The Starlight MotelEscape Artist Greenville - DowntownEscape roomIRLStarlight Motel isn't just an escape room; it's a fully immersive horror experience. The moment you step inside, you're transported to a seedy 80s motel straight out of a crime drama. This isn't your typical escape room. It's more like a mix of murder mystery and immersive theater. The puzzles are clever and challenging, at times feeling more like detective work than simply unlocking a bunch of locks. The lighting and sound effects create a tense and suspenseful environment, and the jump scares will keep you on edge. But the real star of the show is the actor interaction. You'll need to engage with the actor within the room, improvising your way through the game. This led to some fun missteps on our part and a standout storyline with a heart stopping ending. Escape Artist Greenville has outdone themselves with Starlight Motel. It's no wonder it ranked #82 in the world on the TERPECA 2023 list!
Lucky Dice DinerExpedition EscapeEscape roomIRLThis diner escape room had me jivin' and wailin' – it's easily cruised into my top 5 after hittin' 22 rooms! Really enjoyed the unique puzzles, especially all the physical objects needed to move into places. The whole set-up looked like it hopped straight outta a 50s flick. Sure, it wasn't the toughest joint in town, but that just meant more time to have a blast! Our gamesmaster was a real doll – super friendly and even took us through the whole game after we busted out. Ditch The Big Mall and head over here, cats! You won't regret it!
Ghost LightMyssTic RoomsEscape roomIRLSome unique puzzles and mechanisms in the room that were all on point with the theme. The very few locks they had were old timey that fit the room's time period. Touching ending that will stay with me long after I've played this room. Easy to see why it's won awards year after year. Worth the trip out to Brooklyn - 25 mins on subway from Theatre District. Perfectly themed if you're in New York City to see a Broadway show.
Yacht HeistTotal EscapeEscape roomIRLStill in my Top 10 even after playing 33 rooms. Great immersion and theming. Lots of variety in the puzzles. The goal isn't just your standard "get out in an hour" which added to the enjoyment. One room makes a big splash [pun intended] and I haven't seen anything like it since. High tech room which belies it's basement of an office building location. Highly recommend going if you live in the area or are just driving through NC on I-85 or I-40.
PlaygroundThe Escape Game - King of PrussiaEscape roomIRLWe had a ball (literally) at the Playground escape room, and it's rolled into my husband's Top 5 Rooms played ⚽️ The Playground room at The Escape Game is perfect for adults looking for a challenge. Despite the school theme, the puzzles are complex, high tech and require teamwork. Many memorable elements, especially two at the end. I'd suggest at least four teammates to be able to get all the puzzles done in time. We had a family of five, that we didn't know, join us in the room. The kids were especially helpful - the teenager immediately started in on a math puzzle, and the tween noticed some stuff in lower places where the adults hadn't looked. This room was tough and had LOTS to do, and without those additional people not sure if the two of us could have gotten out in time. Above and beyond customer service from the manager working the front desk. We mentioned we had done two rooms in another one of their locations, and she presented us with a The Escape Game Passport. We’ve subsequently carried it with us to another of their locations, and have used it to plan some future escape room centric vacations. Note that The Escape Game offers buy 3 get one free sales a few times a year around holidays, so if you're planning on doing multiple rooms or having multiple players in the future, it's worth trying to catch a sale from them.
City with No SunNerd EscapesEscape roomIRLCity With No Sun was an unforgettable escape room experience—all in complete darkness ⚫️! To solve this room, we had to rely entirely on our other senses: touch, smell, sound, and even taste. From tactile puzzles to a smell challenge and more, every moment felt unique and immersive. We started in separate rooms, communicating to reunite by solving parallel puzzles. We’ve done a split-start room before, so I made some assumptions based on that previous room how things might work but I was wrong. It’s a great reminder that every escape room is its own adventure. Though the room was pitch black, I felt totally comfortable. However, it might not be ideal for those who are uncomfortable in the dark or prone to claustrophobia. If you're an experienced player looking for a new challenge, I highly recommend it. Just keep your group to four or fewer players to avoid feeling cramped—and definately play a few other rooms first to build your skills!
Montauk ProjectMyssTic RoomsEscape roomIRLNice variety of puzzles and mystery theme. Not too difficult with two experienced players. Game master Jen was great, we only needed one hint. If you're only doing one room at Myss Tic I recommend Ghost Light, but Montauk still better than some independent rooms I've done.
Sasquatch: Bigfoots Revenge!Escape The NetherworldEscape roomIRLSasquatch: Bigfoot's Revenge is a captivating escape room experience that immerses players in a thrilling narrative from start to finish with an evolving story. The puzzles are cleverly integrated into the mountain cabin setting, adding to the overall authenticity. Even though there were more locks than we like, they made sense as part of the story. The game master played a character that fit within the narrative as well. He was great about giving us hints when we were stuck or off track. As the name suggests, the Sasquatch theme is a prominent element throughout the game. Frequent jump scares, coupled with the narrative, create a suspenseful atmosphere. The room's conclusion is both satisfying and memorable, leaving no doubt that players have successfully completed their quest - which was more than just to escape. Netherworld's expertise in haunted house attractions is evident in the high-quality effects and production design. Anyone else trying to make a Sasquatch room will have big shoes to fill.
Mysterious MansionMysterious MansionHauntHaunted houseA very enjoyable and detailed year round haunted house. While the animatronics might not boast the latest tech, the overall set design is impressive. The aged aesthetic of the attraction being over 40 years old adds a layer of authenticity to the old haunted mansion theme, creating a genuinely spooky atmosphere. During our visit, the staff was attentive, ensuring a personalized spooky experience. We couldn't help but be entertained by the delighted screams from the group ahead, attracting the monsters our way for double the frights! Overall, The Mysterious Mansion is a thoroughly enjoyable experience for adults seeking a charmingly old-fashioned haunt. It's sure to be a hit with youngsters as well, offering a spooky adventure that won't give them nightmares afterwards.
ClueBreakout Games - GreensboroEscape roomIRLWe love the 80s Clue movie with Tim Curry and enjoyed playing the board game as kids, and were curious to see how well the Clue room at Breakout Games would live up to the source material. Like the game, our goal was to find out who, with what, and where. The room had a touch screen that showcased all the choices that we used to eliminate possibilities along the way - this bit of tech was essential in keeping up with the goal and immersing us in the game. They incorporated the potential murder weapons so well into the game play, and since we're used to seeing things like candlesticks and ropes in escape rooms, it didn't dawn on me immediately the significance of why they were in this particular room. The infamous color-coded characters of the game were mentioned throughout, and it felt like they were just a room away from us. The only misstep was a color coded puzzle where several of the colors were hard to distinguish and we spent a lot longer on that puzzle than was needed as a result.
