Operation GryaznayavodaIn Search Of An ExitEscape roomIRLIn Search Of an Exit always executes. I have so many positive things to say, but let’s start with Patrick. Patrick is clearly passionate about escape games and seeing folks enjoy his creations. He’s full of positive energy and truly adds to the overall experience. Now, Operation Gryaznayavoda was such a wonderful game. The puzzles are cleverly designed, even offering some unique puzzle styles that I’ve never done before. Our group was 4 people and that felt like the perfect size. I’d say 5 at most, but no less than 3 and this room will feel challenging and everyone will have something to do. I highly recommend this room if you’re in Portland, the vibes alone are worth it.
Midnight ManorEscape Hour Gig HarborEscape roomIRLEscape Hour always delivers on quality. It is clear that they care a lot about the experience of their players and Midnight Manor is no exception. The theming of this room is exceptional, puzzles are fun but not horribly challenging, and progress always feels rewarding. Our game master, Adam, did an exceptional job ensuring our immersion and nudged us nicely without giving away any answers (I can’t begin to express how much I appreciate this approach). This room is not really scary, but it is eerie and naturally raises the heart rate a few times, so be mindful if you’re not into this kind of thing. Lastly, as a duo, we were able to complete this room pretty easily. I recommend going into this room with no more than 3-4 people if you want to ensure everyone partakes in progression. Overall, Midnight Manor was exceptional, highly recommend.
Das Boot HausEscape Room LeavenworthEscape roomIRLDas Boot was a refreshing and creative escape room experience that perfectly matched the charm of Leavenworth. In a world full of cabins, prisons, and serial killer themes, this one stood out with its unique concept and atmosphere. My group consisted of just two people, and that felt totally adequate for the experience. The puzzles were clever and engaging, challenging enough to be satisfying, but not overwhelming. They can easily be tackled by one or two people, and the room provides plenty of guidance, which makes it very beginner-friendly as well. Overall, I had a great time. Leavenworth is already a magical town, and Das Boot added the perfect touch of adventure to our lovely day trip.
The Vanishing ActLocurioEscape roomIRLThe Vanishing Act is an absolute must-play for any escape room enthusiast. From start to finish, this room delivers a top-tier experience with unique puzzles, an immersive atmosphere, and world-class quality in every detail. First, shoutout to the staff. Both of the team members we interacted with were fantastic. Kind, patient, and clearly passionate about what they do, they helped elevate the experience by playing into the immersion, which is a crucial part of any great escape room. Huge thanks to both of you. As others have noted, this room definitely rewards a divide and conquer approach. With just three of us, we had to stay on our toes the entire time, which made for an exciting and satisfying challenge. The blend of analog and digital puzzle elements hit all the right notes, keeping things fresh and engaging throughout. And let’s talk about the upkeep. Flawless. Every puzzle worked exactly as intended, so we never had to second-guess whether we were doing it right. It is clear that the team at Lovurio not only knows how to craft great puzzles but also prioritizes smooth gameplay and player experience. All in all, The Vanishing Act was an absolute blast. Our group had an amazing time visiting, interacting with the staff, and tackling this incredible room. Thanks for an unforgettable experience. We will definitely be back.
The Secret Bunker - CLOSEDEscape-A-ToriumEscape roomIRLEscape-a-torium always delivers with charming themes, a unique creative vision, and clever puzzles. Their staff is clearly passionate about escape games, always welcoming and genuinely invested in making sure players have a great experience. The Secret Bunker is no exception. It’s packed with engaging and varied puzzles that kept our team involved from start to finish. Some puzzles were fairly straightforward, while others required a bit of outside-the-box thinking, which added a nice level of challenge and creativity. I recommend this room for players of all experience levels, but for the best experience, I’d suggest a group of no more than four. Our group of three had no trouble escaping, and we felt engaged the entire time.
Cosmic CrisisThe Escape Game - AustinEscape roomIRLThis room was super fun and engaging! We had a group of six, which felt like a bit too much at times, some puzzles didn’t require that many hands, so a few of us were left watching here and there. That said, the puzzles were creative and satisfying, with a unique flair that kept things interesting throughout. A few of them really encouraged teamwork and strong communication, which added a great dynamic to the experience. I definitely recommend this room, but for the most fulfilling experience, I’d suggest a group of no more than four people.
The Cabin: Final ChapterEscape Hour Gig HarborEscape roomIRLWarning: This room is not for the faint of heart. If jump scares aren’t your thing, you may want to consider a different room. That said, The Cabin was exceptional. While I wasn’t expecting such intense horror vibes, I ended up loving them. Escape Hour is second to none when it comes to quality, and this room is no exception. The experience flows perfectly, with plenty of satisfying “aha” moments. There are some physical elements, so be prepared to get on your hands and knees. Not everyone in your group will need to, but it definitely adds to the full experience. The puzzles are solid and well-balanced. Our group of four felt consistently engaged, and I especially appreciated how much the room emphasized teamwork. There’s something really fulfilling about solving challenges together under pressure. I highly recommend The Cabin, it’s easily the best room I’ve done in the PNW.
Evil Dead 2 - CLOSEDHourglass EscapesEscape roomIRLThis room is so well put together, if you’re an evil dead fan, you won’t be disappointed. It’s easy to blaze through this one, so if you’re a hands off player, be alert. Good puzzle solvers can get through this entire room quickly, so get involved and have some fun. The puzzles are simple, but non linear, so it can be fun to split up and progress nicely. My best advice is to take your time and really enjoy the ambiance, I’d almost guarantee most groups (no matter their experience level) will complete this room. Highly recommend!
Grandpa Jim's CabinEscape Goats Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThis room was a roller coaster, toms of puzzles, and theming is fun and engaging. We barely completed the room and needed a few nudges along the way, be prepared to think outside the box and don’t be shy to try codes. This room is packed to the brim, so you’ll need every second you can get. The owners of this shop are awesome, it’s clear that they’re passionate about escape games and I greatly look forward to seeing their evolution over time.
The FeudEscape-A-ToriumEscape roomIRLThis is a fun escape room, but before we dive into that, I must compliment escape-a-torium’s staff. We’ve completed several rooms here spanning over the last 7 years. This is a family owned business and it’s abundantly clear that they’ve poured their hearts and souls into creating an experience that’s welcoming, memorable, and fun. Every time I visit West Virginia I make it a point to stop by this place and catch up with the fine folks who run it. They’re truly special in the escape game space and I hope they know how appreciated they are. Now, for the game: This is a traditional room that offers an immersive atmosphere and traditional escape game puzzles. There’s no tech in here, but don’t let that discourage you. These puzzles are clever and if you’re not careful you’ll find yourself stuck with the answer right in front of you. Escape games have evolved tremendously over the last several years, so it was a breath of fresh air to input a combination, pull the lock, hear the click followed by an immediate sigh of relief from other players in the room. The theming of this room is stellar, I love that this business themes all of their rooms with West Virginia lore, it adds to the charm. Overall, I recommend this room to anyone, I know you’re probably visiting to go on adventures, but I recommend sneaking one of these escape rooms into your vacation, you won’t regret it.
Lombino's CasinoIn Search Of An ExitEscape roomIRLThis room has some unique puzzles and advances pleasantly. Probably the most creative casino themed room I’ve done up to this point. My group found it pleasantly challenging offering a few head scratchers. Immersion is great, loved the theming throughout. My hats off to Patrick, our game master, who really stole the show. His enthusiasm and quick witted comments were a treat. Overall this was a great room, highly recommend stopping by if you’re in town.
Dead Man's CoveEscape Hour AustinEscape roomIRLEscape Hour always delivers on professional escape rooms with clever puzzles and immersive experiences. This room delivered on both as expected. While this room was significantly easier than most rooms we’ve completed, we still had a great time! I highly recommend going in with no more than 4 people if you want to fully experience the puzzles. Highly recommend.
Skull Island!Enter The Enigma [prev. Aha! Escape Rooms]Escape roomIRLThis game was phenomenal, my group had an absolute blast and talked about our experience for the rest of the night. Our great experience started with Ryan, our game master. He was welcoming, informative, passionate, and fun loving - We greatly enjoyed his commitment to customer experience. Thank you Ryan, we really appreciate your kindness. The room itself was a blast, puzzles are easy to moderate yet satisfying as heck. I’d recommend this game to anyone who’s visiting Colorado Springs, I can’t wait to try more of Aha’s rooms.
Cursed - CLOSEDConundroom - Downtown ParkEscape roomIRLThis room had wonderful atmosphere and it certainly scratches the escape room itch. I wouldn’t recommend going in with more than 2 people, there simply isn’t enough to do, but 2 people is perfect. Lastly, and most importantly, this room is all tech, there aren’t any mechanical components, so it’s faces the same challenges that all high tech rooms encounter. When things don’t work, they REALLY don’t work, so if you get a hunch that you’re doing things right, call your GM.
TUTXscape! MorgantownEscape roomIRLThis room was a treat - I played this with some friends who had minimal escape room experience, but everyone greatly enjoyed themselves. Theming is spot on, puzzles are high tech / high functioning, and progression was clear and clever - I recommend this room!
Neon Light DinerCity Limits Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLThis escape room was so much fun - Super inventive puzzles and theming was out of this world. We did have one puzzle malfunction, but our game master noticed right away and was able to get it reset for us. Overall we had a stellar experience and I can't wait to visit this location again to try some of their other rooms. Love the commitment to the city theme, very inventive, they clearly put a lot of work into maintaining the lore.
The ShedMastermind Escape Games - State PkwyEscape roomIRLI absolutely LOVED this escape room - There was always something to accomplish and we never felt stuck. The puzzles were well thought out and made sense with their theming, it's clear that attention to detail is valued at Mastermind Escape Games. I highly recommend this room, it offers a strong challenge and has strong immersion.
Lab Rats - CLOSEDEscape Hour AustinEscape roomIRLAnother absolute banger from Escape Hour - This room is best for larger groups and requires strong communication and trust if you want to escape. We experienced this game with 6 people and that felt like it was the perfect amount, however, I can see much larger groups participating in this room and still enjoying themselves. Puzzles are solid, and the environment is immersive.
TitanicMastermind Escape Games - Schaumburg [prev. Odyssey Escape Games]Escape roomIRLThis room was an enjoyable, run of the mill, escape room experience. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and accommodating to our needs. We booked this room straight after finishing their Jack the Ripper room, we just couldn't get enough. Theming for this room was fun, if you enjoy the titanic or general boat talk, this room will be for you. Puzzles require team work and strong communication.
The DigEscape The Room - ChicagoEscape roomIRLOne of my least favorite rooms to date, some of the puzzles lacked logic or directional correctness, making it easy to guess your way forward. There were some fun theming aspects, but overall I would not recommend this escape room unless you're in a pinch because other rooms are booked up.