60 to Escape (Gurnee) - "Blast from the Past"
- Dave Bristol
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
LOCATION: Gurnee, Illinois, USA
Photo above is property of 60 to Escape
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Blast from the Past
📅 DATE PLAYED: May 15, 2026
🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 7/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $40.00 - $45.00/ pp (depending on # of players)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
The owner of a local arcade has gone missing while working on a next-generation machine of some kind and is presumed dead. The police are stonewalling the investigation, so you've been called in to assist, thanks to your reputation for working under the radar on other hard to resolve situations. Can you locate the owner before the cops arrive and put you in your place?
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
Gadgets galore: Of course, there are retro, arcade games to serve as decor and more (who doesn't love playing with those classics?!), but as the room evolves there’s an ever increasing variety of unique and interesting machines to work with, many loosely rooted in other arcade games!
80’s on point: Anybody who is nostalgic for the 80s will find themselves in their element from the start, with plenty of callbacks to the heyday of full size video games. It definitely brought us back!
Raise the stakes: You start out looking for the missing owner, then the magnitude of the mission further increases as you learn more about what’s happened. We always appreciate that extra level of narrative development and some good surprises!
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
Color concerns: One thing we've experienced in several 60 to Escape rooms is that the use of colored lighting can make color based puzzles challenging. In this one, there was also a situation in a well-lit area where colors simply didn't match.
Solution sequence: In two cases, while using information previously acquired during the game, the order either wasn't indicated or was contraindicated, resulting in multiple solve attempts to guess which was correct.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
"Blast from the Past" is a fairly approachable game, so suitable for newer players. The more nonlinear flow also makes it good for bigger groups, though some of the spaces could get a bit cramped. Anyone who is GenX and grew up in arcades will love the nostalgia, while others can experience the fun of playing with those classic arcade games firsthand. So if you've always wanted to be a crime-fighting 80's kid, here's your chance!
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
This location is inside the Gurnee Mills Mall (so plenty of free parking), to the left of the food court when you enter through entrance J.
The lobby/waiting area where you check in has both shirts and some mainstream tabletop puzzle games for sale.
There are bathrooms available.
There are no lockers, but there are hooks and a spot on the floor in each room where you can leave your things.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of their Schaumburg location, an interview with the manager & owner, and a look inside their rooms (no puzzle spoilers) and more:
Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)
Disclosure: We thank 60 to Escape for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
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