Paradox | The Incredible Time MachineRabbit Hole Recreation ServicesEscape roomIRLOne of the more interesting rooms we've done. We recommend roughly 5 people because there is ample room and multiple heads for each puzzle came in handy at times. It's not especially linear outside of a few things and people can find their own tasks, but this will require at least two sets of hands for some puzzles.
Ruins of the Mystic TempleRabbit Hole Recreation ServicesEscape roomIRLOur group of 4 adults, one 9yo, finished in 43 minutes with one clue that we didn't ask for so we must have really been trailing of for the GM to suggest it. The room is loosely linear with a little flexibility for group members to find their own things at times, but I think a group of 4 is still ideal to get different ideas and perspectives on the solves. We loved the technical features, use of lights, and audio. Some puzzles had multiple steps. I wouldn't call them red herrings, but some clues can easily lead you the wrong way quickly and you have to think through them simply, but clearly.
The Stolen RelicThemescape Escape RoomsEscape roomIRLOur group of six completed this but can't recall how long it took. We felt it was memorable, not especially linear, not too many lock/key puzzles.
Vampire HunterEscapeWorks Denver - Convention CenterEscape roomIRLWe had a group of six; three couples that came separately and completed as strangers. We really like that rooms are available to complete as strangers because we often cannot get more than two people to get together and some of these rooms are just too complex for two to complete. This one had some nice technical puzzles that were not lock and key based.
Blackbeard's BrigEscapeWorks Denver - Convention CenterEscape roomIRLOur group of two joined a group of five strangers and we definitely had more people than necessary, leaving people to stand about feeling unhelpful. The puzzles were fun and the ship navigation game-within-a-game was unique. Props were neat, nice atmosphere, nothing crazy dated or broken. I'd probably recommend this room but I think another reviewer said they spent way too much time on one thing and our group definitely got wrapped up in that false avenue as well. That was the nice thing about having more than necessary people in the end - others got to focus on things that actually moved us forward.
The ReelPuzzle Effect - DenverEscape roomIRLWe felt this room was pretty dated, with some components needing replacement. It's very linear and simple, I'd say ok for kids but because a major lockbox was broken and one of the keys fit better into a different lock than it was intended for there will probably be some confusion. It's very lock and key.
The PathPuzzle Effect - DenverEscape roomIRLWe completed as a group of 4 in 47 minutes but two of our group members did receive several hints. This is not linear, no locks involved, and everyone really needs to find a thing and work on it. Some puzzles have several steps and take longer than others. We felt the room was well decorated and the gamemaster was on point observing us to help with hints they knew might need more attention. My one complaint is that the writing board is very tiny and there is only one; it would have been helpful to have two.
Egyptian TombEscapeWorks Denver - Convention CenterEscape roomIRLOur group of two did not complete. We needed maybe 2 more minutes to complete the last task, and we felt a little slighted because we spent at least that much time focusing on a box that ended up being broken. The gamemaster eventually saw we were struggling with it and came in to give us the key it held. There were a couple of things that didn't flow especially well, like things that really could be done multiple ways and resulted in more trial and error than ideal.
In CheckEscape ThisEscape roomIRLOf the rooms I've done so far this was among my least favorite. It's been a couple of years now and I can't speak to whether it's been updated, but at the time it was pretty janky and simplistic with mostly lock and key puzzles. We felt that some puzzles required knowledge that wasn't found in the room itself, like an inside joke or reference.
Naughty NedPuzzle Effect - DenverEscape roomIRLOur group of four adults completed this 25 minutes early, largely because they were spoonfeeding us answers without us asking for them. This is definitely more ideal for kids. Some of the elements were a little janky; ceiling tiles needing replacement, poor sound system.
