The Escape Ventures - "Click 'N Glitch: Arcade Palace"
- Dave Bristol
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
LOCATION: Port Charlotte, Florida, USA
Photo above is property of The Escape Ventures
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Click 'N Glitch: Arcade Palace
📅 DATE PLAYED: January 16, 2026
🎬 GENRE: Adventure
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 7/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: Starting at $42.99/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
It’s 1985, and the gang’s all here. The weekend has arrived, the arcade is calling, and one thing stands between you and eternal middle school glory: Big Stanky, the reigning bully of Eagle Wood Middle School. When the Click ’N Glitch Arcade Palace unveils its newest game, The Great Cheesy Chase, Big Stanky plants himself in front of the machine all day to ensure he maintains the high score. Naturally, the only reasonable option therefore is to break in after closing to beat his record. Can you outsmart the bully, beat the high score, and cement your legacy as arcade legends without getting caught by the security guard? You would be SO grounded…
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
Pure middle school energy: This room fully commits to its juvenile, mischievous spirit in the best possible way. It’s silly, slightly gross, a little rebellious, and (for those of us who grew up in the 80’s) deeply nostalgic. We got to be braver, bolder versions of our actual middle school selves. It was an unusual escape room theme, and we totally dug it!
Rad ’80s arcade vibes: The environment is cohesive and immersive, with a strong color palette, playful details, and plenty of nods to classic video games that had us grinning the whole time.
Lock-heavy but logical: True to Escape Ventures Port Charlotte form, there are lots of locks, but everything is clearly linked. There’s no second-guessing which code goes where.
Live actor adds fun without pressure: Non-scary live actor moments add comedy, story elements that help you further channel your inner preteen, and serve as the in-game hint system. It’s theatrical and over-the-top without requiring much improvisation, making it more accessible even for folks who are wary of actor interaction.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
One misleading visual: A specific graphic pulled our attention in the wrong direction because it closely resembled another plausible environmental element.
Slight letdown: The final main task didn’t quite land with the same punch as the rest of the experience, feeling a bit anticlimactic after such a great buildup. (Though there was a final bit after that which re-raised the energy!)
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
If you have even a shred of juvenile humor in your soul (or fond memories of sticky arcade floors and button-mashing glory), this one’s a blast. Despite being the most lighthearted and family-friendly theme at the Port Charlotte location, it’s also the most difficult, with plenty to keep enthusiasts busy. The theme is refreshingly original, the environment is immersive and playful, and the live actor adds great entertainment value without a lot of pressure. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the challenge, and leave dreaming of arcade legends, middle school bravado, and the sweet satisfaction of finally beating the bully!
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
This location has free parking outside.
You have use of lockers, bathroom, and a small seating area.
Note: This game is wheelchair accessible, and we appreciate that this is clearly stated on the website (though at least one team member will have to crawl).
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, interview with the owners, the room(s) (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 The Escape Ventures 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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