System Overlord: Dawn of the MachineThe Keepers of BalanceEscape roomIRLWhat a bizarre mash up of themes. It somehow works, though! The sets, puzzles, and interactions just get more impressive the deeper you go. And it has one of my all-time favorite room reveals. Don’t sleep on this one.
The Legend Of AtlantisBackstage Escape GamesEscape roomIRLThe highs are high here. Really awesome set that felt real. It was detailed and intricate. Certain interactions were quite novel in their presentation. They made a smaller set feel sprawling. Some things that could use improving were the reliance on the runbook, some puzzles feeling slightly disconnected from the plot, and the solve for puzzles being longer than necessary (the space between the aha and completion was bloated with tedious extra steps). Early play areas were cramped, but that changed about 1/3 of the way through the game. This place truly cares about its guests. Highly recommend!
Caskwerks & CaponeParadox Escape RoomEscape roomIRLFor a single room with simple puzzles and props, it’s a fine hour of puzzling. However, for your money, you’re not getting a lot. The set is fairly basic. The lock mapping is poor (there are 5 4-digit locks that you’ll need to try combos on). But the puzzle flow did pick up near the end, which was nice. Good for completionists and people who like escape rooms but haven’t done too many.
Lockbuster Video60 to Escape - SchaumburgEscape roomIRLWhat an elegant, impressive, and whimsical game! Beyond the charming theme is a polished set with spectacular lighting cues; stunning reveals; and clean puzzles that are varied, tactile, and just plain fun. While this experience is overall elegant with immaculate flow, there was one spot where the tech was a little finicky, and there is a certain puzzle that will be nigh impossible for anyone even vaguely colorblind. Overall, though, it’s a fantastic room for enthusiasts and newcomers. Just a joy!
Reindeer Games - CLOSEDAce of EscapeEscape roomIRLThe staff here is delightful. Most of the rooms are solid (though feel slightly outdated). Ace of Escape works hard, and I’m glad they are churning out games. That said, this game feels a little sloppy and janky. Puzzles are re-used from a previous game (in a way that doesn’t match the theme), props stick shut, triggering of opens is not evident, and there is perhaps one of the largest and most time-consuming translation puzzles I’ve ever seen. And then there’s the hay. It’s whimsical and nice for a little bit, but the room isn’t well-ventilated, and the hay eventually became an annoyance, even to those without allergies. Overall, maintenance issues and tedious tasks stop me from recommending this room, but I would recommend Ace of Escape to new players or any escape room enthusiast who can appreciate games that feel like the earlier days of escape rooms.
Jungle QuestPuzzle Effect - PhoenixEscape roomIRLIf you’ve played Amazon Rainforest at International Room Escape, this is simply a flawed port of that game.
The Mystery MansionEscape WestgateEscape roomIRLA great beginner-friendly room with a nice blend of special effects, unique props, and atmospheric sign-posting. Experienced players will breeze through this room, but there's still plenty to appreciate.
La CalaveraWill You Escape?Escape roomIRL**Disclaimer: I playtested the room, so I did not experience the final version of the room** La Calavera makes a lot of cool decisions. The set design and plot are regionally unique and distinct. There are a couple dramatic moments using tech. While being linear, it offers many opportunities for collaboration and parallel puzzling. Yes, it had a slew of traditional locks and, as such, struggled with lock mapping. Not all puzzles made thematic sense. The distance between the start and end of certain elements' relevance was occasionally frustratingly long. Some elements lacked adequate signposting, and the first puzzle was maddeningly obtuse. That said, this is almost certainly the best room in Tucson. The efforts of this small team deserve to be recognized within the Tucson community. Although hardcore enthusiasts may be more critical of the flaws, ambition and vision in the stagnant Tucson market deserves celebration.
MagnificoEscaparium - LavalEscape roomIRLWhat a meticulously crafted experience. The nuanced characters, the intricate costumes, the sprawling set, the cleverly-plotted story, and the sheer spectacle of it all is audacious in the best possible way. It has heart, ambition, creativity, and joy running through its veins. It very well might be “the greatest show there is.”
The CollectorParadox Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThe Collector is a serial killer room that specializes in committing escape room sins. Firstly, the maintenance leaves many props work to show what’s in play, but then the wear also renders it difficult to read or solve the puzzle. Second, half of the room uses darkness as a difficulty gate, which means you’ll either struggle with a dim flashlight or have to drag everything into the light. Lastly, this room’s calling card is its flagrant use of unsignposted escape room logic. Why are you doing this? Because! Why should you use this object? Why not?! This isn’t to say that there isn’t fun to be had, but this serial killer will target your buzz, so be warned.
Heroes of the Galaxy Vol IIAction Hero StudiosEscape roomIRLThis isn’t a perfect game, but it doesn’t deserve the negative rating it has. It’s got a fun and creative intro sequence, as well as some very clever input devices. It’s very nonlinear, and it’s got some fun moments that will make kids, Marvel fans, and kids at heart smile. It would greatly benefit from a progress bar and a little polish, but I admire its ambitions.
Save the Gingerbread Man!Ace of EscapeEscape roomIRLA light theme hides a gauntlet of connections to make! It’s got a fun environment, though the puzzles are sometimes smaller and less inclusive. Still, huge props to Ace of Escape for repurposing the less-than-stellar Mr. Toad into a challenging and fun experience!
Temple Of DoomOperation OutbreakEscape roomIRLIndy may hate snakes, but I really like this room! Much like the 5th Indy movie, I think there are the makings of something incredible here. The three distinct parts of the set are all very well-decorated and immersive, showing a care for the small details. Some audio design choices also aid in building the atmosphere. However, the puzzles felt underclued by comparison. It wasn’t always obvious what to do, and then there was little connection between the lock and the puzzle. When the setup and win condition feel very thematic but the rest of the game utilizes stereotypical escape room logic, it feels like a missed opportunity. That said, there is a variety and subtlety that’s much appreciated with the puzzles. Many things can look like set dressing until it’s in play. This company is on the verge of greatness, and they absolutely are on the right track.
Burial At SeaOperation OutbreakEscape roomIRLFirst off, the staff here are wonderful, and this company has ambition. While it’s novel for its Bioshock theming, its theming feels slightly underutilized and disconnected from the story. Operation Outbreak, would you kindly inject more purpose and flow into the puzzles? We had 3 clear goals, but it was never clear how any individual task helped reach any of those goals. Still, lots of tactile interactions with novel props. Really cool stuff that just needs a little polish and purpose. :)
Sabotage AI Escape Protocol - CLOSEDMystery Escape Room - TucsonEscape roomIRLQuite simply one of the most dreadful rooms I’ve ever done. One player will be forced to play a terrible Myst-like knockoff point-and-click escape room on a computer for nearly half the room. One of the final puzzles is a logic puzzle that is presented on your phone via scanning a QR code. There are deliberate red herrings that the company seems proud to have in there. The AI that you have to interact with is a poorly-trained ChatGPT bot with no character or personality. Additionally, the AI is a hint system…but you also have a walkie talkie to speak to the game guide…in space??? The intro story is elaborate and convoluted, which is bad on its own. However, it’s made even worse by having no bearing on any puzzles in the room. This is a new room that utilizes the same set dressing as a previous room. It’s already falling apart, and there are several props that don’t fit the theme. This game doesn’t respect your time or money. Absolutely dreadful.
LitInferno Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThe party bro vibes of this room were funny. I wish the room leaned into the humor more, but it was still entertaining. Some of the puzzles used very unique props, even it is was mostly low-tech and lock-based. You should definitely play this room for a guaranteed good time with no red herrings! It’s finna be lit, bruh! 🤘🤘 **rap air horn intensifies **
Date Night DisasterInferno Escape RoomEscape roomIRLFair warning: you will be handcuffed to another person for the entirety of the room. That said, the puzzles are straightforward and are occasionally concurrent, so you’ll not be in them for long. I appreciate the direct cluing and signposting, as well as the variety of puzzles and props. While things generally veer low-tech, it’s still a joy to play.
Festive DetectivesESCAPE:chandlerEscape roomIRLThere are a couple small touches that are delightfully festive and magical. It imbues the room with holiday spirit and distracts from the lock mapping issues. Definitely worth a play!
The Poe AdventureThe Secret Chambers - ArlingtonEscape roomIRLSo many highlights! -Poe references abound -Their subtle auditory clueing feels so atmospheric and immersive. -Our GM interactions were hauntingly cool. -There are so many unforgettable story beats and set pieces. -It’s always pretty obvious what is in play. The only question is how? -An epic finale One of my favorites out of nearly 170!
