Search this site

LOCATION: Leduc, AB, Canada Photo above is property of dreamESCAPE Gaming 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Escape The Puzzler 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 3, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Kidnapping 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 PPL 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $25/PP + GST ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: YES 📖 THE STORY Waking up in a strange location, you realize that you have been kidnapped by the infamous Puzzler. Seeing as there may be no one coming to your rescue, you realize that the only way to escape the Puzzler’s grasp is to solve the puzzles and save yourself. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game started with a fun audio clip that immediately immersed us into the room as well as provided us with updates on our time throughout the game. This room contained mostly low-tech puzzles but all of them were creatively done. There were a couple tech components that made us smile when we encountered them, especially the ending. The puzzles were clued well as there was no point that made us wonder how we should arrive at the solution. There was a lot of little things that made this room a nice experience from being told in advance the letter lock will not spell out a word, to padding on the ground and around the head area when we had to crawl through a small doorway to having the GM know exactly where we were stuck when we asked for a hint. The room’s décor was simple but very effective. As we were trying to make our way out, the rooms did feel like we were stuck in a shack and trying to get to the outside. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Nothing sticks out as a miss in this room. Overall, this was a great room and a fun experience. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Escape the Puzzler" was a solid escape room experience that would be enjoyable for beginner and experienced escape room players alike. If you are a fan of the kidnapping genre of escape rooms, this would be a fun time. We played with 2 people and made it out with plenty of time. This room could be enjoyed with 4 to 5 people quite nicely though as there was a lot of space in the rooms that would allow for people to check everything out as well as the puzzles bounced back from linear to non-linear at times. This escape room also doubles as a board game store so if you have a great time and still have a hankering for more, you can always pick up some at home escape room games afterwards too. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot, Lobby Area, Doubles as a Board Game store, Ground floor location, wheelchair accessible (though this escape room specifically will require some crawling). (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"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Canada #Kidnapping #dreamESCAPE #Gaming #Alberta

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of West Edmonton Mall Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Alien Outbreak 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 10, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 PPL 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 45 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $25/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: No 📖 THE STORY The crew of Moon Colony Persephone has gone missing in outer space with just their ship floating in space. As part of the rescue crew of Hermes 7, you are tasked to board the ship and find out what happened to the crew, but be careful, there is only 45 mins worth of oxygen left on the ship. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design and décor were incredible. The room was professionally done from the paneling on the wall to the control center computer. There was a nice mix of tech puzzles and combination locks without overusing one or the other. All the combination locks were directional locks but there was a unique way to decode the answers of numbers and letters that we received into directions which kept things interesting. The room progressed very nicely in storytelling. As we advanced in the room, the story made us feel more invested in solving the puzzles and justifying what we were doing. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was a tough room to complete in 45 mins, especially as there were 2 puzzles that would use up a lot of time. There were a few puzzles that were taken out but remnants of them can still be found which become red herrings during the game. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Alien Outbreak" had an amazing set and stepping into the room, we were completely absorbed into the story and the spaceship theme. As the game progressed, we noticed stuff that we knew was going to be used and we would get excited for this. There were also some puzzles that fit into the story quite well. One thing we did appreciate was that the GM always knew where we were and what we were doing when we asked for a hint. This was a tough room because of the type of puzzles and even as veteran players we found it would be difficult to complete in 45 mins. Experienced players would probably enjoy the game more but if you play as beginners, it would be best to go in with the mindset that you may not be able to make it to the end and just enjoy what you can. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot Lobby with couches Wheelchair accessible "Alien Outbreak" is located inside Ed's Bowling (3rd floor of West Edmonton Mall) which has food, bowling, billiards, and an arcade. West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in Canada Photo 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 West Edmonton Mall for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Canada #SciFi #Space #Aliens #Mystery #EdsBowling #WestEdmontonMall #Alberta

LOCATION: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Photo above is property of Lockdown Escape Rooms Inc. 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Cave of Five Elements 📅 DATE PLAYED: June 12, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Mystical 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 PPL 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 50 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $29/PP (Adult), $25/PP (Youth), $23/PP (Child) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You and your group has been summoned for a quest to save the universe. Each of you hailing from a different planet must work together and make your way through the mysterious cave to engage the 5 elements. With air for only 50 minutes, you must find and combine the elements. Only then can you save the universe and all humanity from a terrible fate. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Lockdown did an amazing job with the look of the cave and the décor of the overall rooms. The room felt like a cave and it was definitely immersive. This room was fun to go through with some neat surprises as we solved puzzles. This was essentially an all tech game (there was only one puzzle that was a standard lock) and they nailed it. All of the tech elements blended well with the room and the puzzles were fun to be able to complete and watch what gets revealed next. The bulk of the puzzles promoted teamwork and once you unlock all the rooms, each element could be solved non-linearly. This kept everyone busy working on something. There was one puzzle that I have only seen smaller versions of but in this room, they made a giant version of it, which was really cool to play around with and solve. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was a solid experience. There is nothing that I can think of that missed the mark. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "The Cave of Five Elements" transported you elsewhere and immersed you in a fun story and room. There were some fun group puzzles to solve which then brought you to the non-linear puzzles which kept everyone busy. We played with 5 experienced people and found it tough to make it through in the time given. There was a lot of back and forth through the rooms so you may need a full team to complete the room. This is a room I would recommend only for advanced players or beginners who are just looking to have some fun. A tip if you decide to give this game a shot is make sure you look at everything and make a note of it. There were a few times, we realized we already encountered what we needed to solve the puzzle earlier. Everyone working there has a huge passion for escape rooms and it shows through the rooms they designed and their interactions. Lockdown Escape Rooms is currently the only escape room location in Red Deer. If you are passing through the area, definitely check out the escape rooms. You will not be disappointed. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Lot The game did have a moving floor. While most people would not have an issue with the motion, some who are extremely sensitive with balance may need to have them modify the shaking. Lobby with seats At-home escape room games for purchase in lobby Photos above are property of Lockdown Escape Rooms Inc. (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 Lockdown Escape Rooms Inc. for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystical #LockdownEscapeRoomsInc #Alberta #Canada

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Escape City 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Frank's Revenge 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 19, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 70 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $33.00/ pp (Adults), $27.00/ pp (Ages 8-15) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY After receiving nothing in Uncle Frank’s inheritance, you and your family make a deal with the lawyer. Rather than following Uncle Frank’s last will and testament and having it all donated, you and your family divide the millions amongst yourselves. Everything seems to be going well at first, but suddenly family members begin to fall ill and pass away. In this sequel to Escape City’s "The Inheritance", can you figure out how to break Frank’s curse before you are the next one to fall victim? Video above is property of Escape City 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The introduction and cut scene videos were made with high production quality and amazing actors. There were even credits to be rolled at the end. With the videos, one thing that they did well was use a projector on the floor so the video was large enough for all to see. The puzzles flowed well with the game overall especially when they were set up subtly to direct you around and keep everything separated. We never felt the solution was given to us, but we always knew what we should be looking at. There was one unique puzzle that used technology that we had never seen before. It was really fun to play with. We made sure everyone in the group got a chance to try it out. The hints were pre-recorded clips that served to keep immersion as it was done in the voice of the character from the beginning video. The GM was also keeping an eye on us so that they knew exactly where we were. A small easter egg was knowing that this game takes place in The Inheritance’s former room. The set design was made to feel like it was abandoned and you were actually returning to break the curse 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Overall, this was a solid and well put together room and we cannot think of anything that missed the mark. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Frank’s Revenge" was an amazing game with so many high points. Escape City’s high quality videos and props really added to the immersion of the room. Though this was a horror room, there were no jump-scares and was more creepy than scary. We played with 4 people but the non-linear puzzles were set up so that you could compete for the best time with 6 people or casually with 8 people. Having played "The Inheritance", one of Escape City’s first rooms vs this sequel (7 years later and many of them in between), the quality of their rooms has grown exponentially. From the puzzle tech to the video quality, this game is a high recommendation to play. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Free game sticker Fully licensed facility to hangout before or after with an alcoholic beverage Lobby space with seating area Board games available for purchase Photos above are property of Escape City (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 Escape City for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #Horror #Alberta #Canada

LOCATION: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Photo above is property of The Great Escape Lethbridge 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Octopus Games 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 3, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Action 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 50 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $20/PP (weekends), $25/PP (Weekends) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY After struggling with a crippling amount of debt and no way of paying it off, a mysterious man approaches you and offers you an opportunity. He invites you to join 456 other people to compete in a life or death competition where the winners will receive a huge sum of money; enough to pay off your debt and more. All you have to do is play a series of children’s games. Seems easy enough but once you are in, there is no turning back. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room had a strong mix of tech and lock puzzles with some puzzles that had nice eureka moments. If you are a fan of the Netflix series “Squid Games”, you will find a lot of fun easter eggs and references to the show which were found in the scenery and puzzles. The puzzles were mainly linear, and everything was marked and made sense. With a keen eye, there was usually no question as to what we needed to look at next as we progressed. As we progressed through the game, there were some nice reveals, especially entering the final area, and every time we hit a “Is this the end?” moment, we were thoroughly surprised that nope, there was plenty more. A small hit was that they had some of the Squid Game music playing in the background from the TV but allowed us to control the volume to our own liking. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was a terrific game overall and we cannot think of any major misses in it. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Octopus Games" was nicely decorated, and the puzzles were themed with hints of the show throughout. We did have trouble getting started at the beginning but once we were able to get going, found the puzzles sequence made sense and had no issues going through it. The final area also added to a nice finish at the end. This would be a great room for beginner and veteran players alike. We played the room with 4 people and found that would be the right amount of people to play as some parts of the game had some tighter spaces. As a fan of the Squid Game series, this was a solid room that made us smile as we went through the game from all the easter eggs and would be fun to play even if you have never seen the show. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking Lobby with seating area Located on the ground floor Photos above are 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 Great Escape Lethbridge for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #SquidGames #Action #Survival #Netflix #TheGreatEscapeLethbridge #Canada #Alberta

LOCATION: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Photo above is property of Escape From LA 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Dark Mage 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 4, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Magic, Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $20/PP (Weekdays), $25/PP (Weekends) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Dark wizards have taken over the School of Magic! You and your friends have luckily made it to a classroom and barricaded yourself in, but you can only hide out for so long. You must sneak into the Dark Lord’s chamber and find the Headmaster’s wand, the only magical artifact powerful enough to defeat and banish these evil wizards. Can you make it there and find the wand before the wizards find you? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room was an all-tech room with no combination locks which added an extra sense of immersion and “magic” as we advanced through the room. The clues were straightforward with a nice variety of puzzles ranging from searching, logic, cryptic instructions, and a few puzzles we had to think outside the box. The final puzzle was a fun one to solve and would reward you quicker if you had a keen eye. The beautifully designed room looked amazing with the stone walls, wooden décor, ambient lighting and hidden secrets throughout. The props and artifacts in the room were high quality and added to the enthrallment. There were many nods and easter eggs to Harry Potter and magic throughout the game that brought more excitement to the room. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Overall, this was a fun, solid room and no major misses to be found. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? With no combination locks to be found in the Dark Mage, this added to the charm and wonder of the room, especially discovering how to interact with everything. The décor, props and the lighting, completed the engaging experience. Any fans of Harry Potter, magic or the fantasy genre would really enjoy this room. One tip for anyone who plays this game is make sure to read everything carefully. We stumbled a couple of times because of this. We played the game with 2 kids and 3 adults and found there was lots of room to navigate and things to check out. This is a family friendly room that would be a magical experience for beginners and enthusiasts alike. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Lot Lobby with seating area Ground floor location and disability friendly Photos above are 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 Escape From LA for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #SciFi #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Canada #FamilyFriendly #Lethbridge #Alberta #EscapeFromLA

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Escape City 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Mindmaster Industries 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 15, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Science, Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 70 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $33.00/ pp (Adults), $27.00/ pp (Ages 8-15) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Responding to a classified ad looking for volunteers, you head over to the location located in a dark alley. As you find the door and a few other people waiting outside, you all enter together. Inside, you meet Dr. Saunders who welcomes you to the experiment run by "Mindmaster Industries" and begins talking about forming alliances, devouring the weak, conquests, and having fun. You still aren’t sure what is going on, but the ad said you get three hundred dollars and lunch, so you decide to stay. Video above is property of Escape City 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE A very immersive room that takes you through an intense story. The cutscenes were done using professional actors from the local area. The room looked amazing and felt very much like we were in a test room and more as we continued through the game. The puzzles were all tech (minus one combination lock) which they used ingeniously. They had some creative puzzles ranging from logic, memory, a fun spatial recognition one and more, which all of them having their own eureka moment. The puzzles also fit the theme and none of them stuck out as being out of place. The room did promote a lot of teamwork especially with 2 puzzles, one in the middle and one in the end. The final puzzle had everyone participating and feeling involved in our group of 4 and really had our hearts racing. There was an overarching story that played out in three parts that ramped up with intensity as we went from one to another, leaving us with an amazing high as we were able to finish the room. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was a solid room and fantastic experience without any misses we could think of. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Escape City continues to raise the bar in their games through each new room. "Mindmaster Industries" was a suspenseful nail biter as you enter the room wondering to yourself what is going on, all the way to the finish, as your heart is pumping trying to complete the final task. There were many moments that we relished in teams wins, as some puzzles required everyone’s participation. The amazing looking set completely immersed us in the story and always made us wonder what secrets will continue to be revealed. We played as 4 veterans and found that was the perfect number. This is not a room I would bring beginners to, but Escape City has other amazing rooms for that. As Escape City is also a licensed facility, you are able to have an alcoholic beverage in the room which we obviously indulged. One recommendation is to make sure to stop and listen to the cutscenes and videos. Some people are very much into ignoring the videos and starting the room, but you will get so much more out of the game by following along with them and immerse yourself in the experience. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Lot The Room uses strobe lights and a fog machine Some areas would be challenging for people with mobility issues Licensed facility so you can have a drink while playing Free sticker/ badge after completion of the room Board games available for purchase Photos above are property of Escape City (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 Escape City for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #Horror #Science #Alberta #Canada

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Escape City 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Hunt for Arms McGee 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 9, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Family Fun 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $33.00/ pp (Adults), $27.00/ pp (Ages 8-15) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY With the big game coming up, Arms McGee, the star quarterback of the Edmonton football team, has been kidnapped. The authorities have identified the kidnappers as the notorious superfan group of the rival team, the Gridiron Gang. Investigators have found the hideout of the Gridiron Gang but it looks like it has been abandoned. Calling upon your group, can you go through the hideout to figure out where the Gridiron Gang is and find where Arms McGee is being held captive before the start of the game? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE There were a lot of inventive puzzles overall but most of the puzzles involved everyone which resulted in a lot of group eureka and celebratory moments. There were some props that they integrated into the room seamlessly and had some creative puzzles that went with them. The room was not huge, but they used the space wisely. There were puzzles all over the place but none of them were set up in a way that made us feel like we were ever in each other’s way. There were some fun reveals throughout the room, some that were surprising and some “Wow! That was cool” moments. As residents of Edmonton, the story was something that we could get into as well as the room had so many easter eggs to our wonderful city. All the other Escape City rooms start out with an immersive, high-quality video with high quality actors as an introduction. This one had that but also had a lot more video cutscenes that all featured key areas of our city. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK As Edmonton has changed over the years, this room does have some out-of-date references 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "The Hunt for Arms McGee" was a wonderful ode to Edmonton. The puzzles fit perfectly and revolved around the great references to this city. The story line was well thought out and was something we could easily get into. They also had some premium cut scenes to pull us through the room. If you are a fan of mystery and just wholesome fun, this would be a good room for you. We played with 5 people, but this room could easily have the full 8 people and keep everyone busy. Whether you were born and raised here or just staying for a short period, this room highlights a lot of the great things Edmonton has to offer and is absolutely worth the play. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Lot Licensed facility so you can have a drink while playing Free Sticker/Badge after completion of the room Board games for purchase Photos above are property of Escape City (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"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #Mystery #FamilyFun #Alberta #Canada

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Escape City 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Keller's Magic Emporium 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 9, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Magic, Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 45 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp (Adults), $24.00/ pp (Ages 8-15) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY You and a group of people have been invited to Harry Keller’s magic emporium to try out to become his next apprentice. As you arrive, something seems a little off but as the final test has been set up there, you and your team are excited to give it a shot and see if you can make the cut to become Keller’s magical apprentice. Video above is property of Escape City 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE There were some unique and interesting props to interact with. All the props were integrated into the room wonderfully. There were a couple unique puzzles that were simple but clever that after so many rooms, have never seen done elsewhere. The room was fairly low tech but still had a lot of creative puzzles and different ways to interact with things to solve the puzzles. The puzzles were signposted well and once we got started with the first puzzle, the rest of the puzzles and story flowed nicely. The story added some twists into the game and kept us on our toes until the end of the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This was one of Escape City’s first rooms when they opened many years ago and the room does show some wear and tear over the years with some props that have come off the wall and some puzzles that were difficult to read. There was one puzzle that was changed over the years, where the new puzzle did not seem as organic to the room anymore and stuck out a little. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Keller’s Magic Emporium" was a fun adventure with some eye-opening twists in the story. Though the room is many years old and the puzzles were low tech, they were very creative. Even after having done so many rooms, there were some things we have never seen elsewhere. The room was setup in a magic shop-esque for the ones who love magic with a touch of horror to it. This is not a room we would recommend for family due to some mature content, but this would be a fun date night room with 2 couples or even just a evening with friends. We completed the room with 5 players which felt like the top limit as the room played linearly. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Mature content in the room Room is recommended for 16+ Free Parking Lot Licensed facility so you can have a drink while playing Free Sticker/Badge after completion of the room Board games for purchase Photos above are property of Escape City (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"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #Magic #Horror #Alberta #Canada

LOCATION: Hinton, Alberta, Canada Photo above is property of Airplay Escape Rooms 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Genie Escape Room 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 10, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $25/PP (Adult), $18/PP (Kids), $9/PP (9 & under) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY As a group of travelling nomads, you have stumbled into the lair of an evil genie. The genie has trapped your group into a lamp but has given you one hope for salvation. From the pages of 1001 Arabian Nights, find the genie’s favorite 10 stories and he will set you free. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design of the room was well done. Walking in, this is what we would expect a genie lamp to look like on the inside, from the ambient lighting, the decorations on the wall and the lock boxes. The puzzles were just the right amount of difficulty where with the kids we did not get stuck on any major puzzles and the game flowed. No puzzles overstayed its welcome during the game. There were even a few puzzles that the kids were able to solve on their own. The game varied between being linear and non-linear puzzles which allowed everyone to be busy the entire time. We had a great GM who monitored us. She knew exactly where we were in the game and what combinations we tried to help nudge us along the way. All the nudges she gave us were also perfectly worded that she still let us have our eureka moment. There was a smell puzzle in the game which was executed flawlessly because they chose distinct and strong smells so there was little doubt with what they were. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK A couple of the puzzles could of have some slightly better cluing, as the intended puzzles was not super clear. Most of them we were able to solve with a simple nudge though. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Along the way to Jasper National Park, this escape room in Hinton was a fantastic stop. The puzzles were solid and kept us going at a nice pace. The room was also fully designed in an Arabian theme. The game offered 3 different levels of hints. Organic was where the GM would give us nudges along the way if it looked like we were stuck or falling behind on time. Normal was when the GM would ask if we wanted a hint if we looked stuck and hardcore was she would only give us hints if we asked for them. We played with organic and found with 2 kids, that helped with the flow of the game and did not give us any frustrating moments. The bulk of the puzzles were combination and key locks which the kids enjoyed opening. Any fans of Aladdin or Arabian night themes would appreciate this game. Not only was the game fun, but we now have some 1001 Arabian Night stories to read up on. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking Lobby area with plenty of seating Disability friendly Will need to take shoes off Also has a trampoline park and arcade games available (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"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #AirplayEscapeRooms #Fantasy #Adventure #Canada

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Ventures Scapes' Photo above is property of Venture Scapes' 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Planet X 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 25, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi, Space 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: CAD $29/PP ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Someone has been stealing planets across the galaxy and it is up to your team, the Protectors in Purple, to stop them. Travel across the universe, find the perpetrator’s lair and figure out where their next target is. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Some of the puzzles were designed large enough so that no one felt left out in the puzzle solving as well as the puzzle flow diverged to non-linear so we could stay involved. This was a family friendly room that both my kids could get behind and enjoy, using a lot of cute, kid friendly nuances as well as some easier puzzles that they could solve on their own. The narrative provided an engaging story that captivated the kids, which let them follow along and have a great time. Knowing there is a lot of stigma with flashlights, we found they were used effectively here. The first room was slightly dark but fit the theme and we were not searching for minute details to solve puzzles. Everyone also got their own flashlight which was convenient. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK A couple of puzzles could have been signposted better as we felt after trying the obvious clues, we stumbled on the answer through some secondary reasoning. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Venture Scapes' was a perfect family outing, and the room was family-friendly with its fun narrative. There was no tech but the kids enjoyed opening all the locks and some of the puzzles were easy enough that the kids could participate and lead some of the solving. We played with 2 adults and 2 kids and think this would be a great room for a family like ours or some beginner escape room players. The owner’s enthusiasm shows though the game, making sure you want to have a good time. This place would be great for a kids or teen birthday party or anyone who is wanting an introduction to escape rooms. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking Party room available Wheelchair accessible Large lobby with seating area (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"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #VentureScapes #SciFi #Space #Edmonton #Canada

LOCATION: Edmonton, AB, Canada Photo above is property of Escape City 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Woodsman 📅 DATE PLAYED: January 27, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $33.00/ pp (Adults), $27.00/ pp (Ages 8-15) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY In the heart of the woods, you and your group find yourselves caught in a sinister trap, waking up in a locked cabin. As the Woodsman peers in through the window, he tells us how bored he has gotten with trapping animals and thirsts for something more. Looking for prey that will fight for their survival, he has placed you in this cabin and given you 60 mins to win your freedom. Video above is property of Escape City 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room’s set design was quite immersive. There were plenty of high-quality items that were used for the puzzles and for decoration of the cabin such as a massive deer head. The puzzles that were a longer solve were designed large enough that we could all see and participate in the puzzle solving. The introduction and concluding videos were of movie quality and fit beautifully into the narrative. Even the presentation of the video was completely immersive. After solving each puzzle, either a victory sound would ring or it is very obvious where you have to move to next which was helpful The hints were given in an immersive way. One puzzle was a lot of fun to use. We all had to share it around and make sure everyone got to try it. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There were a couple of logic puzzles that would have been easier to go through with something to write with. One puzzle had props that were completely broken. Though the puzzle was still solvable, in the future, hopefully they can provide more durable props here. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "The Woodsman" was an engaging group experience. The puzzles were imaginative and weaved right into the game. The story was suspenseful and creepy, with immersive introduction and concluding videos to draw you into the atmosphere. This room had just the right amount of creepy without being too scary. We played with 4 people and found that this was the right​ amount for the room so that everyone could participate in the puzzle solving and not be too cramped in the space. Any creepy escape room lover or loves the outdoors would enjoy this game. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO This escape room deals with violent content and contains gore. Recommended age of 16+ for the room Free parking Lobby with seating area Escape room games and board games for sale Licensed facility with alcoholic beverages Stickers for completing the room Photos above are property of Escape City (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"!) #MatthewLui #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #Thriller #Alberta #Canada

LOCATION: Zoersel, Belgium Photos above are property of Escaperoom Antwerp Photos above are property of Escaperoom Antwerp Date Played: September 16, 2021 Genre: Thriller Difficulty (Based on 5 PPL): 7/10 Total # of Players: 4-6 PPL Length of Time: 60 Minutes Price: €119/Team Booking Type: Private Escaped? Yes 📖 THE STORY As we were driving to the place, we were enjoying the beautiful Belgium countryside. The sun setting and the radio playing. To get to the escape room you do have to drive a bit but considering many people have advised me to play it, I knew that the drive wouldn’t be so bad (But it was the builder first and only room so far, so you never know…). But halfway there the weather started to turn around very quickly as if it knew we were approaching and before we knew it, a storm was let loose. “Despite the windscreen wipers, our view remains cloudy due to the torrential rain on the windscreen. This really wasn't the time to break down. Yet we see the lightning close by, throwing off the silhouette of an old house and we decide to ring the doorbell. Through the window, we can see the log fire a group of hunting trophies staring back lifeless. Their gaze betrays that it is better to turn right, but the door is already opening.” 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The set design is so on point! Nothing feels out of place, yet it feels lived in and full. Puzzles are well thought out with some being really original and fitting the environment really well. The introduction is masterfully done by a professional actor. Ingenious hint system that I’m surprised not many have come up with that idea. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There are some minor spoilers at the beginning that makes the climax of the room feel less… climactic. Keep the twist of the story as hidden as possible. Some parts aren’t that accessible for physically disabled people or people who have trouble fitting through smaller crawl spaces. There are chairs and other things. But that is something that could hinder a group. Just some very minor post-signing between puzzles that could be improved (or it could be that our group was just a bit too hasty.) that involves communication towards the players. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? With the description of the room you read earlier, it was almost as if real-life wanted to blend in further into fantasy. Once we got there and parked right in front of the house, we just had to enter a sliding door, and we were immediately in a very cozy waiting area. Benches made from what seemed old wooden pallets, drinks and some snacks we could freely take, some flyers of other escape rooms, a neon sign and a bathroom. The Game master was still running around, probably resetting the room and making sure everything is working properly. As for merchandise, there wasn’t a lot to buy, except for from drinks and snacks. But once he took us to the room, the magic started to happen. The Game master is a trained actor in musical theater. And the way he explains it makes it very clear. He’s putting on a performance that makes you immediately on the edge and into the whole story of the room, as he explains he also shows the ingenious way he implemented the emergency exit in the room. But once he gets out of the room. You’re in for a ride of a story. The rest …. You’ll have to figure it out for yourself. But all I can say is simply … WOW… This is the kind of room that many builders should aspire to be. It’s a masterclass in story-building and design (The very last room gave me chills when I discovered it.). But the most ingenious part of the room is the hint system, which I can’t say much about it without revealing too much. But I can say, no screens or walkie-talkies are involved. Should you take a shot? Absolutely! This room is one of those rooms that you have to have done as a player or a builder. The way it’s built and the very clever tricks and integration of the puzzles in the environment and story just show the potential the builder has for his future projects (and there is a new one on the way.). And as far as first rooms go. This room has certainly knocked it out of the park and made sure that we would keep them on our radar for any other room they would bring. Not only as a player but as builders to inspire us to get on such a level of finish. ADDITIONAL INFO Large lobby waiting area Parking space available for 3 cars in the front This game can be played in Dutch or English Photos above are property of Escaperoom Antwerp (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"!) #JoeriJacobs #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Thriller #EscaperoomAntwerp #Europe #Belgium

LOCATION: Retie, Belgium Photo above is property of Escaping Belgium Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Le Prince 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 24, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Film, Inspired Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 70 Mins. 💰 PRICE: Є140 ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [49:00] 📖 THE STORY Louis Le Prince was a French inventor, known as one of the pioneers of film, and the creator of the world’s first single lens movie camera. However, with success comes risk, and Le Prince’s advancements had not gone unnoticed by his competitors who aim to get their hands on his prototype. As he rushes to New York to get his patent approved, and his legacy protected, Le Prince forgets the plans, leaving them behind in his workshop’s safe. With time against him, he asks you to go and bring them to him before the train leaves. But be careful, someone might be watching you! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We had heard good things about how beautiful the set design was for this room prior to our arrival, and those remarks were not wrong. Our first impression was of the ally that is home to Le Prince’s workshop and it looks so incredibly real, complete with authentic scents too. The alleyway was the visual highlight of this room for us and we only wished we could have spent more time in it. The close attention to detail is carried on throughout the remainder of the game with lots of little design decisions which demonstrates the time and thought that must have been dedicated in creating such an elaborate space. We also particularly enjoyed discovering little nods to other popular escape rooms in the region via some of the props inside. We noted here, and in many other Dutch and Belgian providers, that there is a large amount of mutual respect for what one another does and that is really positive to witness. Despite the room’s appearance as a 19th century building, it is packed with lots of technology, both for the puzzles and some of the special effects. This has led to the creation of some really interesting dynamics with the puzzles. Our favourite form of puzzles are those which involve exploration of the entire space, even those areas you may have already passed through, and puzzles which require multiple people to complete. This room not only had both, but also combined both aspects. This ensured we were always fully engaged in the experience and provided some dynamic tasks for us to complete. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK In terms of game play there wasn’t much more that we could ask of the provider. The game felt very complete. We were disappointed that they wouldn’t allow us to take a photo inside the room or someplace with an appropriate backdrop. We are always confused by providers who create such imaginative spaces and never want to show them off. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is definitely one of Belgium’s top new rooms to hit the scene and highly recommended to everyone, whether you like logic driven puzzles or want to be swept up in mystery from the past with strong set design and cute special effects. Photos above are property of Escaping Belgium ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is free onsite There is a large lobby area for you to hang out before or after with drinks for purchase. Additionally, there is also a fantastic little shop selling handmade ceramic/pottery products by one of the escape room owners and jewelry too! Lockers are available Not wheelchair accessible due to uneven surfaces and stairs (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"!) #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapingBelgium #Film #Adventure #Belgium

LOCATION: Ghent, Belgium Photo above is property of The Box - Escape Room Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Date Played: November 11, 2021 Genre: Mystery Difficulty (Based on 3 PPL): 8/10 Total # of Players: Up to 8 PPL Length of Time: 90 Minutes Price: €75/Team + €16/pp (€11/pp if student or child) Booking Type: Private Escaped? Yes (55 Minutes) 📖 THE STORY You wake up in a room that you don’t recognize. You don't know where you are or how you ended up there - but soon things happen that fill the gaps in your memory… And then there's the box...Get ready for a multi-room quest full of surprising puzzles and technical gadgets. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Great post signing, even though there is a lot of stuff in the room. Excellent “growth” of the room the more you solve. Some puzzles were unique in the sense that I actually haven’t seen certain things being done in other rooms. A lot of interesting mechanical parts that keep you on your toes. You get to see a graph after the game of how well you did in the room compared to the average and the top time. Decor was on point and brand of the whole story 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The story could use some polishing or could be expanded upon in certain parts of the room The decor could use a little upgrade. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Let me first start with saying, this room is made by ONE person! And it kicked so much ass. From the moment you “wake up” in the room until you discover how to open the box and how to exit the room. He keeps on surprising you with many twists and turns. There is a small parking nearby specifically for the escape room, but unfortunately, some people just park there when they go get their pizza at the local Pizza Hut. So be prepared to park somewhere in the streets. As we got inside, we were guided to a small room with two couches and the GM already sitting behind his PC. There are some drinks you can get before you enter the room and if you ask nicely, he’ll let you take your drink inside the room ;). You can buy some escape room boxes you can take home or a coffee mug with the ritual box printed on it :) His explanation is pretty much straightforward from this point, and he even points to the door you’re supposed to come out. Which is kind of obvious once you enter the room, so not really a spoiler or a giveaway. You’re instructed to close your eyes and follow the GM by going in a conga line, and he instructs you to lie on a bed and wait for “the signal”. And when the signal is there…then the real fun begins. What makes this room so unique? Well, the GM encourages you to really think outside of the box and solve the puzzles any way you like. Want to force break a lock? Sure, go ahead! Want to use one of the forks in the drawer? Why not? ANYTHING is possible! There are some exceptions, but the GM will let you know with the sound of a buzzer. This could be the moving of an object that could damage a puzzle, or something unnecessary that just wastes too much of your time. Either way, the freedom to try it your way is strangely liberating. Because you don’t have to follow one way to solve a puzzle, you’re not stuck looking for the ultimate object to solve the puzzle, thou you’re probably not using the most efficient item, but if it works, it works. This kind of blew me away at how well it worked, I have been critiquing rooms and one of the things I usually preach it to not have too many red herrings or loose objects lying around as it could distract the players, but this GM made sure that we knew immediately what was usable and what was there to distract us if we just pay attention. There was a lot of stuff we could have used to solve the puzzles, and for some we didn’t even use the most efficient things, and yet still ended up with a time under the average with three people. After the room is done, the GM also makes a lot of time to talk about the experience you just had and goes through the progress the group made through the room. You get to see how well you have done compared to the average time and the top time, and he elaborates about the ways you could have solved the puzzle and figure out the details of the story. Something I haven’t seen done in such detail with most of the rooms I have played. Though, I do question if this is manageable once he would make more rooms. But that is something I leave up to the GM. Let me also iterate my “working points”. First let me remind you this is made by ONE person, so yes there will be faults, but it’s not with the puzzles or the technology. The story seems complete, but there are parts that are like side quests and not needed to solve and are not even part of the story. It would have tilted the whole story more if by finishing the puzzles that some new info about the story was revealed, unveiling a whole new layer to the whole room. Also, the décor fits really well since it should resemble a place where a student would live in. But the parts of the décor the GM made could use a bit more polishing in his next room. The use of modeling clay or certain décor foams and woods would do wonders finishing the certain parts. But those small things are by far microbes compared to the giant lake of awesomeness this room is. If you’re even in Belgium and in Ghent, this is one of the rooms you have to have played. It has taken the concept and the almost rigid rules other GM’s have put on themselves and turned it on its head completely. Certainly, an interesting room for not only players but creators also to see and dissect to see why it works and how they can apply it to their room. Take A Shot? HELL. YEAH!!! Proost! Photos above are 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 Box - Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #JoeriJacobs #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystery #TheBox #Ghent #Belgium