Servants of SleightThe Exit Games FLEscape roomIRLServants somehow managed to live up to the incredible amount of hype behind it. The environments are incredibly well-made and detailed, the puzzles are top-notch and unique, and the surprises throughout are wonderful. This game could have ended halfway through and it would have been my top game ever - and then the second half got even better. If you travel to Tampa, you NEED to play this game
Pins & Needles Tattoo ParlorThe Exit Games FLEscape roomIRLJust flat out incredible. The rooms here are decorated masterfully, the puzzles are unique and seamless, and the story is one that I don't think I can ever forget. Like seriously, holy s$&! the thought that went into every detail around the story left me figuring things out weeks after I had played. The difficulty is also so perfect, such that we never felt stuck on one puzzle for too long but still got plenty of great solve moments. I really can't recommend this room enough - this venue is worth taking a vacation for.
La Cathédrale Oubliée [The Forgotten Cathedral]Escaparium - LavalEscape roomIRLThe Forgotten Cathedral is so grandiose and ambitious that I can't believe it exists. The sheer scale of what escaparium has built is insane, but the game never lingers on it, and instead moves you from one stunning environment to the next. Even the "smaller" areas were breathtaking, and one room in particular just took my breath away. Combine this with magical special effects and some spectacular sound design, and you have a room that I can't believe wasn't built by Disney or Universal Studios. However, I do think that it is important to mention that the puzzling here didn't quite live up to the promise of the set design. The room felt more task based and I felt was lacking a good multi-level puzzle like ones we found in Escapariums other games. The tech was also finicky at times, and we had a particularly rough moment in the final room that took away a ton of our momentum. I think, despite the flaws, everyone who can should play the Cathedral just to see what is possible with the escape room medium. If this is what we can expect more of in the coming years, I am extremely excited to keep playing games and seeing what comes next.
Ghost PatrolTrivium GamesEscape roomIRLGhost Patrol was whimsical and adorable - the story was so perfectly integrated into the puzzling that I had a smile on my face practically the entire time. The ambience and lighting was a masterclass in how to set the mood without saying a word. It wasn't mind-blowing but it was a perfectly great experience that is well-deserving of the praise it gets.
The Man From BeyondStrange Bird ImmersiveEscape roomIRLYup, this game is as good as everyone says. Don't read any more then you have to, just come to Houston and enjoy the ride - which was by far one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had.
The Starlight MotelEscape Artist Greenville - DowntownEscape roomIRLThe Starlight Motel. The game that (imo) put EA Greenville on the map, and therefore came with a ton of hype. I am happy to report that it absolutely lives up to it and deserves even more. What makes this room is the interactions with the actor (which are required - get your improv hat ready!) and the finale which genuinely was one of those most thrilling and scary moments I’ve had in an escape room. The tension that builds up through the entire game is palpable and truly a masterpiece. Come from anywhere you can go spend a night at the Starlight Motel, cause it just might be your last!
Molly's GameUntold Stories Experiences [prev. Down the Hatch]Escape roomIRLThis is how escape rooms should be made, and this is the quintessential example of how an attraction can elevate itself beyond its roots. That’s not to say it is perfect - every Oscar winner still has flaws, and can be appreciated by different people in different ways. Mollys Game leans into its story which is told exceptionally well through the puzzles and environments you move through. I also want to particularly highlight the sound and light design, which was simply incredible and heightened the experience with multiple senses. The story is dark and there are scary moments, so make sure you have a brave heart before you enter her game. But if you can, you absolutely should come experience it for yourself and see what Down the Hatch has created.
Dark LullabyEscape Artist Greenville - Hampton StationEscape roomIRLI absolutely loved Dark Lullaby. The escape room elements were fantastic, with some crazy cool set design, puzzles that were consistently solid and fun to solve, and a flow and story that was well told. The scary aspects of the room were just perfect - a great mix of telegraphed cinematic moments and jump scares. The character interactions were also simply phenomenal and made the entire experience so much better. Absolutely worth traveling for and an experience I will never be able to forget (even if I want to!)
The DomeMama BazookaEscape roomIRLThe dome bills itself as an acid trip and certainly delivers on that premise. It is a wild right that leaves you with no idea what will happen. The room design is spectacular and worth the price of entry alone. The transitions are wild and really create an unreal adventure. It is a next level escape room that feels like it was made by a “very intoxicated” Walt Disney. However, I would very very strongly recommend not playing this game with two people. The game has a variable difficulty level, and with two people we didn’t feel like we were accomplishing much other than moving between environments. It was also extremely overstimulating, which with fewer hands can make completing simple tasks feel impossible. For these reasons, we felt let down by the puzzling, and there was only 1 or 2 moments that gave us the proper puzzling satisfaction. I think the dome is an important part of the history of top escape rooms, but it certainly is not for everyone. Bring a good team, prepare yourself for the trip, and enjoy an extremely unique and wild experience!
RobotopiaOmescape - SunnyvaleEscape roomIRLRobotopia was another step up for Omescape - something that I thought would be almost impossible after Undercooked. The incredible collaborative and multi-leveled puzzling, the giant and dynamic space, mixed with a perfect amount of humor and wit deliver an experience akin to a blockbuster movie in both quality and length. Run, don't walk to come check out one of the new top dogs in the bay!
![La Cathédrale Oubliée [The Forgotten Cathedral]](https://res.cloudinary.com/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/2c2890dd-87b6-4712-8136-8403e436ec72.jpg)
