MagnificoEscaparium - LavalEscape roomIRLWhat a meticulously crafted experience. The nuanced characters, the intricate costumes, the sprawling set, the cleverly-plotted story, and the sheer spectacle of it all is audacious in the best possible way. It has heart, ambition, creativity, and joy running through its veins. It very well might be “the greatest show there is.”
Hope EndThe Ministry Of PeculiaritiesEscape roomIRLWow! I’ve visited over 50 escape room companies, and no other company does immersion BEFORE the game starts. When you enter the lobby, you’re entering a new world. All the acting is top-notch, though the voice acting doesn’t hold a candle to the host and cast. The combination of tech, clever physical puzzles, actor interactions, and teamwork makes for a dynamic, immersive, and exciting experience. It’s easy to get lost in the story when every piece of the game serves it so well. All the puzzles make sense in-world and don’t require insane logical leaps. It’s simultaneously funny, eerie, ambitious, and down-to-earth. What a fantastic experience!
L'Île perdue de la Reine Vaudou [The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen]Escaparium - LavalEscape roomIRLThis one rocks — literally!!! Yes, the pirate theme has been done to death, but this game breathed fresh life into it by upping the immersion and making the 3 acts of this room all completely different from each other in a way that serves and progresses the narrative. The ship is the star of the show here, as it actually rocks. Plus, it’s got a lot of other thematic features that I won’t spoil here. There’s a little searching involved, but it’s mainly observation, abstraction, and object manipulation. The one traditional lock here fits in with the theme, and it’s actually very satisfying! Wonderful room that has a few tricks up its sleeve and does some really novel stuff!
Storyteller's SecretBoxarooEscape roomIRLAn exceptionally polished room with wonderful theming, non-linear puzzles, magical technology, and no traditional locks. The room encourages deeply out-of-the-box thinking at times, but it always is logical, fair, and fun. The final puzzle is really simple and elegant, a beautiful culmination of all that came before.
Mogollon Monster: Scouting for Arizona's BigfootThe Nemesis ClubEscape roomIRLDeeply thematic, immaculately crafted, cleverly written… This is why we play escape rooms! It delivered a memorable, unique, and genuinely exciting hour for us. Very few traditional locks meant you had to interact with props and the world in some fun and novel ways. The atmospheric effects may be the best I’ve experienced in a room. And few escape rooms nail the intro and finale like this one!
Sal's CyberneticsThe Immersive MachineEscape roomIRLSuch a wonderful experience! From the exceptionally pleasant staff to the unique theming to the playful and rich environment to the satisfying puzzles, this room offers something for every type of escape room lover. You can tell this was a room made with love by people who have deliberately designed an experience, as opposed to just a room with puzzles.
Armoire à Vendre [Wardrobe for Sale]Escaparium - LavalEscape roomIRLThis is so much more than just an escape room. I know the descriptions of this room are vague, but understand that's because the joy of this room is in the surprise, theme, and discovery. Enjoy the story and the ride! From the setup to the puzzles to the environment, this room does so many things that no other escape room would even dare. This is seriously next-level.
Lockbuster Video60 to Escape - SchaumburgEscape roomIRLWhat an elegant, impressive, and whimsical game! Beyond the charming theme is a polished set with spectacular lighting cues; stunning reveals; and clean puzzles that are varied, tactile, and just plain fun. While this experience is overall elegant with immaculate flow, there was one spot where the tech was a little finicky, and there is a certain puzzle that will be nigh impossible for anyone even vaguely colorblind. Overall, though, it’s a fantastic room for enthusiasts and newcomers. Just a joy!
Henchmen’s HeistThe Nemesis ClubEscape roomIRLA creative and ambitious game that injects a lot of fun amidst some serious puzzle solving. As with all Nemesis games, the set is brilliant, and this one really has some fun surprises. While I did love this game, I will say some puzzles and interactions felt too underclued. A late-game section was simultaneously delightful and frustrating, as we didn’t know how to find the right answer but finding wrong answers was hilarious; when time is steadily ticking down, this can cause undue stress. Still, few games have been such powerful joy factories as this one.
The Weeping WitchCross Roads Escape GamesEscape roomIRLI'm approaching 150 rooms. I've done many TERPECA top 100 rooms or nominees. The Weeping Witch is a standout in any category, horror or no. The puzzle signposting is so elegant and so clear. The props are delightfully substantial. The horror is well-telegraphed, dramatic, and shocking. The puzzles are challenging, varied, and thematic. The hint system provides joy and levity as a palette cleanser for the horror. Few games provide so much umph into such a small space. Truly a delight.
![L'Île perdue de la Reine Vaudou [The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen]](https://res.cloudinary.com/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/ea8040b8-d20c-48b1-a683-d874c1ae6eb1.jpg)
![Armoire à Vendre [Wardrobe for Sale]](https://res.cloudinary.com/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_260/f_auto/v1/store/s/02541450-7205-4371-935f-ae98c672dcbb.jpeg)
