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.
Tag: games
ESCAPE ROOMS – Escape Games at the River – CA
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.
ESCAPE ROOMS- UNLOCKED: Escape Room -California
Unlocked Escape Room is a truly magical experience. It is located in Orange County, California. The story is based around a stage magician, so there are some very unique props and decor in the game. The puzzles are well thought out and the flow is good.
I happen to be partial to the magical theme. I am very impressed with the way the theme integrated the puzzles seamlessly. I am also pleasantly surprised at the amount of magic effects included in the game without giving away too much as far as magicians secrets are concerned. All of the puzzles were logical and challenging enough for both experienced and new players. Some of my favorite puzzles in this game were really simplistic in concept, but still created “aha moments” even for us as experienced players. The game is fairly linear in structure. It’s a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.
There is a minimum of 4 people for gameplay, however they made an exception and allowed my husband and I to play without additional teammates and we were able to escape. We have both played over 200 games, so we had experience on our side.
Overall, this is a wonderfully designed and fun game.
Thank you to Unlocked for hosting us to experience your wonderful escape room game.
Watch the YOUTUBE interview here.
Congratulations 2016 Skeleton Key Award Winners
Congratulations to all of the 2016 Skeleton Key Award winners!
The following games are all incredibly fun and unique in their own ways. Below you can see them listed by the category in which they shine especially bright.
Overall:
Immersion:
Innovation:
Family Fun:
1st Gen:
Creativity:
Competition Room:
Set Design:
ESCAPE ROOMS – Puzzah! Tick Tock – Colorado
So I’ll admit up front that I may be a bit biased in this review since I absolutely loved this room as it felt like it was made for me. I played alone and took third place on the leaderboard. I studied music so I related to the theme. Also the puzzles played to my strengths with logic puzzles and such.
I loved the story of a mad composer hiding an explosive device and you must crack his puzzles to find the device and disarm it. It is a heavy audio and music based room. The hints and some of the puzzles are actually given through the speakers, so if you have difficulty with audio puzzles this may not be a room for you. I happen to love audio and music related puzzles.
I am also fascinated by the unique way this game guides players along. The gamemaster doesn’t even need to watch the game because the hints are automated. Everything works together to tell the story. It’s very clever and unlike anything I’ve seen.
The game itself takes place in a fairly small room. I would recommend playing a different game at this location if you have a large group. They have several games at the location and to my understanding they all use the same hint system automated technology.
ESCAPE ROOMS -60out: Titanic – California
I have never been aboard the Titanic, but I have explored the Queen Mary ship while ghost hunting and let me say that when I entered this Titanic themed escape room I felt like I was actually below deck on a real ship. The set design is incredible. I really did forget that I was in a building in Marina Del Rey during game play because it is so well decorated. The puzzles are integrated into the story seamlessly. This game has very few traditional locks. Instead you are solving puzzles in a way that feels organic to the storytelling. The puzzles are challenging and unique enough for experienced players, but logical in a way new players can still solve and enjoy. I love the creativity they use in creating puzzles that are actual activities you might do on a ship. I also quite enjoy the way they took a common puzzle I have seen a hundred times and recreated it as a large prop that belongs on a ship. Overall the room is well designed, immersive, used creative puzzles to forward the storytelling and has beautiful set decor. It is everything you could ask for in an amazing escape game.
60out is one of the top escape room companies in the nation and they keep expanding, creating new games that are each more impressive than the previous. I highly recommend this and their other escape rooms.
ESCAPE ROOMS – Maze Rooms: Magic Kingdom – California
Maze Rooms is a staple in the Los Angeles escape room community. Their rooms are buyouts, so you don’t get stuck playing with random strangers. They consistently open quality rooms throughout the city and do a great job of making each new room even more spectacular than the last. Magic Kingdom is no exception. It is one of the newest rooms in the Maze Room family and it is outstanding!
Upon entering the game I literally found myself giggling like a child and spinning around to take everything in. It is one of the most beautiful games I’ve played. I especially love the whimsical theme.The storytelling is fantastic. You are immersed in a complete story that has a beginning, middle and end in which you play the lead character. The best part, the puzzles make sense in the story!!! That is such a rarity and I was thoroughly impressed. The set/decor is outstanding. The use of technology in the decor is brilliant and unlike anything I’ve seen in other escape rooms. The puzzles are creative and unique with no traditional locks. The sound and lighting are on point. It’s fun for all ages, too. (Although there is one slightly physical moment that at least one person must do, so consider that when you assemble your group.) The overall creativity in this game makes this escape room stand out from the rest.
I can’t say enough good things about it…HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
CALIFORNIA ESCAPE ROOM LIST
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
LOS ANGELES AREA ESCAPE ROOMS
Quest Room: Red Giant
Quest Room: Bloody Elbow
60out: The Orphange
Maze Rooms: They’re Coming
60out: Hyde Circus
Planet Escape Rooms – Wise Guys
Planet Escape Rooms – Game of Swords
60out Escape Rooms: Wizards Workshop
Maze Rooms: World of Illusions
60out: Alice in Wonderland
60out: Time Machine
Maze Rooms: One Way Ticket
60out: Houdini
60out: Wizard’s Workshop
Exit Game: The School of Sorcery
60out: Amityville
Quest Room: Da Vinci’s Challenge
Maze Rooms: The Dragon’s Lair
60out: Zen Room
Planet Escape Rooms – Cntrl-Alt-Reality
Fox In The Box – Tesla
Maze Rooms: Jack the Ripper
60out: Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle
60out: Grandma’s Masterplan
Roomescape LA The Bank (now Fox in a Box)
60out Escape Rooms: Doctor Psycho
Exit Game An Hour To Kill
60out Escape Rooms: Cartel DEA Undercover
Trapped in a Room with a Zombie & Still Hungry
60out Escape Room: P.U.T.I.N. (now Red Alert)
Get the F Out: The Virus (we played the old location)
60out Escape Rooms: Ghost Ship
60out Escape Rooms: The Mystery of Senator Payne
Roomescape LA: Prison (now Fox in a Box)
Countdown Live: Tiki Palace (now 60out)
60out: DaVinci’s Secret
Maze Rooms: Castle
60out: Nautilus
Mobile Escape Room LA: MacGuffins Cocktail Room
Maze Quests: Clinic
Countdown Live: Pandorus (now 60out Galaxy Quest)
Roomescape LA: Bunker (now Fox in a Box)
60out Escape Rooms: Quest in a Box (temporary popup- availability varies)
Escape Room Long Beach: Bad Blood
Horror Escapes LA: Edmond’s Attic
Horror Escapes LA: Captive Chamber
Horror Escapes LA: Dr. Office
Back in Time – Salem Witch Hunt
Escape Hotel: Day Care
Maze Rooms: Motel
Roomescape LA: Zombie Lab (now Fox in a Box)
MagIQ Room: Secrets of Wizardry
Maze Rooms: FBI
60Out Escape Rooms: Hangover Game(now Mafia)
Escape Hotel: Witchcraft
Hatch Escapes – Lab Rat
Escape Room LA: The Pyramid
Escape Hotel: Jack Reacher (renamed Espionage)
Escape Haus LA: Masquerade Ball Room
“THE VALLEY” LOS ANGELES ESCAPE ROOMS:
The Basement (Basement, The Elevator Shaft & Study) *NEW GAME* The Courtyard
Level Games: The Menagerie
Maze Rooms: Wizard’s Tower
Maze Rooms: Lord of the Swords
Escape the Room: Jurassic Escape
Exit Artists
Theme Quest Escape Room: Houdini (now Architect)
Theme Quest Escape Room: Bonnie and Clyde (now Architect)
Escape Chronicles
Nodus 805 Escape Room
Amazing Escape Room: Mystery of the Red Dragon
Arcane Escape Rooms: The Hideout
Amazing Escape Room: The Starlight Lounge
Amazing Escape Room: Escape the X Corporation
Unlocked Escape Room: The Professor’s Basement
The Bunker Experience (the original version)
Arcane Escape Rooms: The Agency
The Room Live Escape Room: The Cabin
Hidden Passage: Pharoah’s Curse
Escape the Room: Clock Tower
Enchanted Escape Room
ORANGE COUNTY ESCAPE ROOMS:
CrossRoads Escape Game: The Psych Ward
Scenario Escape Rooms: Mad Rapper
Mission Escape Games: Escape the Hydeout
Hidden Donkey – Irvine School of Wizardry
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
TrapZone Escape Rooms: The Asylum
Detectives Society Escape Rooms: Da Vinci’s Lost Workshop
EscapeX Rooms: Mafia Heist
Escape ERA – Ben Franklin
PuzzleMazement Escape Room: Paranormal
Immersion: The Cursed
PuzzleMazement: The Dollhouse(original version)
Legend X Iteration(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)
INLAND EMPIRE ESCAPE ROOMS:
Wizards & Wires: The Ghost Chamber
Breaking Point – Whitmore Estate
Wizards & Wires: The Curiosity Shop
Containment: Carnival
Gaslamp: The Sword in the Study
MindTrap – Wizard of OZ
Mind Trap Escape Room: Gold Rush
The 13th Room: Chapter 2 The Silence
Xscape Pods: Galaxy Adventure
Quest Tavern: Last Supper
Hall of Shadows: Shadow Menagerie
Clever Fox – Book of the Dragons
Mind Trap Escape Room: Conspiracy
Trapped! Escape Room: Sector 13
Xscape Pods – Pharaoh
Clever Fox: Forbidden Temple
Quest Tavern – Witches Cauldron
Trapped! Escape Room: Puzzlemaster (original version)
Xscape Pods – Government Secrets
Containment – Cabin
Open Door Escape Games: The Study
Chronos – ChronosTopia
Get a Clue Room Escape: The Toy Shop
Chronos – Jurassic Island
One Way Out: Bank Heist (now Exodus)
Unity Escape Rooms: The Cabin
Unity Escape Rooms: The Temple
HIGH DESERT ESCAPE ROOMS:
Escape the Asylum
CENTRAL VALLEY ESCAPE ROOMS:
Xcape Room Fresno: Murder Scene (original version)
Breakout Fresno: Sabotage – Code Red (now Method of Escape)
Bakersfield Escape Room: RESCUE (now Puzzle Effect Bakersfield)
VENTURA COUNTY ESCAPE ROOMS:
House of Clues: Pirate Ghost Ship (original location)
The Ultimate Escape Rooms: We Are All Mad Here
PALM SPRINGS ESCAPE ROOMS:
Escape Room Palm Springs: Dark Shadows Room
Escape Room Palm Springs: Saw Room
Escape Room Palm Springs: Titanic
Escape Games at the River: Secret of the Dragon’s Spire
Escape Games at the River: Baker Street Mystery
BIG BEAR ESCAPE ROOMS:
Mountain Room Escapes Big Bear: Alpine Ski Lodge
SAN DIEGO ESCAPE ROOMS:
Quicksand Escape Games: China Town
Quicksand Escape Games: The Diner
The Unlockables
Escape Game SD: Japanese Thriller Room
Quicksand Escape Games: The Speakeasy
Boss Play – Chocolate Factory
The Entrapment: The Disappearance at Fogmore Manor
3rd Day Escape: Harvest Motel
Escapology San Diego: TH3 C0D3
Top Tier – Atlantis Dive to the Forgotten City
Mighty Awesome: The Office of Professor R.K. Alogee
Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room: Clownotorium
3rd Day Escape: Hourglass (original version)
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA ESCAPE ROOMS:
Enchambered – Whispering Halls
Enchambered – Containment Breach
Palace Games: Houdini
R.I.P.
These are rooms that I have played in California but are not currently available:
The Purge Truck
Enigma Escape Rooms: The Seance
Countdown Live: PsychoCountdown Live: Spaceship
Countdown: Mrs. Jezebel’s Tea Party (original version)
School of Hard Locks: Halloween Room
CatCon Animal Planet Escape Box
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
Amazing Escape Room: Black & White
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
ESCAPE ROOMS – Escape the Room – Arizona
We had a fun time in the 80’s Rec Room room. It was neat to be reminded of things from childhood during the game. I love the decor. I wasn’t happy that a key puzzle/game had been updated from the original version to a more modern version making it very difficult. Overall the puzzles were creative and fun. There was only one room in this game, but they have other games at this location. You escape out of the same door in which you entered. This is the only room I’ve done in AZ so far.
ESCAPE ROOMS – Mission Escape Games – New York
I did the Jekyll & Hyde room at Mission Escape Games. It was one of two I visited in NYC. Most of the rooms I have done are in Los Angeles. I enjoyed the theme of the room and several of the puzzles were unique. It is actually two rooms, but you still escape out of the same door in which you entered. We did have trouble with one puzzle which we immediately understood since we’d seen similar before but still weren’t able to read it because we couldn’t get it to work correctly. The gamemaster had to tell us what it said eventually. The set decor was sparse but nice enough. It wasn’t as high tech as some games. Not one of the best, but still fun.
