Lombino's CasinoIn Search Of An ExitEscape roomIRLReally great sense of flow among puzzles, and good connection between the setting (an abandoned 1980s casino) and puzzles. Fantastic GMing.
Aunt Elsie’s InheritanceEscapades Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLThis rates a solid recommendation! Scrupulously fair puzzles, with room elements fitting together thoughtfully. Design was notably nonlinear, with multiple puzzles that could be solved independently - great for groups.
Temple of TikalTotal EscapeEscape roomIRLAs others note, this is an unusually physical room - at times it feels like you're playing a series of games as much as solving a series of puzzles. Nothing wrong with that, but know what you're in for. We escaped with two people, but it was down to the wire! More would be easier.
Prison BreakTotal EscapeEscape roomIRLGreat! One of my favorite executions of a theme I've encountered so far - not only because they used the conceit so cleverly, which they did, but also because some puzzles made me feel like I was in a movie. This might be the lowest-budget room at Total Escape, but the experience is still fantastic!
The Country Club CaperEscapades Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLOur second Escapades room! We love this place -- they get the fundamentals right and deliver an awesome, fun, fair experience without a lot of gadgets. Elissa (Alyssa?) was a superb host, and I really believed she had almost as much fun as we did. :D
Circus of Secrets: Mystery of Madam PaisleyEscapades Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLA nail-biter for our group of two! (Three is recommended.) Great theming, with everything feeling like something you'd see at a circus or in a fortune-teller's tent -- but a challenging room for my 72-year-old dad because of close quarters, mandatory stooping, and a good deal of small text.
The AtticNC EscapeEscape roomIRLI've done plenty of rooms where the puzzles fit the theme, but relatively few where they actively strengthen it. Some puzzles in this room don't just feel like things that would happen in a horror movie; they make you feel like you're in a horror movie. Just a lovely time.
The Enchanted ForestTotal EscapeEscape roomIRLA down-to-the-wire two-person escape! This room is DEFINITELY designed for 4+ players, but what a joy it is, with puzzles that feel ripped from a children's storybook. Early and midgame emphasis on exploring and playing with the environment gives way to more mechanical late-game puzzles.
Geno's GetawayFox-N-Otter Adventure Escapes Asheville Mall LocationEscape roomIRLEhh. Not awful, but a miss from Fox-n-Otter for us. Poor sense of flow, too many four-digit combination locks, and an overall calibration that didn't make sense for a two-person party, as the host noted afterwards. (The website lacks guidance on suggested party size.)
Fantastic ForestFox-N-Otter Adventure Escapes Asheville Mall LocationEscape roomIRLThey sure packed a lot of ideas into a small space! A few puzzles were frustrating or didn't work too well, but nothing that couldn't be handled by a good GM - and we had a great GM, I can't say enough good about her. I'll try another Fox-n-Otter room next time I'm in the area!
