7734 Hound LaneTrapped - SurreyEscape roomIRLPuzzles were ok. There were some novel moments. Set dressing was very bare. Puzzle density was sparse - completed in 35 mins with only 3 people. Would have liked a more climactic ending. I think with more puzzles and a more immersive set, this has potential to be a very cool room.
Something's Out There!Maze Rooms - West LAEscape roomIRLAtmosphere was great - super spooky and had moments that made me jump! Wish there were more puzzles and unique interactions- with only 3 people and a casual pace we were able to complete the room with plenty of time to spare. Nice use of tech overall, just feels a bit like they didn’t use the rooms and sets to their full potential.
Ink & AshesExodus Escape RoomEscape roomIRLExcellent room, did not disappoint. Did this with 2 people (though it is priced for 4) and beat it with 8 minutes to spare. Would recommend a group of 3-4, but if you’re ambitious it’s definitely do-able if you lock in. Great story and flow, everything was themed together nicely. Non-linear. Nice atmosphere. Would definitely recommend as one of the top rooms in OC.
Through The Sugar GlassQuest TavernEscape roomIRLMy experience with this room is that it's fine overall - not bad but not great. There's lots of puzzles and I appreciated the continuous theming and playful areas. Some pieces were noticeably worn down. It appears non-linear but I think it actually works linearly, so while there's a lot to see and explore, there's only one intended path forward. I perhaps would have had a better time but sometime near the start, the GM started telling us what to look for despite stating explicitly that we didn't want hints. It stopped after I reminded them that we were a no-hint group, but having those moments of unsolicited help took away the satisfaction of exploring our own way, or knowing whether or not we would have figured it out ourselves.
Flynn's ArcadeBrain Games Escape RoomEscape roomIRLBeautiful and carefully crafted immersive experience - the puzzles are fitting and bespoke to the theme. The heart that went into designing this room is insane. It reminds me of why I fell in love with escape rooms in the first place. Brain Games continues to outdo themselves with every new room.
Escape the Darkest Hour: Torture ChamberMission Escape GamesEscape roomIRLKayla was a great host! I loved the room, the atmosphere was great, and it was super spooky for no live actors. The only reason this didn’t get a heart from me is it was really short - we beat it with 25 mins left going at a leisurely pace. The puzzles were a good difficulty, I just would have loved more puzzles. It’s still completely worth it and there were some unique and fun moments!
Sev3nNo. 1 Escapes - Main StEscape roomIRLA completely new experience from Deceptive’s sev3n. Full of puzzles, non linear, a nice difficulty. My group usually blasts through rooms but we almost didn’t make it out. There are some flow issues in terms of feedback but in the grand scheme of things, the experience was still fun and well worth it.
The DogHouseEscape Room 66 - Laguna HillsEscape roomIRLThis room was so much fun, my favorite of this location. The set dressing and atmosphere reminds me of Disney. Non-linear, lots of puzzles, with good puzzle variety. It was fairly easy for our group of 3, but still a blast and totally worth it.
Cold CaseCloud EscapeEscape roomIRLI had a great time. Really nice balance of puzzles and spooky actor moments. Our host Joseph was great! We were a bit slow to get started at the beginning, but the puzzles flowed really well after we figured it out. They have some improvements planned in the near future that will make it even better. Shock collar was super fun.
Wicked WonderlandEscape Room 66 - Laguna HillsEscape roomIRLDid this with 2 people. A solid traditional escape room. Most puzzles are in the style of traditional lock and key. Flow was pretty good - never really got stuck on anything. Puzzle density is high. Set dressing is nice and full but didn’t transport me. I didn’t find anything that truly blew me away, but I think it’s worth doing and still a good time!
EdelineCloud EscapeEscape roomIRLGreat spooky room for no live actors. Linear but still fun. Strong story. You can do it easily with 2 people. Some cool surprises and unique moments - you can tell the creators were passionate. Could be one of the top horror rooms with more refinement and polish 🩵
Rainforest RuinsBamboozled Escape GamesEscape roomIRLOverall the puzzles were fun - a lot of creative uses of tech, and the room felt like there was a lot to do. The set design left a lot to be desired. I really hate that there is an automated hint system - it really feels like it robs you of a fulfilling victory. GMs aren’t able to bypass it, or so I was told. Puzzle instructions are also delivered through the screen, which kills the immersion. Still managed to have a good time with my group, but it would be hard to recommend this in its current state.
Black DragonEscape Room LAEscape roomIRLLoved this room- a diverse set of puzzles with some more challenging than others. It was perfect for my group of 6 - four members of our group were new to escape rooms but still had a blast and had puzzles they could tackle. Set was nice, and the Chinese elements were surprisingly accurate and made sense (my Hong Kong-native parents were impressed). Absolutely worth doing, though you’ll probably want at least one experienced member for some of the harder puzzles.
Servants of SleightThe Escape Ventures - Clearwater [prev. The Exit Games]Escape roomIRLVery fulfilling room - some great creative puzzles accompanied by a really nice set. Love the longer run time. Owners are enthusiasts themselves and you can tell they're extremely passionate from the attention to detail and solid gameplay flow. Super enjoyable, would recommend.
Pins & Needles Tattoo ParlorThe Escape Ventures - Clearwater [prev. The Exit Games]Escape roomIRLExtremely immersive set dressing. Really loved the debriefing to the game. Puzzle flow felt a bit clunkier than Servants, but some super fun and unique moments. Would recommend to people looking for an intro to scarier rooms.
Echoes at Murder HeightsThe Escape Ventures - Orlando I-DriveEscape roomIRLReally fun for horror lovers - nice balance of great puzzles and scary moments. The room is small, so I would recommend a group of 3. Loved the creativity in incorporating the theme of the room seamlessly into puzzles. Overall very staple for Escape Ventures design, and the best horror-puzzle blend room I've done to date! Shoutout to our GM John.
Hijinx at Joffre ManorNerdy by Nature Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLA huge improvement compared to their previous rooms. Finished this with a team of 2, used 1 hint. Set dressing is quite nice, some fun and creative puzzles. A few puzzles and set areas could use polish, and a couple of technical things were not working as intended. Overall still a great experience and I'd recommend this room.
Stash HouseStash HouseEscape roomIRLExpected a bit more given the reviews, but it was a solid room throughout. Did this with a group of 6, most of them being new to escape rooms. If you're an escape enthusiast, you'll probably like the variety and difficulty of the puzzles - it's non-linear and having more bodies is helpful to spread out. Very cool clue system. The set dressing and experience could be a bit more immersive, but a lot of creative uses of space.
Operation NightwalkerMindTrap Escape Room - MurrietaEscape roomIRLAmazing set, nice tech, ok puzzles. On the spooky side, which I love. A heads-up, this is a purchased room, and I appreciate Mindtrap's transparency regarding which ones are purchased vs. designed in-house.
40 ThievesMindTrap Escape Room - TemeculaEscape roomIRLFun and creative intro, lots of nice tech, a decent number of puzzles for a fun non-linear experience. Some great teamwork puzzles that has everyone working together. The "marketplace/artifact" theme has been played out quite often and it doesn't have great story cohesion either, making it less unique or memorable, which is why I'm only giving it a thumbs up. Definitely still worth doing and great for larger groups!
