Echoes at Murder HeightsThe Escape Ventures - Orlando I-DriveEscape roomIRLThis room had everything we look for in a spooky season room: scary, challenging and LOTS of fun. Fantastic immersive theming and great puzzles and gameplay that we have come to expect from Escape Ventures rooms. Two thumbs way up!
DraculaLockbustersEscape roomIRLThis room is a paradox. It is beautifully themed and decorated but also one of the worst rooms we've ever played in terms of puzzles and gameplay. At least one thing malfunctioned for us allowing us to "escape" without completing at least 4 puzzles. Our GM said it wasn't working earlier in the day either. Oops.
A Knight to EscapeThe Escape EffectEscape roomIRLThis is a minimum 4 player game so our usual team of two invited our best friends to join us. It was our first two-hour game and it took nearly the entire two hours to escape. We have played a number of split start games but this game is split up until about the last 20-30 minutes. Our GM explained that one start was in the more expansive, well-lit courtyard and the other start is in the much more confined area of the very dark dungeon. The types of puzzle in each area also differ slightly. Our friends opted for the courtyard and we took the dungeon. Success in the room requires teamwork with your immediate partner and a lot of collaboration with your teammates on the other side. There are a lot of objects that get passed back and forth and a lot of information that needs to be shared with the opposite team. This was one of the harder rooms we've done but in the end, we were successful and everyone had a good time.
Dragon Challenge: A Hero's Choice [prev. The Quest]The Escape Ventures - Winter Garden [prev. Escape Goat]Escape roomIRLThis game was fun with a wide variety of puzzle styles. I liked that there were a few points in the game where you had to make a choice that would influence the outcome of the game. Very immersive gameplay and lots of fun.
Fallout: Bunker Busters [prev. Doomsday Disaster!]The Escape Ventures - Orlando I-DriveEscape roomIRLThis room is a reimagining of the former Doomsday Disaster room at Locksmiths. If you had previously played that room (we had) there is enough different here to make a replay worth it. A lot of multi-tiered puzzles that are challenging but fun.
Willy Ganja and the Weed FactoryAmaze Games - Port CharlotteEscape roomIRLVery original theme and fun execution. I was a little skeptical but Cheech and Chong would be proud. Fun puzzles, great theming and a good time. Left with a craving for pizza.
Trials of TrickeryAmaze Games - Port CharlotteEscape roomIRLThis was my favorite game at this location. It's the smallest of the three games but is packed with puzzles and fun details. There is also a surprise at the end that I won't spoil but really liked how it tied the experience together.
The Movie Monster Murder MysteryAmaze Games - Port CharlotteEscape roomIRLThis is a very low thumbs up. I hate giving a thumbs down unless something is really bad and this room had just enough positives to keep a thumbs up. Barely. I really wanted to love a monster murder mystery but this game fought me every step of the way. The puzzles did not always make sense, one was missing a part, you find and collect a lot of information that is never needed. The overall impression was a non-cohesive, disorganized jumble of ideas that don't really come together in the end. It felt like there was the seed of something that could have been great but did not live up to its potential.
Phantom Files: The Investigation Of Lockturne ManorThe Escape Ventures - Port CharlotteEscape roomIRLThis was our favorite room at this location. It is large and full of high tech puzzles. It has a fun ghostbusters vibe and our GM, Jake, really contributed to that. This is a 90 minute experience but the time flies by because you are having so much fun. Two thumbs up from this team.
Click 'N Glitch Arcade PalaceThe Escape Ventures - Port CharlotteEscape roomIRLIf you like video games, arcades or remember the 80's, this room is for you. This was our second favorite room at this location. The gameplay was fun and the whole arcade scenario was so authentic and well executed. Definitely took us back to simpler times and fond memories.
Nightfall: Creature At Camp DeadwoodThe Escape Ventures - Port CharlotteEscape roomIRLThis was a great game but our least favorite of the three at this location. The front half of this game is excellent but we felt like the back half was not on par with the first half. Overall, still definitely worth playing. An Escape Ventures game is still better than nearly anyone else's.
Quest For The Temple of LightThe Keepers of BalanceEscape roomIRLThis game felt like entering a movie adventure. The atmosphere was so completely immersive that it was easy to forget it was a game. Multi-room, multi-level game play was epic in scope and left us marveling in wonder at the end of the journey. Challenges were fun and many were unique. Please play this game.
Defenders of the Sunken RealmThe Keepers of BalanceEscape roomIRLThis room has two very distinct areas and both are very detailed and completely immersive. The submarine movement was so realistic that I was starting to feel queasy toward the end. The entire experience felt like a real adventure and everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Perfect for all ages.
Ninja - CLOSEDEscape Artists - OrlandoEscape roomIRLThe theming in this room is very well done and unique out of the games we've played. The Japanese garden with cherry trees and dojo set are very detailed. Some unique skill challenges made this room fun and we enjoyed the puzzles. Glad we were able to play before it gets retired in the next few weeks.
Galactic Beef: The Cosmic Adventures of Star CowDoldrick's Escape RoomEscape roomIRLWe were so excited to finally get to play Galactic Beef and it did not disappoint. Doldricks sets a high bar with every new game and yet they always manage to surpass it. This game is fun and colorful and so joyful. No matter how you're feeling when you enter, you will leave feeling happy. And maybe craving chocolate milk. The storyline is Stars Wars inspired but there are easter eggs and nods to many other beloved sci-fi shows and movies such as Firefly and Cowboy BeBop just to name a few. For the Herd!
Haunted HarborThe Escape Ventures - Winter Garden [prev. Escape Goat]Escape roomIRLThis was our first visit since Escape Ventures assumed ownership and we had been looking forward to playing this reinvention of the former Fisherman's Tale, a small room that we had enjoyed playing. We were not disappointed. The first thing we noticed when we arrived was the smaller lobby size, indicating that the small room had been significantly expanded for Haunted Harbor. We were warned that groups of 2 had been struggling to complete the room due to the number of puzzles, the most of any Escape Ventures room. There were a lot of locks but they were balanced by the number of sensors, triggers and special effects. We really enjoyed this game. Two thumbs up!
Red Sled Redemption at the Holly Jolly Holiday Hubcap RepairDoldrick's Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThe theming is festive and fun no matter what time of year. This game is HARD. It is only one room but all of the puzzles are multi-layered and very challenging. We played many years ago with only two people and did not escape. We played with 4 this time and successfully escaped but I could see why we failed the first time. Two players is not enough for this room. And we routinely play successfully with just two. All that to say we had a great time but make sure you are up to the challenge.
Bigfoot: Secrets of The SwampThe Escape Ventures - Orlando I-DriveEscape roomIRLThis was a fun game and if you're a fan of Escape Venture games, you will recognize the set pieces from Bloodshed Bayou. They have been cleverly repurposed here into an all new game where you are on a hunt to gather evidence that Big Foot exists. It' a 90 minute game with a lot of puzzles but game play is not linear so you can work on more than one puzzle at a time. A little heavy on locks but some fun surprises keep things interesting. Overall, a fun experience that is good for all ages.
Orient Express: The MurderGame Over Escape Rooms - OrlandoEscape roomIRLThis was a fun game with immersive theming. Think Murder on the Orient Express. Lots of challenging puzzles and very few locks. Mostly linear game flow but plenty of room and opportunity for larger groups. There are 6 game spaces and with only two people we did a lot of running around (in a good way) but this might be minimized with more players. Two thumbs up from this crew.
Operation: RingfallEscape Artists - SanfordEscape roomIRLWe love Escape Artists and had been awaiting this new room opening. It did not disappoint. We liked that the story was tied to the Gray Skull Society stories from other rooms we had previously played. Light on locks and more high tech, puzzles were fun and at least a couple were very challenging. We play with a team of two and were able to escape with 10 minutes left on the clock. I'm not sure if more people would have helped or hurt (you'll see what I mean if you play). Two thumbs up.