terpeca finalist, then I gave it a chance. SUCH A FUN ROOM! There is just too many things to do here! It is designed for 8-12 people so us two escaping by ourselves should have been a standalone achievement 😂 One door did not trigger, so we lost a few minutes and the epic moment of the room, nevertheless it was so much fun to immerse ourselves into this playground. Our GM was so amazingly helpful in both good and sweaty moments, we did not need any help in the first 45 mins, the rest we don’t even remember how we ended 🤣 Highly recommended, don’t mind the theme or the untriggered puzzle and just go experience it.
Special Ops: Mysterious MarketThe Escape Game - Los AngelesEscape roomIRLPros: - Super high tech room - worth a heart❤️ - A plot twist! - Clever and unique puzzles - Friendly staff - Same day discounts Cons: - Relatively easy - They merge groups - Last box had been open before we solved it - Less number of puzzles, one of the rooms only has one puzzle - May get uncomfortable if you are 3+ people - No parking validation (14$)
Twenty Ghosts of ChristmasBrain Games Escape RoomEscape roomIRLWe love our late nights with Dan 🤣 Lovely set, lovely game, lovely GM, what else you want? Oh yes, puzzles! And there are SO MANY of them in this floor! Absolutely spooky atmosphere with every little spider web well-thought. Live performance was also absolutely fitting 💜 The fact that they adjust the number of puzzles based on number of people made us think about coming back to the room. Overall, it is an easy room with so many things to do (including a pool to jump in🤩), I’d recommend if you are in search for something new:)
Irvine School Of Wizardry And The Dragon WandHidden DonkeyEscape roomIRLThey really created a wizardry school! The atmosphere, the décor, the music, the personas, the spell/potion books, everything was out of this world. We really enjoyed being transported there. Puzzles are mostly linear and easy, but they are very unique and… organic :) The last room was a bit rushed with only one big puzzle, nevertheless it complemented the rest very well too. The GM was a sweetheart, complementing our over-enthusiastic mood for finally doing this room :) Overall, do it! Not all rooms need to melt your brains out with difficulty.
Whatever Happened To The Garretts?Maze Rooms - West LAEscape roomIRLI had hesitations taking my parents to this room, one of which has never been to an escape room before. I wanted her first experience to be magical… oh boy, I couldn’t have chosen a better room than this. The experience is really transforming throughout the journey, be quick, be observant, and just step on Garrets’ footsteps :) We escaped with only 3 clues and the GM said the escape rate is 37%, so if you can escape, kudos!