ZZ's Big Top Circus

ZZ's Big Top Circus

Very positive (201 ratings)

  • Escape room
  • IRL

Mark as done to rate

The big top circus is on a halt, as the magician’s wand had gone missing. The show cannot happen without this and the clown is on the way to find it, help them out!

  • 3-8
  • 60 mins
  • Hard
  • Not scary

Awards

Ratings

All ratings (201)

Very positive

Gameplay
Very positive
Atmosphere
Very positive
Customer service
Very positive

Reviews

@clrjffrsn
clrjffrsn

36 escape rooms

It’s always a pleasure to come here! Their rooms do not disappoint at all. Definitely one of the best in the Phoenix area! ¨̮

Gameplay

Yes yes yes!! You definitely need at least three people for this one & it did not disappoint!

Atmosphere

Yessss!! Such a creative fun environment

Customer service

Always amazing friendly staff here!

Scary

Spooky

Just a tiny part! A circus theme has the potential to be a little creepy depending on how much you like or dislike circus themed things

Aug 10, 2025 | Experienced Aug 10, 2025
@GarlicBread42
GarlicBread42

147 escape rooms

A fun game all around. In particular the second room in this is really fun, and there’s a fun surprise a bit afterwards as well. One of the better circus themed games I’ve played.

Gameplay
Atmosphere
Customer service
Particularly interesting or different

Yes

Story
Difficulty

Hard

Game tech

Mechanical

Ideal number of players

4

Scary

Not scary

Minimum age

12

Was anything broken?

No

Live actors

No

Physically active

Not at all

Easy to find location

Yes

Parking

Medium

Jun 22, 2025 | Experienced Jun 22, 2025
@Nessren
Nessren

239 escape rooms

Really immersive theming. Clever clue system. Fun puzzles and good variety. Love more interactive puzzles like this room has.

Gameplay
Atmosphere
Customer service
Minimum age

8

Feb 16, 2025 | Experienced Feb 16, 2025
@Mumbalaya
Mumbalaya

57 escape rooms

Circus room with a song that plays in a loop. Confusing on what to do at times, but interesting.

Gameplay

This isn’t a knock on the themeing, but I didn’t feel like I was ever sure what to do next. Even from the start it wasn’t exactly clear. There were always several elements of a game available to interact with. Never sure which locks your code went to since they were all very similar locks. We would all have to just go to a lock and all try the combo on them all to see if it would be that one. I did enjoy a fishing type puzzle although I only enjoyed the physical part of it. The solution wasn’t clear to me, and what to do wasn’t entirely clear. A little more clueing would make that more straightforward. The biggest issue was just having access to items and not knowing if we had enough information. That happened a few too many times that it made things feel too uncertain. Also I should have asked ahead of time if this would be linear, as that would have saved time. I don’t remember them stating that or seeing that. Could be my bad. Also there was a smell puzzle. Not sure about that from a fun perspective.

Gameplay

This isn’t a knock on the themeing, but I didn’t feel like I was ever sure what to do next. Even from the start it wasn’t exactly clear. There were always several elements of a game available to interact with. Never sure which locks your code went to since they were all very similar locks. We would all have to just go to a lock and all try the combo on them all to see if it would be that one. I did enjoy a fishing type puzzle although I only enjoyed the physical part of it. The solution wasn’t clear to me, and what to do wasn’t entirely clear. A little more clueing would make that more straightforward. The biggest issue was just having access to items and not knowing if we had enough information. That happened a few too many times that it made things feel too uncertain. Also I should have asked ahead of time if this would be linear, as that would have saved time. I don’t remember them stating that or seeing that. Could be my bad. Also there was a smell puzzle. Not sure about that from a fun perspective.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere was great. The same song played non stop which is a key to inducing insanity.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere was great. The same song played non stop which is a key to inducing insanity.

Customer service

Upon arrival we found no one in the lobby. We waited 10 minutes and no one appeared. Then a group that had finished the steampunk showed up. Their game master was with them. The didn’t greet us. They were clearly a bit overwhelmed or perhaps tired. They only asked to move away from the side of the room we were sitting on to take a photo of that group. That person never said anything to us after. Next 2 workers came in, and the girl greeted us kindly and apologized for the wait. She checked us in and made sure our waivers were complete. Our guy GM then walked us over to the room. A long dark walk around the buildings. Pretty much in silence. He seemed tired, perhaps from a long and potentially uneventful evening. He went through his spiel, as if reading the game instructions on a card for the first time. No enthusiasm. Post game he was the same. We lost, and then walked us through the rest of the game. No enthusiasm. Just existing. Almost as if he was a purgatory. I’m sure it was just late, and he was tired, but even if I lose I still love to talk and have fun. Albeit this gameplay was not my favorite, I still like engaging.

Customer service

Upon arrival we found no one in the lobby. We waited 10 minutes and no one appeared. Then a group that had finished the steampunk showed up. Their game master was with them. The didn’t greet us. They were clearly a bit overwhelmed or perhaps tired. They only asked to move away from the side of the room we were sitting on to take a photo of that group. That person never said anything to us after. Next 2 workers came in, and the girl greeted us kindly and apologized for the wait. She checked us in and made sure our waivers were complete. Our guy GM then walked us over to the room. A long dark walk around the buildings. Pretty much in silence. He seemed tired, perhaps from a long and potentially uneventful evening. He went through his spiel, as if reading the game instructions on a card for the first time. No enthusiasm. Post game he was the same. We lost, and then walked us through the rest of the game. No enthusiasm. Just existing. Almost as if he was a purgatory. I’m sure it was just late, and he was tired, but even if I lose I still love to talk and have fun. Albeit this gameplay was not my favorite, I still like engaging.

Particularly interesting or different

Yes

It’s a circus, that features a carnival, that features a magician. It has lots of interesting thematic elements and is the first circus room I’ve done. I actually like the idea of a circus / carnival / magic escape room. Lots of opportunities.

Particularly interesting or different

Yes

It’s a circus, that features a carnival, that features a magician. It has lots of interesting thematic elements and is the first circus room I’ve done. I actually like the idea of a circus / carnival / magic escape room. Lots of opportunities.

Story

It wasn’t really too impactful on the puzzles. Some things had to do with it. I think a magician lost a wand. And there was 1 hour to show time. But I had to dig around in popcorn and smell cake pops and play carnival games to eventually get backstage. They didn’t seem related, but they were theme adjacent at least.

Story

It wasn’t really too impactful on the puzzles. Some things had to do with it. I think a magician lost a wand. And there was 1 hour to show time. But I had to dig around in popcorn and smell cake pops and play carnival games to eventually get backstage. They didn’t seem related, but they were theme adjacent at least.

Difficulty

Hard

Hard for our group but I feel that had more to do with confusion. We may have been tired also, or overthinking things.

Difficulty

Hard

Hard for our group but I feel that had more to do with confusion. We may have been tired also, or overthinking things.

Game tech

Mechanical

Game tech

Mechanical

Ideal number of players

4

Ideal number of players

4

Scary

Not scary

Scary

Not scary

Minimum age

12

Minimum age

12

Was anything broken?

No

Was anything broken?

No

Live actors

No

Live actors

No

Physically active

Not at all

Physically active

Not at all

Accessibility

There are some spaces I’m not sure how a wheelchair would move through.

Accessibility

There are some spaces I’m not sure how a wheelchair would move through.

Easy to find location

Yes

It’s just far. If you live in anthem it’s not far.

Easy to find location

Yes

It’s just far. If you live in anthem it’s not far.

Parking

Easy

Parking

Easy

Dec 7, 2024
@RenoTahoeEscape
RenoTahoeEscape

225 escape rooms

Great hint system. I like when it’s not a video screen or walkie-talkie and it matches the theme of the room. This room is fairly linear, well themed, and had decent puzzles. No real complaints (well….maybe the one song on repeat). It is a solid room.

  • store/u/c8ac56b2-d647-43a1-a5ee-4b15f54bb59f_75.jpg
Gameplay
Atmosphere
Customer service
Difficulty

Medium

Game tech

Mechanical

Ideal number of players

4

3-5 is good. It’s fairly linear and there are a couple small spaces so I wouldn’t bring a large group.

Scary

Not scary

Minimum age

7

Was anything broken?

No

Live actors

No

Physically active

Somewhat

Accessibility

Not accessible for those in wheelchairs due to tight spaces.

Easy to find location

Yes

Parking

Easy

Jan 28, 2024 | Experienced Jan 27, 2024
@Zachntruckee
Zachntruckee

241 escape rooms

This was probably one of my favorite Circus themed rooms which is a surprisingly common theme. Lots of fun and highly thematic puzzles, some really well done sets. This whole room was just put together quite well, definitely one of North Valley’s best.

Jan 27, 2024 | Experienced Jan 27, 2024
@PuzzleMaster45
PuzzleMaster45

51 escape rooms

Great room. Flowed very well. The set was highly immersive and the game master was fantastic. Unexpected game flow entering the third room. Really fun. Highly recommended.

Gameplay
Atmosphere
Customer service
Scary

Not scary

Minimum age

10

Nov 25, 2023
@nathansarmi
nathansarmi

52 escape rooms

This room is an absolute must do if you're in the Phoenix area! I love this room so much!! Big Top has a variety of creative and fun puzzles that require some thinking and some physical ability. It was definitely one of the older rooms and more of a later Gen 1 or early Gen 2 but it was still an amazing room! This one was probably around my 10ish mark for rooms and it was probably the first or second really good room that really awed me. Loved the room and would definitely recommend!

Gameplay

The game was super fun and I had an amazing time all throughout! It also flowed really well and the experience was amazing!

Atmosphere

It felt like you were in a circus, the set was really good and it impressed me.

Customer service

North Valley always has such an amazing staff, our GM was super friendly and we appreciated him!

Particularly interesting or different

Yes

Story
Difficulty

Medium

Game tech

Mechanical

Ideal number of players

4

Scary

Not scary

There was only one part in particular that spooked me a little bit but other than that it was fine.

Minimum age

12

When it comes to age, I always think it depends on someone's escape room experience. I feel 12 is a good happy medium.

Was anything broken?

No

Live actors

No

Physically active

Somewhat

Easy to find location

Yes

Parking

Easy

Jul 18, 2023 | Experienced Nov 11, 2021

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Editorial

  • Definitely worth [it] checking out... the greatest show on earth!

    Room Escape Artist
  • A colorful circus game with some cute puzzles made this escape room a good choice ...

    Escape Rumors
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