Legend of the YetiThe Escape Game - IrvineEscape roomIRLThis room was the hardest at the escape game. The story was very weak, but the room itself puzzle wise was okay. For a new room, nothing wowed me. But the set was cool and this company still runs their rooms very smoothly, so I give it a like.
Dead & BreakfastTHE BASEMENT: A Live Escape Room Experience - SylmarEscape roomIRLAs a birthday party of 4, this was an awesome experience. Back to back story was really fun. The GMs were really cool and nice and made our experience rad. We were the only ones there and no matter how quick we finished a room we were only given a few minutes in between, which was confusing to me because we were supposed to have 90 minutes for each room (way too much, I think the whole place could make all their rooms 1 hour and give way fewer hints) and got out in the usual 45 minutes as they gave us hints all the time a whole lot. If you’re in it for story, this was great. If you’re in it to solve puzzles and feel smart and see amazing novel ideas or tech, this might not be for you. I loved it for my birthday party although none of the rooms were amazing stand outs.
The CourtyardTHE BASEMENT: A Live Escape Room Experience - SylmarEscape roomIRLThe courtyard was the biggest room at the Basement. A good finale to the story. As with most of the rooms I think the hints were too frequent and unsolicited, although we got out very close to the wire we weren’t allowed to struggle with anything for more than 2 minutes before the GM was yelling through the wall. I think it’s because of the short time frame given. If it was a 60 minute room I think no one would need a hint ever. This series was my first experience with live actors, and this room made me feel so bad about solving the puzzle. I liked its set design a lot.
The StudyTHE BASEMENT: A Live Escape Room Experience - SylmarEscape roomIRLThis one was the best use of live actor at the Basement. Very fun. Set design on this one got better as we went, and there were a few fun ideas for puzzles. A lot of it didn’t make sense (why separate group, why separate group again) but I think they were just really commuting to wanting good communication for the group.
The Elevator ShaftTHE BASEMENT: A Live Escape Room Experience - SylmarEscape roomIRLThis room was way too small. No live actor. The ceiling is falling on you and there are water effects, which I haven’t seen before. But very few puzzles and only 1 person can access one of the areas at a time and it is kind of difficult physically to get back there. Otherwise you’re just stuck in the shaft. I absolutely would not do this with more than 4 people. The last puzzle leaves one person just standing holding wires, which made it impossible for her to help. Still a thumbs up because we did it for dead and breakfast and the whole experience was good.
The BasementTHE BASEMENT: A Live Escape Room Experience - SylmarEscape roomIRLThis room was the best puzzle wise of the bunch. I liked how many different things were going on. The live actor didn’t add much but we were nice to her and she was very happy about that. We escaped with 3 minutes left, even though she was freaking out the whole time and just narrating what we were doing.
Radio NowhereCase Closed EdinburghEscape roomIRLThis escape room is more like playing than escaping. It is a solve the murder like a private investigator while also running the radio station. It is great fun to engage with both sides of the experience, and I would absolutely recommend these rooms
The Murder of Max Sinclair [prev. Case Closed]Case Closed EdinburghEscape roomIRLThis “escape room” is more like a detective experience. Not a typical solve the puzzles & get out, you are solving a mystery private investigator style. This is pulled off beautifully. We loved our GM Tom and are going back for Radio Nowhere.
13th BasementExit Game OC - AnaheimEscape roomIRLHilarious play on usual horror theme game tropes. Would recommend for escape room enthusiasts for the funnies and newbies for the fun.
Meow! I'm a Cat.Exit Game OC - AnaheimEscape roomIRLAdorable room, wonderful people, would recommend for kids & adults with kid hearts
The Fortune TellerNo. 1 Escapes - Sky ParkEscape roomIRLThe puzzles were non inventive. I hate red herrings and there are a lot of them. Everything was so linear. And the hint was incorrect when we finally asked for the clue because the sound clue was so short and played so quickly we couldn’t catch it. There was no exciting solves- only frustration. The customer service was very good, the design of the room is bad.
Devlin ManorNo. 1 Escapes - Sky ParkEscape roomIRLLike the other rooms, this one has janky locks that are super finicky. Reuse of puzzles from their other rooms and nothing really cool. One of the puzzles fell apart. Another super linear room. I wouldn’t recommend this room. Good staff, bad room design.
The NemesisMission Escape GamesEscape roomIRLFabulous room. Very busy. We did it with 6 absolutely rushing around - everyone had something to do. Would recommend, and Melody was great GM!
The Stolen RelicIntrepid Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLVery fun. Lots of cool mechanics, fun story, good puzzles. Fairly easy and short but still fun. 4 was great for it, we could have done it with less but wouldn’t want more.
The Haunted TerminalIntrepid Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLMikesnipes’s review says exactly what I thought. A disappointment after the other rooms here.
The Tipsy TailorIntrepid Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLThis is a fun room with a lot of unique puzzles and a cool theme. With 7 people we were mostly still busy but you could do it with 4/5.
Jewel of the SeaIntrepid Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLA few mistakes setting up the room made our group waste time which I didn’t like obviously. I think you should not play this with more than 4-5 players. Less than 4 would be difficult though. Very short but really cool set design and novel puzzles.
Starship | Interstellar EscapeWild Goose Escapes - FullertonEscape roomIRLThis was such a fun experience!! Big sci-fi nerds will adore this. Very void-crew esq. not many puzzles. I’d categorize it more as an experience than an escape room. I would totally recommend.
Zodiac KillerWild Goose Escapes - FullertonEscape roomIRLFairly standard serial killer room. Grace was a great GM. We needed 2 hints to escape. I didn’t think anything was super novel, but the puzzles were well designed & solvable.
Doctor Psycho60Out - HollywoodEscape roomIRLThis was a fun room, and Rachel was really awesome as a GM. None of the puzzles were particularly difficult and we needed no hints. Some red herrings, no live actors. Kinda gory but not in an overwhelmingly gross way. not a super high tech room, but fun for what it was. Fairly linear but not so bad- 5 was not exclusionary to anyone.
![The Murder of Max Sinclair [prev. Case Closed]](https://images.morty.app/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/f4a780a2-4773-464e-8909-8b8316a5473a.jpg)
