UtopiaLock and Key EscapeEscape roomIRLI would highly recommend this escape room for groups of 4. It was hard for our group of 3 intermediate puzzlers + 1 beginner (but we still managed to escape with a couple of hints). The best part of this room was how immersive the puzzles were with the story! The puzzles were also fun and pretty unique. Our GM Alex was great — the best GM in any of the rooms I’ve done so far!
The AttractionPalace GamesEscape roomIRLThis was my first Palace Games escape room and wow, the production value is so high! “The Attraction” had a really fun storyline and no time limit, so you can slow down and really enjoy the story elements as they play out. The puzzles were easy-medium and a lot of fun to solve in a group. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a cool experience to try!
Pandora’s BoxTrapped! Escape Room - Las VegasEscape roomIRLThe room is pretty beginner friendly and perfect for small groups due to its sequential nature (only 1-2 puzzles active at any given time). The sound effects were pretty startling at first, so just be aware of that going in. Some of the equipment had a bit of wear and tear as well (e.g. faded marks, the clock seemed broken so we had to ask for the time remaining). Overall, it was pretty fun to experience! It was a cool storyline and the game master, Carys, was really committed to the acting. And if you finish early, there’s an extra set of puzzles that gets unlocked!
Impossible MissionLock and Key EscapeEscape roomIRLThis was a fun room! Some interesting puzzles that really test your group’s teamwork and communication skills. We did the room with 3 intermediate + 1 beginner and were able to finish. Would recommend playing with a group of 2-4 people. While there are some puzzles that can be done in parallel, we ended up doing most of them sequentially. Overall, well integrated puzzles, cool room decorations, and a fun time!
Kingdom Of Cat-tastrophyOmescape - SunnyvaleEscape roomIRLThis was a really fun and immersive room! It’s a 90 minute room, but we were able to complete it with a group of 2 people. I’d probably recommend having 3-4 people though, since some puzzles were more difficult with just 2 people. We just did the Kingdom of Cats room (from Omescape San Jose), so it was fun to do the sequel too. Compared to that room, this one had a lot better cohesion and super thematic puzzles! The puzzles were on the easier side, though some were a little unintuitive. The structure was linear, so having >4 people can become too crowded. Overall, we had a wonderful time and loved the immersion! Our GM, Cesar, was really friendly as well. Too bad he’s leaving Omescape soon, farewell Cesar!
Forsaken TempleOmescape - SunnyvaleEscape roomIRLI really liked this room! The puzzles were fun but not too difficult and the production value / props is really fancy. The story was a little confusing and we had to keep going back to one room to watch videos to progress the story. But otherwise, I really enjoyed the puzzles and atmosphere of the room. I would recommend 3-4 players for this room. The puzzles are linear and some of the spaces are pretty small, so it would be difficult for more players.
Operation: X-13Trapped! Escape Room - Las VegasEscape roomIRLThis room was on the easier side, but I really enjoyed the story progression! We finished with 2 people, though we both are pretty experienced. The puzzles are pretty linear, so probably not great for large groups. Our GM Haleigh did a great job leading us along and playing their character!
Santa’s Naughty ListWill You Escape?Escape roomIRLThis was a nice experience! The puzzles are standard and good for beginners. The room is lock-based and pretty linear, so would recommend for groups of 2-3 (we did it with a group of 2). There were parts where it was hard to keep track of everything happening so staying organized is key. But overall the puzzles were fun!
Pet ProjectLocked ManhattanEscape roomIRLWe really enjoyed this experience! It’s a newer room, so it might be subject to change, but we managed to barely escape using 3 hints. The puzzles were fun and the room/props were cool and on theme! Would recommend for intermediate to expert puzzle hunt groups with ~4 people. One note: There are “do not touch” stickers on a lot of the props in the room, which is consistent with other rooms at this location. It took me a while to get used to it, but as the GM will warn, you can still look at it and interact with it in ways other than touching!
Kingdom of CatsOmescape - San JoseEscape roomIRLWe had an amazing experience! We did the room with a group of 2 and was able to finish. The structure is pretty linear (i.e. few puzzles active at any given time), so larger groups will probably have trouble as there might be too many cats in the kitchen 😸 The puzzles are cute straightforward and on the easier side. We loved the multiple room setup and cool props - would recommend for beginner groups. We’re looking forward to trying the sequel (Kingdom of Cat-astrophe) next!
