ExcaliburMindTrap Escape Room - MurrietaEscape roomIRLLiteral grinning like a child moments. This game is the epitome of living your childhood dreams. The puzzles were spectacular. The locations were STUNNING. It’s not often that your GM has amazing voice acting skills that aide to the immersion of the room.
TakenMindTrap Escape Room - Old Town TemeculaEscape roomIRLAre you looking for a short scary immersive experience? This room has advanced puzzles. Good lighting, and impressive use of space. If you aren’t sure about scary experiences yet, this is a great noncommittal game to see where you stand.
Gold RushMindTrap Escape Room - TemeculaEscape roomIRLI love how much detail they packed into every puzzle. I felt the entire time that I was discovering something new. This game is definitely one that gives you that deeply satisfying climactic ending.
Down The Rabbit HoleTrapped! Escape Room - UplandEscape roomIRLWhenever a game uses sound to add an extra layer to the immersion, it’s always memorable. This room was so well designed. They have accomplished in creating an experience not easily comparable. Highly recommend!
Conspiracy Of Tia Canyons CorpMindTrap Escape Room - TemeculaEscape roomIRLThis is one of those game where it feels like there is so much information, but still it maintained the MindTrap love and consideration in every puzzle. If you are looking to do a top secret mission, you are in the right place.
Pillow PalaceOpen Door Escape Games - Citrus Grove Business ParkEscape roomIRLVery soft TW: the tiniest hint of religious undertone that left me a little uncomfortable. It would probably have not bothered me so if it were necessary for the room, but the senseless shoehorning grossed me out. Aside from that very minor experience EVERYTHING else is so lovely. From the details in the set, to the set design itself. As always Opendoor delivered in such beautifully incorporated puzzles. Even though most of their locks [if not all] are still analog, none stuck which is amazing. It is scented, so if you have allergies to sweet smells this is another warning. It isn’t too in your face, but it’s definitely still there.
KidnappedOpen Door Escape Games - DowntownEscape roomIRLNever have I ever thought that I would be brave enough to play a room like this one at night. With the loud club down stairs, you make your way up the stairs into a empty hallway where you wait at a door. It’s all like the beginning of a horror movie creating a chilling atmosphere. Our host made great use of theatrical effects to further have us absorbed into the setting. The puzzles were intriguing and flowed linearly. All around amazing play, especially for scaredy-cats such as myself. Great way to dip your toes into the genre without too much at stake.
Blood ThirstChronos Escape RoomEscape roomIRLInvokes amazing sense of atmosphere, and suspense, with little to no truly scary additives.
The MenagerieTrapped! Escape Room - UplandEscape roomIRLThis room is so unique in that you aren’t trying to escape as much as accomplish. The listing is misleading, and gave me hope of a more spooky gothic feel. Instead I was sent on a mission with Criminal Minds, of which while enjoyable still caught us off guard. The puzzles are challenging, but not impossible with collaboration.
Save SantaClever Fox Escape Rooms - TemeculaEscape roomIRLThe true meaning of Christmas in July. This room delivers on true holiday spirit and joy in a way that you aren’t really expecting, considering it was just a pop up. Going into it in May I didn’t realize how much fun we would have. Even blowing through the puzzles as quickly as we had, I would highly recommend it as an experience to add under your belt.
