Election DayAppleseed AvenueEscape roomIRLAppleseed Avenue’s Election Day is of the most inventive and immersive escape rooms I’ve ever done. As humans in the puppet world solving puppet on puppet crime, the puzzles make you feel like a true detective and the inclusion of actual puppets push the gameplay to 10. Adam and Badam are some of the best gamemasters to do it and I hope they see the same success when Chapter 2 is completed.
Storyteller's SecretBoxarooEscape roomIRLAn amazing room. Truly one of the top 3 I’ve done thus far. Though the “writer’s study” trope has been done time and time again, this version was a breath of fresh air. Not only were the puzzles intriguing and difficult, they were vibrant and full of life. The ideas were separate but cohesive and the final puzzle had such a smart twist I still remember it some 6 months later.
Lab RatHatch EscapesEscape roomIRLPhenomenal. One of the best times I’ve had in an escape room. Hatch’s reputation precedes itself and I was blown away by not only the set design but the sheer amount of puzzles and quality of them as well. I did it with a larger group than usual but that heightened the stakes and made solving things even more exciting. With a theme that I’ve never seen replicated and a room that spans surprisingly far into the building, Lab Rat is a must-experience room for any fan of escaping.
The Hex RoomCross Roads Escape GamesEscape roomIRLHex Room’s concept for a classic horror movie is incredibly executed. The separation of all the character tropes is a novel way to start and the different rooms make it replayable. Puzzles were mostly different ways to find numbers and words and finding the right places to put them, not much in the way of dexterity puzzles. The ambiance and build of the room are astounding and with the right group of people it’s a wonderful game.
The Bridge BetweenQuest TavernEscape roomIRLOne of the most insane rooms I’ve ever done. The place itself is hidden in the corner of a strip mall but you walk in and it’s like a Renn Fair in all its olde glory. The furnishings are colorful and abundant, even the bathrooms are gorgeous. You can really sense the time and effort the owners put into not only the lobby but the room itself. This is the first “expert” room I’ve done that felt really expert without being cheap in some way. No convoluted puzzles or leaps in logic, just a ton of puzzles for the amount of time you’re given. The puzzles were solvable and had a wonderful progression, steeped in theming and they all felt incredible to solve. Though there were a lot of locks and keys, it never felt like too many or too reliant on specifically finding a number or sequence; every puzzle was special and my group kept fawning over it on the car ride home. We don’t live close to Quest Tavern but we are excited to be back and play the rest of their games. This is what escape rooms are meant to be.
PlaygroundThe Escape Game - NYC MidtownEscape roomIRLMe and my friend did this room after we tackled this same location’s Prison Break which is one of my favorite rooms I’ve done. We were told there were more puzzles though they were easier. And for two seasoned players like ourselves that’s exactly what we got. Playground was simple but exciting. The puzzles were easy to understand and creatively distributed through the room. Certain puzzles were surprising to unlock and the colorful set design kept us guessing where the next puzzle laid. Starting in a classroom and extending to the schoolyard made the adventure a truly memorable one.
13th BasementExit Game OC - AnaheimEscape roomIRLA parody of classic escape rooms, 13th Basement is a great idea with a beautiful design and classic feel. Harkening back to the escape rooms of yore, this one uses locks, blacklight, and fake outs to poke fun at their absurd, sometimes convoluted nature. The Saw references and gore are perfect for any horror enthusiasts and it feels perfect for a group of beginners and experts alike.
InksidiousEscape Room 66 - Los AngelesEscape roomIRLInksidious’ storyline is the weakest part of the game but that being said the whole game is still incredibly fun. Though it’s very lock based, the puzzles you solve to get the codes are creative and different. The style and aesthetic are well-integrated with the theming of the room and it makes use of the space inside the room, making it feel larger than expected. The second room is worth the price of admission.
Meow! I'm a Cat.Exit Game OC - AnaheimEscape roomIRLRECORD HOLDERS BABYYYY! No but seriously, what a fun room. You are kittens in a room of big cat toys trying to get adopted. Though the puzzles are easy, I’m fully aware this room is more for kids and our group has played a LOT of rooms. It’s all on purpose and it’s a purrfect way to get kids involved in escape rooms. Jeremiah who saw us in and talked to us after is knowledgeable about the business and this room shows his passion paid off.
Conundrum MuseumBoxarooEscape roomIRLThough not the BEST art museum escape room I’ve done, this is FAR from the worst. The room is relatively small but that’s not to its detriment. The pieces of art around the room had a variety of working parts and ideas they excelled in. Teamwork is a main tent pole of this room and getting the final pieces in place together is satisfying.
