Tag: orange county

ESCAPE ROOMS- UNLOCKED: Escape Room -California

UNLOCKED: ESCAPE ROOM

 

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.

ESCAPE ROOM – Cross Roads Escape Games: The Fun House – California

CROSS ROADS ESCAPE GAMES: THE FUN HOUSE


If you were one of those kids that dreamed of running off to join the circus, then this escape room is for you. Even if you didn’t dream of living among the elephants and being BFFs with the bearded lady, you’ll have a blast. This hour under the big top is sure to entertain. The puzzles are unique, creative and clever. They use multiple ways of thinking and skill sets. There are wonderful “aha” moments around every corner. The incredible immersion into the theme extends beyond the decor and reaches both the puzzle integration and hint system. But let’s not skim over the decor that easily. This is one of the best decorated rooms I’ve played. It’s impressive, especially for such a unusual theme. I played this room shortly after it opened with my husband and one of my favorite moments was when he realized he was able to open open something that he had believed to be simply decoration. His face lit up like a kid at a circus. It was so wonderful. They’ve even made a few updates since we played and I’ve heard it’s even better.

This room is located in Anaheim, near Disneyland. They also have the amazing Hex Room at this location. So I recommend getting five friends and booking both rooms back to back. The Hex Room is a group buyout room. The Fun House is individual tickets so you do not need a group of friends to play. However, that means you may be playing the game with new friends that buy tickets for the same time slot as you.

Read about the owners HERE

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

Glass Onion Knives Out Escape Pop-Up Experience

Maze Rooms: Men in Suits

Maze Rooms: Magical Kingdom

Maze Rooms: Spy Dogs

Maze Rooms: Sky Odyssey

Quest Room: Warlocked

Quest Room: Amnesia

Quest Room: Resurrection 

60out: The Orphange

Quest Room: Red Giant

Maze Rooms: The Abyss

Quest Room: Bloody Elbow

Maze Rooms: They’re Coming

Maze Rooms: CyberPunk Samurai

60out: Hyde Circus

Quest Room: Perfumer

Planet Escape Rooms – Wise Guys

Planet Escape Rooms – Game of Swords

Maze Rooms: World of Illusions

60out: Alice in Wonderland

60out: Time Machine

Quest Room: Cannibals Den

Maze Rooms: One Way Ticket

60out: Houdini

Maze Rooms: Lunar Station

60out: Amityville

Quest Room: Da Vinci’s Challenge

Maze Rooms: The Dragon’s Lair

Two Bit Circus Story Rooms

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: Casino

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

Maze Rooms: Secret Mission

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

MagIQ Room: Pirate’s Den

Quest Room: Polar Station

60Out Escape Rooms: Hangover Game(now Mafia)

Hatch Escapes – Lab Rat

Escape Room LA: The Pyramid

“THE VALLEY” LOS ANGELES ESCAPE ROOMS:

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: Pirate Bay

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

ORANGE COUNTY ESCAPE ROOMS:

I now own an escape room in OC: EXIT GAME

CrossRoads Escape Game: Weeping Witch

CrossRoads Escape Game: Hex

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: Zoe

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

The Escape Bus

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)

Brainy Actz

*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

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)

Clever Fox: Forbidden Temple

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

HIGH DESERT ESCAPE ROOMS:

CENTRAL VALLEY ESCAPE ROOMS:

VENTURA COUNTY ESCAPE ROOMS:

House of Clues: Pirate Ghost Ship (original location)

PALM SPRINGS ESCAPE ROOMS:

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

BIG BEAR ESCAPE ROOMS:

Mountain Room Escapes Big Bear: Alpine Ski Lodge

SAN DIEGO ESCAPE ROOMS:

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

Clue Avenue: Villain’s Lair

Escapism: Art Gallery

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA ESCAPE ROOMS:

Enchambered – Whispering Halls

Enchambered – Containment Breach

Palace Games: Houdini

Omescape: Kingdom of Cats

R.I.P.

These are rooms that I have played in California but are no longer available:

The Purge Truck

CrossRoads Escape Game: The Psych Ward

Enigma: The Will

Level Games: Fortune Teller

Level Games: The Menagerie

Enigma Escape Rooms: The Seance

Enigma: Apartment 205

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)

Exodus: Quake Escape

Exit Game: The Chamber (Los Angeles location)

Captured LA (old location)

Paniq Room: Creepy Cemetery

X Room Victorian Mansion

X Room Court in Session

X Room Escape the Wonderland

X Room Curse of the Mummy

Trapped! The ChamberTrap House (Think Tank)

Square Room: Mario Brothers

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

Mysterium Escape Room

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

Enigma: Crime Scene

Enigma: Secret Temple

Mobile Escape Room LA: Sleep Study

Captured LA: The Starlet Killer

Logiquit: Warehouse of Jack Travis

Logiquit The Laboratory of Dr. Lev Pasted

Logiquit Secret Agent Room

Logiquit: CSI Room

Escape Room Treasure Hunt: The Alchemist’s Lab

The Basement: Boiler Room

Amazing Escape Room: Operation Desert Storm

Famous Escape Rooms:  The Great Redemption

Maze Rooms: Demon Hunter

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

Excido: Studio

Excido: Casino

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

Omescape: Forgotten Treasure

Spookador

Escape SF: Escape from Antique Room

Escape Room LA: The Cavern

Kaein LLC: The Alien

Kaien: Time Machine

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

Escape Room LA: The Theatre

60out Escape Rooms: Outbreak

60out Escape Rooms: Titanic

60out: Wizard’s Workshop

Escapedom: The Lair

60out: Zen Room

Get the F Out: The Virus

Escape Room LA: The Detective

Escape Hotel: Agent

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)

EscapeIQ: Alcatraz

Escape Hotel: Day Care

Escape Room LA: The Alchemist

Escape Hotel: Witchcraft

Escape Hotel: Jack Reacher (renamed Espionage)

Escapedom: Den of the Occult

Horror Escapes LA: Edmond’s Attic

Escape Haus LA: Masquerade Ball Room

Haunted Recording Studio

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

Paniq Room: Bunker

Paniq Room Insane Asylum

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: The Signal

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

Enigma HQ

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room: Clownotorium (original)

3rd Day Escape: Hourglass (original version)

Omescape: Omega

Escape Room Movie 2 Pop-up Subway

Stranger Things Mini-Game Pop-Up

Cryptic Escape Rooms

Breaking Point: Patient 17

HAUNT – Knott’s Scary Farm – CA – 2015

Knott’s Scary Farm

4 stars

I love Knott’s Scary Farm. Last year I had a pass and went several times. This year I am only able to attend one night. I went Saturday of their opening weekend. Their monsters were not quite to 100%, either they were still figuring things out or they were already tired. The laser tag zombie maze was not as good as last year. They expanded it by turning it into one maze instead of two and they really screwed up on the amount of people that they thought would get through. Our group was large and we were required to RUN almost the entire time. Zombies that were shot could still infect you, so the actors would rush you around screaming at you not to get too close but then force you to step over dead zombies causing you to “die” which caused your gun to stop working. Then we got combined with another group, which caused us to end up crammed into a small space toward the end with a large group we didn’t know. The Hanging was spectacular! I love the female character that they added this year. The Clementine ride was well done and fun. The new Snow maze was fun, not scary but really fun. Paranormal Inc was a great idea. It was executed well in the beginning, but about halfway through the maze it gets a little monster heavy and weird. The rest of the mazes were the same as last year. They are all fun. Oh and they stepped up the Voodoo maze and it was actually my husband’s favorite this year. Pinocchio was my favorite because the Scareactors worked really hard and a couple of them “got me” which was the only time that happened all night. It’s a fun event and totally worth checking out.