The Cabin: Chapter 2 - Monie MotelEscape Hour AustinEscape roomIRLWe had a great time with chapter two. Although scary experiences are not our favorite, the puzzles and theming were so satisfying to solve that it was definitely worth it. The amount of exploration of this “room” was my favorite aspect.
The Cabin: Chapter 1Escape Hour AustinEscape roomIRLOverall, another solid room by Escape Hour. I’ve done tons of escape rooms, but this was my first scary room that I had played. Although I think I would have enjoyed it more without the fear element, we still had a great time. There were a handful of very innovate puzzles, but even the traditional-style puzzles were still fun. Lots to explore, and the staff was incredible as always. There seemed to be less puzzles than I’d usually expect, but the pacing was good due to being slowed down by the lingering fear of a jump scare.
PlaygroundThe Escape Game - AustinEscape roomIRLI’ve played almost all of the rooms at The Escape Game, and this one is one of my favorites. Although it’s listed as their easiest room, the sheer number of puzzles makes it a challenge if your group is the right size. We had a group of three experienced players and absolutely loved the pacing and difficulty. The puzzles were satisfying with a a few novel twists, and the theming was top notch (like almost all of The Escape Game’s other rooms). Overall, I’d rate this as an 8.5/10
Magic Heist60 to Escape - SchaumburgEscape roomIRLThe defining feature of Magic Heist is the theming of the entire experience. The quality of the set and the puzzles are top notch. Even when some of the puzzles frustrated us when we knew what to do (or thought we knew what to do) but couldn’t quite get there, solving them was very satisfying each time. Not once did a solution seem dumb or poorly thought out. Overall, this was a great experience for experienced escapers.
Cosmic CrisisThe Escape Game - AustinEscape roomIRLVery fun room with tons of high tech puzzles. The immersion was great even if the puzzles were on the easier side to complete. The ending of the game left us slightly unsatisfied, but not enough to stop us from having a good time.
The End of the Bleeping WorldNiagara EscapementEscape roomIRLThis was a very enjoyable room. The puzzles all made sense and the theming was cohesive. All of the puzzles/props in the room were there for a reason. The puzzles were moderately challenging - enough to feel satisfied for solving but not quite at the level of feeling like a genius. The ending came sooner than expected, but the owner was incredibly friendly and talked at length with us about all of the puzzles after we had escaped. We had a great time!
Mystery Manor60 to Escape - SchaumburgEscape roomIRLThis room was such a good time! The theming was out of this world, and the puzzles lent itself perfectly to the story. There are times when the puzzles are linear, and times when it is nonlinear, so it was a good mix of teamwork and everyone had plenty of opportunities to contribute. For beginners, this room will spoil you with easy, intuitive puzzles with a very satisfying reward for solving each of them. For experienced escapers, this room will leave you floored with all of the effects and immersion. Highly recommended for all.
Outlaw's HideoutEscape Again RoomsEscape roomIRLWe had a great time at this room. It was a perfect blend of old and new, and the theming was very well thought out and executed. There were a couple of neat special effects that made us smile and laugh. The difficulty of the puzzles was perfect for our group of experienced escapers. We’re looking forward to returning to complete this company’s other rooms.
Pandora’s BoxTrapped! Escape Room - Las VegasEscape roomIRLWow. This room is a showstopper. A must play for both experienced and rookie players. The game has components built in to adapt to varying skill levels. The immersion was top notch with effects unique to all other escape rooms I’ve ever played. 10/10 would highly recommend.
The Wine VaultGrapevine EscapeEscape roomIRLWe had a great time at The Wine Vault. The staff was very friendly and we were surprised to learn that we could purchase unlimited alcoholic drinks for 20 dollars at the start of the experience. The puzzles flowed well, and although there weren’t any revolutionary twists or turns, the puzzles were all satisfying to complete. Overall, this is a great mom and pop escape room with well thought out puzzles.
