Timeliner: Train Through TimeThe Escape Game - Crocker ParkEscape roomIRLHaving worked at an escape room and played many, I don't think I realized an escape room could look and feel this amazing. The level of immersion and detail felt in this room was unbelievable - so much so that I was hardly focusing on the time and more so just enjoying all the great details. The puzzles all made an excellent flow through the different time periods, and it was very satisfying how each of the time periods hid in plain sight and then highlighted themselves when you got to them. My one friend and I played together and managed to get out just in time - but even if we didn't, this room was such an unforgettable experience. Out of 19 escape rooms I've played at the time of writing, this one is absolutely my favorite.
Prison BreakThe Escape Game - Crocker ParkEscape roomIRLIn competition with Escapology's 7 Deadly Sins for the hardest escape room I've played, with some frustration spawning from the amount of hints my group needed, I’m really trying to put our puzzle solving abilities that didn't live up to par aside when deciding how much I enjoy this room. This room's visual spectacle is back on par with that of Timeliner and Gold Rush in its own way, and the gimmick of being separated into two cells in the beginning is an incredibly unique, fun, and inherently challenging feature that I'd love to see more often - if it fits the theme and is used properly. The puzzles were fun, albeit very difficult at times, and admittedly more forgettable than those of rooms like Gold Rush. It is a lot of lock and key with generally basic means of finding the numbers or letters, but basic does not mean easy in this case. This room might have the most impressive visual spectacle of any room I've seen in terms of physical build, with Timeliner being better for its use of technology. It also has a very detailed and impressive lore that doesn't play a huge part, but still impressive attention to detail. Current rank: 3/23
The DepthsThe Escape Game - Crocker ParkEscape roomIRLEscape Game's production value is never to be undercut. The amount of details and high quality puzzles/tech are prevalent in this room and makes for a very fun and immersive experience. Like many escape rooms have, this one features multiple rooms, which you can find renderings of provided by the company. Given that I don't believe this to be a spoiler, I feel comfortable saying I don't think the first two rooms flow together that well - feeling very different from one another and not really feeling like they connect as much. That said, I like most of the puzzles, although it's admittedly not my favorite set - it starts off super fun and then gets really cool at the end, but some of the in-between hits a slight (not detrimental by any means) dry spell. Some of the puzzles are fairly difficult, but myself and one other person managed to get out with a handful of hints and 2 minutes on the clock. Overall, definitely a very fun, tricky escape room I definitely recommend. Out of 19 escape rooms I've played at the time of writing, this one ranks 7th.
Gold RushThe Escape Game - Fisherman's WharfEscape roomIRLWith the most unique puzzle lineup of any game I've played, this room just might also have the best puzzles out of any room I've played - Timeliner's theme just barely keeps it from being my favorite room of all time. The room itself was incredibly immersive as well, and with production value you can only find from The Escape Game. Out of 22 escape rooms I’ve played at the time of writing, this one ranks a very close 2nd.
Cabin In The WoodsEscape Room - ClevelandEscape roomIRLI think my reasons for enjoying this escape room as much as I did was 80% the room itself and 20% my game master, but that is not to discount the room by any means. This room's elaborate design that doesn't skip any details, combined with the (unintentionally?) cheap and creaky floors made this one of the most immersive escape rooms I've ever played. We (myself and one other) probably would've gotten out had it not been for us spending the first 10 minutes hiding in the corner because we were so scared! That can be attested to William, our game master, who made sure to explain that grown men had peed their pants in the room and the lock didn't work because someone broke it trying to sprint out of the room. Although it wasn't very scary in retrospect, the paranoia in the moment combined with the excellent design made this a room I'll be playing again just to see how some of my friends react! Out of 19 escape rooms I've played as of the time of writing, this one ranks 2nd.
The HeistThe Escape Game - Crocker ParkEscape roomIRLIn a company where their rooms all look a step above in terms of spectacle, quality, and technology, you can definitely tell that this is the Escape Game's oldest room - according to the manager of this location. While games like Timeliner and Depths have a lot more visually impressive technology and puzzles that are similarly more advanced in that regard, Heist feels more lock and key and traditional - although it does still have a lot of really neat puzzles and technology pieces. Some of the puzzles were tricker than others and a lot of things are hiding in plain sight in unique ways not often seen with other companies. My one friend and I managed to get out with just nine seconds remaining, which was a great thrill! Although it wasn't my favorite theme or game with the company, it was still very well made and tons of fun. Out of the 19 escape rooms I've played at the time of writing, this one ranks 9th.
Scooby-Doo™ and the Spooky Castle AdventureEscapology - North OlmstedEscape roomIRLThis room is one of the best in the greater Cleveland area. The Scooby Doo immersion and charm is prominent from start to finish - with real Scooby Doo voice actors prominent throughout and fun, wacky props and puzzles along the way. I played this room by myself and got out in about an hour and eight minutes (with lots of clues,) and while there is a lot going on at times, none of the puzzles are too terribly hard and I think it's a middle-tier difficulty, and right in the middle of the 5 Escapology North Olmsted rooms in terms of difficulty. Out of 20 rooms I've played at the time of writing, this one ranks 3rd. I highly recommend this room for everyone who likes Scooby Doo, escape rooms, and especially both!
EnigmaEscape Room - StrongsvilleEscape roomIRLAs is to be expected from Escape Room Cleveland, the room is built fine and everything worked no problem. Unfortunately, a black and white room doesn't make for the most memorable experience. The puzzles all worked fine, even though it wasn't my favorite set of puzzles and some were pretty tricky. Probably for the better that it's gone in place of something hopefully better, but that's not to say it was bad. Out of the 19 escape rooms I've played at the time of writing, this one ranks 15th.
Dr. Jones And The Sword Of KingsEscape Room - Middleburg [prev. Trapped! Escape Room]Escape roomIRLAlthough this room sort of flew under the radar for me for a long time due to having a relatively uninspiring theme, this game pretty much met my expectations as a room that was solid, and not much more. The game had a pretty interesting story and one very unique device, along with a notably well built second (and first) room. The game also did a great job at making you pay attention to detail and find the answers where you sometimes least expect them. The puzzle lineup as a whole was good, but not great, which can also be said about most of the puzzles individually. It didn't have a standout puzzle, but there were some annoying ones that bring down the room a little bit. It is also worth noting that the door to the second room is one of the best-hidden I've ever seen. Although the room may have been a bit too difficult for two people, the puzzles are overall mediocre, and we were missing a prop, the room still does its job well and serves as a great member of Middleburg's supporting cast.
TH3 C0D3Escapology - SolonEscape roomIRLI think this competes with Antidote for being the best beginner escape room I've ever played; it has a great theme that is applied well in the game while also having mostly simple puzzles. Although there were two puzzles that were a bit obscure and maybe above the otherwise low difficulty of the room the puzzles are otherwise straightforward and enjoyable. Some elements felt a little overkill to the point of them being irritancies, but overall a simple but well put-together room that I would certainly recommend to all.
