Witchcraft AlleyTrapped Puzzle Rooms - North LoopEscape roomIRLI liked this way more than I expected. I’m usually wary when a room advertises itself as “no locks”—even working at one, I’ve seen how they can drift into “interactive experience” territory and lose the smart puzzle-solving that makes escape rooms fun. Witchcraft Alley doesn’t fall into that trap. For an IP-inspired concept (Harry Potter vibes without needing outside knowledge), it delivers way more puzzle solving than I anticipated, and the interactions feel purposeful instead of gimmicky. The game teaches its core logic early with a simple rule: start with the most obvious answer. Without spoiling anything, that guidance pays off quickly and becomes a helpful throughline. The wand/spell mechanic is intuitive once you’ve done it a couple times, and the room keeps building on that language in clever ways. It’s still a puzzle room first—there’s plenty of deduction, patterning, and parallel tracks—just delivered through environmental interactions rather than padlocks. The set is massive and smartly laid out. It feels like a little district with multiple spaces to explore, which makes splitting up practical and necessary. Mid-game there’s a moment where an entire room changes—super satisfying and one of those “ok, that’s cool” reveals that fits the story. Effects lean practical with just enough tech to feel magical; it never turns into “press a button, watch a show.” Feedback on success is generally clear, which helps keep the pace up. Content-wise, there is a lot to do. I played with two newer players and we still moved steadily, but it could be overwhelming for total beginners. Our GM stepped in to override/advance a couple of items when we were clearly on the right track but spinning—handled quickly and without killing momentum. That’s more an FYI for team composition than a knock: experienced players will love the volume and parallelization; mixed-experience teams should plan to divide and conquer. Difficulty lands around medium: approachable logic, but breadth and coverage can make the clock feel tight. The theme stays light and playful—fun nods for HP fans, nothing scary—and the puzzle design keeps the tone joyful rather than punishing. Overall, Witchcraft Alley nails the balance I’m always hoping for with “no locks”: it’s interactive and immersive and still a genuine puzzle room. Easy recommend in Minneapolis.
The Seventh RoomDare 2 EscapeEscape roomIRLThe Seventh Room was a decent room overall, especially if you’re into creepy atmospheres and isolation-based tension. I’d heard a lot of hype about how scary it was, but it’s not packed with constant jump scares or horror moments — it leans more into suspense and unsettling sound design. Most of the fear comes from the unknown: eerie audio, dark spaces, and not knowing what’s coming when new areas unlock. There were a couple pitch-black sections that definitely had me on edge, but nothing that felt outright terrifying in the traditional sense. The team does a great job prioritizing player safety. Before the game starts, they ask for a safeword and clearly explain that using it won’t end your game or make you fail — it just pauses the experience so a game master can check in and make sure you’re mentally and physically okay. That reassurance made a big difference going in. The scariest moment for me wasn’t even a typical “scare” — it was when a person entered the room. There are no live actors in a performance sense, but someone is physically present at one point for safety monitoring. They don’t speak or interact at all, but just being there made everything so overwhelming for me that I almost safeworded out. For those who love intense, immersive fear, this moment will probably be thrilling. But for people who are more sensitive to scare elements or sensory overload, it might push too far. I was on the verge of a panic attack — I was crying and trying to breathe through it — because even though what was happening wasn't objectively that scary, the combination of total darkness, isolation, noise, and presence of another person completely overloaded my senses. There’s also a lot of confined space — especially during the isolation segments. We had a group of three, and all of us were split up at some point. One small space in particular made me feel claustrophobic even though I’m usually fine with tight areas, so heads-up if that’s something you struggle with. This room is absolutely designed to push boundaries — not through gore or jump scares, but through sensory intensity. It was well done in that sense but just make sure to take care of yourself. Use the safe word if you need it. If I hadn't been briefed from fellow escape room people and experienced it blind, I would have walked out feeling emotionally drained instead of proud. If you're looking for a suspenseful, intense experience that tests your nerves, this could be a great fit. But if you’re easily overwhelmed or anxious in dark, confined spaces, think twice — and prioritize your own comfort over finishing the game.
Cinema 7Will To Escape - OrlandoEscape roomIRLCinema 7 at Will to Escape is a room I’ve heard hyped up over and over—and somehow, it still managed to blow my expectations out of the water. While it doesn’t reinvent escape rooms entirely, it takes familiar elements and pushes them to a level that feels fresh and exciting. Just when one area starts to feel wrapped up, a new space opens and completely changes the vibe. The pacing is spot-on, and there’s never a dull moment. The set design is one of the best I’ve seen. It really sells the old, decaying movie theater atmosphere—flickering lights, gritty textures, and eerie sound design all come together to make it feel real. You can tell they weren’t working with a massive budget, but the way they used what they had was genuinely impressive. Every room felt intentional and added something to the experience. The tech was definitely a highlight. While there were still some standard mechanical locks, the moments that stood out were all tech-driven—unexpected, clever, and totally immersive. Even though there was a mix, the cool technical reveals are what I walked away remembering. It made the room feel dynamic without being overcomplicated. There’s a moment involving a crate—no spoilers, don’t worry—but it genuinely blew my mind. Not because of what was inside (it’s not some crazy twist), but because of how it played out. The timing, the build-up, the payoff… it all just hit perfectly. Easily the “wow” moments of this escape room (not counting the set design reveal itself!). The story starts strong with a spooky, self-guided tour setup, but it does fade into the background a bit as the game goes on. Personally, I didn’t mind—it still felt cohesive, and the experience didn’t rely on you following the plot beat by beat. It’s more about the mood and progression than deep narrative, and that worked just fine. One heads-up: it does involve crawling, climbing, and squeezing through some tighter spots. That adds a lot to the immersion, but it may not be ideal for every group. Having a team member unable to perform these actions would really take away from their experience in the room as there comes a point where they'd just be standing around for a while. I’d recommend it for 2–4 players max—anything more might get cramped or chaotic as two of the rooms are quite small. Overall, Cinema 7 is creepy, creative, and packed with surprises. It’s one of the most memorable rooms I’ve played in the area, and the way it keeps you on your toes from start to finish is something I won’t forget anytime soon.
Disappearance: Last LocationWill To Escape - OrlandoEscape roomIRLDisappearance: Last Location had a beautifully designed set — the cabin aesthetic was immersive and moody, and the atmosphere hit immediately. From the lighting to the sound design, it definitely captured the creepy, isolated vibe it was going for. But when you start to look more closely, some of the finer details didn’t hold up as well. It felt like a great environment at first glance, but a little underdeveloped in spots if you’re being picky. Puzzle-wise, this room was noticeably harder than Cinema 7. The flow wasn’t as smooth, and we found ourselves needing a few nudges because things that felt “done” still had unclear extra steps. Some of the logic didn’t click for us, and overall it felt a bit disjointed — not impossible, but not intuitive either. It was definitely a room that required teamwork and communication to get through, but sometimes even that wasn’t enough without a push. As for room transitions and reveals, they weren’t as exciting as I’d hoped. After playing Cinema 7, which had incredible pacing and surprises, this one felt more restrained. The space itself was much smaller, which also limited that sense of discovery. There were a handful of jumpscares that got us good, but overall the tension came more from the feeling that something might happen, rather than anything super intense. The ending seems to get a lot of love, but it didn’t really work for me. I’m someone who needs a storyline to be super obvious — especially in escape rooms where my brain is focused on solving puzzles — and this one just didn’t click. I kind of missed what the emotional payoff was supposed to be, and the final room felt underwhelming instead of impactful. All that said, it’s still a solid experience with a strong theme and good moments. It’s just not as cohesive or satisfying as Cinema 7. I’d still recommend it if you’re a fan of moody, story-driven rooms — just maybe don’t play it right after their best one.
Cornstalkers: Lost in the MaizeThe Escape Ventures - OrlandoEscape roomIRLWhat an INCREDIBLE experience. From the intro of this room to the very last scene, you are completely immersed inside of this world. The story building is spectacular with everything coming full circle at the end. The finale is one of the most intense scenes you’ll ever experience, after being built up the entire 90 minute room. Be prepared to run, and unlock locks FAST, before collapsing on the floor of the next room and having to immediately start puzzle solving again. The set design truly makes you feel like you’re in the maze, and you’re not getting out. Also, since the doors “lock” behind you (you are able to leave at any time by telling them you’d like to exit) you truly feel trapped and your flight or fight kicks in. What an INCREDIBLE escape room that everyone should experience at least once!
Mansion MurderEscapology - KissimmeeEscape roomIRLMansion Murder was unfortunately one of the weaker rooms I’ve played. While the set looked polished on the surface, it lacked the immersive details that make you feel part of the story. It felt more like a generic decorated room than an actual old mansion, and there was very little atmosphere or tension to pull us in. The puzzles were the biggest issue. They were harder than expected — but not in a clever or satisfying way. Even when we knew the answer, the solutions were sometimes so awkwardly designed that it felt easier to brute force the input than figure it out the intended way. The room didn’t have good puzzle flow, and several moments left us confused or frustrated rather than engaged. Our GM was great and gave us help when we needed it, but overall, the game just lacked energy. The ending was abrupt and had no real payoff, which made the whole experience feel kind of flat. We played with two people and managed to finish, but we walked out feeling more annoyed than accomplished. If you're brand new to escape rooms, it might be fine. But for anyone with experience, this one just doesn’t hold up — there are better-designed and more immersive rooms nearby that are way more worth your time.
A Pirate's CurseEscapology - KissimmeeEscape roomIRLA Pirate’s Curse was a fun, lighthearted room with a clear theme and a decent mix of puzzles. It didn’t blow me away, but it also didn’t do anything wrong. The set was cute and on-theme — lots of nautical props, piratey decor, and some fun little touches that made it feel like an adventure. It felt like a good room for casual players or families. The puzzles were mostly straightforward, though a few moments lacked clarity and needed a nudge to move forward. Nothing was overly complex, and the challenge level felt fair, but there weren’t many wow moments. It was more about steady progress than big reveals. The story stayed in the background — not super immersive, but present enough to support the theme. Overall, it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a fun, approachable escape room with a playful vibe. It wasn’t the most memorable room I’ve played, but I had a good time.
Batman™: The Dark Knight ChallengeEscapology - KissimmeeEscape roomIRLBatman: The Dark Knight Challenge was honestly pretty disappointing. The theme had a ton of potential — it’s Batman, after all — but the execution fell flat. The set didn’t feel immersive or detailed, and nothing about it gave that gritty Gotham vibe you'd expect. It felt more like a lightly themed room with Batman logos slapped onto puzzles than an actual story-driven experience. The puzzles were bland and often disconnected from the theme. A lot of them felt like standard escape room tasks that could've been dropped into any game. There wasn’t much creativity or originality, and a few of the puzzle mechanics were clunky or confusing. It didn’t flow well, and the room lacked any real standout moments or satisfying payoffs. Our GM was great, and the room functioned as intended, but the overall experience just didn’t land. It felt like a missed opportunity, especially given how strong the theme could have been. If you’re a big Batman fan, this one probably won’t scratch the itch — and if you're not, it just ends up being a forgettable, generic room.
Who Stole Mona?Escapology - KissimmeeEscape roomIRLWho Stole Mona was a fun, light mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The setup is cute — you’re trying to track down the stolen Mona Lisa — and the room has a playful museum-heist vibe throughout. It’s definitely more of a beginner-friendly experience, but there were still a few clever puzzles sprinkled in that made it enjoyable even for more experienced players. The set design was simple but worked well for the theme. It had that clean, polished museum look with little touches that helped sell the concept. The story stayed consistent throughout, and while it wasn’t super immersive, it was easy to follow and matched the tone of the game. Puzzle-wise, everything was straightforward and accessible, though a couple steps needed clarification. We needed a nudge or two when something felt slightly unclear, but nothing ever felt broken or unfair. It’s not a groundbreaking room, but it’s a solid, lighthearted option that we had a good time with.
The Body ShopRed Fox EscapesEscape roomIRLOverall one of the top rooms I’ve ever done! You felt truly immersed in the experience and the storyline was super easy to follow despite them not really explaining it verbatim. The puzzles were VERY cool with a good mix of things i’ve seen before and new and inventive ones! Nonlinear room with a BUNCH of puzzles so definitely be prepared to run around and solve a bunch of things solo or in a small group!
