by BlueFish Games
$37 play at home game
1-4 players recommended
2-4 hours of puzzling fun
Ages 14+
Fun, puzzle heavy play at home game.
*Internet access required
Pro Tip: Take notes.
by BlueFish Games
$37 play at home game
1-4 players recommended
2-4 hours of puzzling fun
Ages 14+
Fun, puzzle heavy play at home game.
*Internet access required
Pro Tip: Take notes.
Playing this Baker Street Mystery game was a throwback to the early days of escape rooms. It was the type of first gen game that would’ve impressed up when we started playing escape rooms, however felt a little lackluster now.
We ran into a few small glitches in the game. There was a problem with one of the puzzles not working as well as it could physically that caused us to waste some time and get annoyed. The final lock was jammed. Honestly my biggest problem was the final puzzle’s logic, it felt misleading. Everything else was fine.
They did have one really clever puzzle I hadn’t seen before, but it didn’t really fit the decor of the room as well as some of the other puzzles. The room looks nice, nothing fancy but certainly clean and well kept.
If you’re in the area I would say check it out.
Arcane’s Hideout is one of the most innovative and creative rooms I have experienced. It is very different in style not only from other escape game companies, but even from the original game at this location. The use of physical puzzle locks instead of the standard padlock is refreshing. They use some really unique contraptions that require players to solve puzzles in order to figure out how to move the devices properly to unlock the next step in the path. It is an escape room with some of the most out-of-the-box thinking I’ve encountered.
The story is a continuation of their first room, The Agency. Your brother has left you a note that will give you guidance to begin your adventure in The Hideout. The puzzles don’t really seem to move the story forward, so to speak. At times I wasn’t even clear on why the puzzles connected to the story, but there were also times I could see they made a strong attempt.
The decor is well done. The room really does feel like a strange little hideout. There is a strong wooden scent in the room. The props are good, as well. Everything seemed to work correctly as well as look nice.
Overall, I think the room is a very creative and well done room. I myself didn’t click with the puzzle style or theme, but that’s a personal preference. It is a good room.
I know your works. See, I have set before you an OPEN DOOR, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.-Revelation 3:8
Open Door Escape Games is a family friendly game created by a husband and wife team. Their idea in opening this company was to be a light to downtown Redlands and to support world and local missions. Matt is an assisting pastor at Wildwood Calvary Chapel and Angela is a Sr. Sales Director with Mary Kay. In my opinion they have successfully created a fun escape room that you could bring any of your family members or friends to play and enjoy. However, I do want to be clear that this room is not a “kids” room, the minimum suggested age is 13 because of the complexity of the puzzles.
The Study is a first generation game with a solid story and clever low tech puzzles. I liked that since they don’t really lock you in the room, the justification for the “escape” is done seamlessly through the story. The Study has a super creative hint system that made me smile. The puzzles are complex and great for groups. The decor is nice. It feels like you are in a lived in study, which is spot on for the theme and story. Overall it’s an enjoyable game.
Below is a list of the Escape Rooms I’ve played roughly in order of MY favorite to least favorite. Note: I prefer strong storytelling and immersion, especially in horror, paranormal & magic themed escape rooms, so my preferences may be different than yours.
Feel free to write to me Twitter @christinebarger or Instagram @TheHauntGirl
GROUPED BY REGIONS: LOS ANGELES AREA, “THE VALLEY”, ORANGE COUNTY, INLAND EMPIRE, HIGH DESERT, VENTURA COUNTY, PALM SPRINGS, BIG BEAR, SAN DIEGO, SAN FRANCISCO
Glass Onion Knives Out Escape Pop-Up Experience
Quest Room: Warlocked
60out: The Orphange
Quest Room: Red Giant
Quest Room: Bloody Elbow
Maze Rooms: They’re Coming
60out: Hyde Circus
Planet Escape Rooms – Wise Guys
Planet Escape Rooms – Game of Swords
Maze Rooms: World of Illusions
60out: Alice in Wonderland
60out: Time Machine
Maze Rooms: One Way Ticket
60out: Houdini
60out: Amityville
Quest Room: Da Vinci’s Challenge
Maze Rooms: The Dragon’s Lair
Maze Rooms – SteamPunk Samauri
Planet Escape Rooms – Cntrl-Alt-Reality
Fox In The Box – Tesla
Maze Rooms: Jack the Ripper
60out: Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle
Hypnotic: Project 5150
60out: Grandma’s Masterplan
Roomescape LA The Bank (now Fox in a Box)
60out Escape Rooms: Doctor Psycho
60out Escape Rooms: Cartel DEA Undercover
60out Escape Room: P.U.T.I.N. (now Red Alert)
60out Escape Rooms: Ghost Ship
60out Escape Rooms: The Mystery of Senator Payne
Roomescape LA: Prison (now Fox in a Box)
60out: DaVinci’s Secret
Maze Rooms: Castle
60out: Nautilus
Mobile Escape Room LA: MacGuffins Cocktail Room
Roomescape LA: Bunker (now Fox in a Box)
The Laboratory Escape Room (original location)
Horror Escapes LA: Captive Chamber
Horror Escapes LA: Dr. Office
Back in Time – Salem Witch Hunt
Maze Rooms: Motel
Roomescape LA: Zombie Lab (now Fox in a Box)
MagIQ Room: Secrets of Wizardry
Maze Rooms: FBI
Quest Room: Polar Station
60Out Escape Rooms: Hangover Game(now Mafia)
Hatch Escapes – Lab Rat
Escape Room LA: The Pyramid
The Basement (Basement, The Elevator Shaft & Study) *NEW GAME* The Courtyard
Maze Rooms: Wizard’s Tower
Maze Rooms: Lord of the Swords
Escape the Room: Cartman’s Escape (South Park)
Maze Rooms: Whatever Happened to the Garretts
Escape the Room: Jurassic Escape
Exit Artists
Theme Quest Escape Room: Houdini (now Architect)
Maze Rooms: Tombstone
Theme Quest Escape Room: Bonnie and Clyde (now Architect)
Nodus 805 Escape Room
Arcane Escape Rooms: The Hideout
The Bunker Experience (the original version)
Arcane Escape Rooms: The Agency
The Room Live Escape Room: The Cabin
Escape the Room: Clock Tower
Enchanted Escape Room: Spellbound
I now own an escape room in OC: EXIT GAME
CrossRoads Escape Game: Weeping Witch
Scenario Escape Rooms: Mad Rapper
Unlocked Escape Room: Game On! Unlocked Arcade
The Escape Game: Playground
Mission Escape Games: Escape the Hydeout
Unlocked Escape Room: The Return of the Magician
Hidden Donkey – Irvine School of Wizardry
Not Another Escape Room: Battleship
Cinema Escape Room – The Strange Thing
Puzzle Workshop: CSI Hollywood
Puzzle Workshop: Secrets of the Illuminati
Crossroads Escape Game: Funhouse
Escapade Games: The Last Experiment
Not Another Escape Room: Time Machine
Nerdy by Nature: The Initiation
EscapeX: Odditorium Emporium
Deceptive: The Butcher
Legacy: Sugar Rush
Nerdy by Nature: The Lost Treasure of Captain Blackbeard
Detectives Society Escape Rooms: Da Vinci’s Lost Workshop
The Escape Game: The Depths
Legacy: Cabin 13
Legacy: Georgie
Deceptive: Return to Coulrophobia
EscapeX Rooms: Mafia Heist
Escape ERA: Ben Franklin
PuzzleMazement Escape Room: Paranormal
Immersion: The Cursed (now Entangled)
Kryptic: The Mystery of Stillwater Asylum
PuzzleMazement: The Dollhouse(original version)
Square Room: Harry Potter (now Sorcerer’s Study)
*DeadRingers by Escape Bus (seasonal 15 minute Escape game)
*Crossroads: The Asylum (ScareLA mini-game availability varies)
Wizards & Wires: The Ghost Chamber
Breaking Point: Whitmore Estate
Wizards & Wires: The Curiosity Shop
MindTrap: Taken
The 13th Room: Chapter 2 The Silence
Quest Tavern: Last Supper
Breaking Point: Headcase
MindTrap – Jingle Bells
Mind Trap Escape Room: Gold Rush
Quest Tavern: The Bridge Between
Clever Fox – Book of the Dragons
Mind Trap Escape Room: Conspiracy (original version)
Quest Tavern: Witches Cauldron
Trapped: Pandora’s Box
Confusion: The Last Job
Chronos: ChronosTopia
Chronos: Jurassic Island
Unity Escape Rooms: The Cabin
Unity Escape Rooms: The Temple
House of Clues: Pirate Ghost Ship (original location)
Escape Room Palm Springs: Dark Shadows Room (Vampire’s Lair)
Escape Games at the River: The Great Candy Challenge
Escape Room Palm Springs: Saw Room (now Locker Room)
Escape Room Palm Springs: Titanic
Escape Games at the River: Mutiny Skull Island
Escape Games at the River: Secret of the Dragon’s Spire
Mountain Room Escapes Big Bear: Alpine Ski Lodge
Quicksand Escape Games: China Town
Steal and Escape: The Neighbor
Quicksand Escape Games: The Diner
The Unlockables: The Escape
Escape Game SD: Japanese Thriller Room
Top Tier – Outside In
Quicksand Escape Games: The Speakeasy
Boss Play – Chocolate Factory
The Entrapment: The Disappearance at Fogmore Manor
Top Tier – Undercover escape the safe house
Escapology San Diego: TH3 C0D3
Enchambered – Whispering Halls
Enchambered – Containment Breach
Palace Games: Houdini
These are rooms that I have played in California but are no longer available:
The Purge Truck
CrossRoads Escape Game: The Psych Ward
Level Games: The Menagerie
Enigma Escape Rooms: The Seance
Level Games: Doggy Dog World
Countdown Live: PsychoCountdown Live: Spaceship
Countdown: Mrs. Jezebel’s Tea Party (original version)
School of Hard Locks: Halloween Room
CatCon Animal Planet Escape Box
Exit Game The Ai (Los Angeles location)
Exit Game The Villains Lair (Los Angeles location)
Exit Game: The Chamber (Los Angeles location)
Trapped! The ChamberTrap House (Think Tank)
Real Escape Room: Treasure Island
Countdown: Special Event Beta Test
Kaien (the game we beta tested, but isn’t open yet)
School of Hard Locks: Principal’s Office
SCRAP Real Escape Game Escape from the Cursed Forest Event
SCRAP Real Escape Game Escape the Magic Show
Salvation Room: The Inferno
Ace Escape Game The Pharaoh’s Treasure
SCRAP Real Escape Game: Escape from the Time Travel Lab
The 13th Room (ScareLA mini-game)
Trapped! Escape Room: Jailbreak
Room of no return: Jail
Escape the Night (VidCon)
The Cromwell Estate (Midsummer Scream mini-game)
Maze Quests: Queen Anne’s Revenge
Countdown Live Escape: Krampus
Evil Genius Escape Rooms
Mobile Escape Room LA: Sleep Study
Captured LA: The Starlet Killer
Logiquit: Warehouse of Jack Travis
Logiquit The Laboratory of Dr. Lev Pasted
Escape Room Treasure Hunt: The Alchemist’s Lab
Amazing Escape Room: Operation Desert Storm
Famous Escape Rooms: The Great Redemption
S.H.A.D.I.E. Grove Escape Room
Hollywood Escape House: The Royal Indian Dungeon
Eskape Rooms: Operation Dream State
PuzzleMazement Escape Room: Professor S!
Escape the Place: The Chamber
PuzzleMazement Escape Room: Saving Christmas!
The Cromwell Estate
The 13th Room: Alchemy & Wizardry
The 13th Room: Jack the Ripper
The Game Maker Escape Room (temporary room at Coffin Creek)
Funhouse Escape 60 Minutes to Curtain & Another 60 Minutes to Curtain
Real Escape Room: Bomb
Broken Chains Escape Games: Caught In A Rumple
Real Escape Room: Crazy Secret Laboratory
One Way Out: Apocalypse (now Exodus)
Escape This! Mosi’s Curse
Rooms of No Return: The Classroom
Rooms of No Return: Dead Silence
The Great Escape: Mafia Bomb Squad
Bakersfield Escape Room: Winter Fall
Real Escape: Bootlegger Warehouse
Real Escape: Wizards Lair
Escape Room Palm Springs: Mystery Room
Divergent Realities: The Informant
Great Room Escape San Diego: Houdini’s Hidden Workshop
Great Room Escape San Diego: The Lab
School of Hard Locks: Art Class
Maze Rooms: VR Cosmos Game
Escape Room Police
Spookador
Escape SF: Escape from Antique Room
Kaein LLC: The Alien
Suite 201
Escape the Night – PopUp at UTA
LA Dragons – Knights of the Round Table
Escape From Godot
Exit Game: The Lab (Los Angeles location)
Exit Game: The School of Sorcery (Los Angeles location)
Exit Game An Hour To Kill (Los Angeles location)
Escape Room Long Beach: Bad Blood
60out: Wizard’s Workshop
60out: Zen Room
Trapped in a Room with a Zombie & Still Hungry
Countdown Live: Pandorus (now 60out Galaxy Quest)
Maze Quests: Clinic
60out Escape Rooms: Quest in a Box (temporary popup)
Countdown Live: Tiki Palace (now 60out)
Escape Hotel: Day Care
Escape Hotel: Witchcraft
Escape Hotel: Jack Reacher (renamed Espionage)
Horror Escapes LA: Edmond’s Attic
Escape Haus LA: Masquerade Ball Room
Escape Chronicles
Amazing Escape Room: The Starlight Lounge
Amazing Escape Room: Escape the X Corporation
Amazing Escape Room: Black & White
Amazing Escape Room: Mystery of the Red Dragon
Unlocked Escape Room: The Professor’s Basement
Hidden Passage: Pharoah’s Curse
TrapZone Escape Rooms: The Asylum
Legend X Iteration(original version)
MindTrap – Wizard of OZ
Containment: Carnival
Gaslamp: The Sword in the Study
Containment – Cabin
Hall of Shadows: Shadow Menagerie
Trapped! Escape Room: Puzzlemaster (original version)
Trapped! Escape Room: Sector 13 (original version)
Xscape Pods: Galaxy Adventure
Xscape Pods – Pharaoh
Xscape Pods – Government Secrets
The 13th Room (original)
Open Door Escape Games: The Study
Get a Clue Room Escape: The Toy Shop
The Ultimate Escape Rooms: We Are All Mad Here
One Way Out: Bank Heist (now Exodus)
Xcape Room Fresno: Murder Scene (original version)
Breakout Fresno: Sabotage – Code Red
Bakersfield Escape Room: RESCUE (now Puzzle Effect Bakersfield)
Escape the Asylum (All Saints Lunatic Asylum)
Escape Games at the River: Baker Street Mystery
3rd Day Escape: Harvest Motel
Top Tier – Atlantis Dive to the Forgotten City
Mighty Awesome: The Office of Professor R.K. Alogee
Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room: Clownotorium (original)
3rd Day Escape: Hourglass (original version)
Escape Room Movie 2 Pop-up Subway
Stranger Things Mini-Game Pop-Up
Cryptic Escape Rooms
Below is a list of the Escape Rooms I’ve played organized in order of MY favorite to least favorite in each city. Note: I especially enjoy horror, paranormal & magic themed escape rooms, so my preferences may be different than yours. Feel free to tweet me questions.
Eludesions – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
The Great Room Escape – Spell Bound
Escape Zone AZ: Rush Hour
Escape the Room AZ: The Submarine
R.I.P. the following games are no longer around
Epic Escape Game: Blood Thirst
Epic Escape Game: Fortune Teller
PanIQ Room: Kidnapped
Epic Escape Game: The Whimsical Library
Escape Westgate – Bill & Ted’s Excellent Escape Room
Phoenix Puzzle Room: Competition Room
Phoenix Puzzle Room: The Curse of Madame Lumina
Escape Zone AZ: The Inheritance
The Sleuth Box: The Study
Escape This Live: Queen Anne’s Revenge
Escape Adventure: Escape the Dead
Dare to Escape AZ: X-Child
Baffled Escape Rooms: The Trap
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