Ghost PatrolTrivium GamesEscape roomIRLI will not say anything about this game except A. This was very different tonally and story-wise from what I was expecting, it definitely isn’t a traditional ghost story (even already knowing this was absolutely not a horror game). B. Wow! Easy top 5 right here for my 70th room.
RobotopiaOmescape - SunnyvaleEscape roomIRLWow. Just wow. This game more than justifies it’s feature film length time by feeling like a feature film in itself with a 3-Act structure that you get to be the main character in! This game’s scope is absolutely massive and creates a world that really feels lived in with limited space and only grows throughout the experiences and actually makes you feel like a part of it. Both puzzles and setting evolved throughout the entire game while staying delightful and occasionally hilarious. The only issues this game has comes from it’s overall gameplay as the unique puzzles feel easy and somewhat short-lived with most of the game’s difficulty coming from repetitive and sometimes overly-difficult memory puzzles. There are way too many memory-based puzzles in this game, especially in the 2nd half. Regardless this game is one of the absolute best games I have ever played!!!
40 ThievesMindTrap Escape Room - TemeculaEscape roomIRLThis is such a well put-together experience. Like, there’s a few puzzles that have definite gameplay issues or some that feel a little too simple and lazy and feel like they were just tacked on. But every puzzle feels naturally part of the games story, every little detail feels like a natural part of the world, and despite the game being a traditional escape room keeps managing to pull off surprising effects that kinda blow my mind that they were made on an escape room budget and not on a Disney/Universal ride budget. This is probably the game that feels the most lived-in out of any non-actor game I have played. Honestly, I just kinda wish there was more.
Mogollon Monster: Scouting for Arizona's BigfootThe Nemesis ClubEscape roomIRLAn absolutely amazing game. Honestly I have some issues with the middle third of this game and it’s gameplay. But the introduction and finale of this game are some of if not the most amazing moments in any immersive experience I have ever seen. Play this game. Also I hope you like the distant smell of milkshakes.
The Last SupperQuest TavernEscape roomIRLIt’s special. That’s all I’m going to say. Just know you’re going to have to interact with a character a fair amount (but you can essentially just interact with this character as yourself so not liking improvisation shouldn’t be much of a barrier), know that I think this game is a fair bit more intense than most give it credit for, and then go into this completely blind.
Sal's CyberneticsThe Immersive MachineEscape roomIRLA very well realized small-scale adventure. It begins fleshing out its own universe from the moment you enter the lobby (and apparently the company is trying to make the lobby even more immersive) all the way to end, and the adventure only grows along the way (and while I call the overall scope of the adventure “small-scale” the gameplay itself is surprisingly extensive). I don’t think I’ve seen a game that creates its universe and story quite as charmingly as this one.
Captain Spoopy Bones and the Magnificent Quest For Some Other Pirate's Treasure!Doldrick's Escape RoomEscape roomIRLDespite this being a very well-liked and praised game I would somehow still call this game underrated. This game simultaneously manages to be a great split-group prison game and a great pirate ship game while also having one of the best and funniest intro and outro scenes I’ve ever seen. Also the final space of this game is so cool.
Henchmen’s HeistThe Nemesis ClubEscape roomIRLProbably the most insane amount of detail I’ve ever seen put into a game. Every single detail is some kind of charming joke building up this very entertaining world the whole game revolves around. That being said, I’m kind of mixed on the game as a whole, at least compared to the other games at Nemesis Club. A lot of the gameplay has issues (boring, vague, overly difficult physical puzzles) and because of the that the game just doesn’t land as well as it should have. But play this amazing game anyway and take some time to pay attention to the little things in the room.
