LOCATION: Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Aftermath 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 1, 2020 🎬 GENRE: Dystopian, Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 6 ppl): 8.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $36.00/ pp or $250.00/ private ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public/ Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: No 📖 THE STORY We were assigned to a Top-Secret mission in the Wastelands. We must protect ourselves from enemy factions, wasteland marauders, and other threats to avoid another apocalypse of the world. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Love it when the game master is in character when introducing the story. The outfit, lantern, and the delightful mustache started the game in the right mood. The set design had a bunker feel when we first entered. We appreciated this “starter” approach to set the tone for the room in the beginning of the story with simpler puzzles and progress into something bigger. Soundproof was great in this room. Even though we were in a noisy mall with a lot of foot traffic and really high ceilings with echoing effects, we couldn’t hear anything other than what’s happening inside the room. The first part of the room had a great flow and all the puzzles made sense. We enjoyed the detailed props that were placed in the room that revealed a story. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There seemed to be a difference in the set design making between the beginning part of the game and the latter part. It also felt like a disconnect from the storyline. We did not really feel the “threats” that was being integrated into the puzzle elements. It would’ve been great to see more of smooth assimilation throughout. One main console was repeatedly used for various puzzles and we felt like at times each divided team was waiting to use it and that wasted a good amount of time. Later, we had to be creative with figuring out a solution but not sure if that’s a normal action that could be allowed during the game play. The automated clues we received from the game master wasn’t really helpful towards the end of the game. We felt that maybe because each team was working on different puzzles, it’s hard for them to keep track of the actual hints that was given. It would be great if customized hints could be implemented especially during these harder puzzle segments. One puzzle would have been a lot of fun if it was designed more like the Operation Game. Currently, it feels more like an “eat up time” kind of puzzle. All of us gave it a try and was not able to succeed until one member probably got it by luck, but we didn’t even know what was triggered. It would be great if some sort of symbol or sound could link what was triggered to this puzzle. We wasted a good amount of time afterwards still trying to figure the puzzle out not knowing it was solved already. Some music would've added more ambience to the room along with some added special effects would be great to create as impactful “salvation from an apocalypse” ending. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room was not linear at all. We would recommend a team of 6 mainly because of the latter part of the game. It’s on the challenging end mainly because of the items mentioned above but you may find it not so difficult for you if you are great at the physical precision challenges. It was a lot of fun to feel the intensity as a team towards the end of the game but also a bit frustrating when we couldn’t receive the correct procedures to move forward. Not sure how much adjustment Spellbound can make on the puzzle at this point, but a customized hint system would greatly help the players with the latter part of the game. If you enjoy the adrenaline rush of getting out of an escape room close to seconds, this room could be what you are looking for! Are you up for the challenge? 🔎 HINT Think reverse... 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 Spellbound Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Dystopian #Thriller #SpellboundEscapes #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Mind Factory Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Breathless 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 31, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 1-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY After receiving an encrypted transmission at Mind Factory, the agents were able to decode it and all they heard were two words... "Help us"!! The rest of the message was full of static and weird sounds. In a remote section of Colorado, something strange has occurred inside a high security biohazard laboratory. Across the United States, there are hundreds of labs that handle dangerous biological substances, but this location has a safety level that shouldn't even exist and apparently it contains a label classified as: "Unknown Entity". Your mission as a Mind Factory agent is to infiltrate the lab, determine what has happened and contain any threat to the outside world! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The backstory for "Breathless" is Sci-fi story-telling at it's best! The whole "unknown entity" and what's to be expected really builds the anticipation. As a Mind Factory agent, our mission was to infiltrate and investigate a high security biohazard laboratory that isn't even supposed to exist! The intro video really set the tone for what's to come next. The set design started before we even entered the room. The black door with blacked out windows and purple accent lighting will draw anyone's attention. Once inside, the atmosphere becomes intense right away as if we really entered a dangerous biohazard lab. There was a decent amount of puzzles which all correlated with the location and theme of the game. One challenge in particular was quite unique. We really had to work together in separate locations in order to save ourselves from running out of time. We've never seen this idea used in an escape room before but it suits perfectly with the narrative. Mind Factory spared no cost at making this game as immersive as possible. The voice acting you will hear during the game is done by Jeff Steitzer, voice of the Multiplayer Announcer of the Halo series. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Since Mind Factory is located on the street level, you will hear some outside noise during one part of the room which took away some immersion but they did their best at trying to incorporate that part into the set design. The intro video seem to indicate something horrible had happened in the lab but the game itself felt not scary as it should have been. I guess that's good for players who doesn't like horror or jump scares as there were none in this game. Some parts of the game needed more sound warnings or activation noise as at times we didn't know if we had done something correctly or not. Adding a stronger "wow" factor for the ending would greatly enhance the unique storyline. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? As soon as you enter the lobby of Mind Factory, it really gives off a steampunk feel like you're inside a cool garage. They have a huge waiting area, perfect for private events and corporate gatherings. If you like sci-fi thrillers films that involve unknown alien entities, "Breathless" is a great way to get into character and investigate. Mind Factory Escape Games is a new escape room company with "Breathless" being the only game that's currently available but their new room "Invasion" will be coming soon! We had the pleasure of taking a peek and it looks MASSIVE. We can't wait to check it out when it's ready! 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 Mind Factory Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #USA #CT #SciFi #MindFactoryEscapeGames #ExclusiveLook

LOCATION: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Mind Factory Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Invasion 📅 DATE PLAYED: June 17, 2022 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 12 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY New intel from Mind Factory agents tracked the location of an entity known as "Evo" to an abandoned factory. It appears that Evo isn't working alone! Jane Ryan, a former scientist of White Horse Industries has been infected with a deadly virus known as "The Spore" and together they are up to something... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Prior to staring the game, there's a little added puzzle where you will need to figure out a way into the factory. These little touches really makes the game feel more immersive to the player. Although there's no live actors in the room, the fact that all you see is a dim red light and pitch darkness down a hallway gives us chills down our spines. The set design was done perfectly with the story setting. As you go through the room, you'll get some jump scares, special lighting, sound effects and a really cool prop that easily becomes the center of attention. All of these factors makes this experience feel so REAL! Due to the sci-fi theming of this game, there was a good amount of tech and it was well implemented and there was no glitches at all throughout our experience. For those players that love to physically open locks, this game also has you covered there as well! 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some parts at the beginning felt quite easy in terms of puzzles. It almost felt like giveaway answers, but it does get progressively harder. This is also a coming from enthusiasts, the general public might feel that it still takes time to solve those puzzles. There were some "wow" moments that felt a little taken away by instructions given to prevent incidences. We gave some advise to the owner in terms of how that can still be preserved by adding in some protective elements. The ending video felt a little anti-climactic, it would be great if a twist or "a sneak peek into the next room" could be implemented. Or perhaps just a blackout?! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you haven't played "Breathless", we suggest playing that first so you know the prequel to this story (although there's no knowledge in the previous game to help you with this one). We love the idea of making rooms into sequels, as there's always an anxious waiting period right after playing one of them to find out what the next one is all about. The owner already gave us an idea of the third room after this one and we're beyond excited for the theme that he's going to come out with. If you love Sci-Fi (games/ movies like "Resident Evil" or "Silent Hill") with a bit of creepiness, you'll want to check out this game. The storyline is also very intriguing to follow along. NOTE: This game can be adjusted in terms of difficulty level. We played the enthusiasts version, which added a puzzle element that will take some time since it involves deduction. You can request this at the time of your booking. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot on the side of the building. Lobby area with seating available (easily can be used as a corporate/team event) Photos above are properties of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, interview with the owner, 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 Mind Factory Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #SciFi #Connecticut #USA #MindFactoryEscapeGames

LOCATION: Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Sherlock Holmes and the Haunted Cemetery 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 15, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Detetive, Paranormal 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 12 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $33.00/ pp (Min. of 3 ppl), $29.00/ pp (4 ppl or more) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes This is a local owner that builds all the rooms himself. We were quite impressed as he provided us with a backstage tour which made us really appreciate the room designs even more. One puzzle that you can solve in minutes can take him months to build. The lobby area was also quite spacious with plenty of seating and puzzles to play with. Water & juice is generously offered complimentary from their mini-fridge. The owner pays attention to every detail including light fixtures to the room's design. Although we did see some areas that wasn't hidden very well, it was still pretty decent for something that he personally built. There's a few clever things he did with the tech in the room. However, one particular puzzle took a lot of time from us that we didn't particularly enjoy. Eventually, we got it but definitely with some "luck" involved. Overall, the room did flow very well and correlated with the storyline. With just the two of us, we managed to complete the room with 2 minutes to spare. The cost is quite hefty if you decide to do the room with just two people. So try to get a group to go all at once as the price does come down drastically and you'll have more fun altogether! We can't wait to try his other new rooms as he's completing a few of them as we speak! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ** UPDATE - Please advise that "AdventurEscape Rooms" has changed their company name and is now called "REACT Premium Escape Rooms". We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website** (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"!) #CiciCao #IRLEscapeRoom #EscapeRooms #SciFi #Detective #Paranormal #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of REACT Premium Escape Rooms 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Hungover Games 📅 DATE PLAYED: December 28, 2020 🎬 GENRE: Fun 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $79.00/ team ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Our friend Dave got roped into a drinking game competition and didn't win. This did not go over so well with the shady characters that he was playing with and took his losing very seriously. So in order to save him, we have to play the same drinking game competition and win so that we can make it through! Otherwise, things could not only be bad for Dave... but for US too!! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE If there was only one word to classify this escape room, that word would be "FUN"! In "The Hungover Games", we felt like we were trapped inside of a man-cave with a basketball hoop, air hockey table, a jukebox, a poker table, and a life-sized "Jenga" on steroids. There was so much to do that you could easily lose track of time. The set design really made it feel like happy hour at local pub. As soon as we stepped foot inside, we were ready to order some drinks! The music from the jukebox definitely set the tone and the neon lights brought the energy to life. The puzzles were creatively implemented with unique designs. Since the storyline's objective was to complete a bunch of drinking games in order to win the competition, there's no limit as to what you can do w/ the challenges. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK In regards to the storyline, we didn't feel the intensity of the competition. If we were competing to save Dave's life (and ours), we expected more of sense of urgency. The ending could also be a bit stronger to tie in with the story. It was a "fun" ending but we didn't feel that we "saved" Dave. There's a few puzzles that were heavy on color. We think the distinction should be made more clear on some of the colors. We're able to solve one of the puzzles without "completing" the set. It was confusing to us as we thought we needed to collect all of them. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Whether you are an escape room enthusiast or just being dragged along by your friends to play an escape room, "The Hungover Games" is designed for everyone! This room was pure entertainment. I would classify this game as an escape room man-cave or what I would imagine and escape room bar to be like. From shooting hoops to Jenga to a jukebox providing you with an upbeat playlist, the happy hour vibe is definitely there. Not to mention, all of this is accompanied by bright neon lights! If this wasn't enough, you can add $20 for the VIP treatment (21+ can BYOB one drink, get up to 20 minutes of additional playing time, spin their prize wheel and win some swag)! 🕵️ EASTER EGG The name of the bar "Puzzles" is a nod to an episode on the popular hit tv show - "How I Met Your Mother" where Barney Stinson suggests to Ted Mosby that if they owned a bar, they should name it "Puzzles". People would ask "Why is it called Puzzles" and they would respond "That's the puzzle!". Also, the same guy who customized the jukebox also designed the one for NPH. 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 REACT Premium Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #SciFi #Connecticut #USA #REACTPremiumEscapeRooms

LOCATION: Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of REACT Premium Escape Rooms 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Strangest Things 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 20, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Heist 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $46.00 - $59.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [47:07] 📖 THE STORY There's some unusual activity happening at a government laboratory in an undisclosed location. Rumor has it that there's a secret entrance somewhere in the cemetery. You and your friends decide to try and find this secret lab to get more information, but you're beginning to realize that the strangest things are beginning to happen... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Breaking in through a graveyard is definitely a more refreshing idea than just trying to go through the front door. This also gave the creator more flexibility on creating hidden doorways/ portals. "The Strangest Things" has a good amount of puzzles to work on simultaneously for larger groups. We thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle that we had to work on together as a team. You'll actually feel the cooperative teamwork vibe a couple of times in this game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK A couple of the props were a bit hard to see as they looked different under different lighting. Since this is a color puzzle, we suggest making it more obvious. Adding some notification/ alert sounds for certain things that triggered or to increaser the sense of urgency towards the end would enhance the experience. There was one photo that was supposed to help us with one of the puzzles, but it ended up confusing us even more. We suggest either removing it or making it a different layout. The ending would be more impactful if the creator were to use some sort of task completion rather than a "key to escape" to further develop the story. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Whether you're a fan of "Stranger Things" or any sci-fi themed escape room, "The Strangest Things" will be right up your alley. This game is good for small groups of enthusiasts or large groups that wants to do schedule a team building event. Although the name is quite similar, there's nothing really referencing the show. Although, I can't guarantee things won't get stranger as you go deeper into the "other side".... ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot Waiting area with seating available Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, interview with the owner, the room (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 REACT Premium Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #SciFi #StrangerThings #Connecticut #USA #REACTPremiumEscapeRooms

LOCATION: Southington, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Escapism CT Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Do Not Disturb 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 30, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Paranormal 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29.00/ pp (Min. 4 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Escapism Ct is quite new to the Connecticut escape room community and have recently just passed their one-year anniversary. But in terms of their rooms and their puzzle designs... they are far from newbies!! They are located in a historic building in Southington, CT. There’s plenty of parking outside the facility. Right when you enter, you’ll see the “Witchdoctor Brewing Company” so definitely plan your day wisely. Our recommendation is to win your escape games and then go have a victory drink! When we entered the lobby of Escapism, it felt very spacious and welcoming. The owners designed this to be the hangout spot for all sorts of events. It definitely had a lovely lounge vibe to it. Today we were spending a whole “escape room marathon” here with the owners and tried all three of their rooms. We appreciated the “right from the start” immersive experience as each of their rooms have a difference entrance design for each storyline. The ambient music also changed in the hallway en route to the room that you are playing. The first room that we selected was “Do Not Disturb”. This was the first room that they opened and the minimum booking number required is 3 for this room, which we think is a fitting number as 6 could be a bit too crowded. We started our mission outside of the door which is always a unique experience for us, but in this case it made perfect sense pertaining to the storyline. We were private investigators hired to solve a mystery of a renter who has stopped paying her bills and there have been reports of mysterious sounds and movements inside the old apartment. I wonder what was causing the commotions? When we cracked the code and entered the apartment, we were surprised at how “decorative” it was. There was a lot to explore which was great for bigger groups. The sound and lighting added a lovely eerie feeling to the room. Bonus points for having a hint system that fitted seamlessly with the storyline! It’s always great to see that as we know the owner actually took the time to think about the minor details of the rooms. There was one decorative piece that was a bit misleading as we thought it was a directional hint, but it was merely a prop. Overall, the room had a clear sense of direction and the game flow was great! With just the two of us, we were able to escape quick enough to make the leaderboard for that day!! We really enjoyed this game and can’t wait to test out the other two games -"The Tomb” & “Meltdown” at the venue! 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 Escapism CT for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapismCT #Horror #Eerie #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: Southington, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Escapism CT Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Tomb 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 30, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29.00/ pp (Min. 4 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Read our reviews on “Do Not Disturb” for more detailed information on Escapism. As the owner led us down the hallway to the second room - “The Tomb”, we suddenly became a team of explorers ready to enter an ancient archaeologist site. As we got into our “Indiana Jones” mindset, the door opened into an ancient temple. The lighting, sound, fog machine and even a hint of the smell made the all-around sensory experience a pleasant one.  Our mission here was to uncover the secrets of the tomb before another earthquake hits and the tomb would be buried forever. In this room, you definitely needed a group of 4 people not because of the difficulty of the puzzles but because they are designed to be completed by 4 people and up. The owners had to come in the room to assist with finishing some of the puzzles with us as we only had two people that day. Most of the puzzles were on point with the ancient temple theme but we were able to see some electrical plugs and machines which if a cover was used perhaps like a rock, it would've disguised it better. The puzzles were really fun in the sense that some were tech controlled and others were merely “hand-eye coordination” games. The one at the end took the longest for us because we made it harder for ourselves by not utilizing the “key”. One puzzle may be a stretch for new players to coordinate the meaning behind the symbols, but it made the room more challenging to compliment the easier puzzles. In the end, we felt that there could have been a better "wow” moment since the latter part of the room felt like the space was used mainly for that one last puzzle. Ultimately, we were able to get out with plenty of time left on the clock as a team of two (with “helping hands” from the owners) and once again we were able to make the leaderboard for that day! We really enjoyed this experience and now we are really fired up to finish our third and last room at Escapism - "Meltdown". 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 Escapism CT for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapismCT #Adventure #Exploration #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: Southington, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Escapism CT Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Meltdown 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 30, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Thriller 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29.00/ pp (Min. 4 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Public/Private: Private Discounts: Subscribe and email us for details Read our reviews on “Do Not Disturb” and "The Tomb" for more detailed information on Escapism. The last room we are attempting at Escapism was their largest room called “Meltdown”. This room could fit up to 10 people and the minimum booking for the room is 4 people. We were able to complete the room with ample time left with just the 2 of us. Once again, we were led down the hallway but this time as workers at a nuclear power plant. This was our first day on the job and something has gone wrong. We have 60 minutes to shutdown the system to avoid a catastrophe. The owner really took the time to construct out the details in a nuclear power plant and you can tell by the heavy steel floor plates that covered the entire room. The puzzles were more challenging than the other two rooms since there was a bit more reading and science involved. You did not need any outside knowledge for any of the puzzles although knowing the periodic table may give you a bit of advantage. There was one puzzle in the latter part of the game that had a faulty trigger even though we didn’t complete the puzzle, something opened anyways. That may be worth looking into so that lucky guesses could be avoided. This room had far less props that were just décor so remember what you have already used and what you haven’t. Also, you should be very clear on the path for solving this escape room. All in all, we had a lot of fun in all of the rooms at Escapism. They were all unique in terms of themes and different in terms of puzzle designs. We can’t wait for their newest game - “The Score” to be completed as we heard it’s going to be a huge room and a challenge for new players as well as enthusiasts alike since the final goal here is not to really escape but to have the highest value of the stolen items from the vault and that will be your final score. We have to bring back up for this one! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ** Unfortunately, "Meltdown" is no longer available. However, we were able to live-stream it for our third episode of "Escape Down Memory Lane": *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** (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 Escapism CT for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapismCT #Apocalypse #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: Southington, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Escapism CT Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Score 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 9, 2020 🎬 GENRE: Heist 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 8.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $29.00/ pp (Min. 4 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Nothing can keep us from trying to steal from the notorious international criminal Salvo Faustino, not even retirement! We have an hour to grab as much as we can before he comes back to his hideout... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We've played many heist themed rooms before, but the concept of looting as much as we can had always been our favorite. One of the games we've played early was "The Ultimate Heist" by Clue Chase. The concept was quite similar to this game but in terms of amount of puzzles in the room, "The Score" has it beat. Other than the normal puzzles in the room, the game also embedded strategy elements. For instance, if you want to get more money you might want to attempt the harder puzzles as you'll be awarded with platinum bars versus gold ones. Since the room could fit up to 8 players, it might be wise to assign two players to more difficult puzzles and have single players tackle the easier ones. But you wouldn't know what you'll be awarded with until you open the object. But I'm sure you'll feel the difficulty level once you start to attempt them. The concept of mixing easy and hard puzzles was great since for experienced players, the easy ones could act like "breathers" and for beginners they'll feel accomplished with gold bars. Majority of the puzzles were logic puzzles but there was one physical puzzle that had an impact on creating that urgency feel for the heist. It pushed us to "loot" even faster. This game was definitely a puzzle lover's heaven. The game was designed to not be able to finish in 60 minutes. With the two of us, we were only able to steal 20 million. The owner generously let us try to finish the game after that and as we thought we were close to the finish line, a whole new world appeared before us. This game was designed to be not linear at all. Most of the time we played on the "divide and conquer" mode but it was nice to be able to work on a few puzzles together as well. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some puzzles took too long to solve and had tedious elements. We gave our feedback to the owner after and he already had plans to change them. We hope Escapism comes out with a concept to let players finish the game. Perhaps having an option of booking back to back or paying for extended time ? Especially for players coming from afar, I would think it'll be difficult for them return. But the itch of not being able to see the ending will probably haunt them forever (speaking a little from our own perspective). 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We have been waiting for a long time to play this room. We were supposed to play it prior to pandemic, but things happened. This has been our first physical escape room visited in 4 months. We were so glad we chose this room to "reboot" our system... We highly recommend trying this game out if you are in the area. Weather you are an experienced player or playing escape rooms for the first time, you'll walk out feeling satisfied. Since there were so many puzzle types to chose from, you'll definitely found a moment to shine in your team. Be warned that you might feel a strong urge of wanting to play this game again right after. That's a normal side effect and with that we wish the best of luck! 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 Escapism CT for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapismCT #Heist #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: Southington, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Escapism CT 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Magician's Apprentice 📅 DATE PLAYED: March 5, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Magic, Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 4.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $32.00/ pp (Min. 4 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY The famous magician Propheneus Plum is searching for an apprentice and no previous experience is required. You decided to apply and see what the role entails... what could go wrong? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game flow was nicely done as one puzzle led to another. The beginning of the game was mostly linear and then evolved into non-linear. There were a few Easter Eggs added to the game that was fun to experience especially if you've played all of their other games before. There was an interesting twist that had a nice change of "scenery" for the room's setting in the later part of the game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One of the puzzles lacked some directions on the cluing, making it harder to detect. The "magic" vibe was missing in this room as the decor was mostly done with basic props but didn't really have much of a "reveal" when puzzles were completed. The storyline could be made a bit more clear through the puzzles as sometimes a puzzle just felt like it's a stand-alone puzzle rather than having a meaning behind it. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room would be great for beginners to try out as it utilized a good amount of variations of puzzles that you would potentially see in other escape rooms. I guess in a way, you are an apprentice learning to conquer future escape rooms! If you are looking for a "Harry Potter" type of vibe, you might feel disappointed but there are still plenty of magical items to discover in the room for young wizards such as magic books, wands, spells, and more! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot right in front of the location Lobby area with seating There's a Coffee/beer shop located straight ahead when you enter the building. Pets are allowed inside. 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 Escapism CT for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #USA #Escapism #Connecticut #USA #Fantasy #Magic

LOCATION: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Dimension Gate 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 31, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $27.500/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers We came bright and early to tackle 3 out of the 4 games at Puzzle Theory. There was plenty of parking outside their facility. As you entered the lobby, there was a cozy waiting area. The victory photo wall was decorated with their “Big Bang Theory” inspired logo and local artist work. All of their games are privately booked. Each game was unique in their own way but all revolved around Dr. X. They have actually retired two rooms already that was the origination point of Dr. X but you do not need to know prior knowledge or have to play these rooms in order. The first room seemed to be the smallest in terms of size out of all the rooms we’ve tried and it’s called “The Dimension Gate”. Our recommendation is 2 people if you’ve played escape rooms before. Prior to starting the game, we were asked to fill a survey of questions which we later found out they actually became part of a puzzle in the room which was a nice personal touch. The room itself will let you pick the difficulty level pending on if you choose to use certain hints or not. There was one particular puzzle that we got stuck on which took several levels of “connecting the dots” to solve. In this room, we were supposed to go and find out what was happening to the people that were being sent into this Dimensional Gate that Dr. X invented. The entire room felt futuristic and heavy with mechanical equipment. There were no physical lock types in here which made sense with the theme of the room. The only thing we felt maybe could be a bit clearer is the way the “assistant” told the story as we still were not sure what had happened to us at the end. Perhaps a more “wow” moment could be added for the ending. We still really enjoyed this room from a set design aspect and puzzles as some are quite unique and we haven’t encountered them before. But no time to waste, on to the next realm! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** (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 Puzzle Theory for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #PuzzleTheory #SciFi #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Puzzle Theory 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Warehouse 13 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 2, 2020 🎬 GENRE: Creepy, Thriller, Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $27.50/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public/ Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY We were about to infiltrate Dr. McCurdy’s “workshop”, Warehouse 13. Town people have been describing him as an antisocial and strange man. Rumor has it he’s been doing human experiments in this warehouse and leaving mysterious markings on the bodies before disposing them. We needed to find evidence before he returns to the warehouse so we can stop his evil doings! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We really enjoyed how the game began. Being sent on a mission and not knowing what to expect added the anticipation and we were eager to venture on. The music, special effects, and quality of the props all intertwined seamlessly with the storyline. We really enjoyed a few of the “jump scare” moments. The dramatic entrances along with the fog and sound of the door release felt like we were entering a Disney attraction. One unique puzzle “wowed” us as it looked so real and we weren’t sure if we’re supposed to actually do it. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The puzzle designs felt a little bit repetitive. It seemed to revolve around a similar theme. Some added logic puzzles would be great especially if this could be altered for a more difficult level upon request for enthusiasts. There was an area during the middle of the game with beautiful set design which felt a bit wasted with only a few simple puzzles and they didn’t really get to utilize the entire set. This game felt eerie at the beginning and we expected a progression with a “darker” finish at the end. The lighting felt too bright later on and took away some of the spooky feel. The space and set design had a lot of potential to create a “wow” ending (perhaps with a “jump scare”) effect. It would have been great to have seen one of the props be put to use for this. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This room’s set design quality was a huge step up for Puzzle Theory.  The room was very spacious and would be great for a large group to explore. As enthusiasts, the puzzles were a bit too repetitive and on the easier side. Puzzle Theory does offer levels of difficulty with their other rooms so it would be great to see if they can do the same for this one. They are also working on another concept which could potentially make a game that would be able to be replayed. We can’t wait to see what they come up with! A unique concept with Puzzle Theory which continuously gets you intrigued on playing all of their rooms is that they build their storyline around one core character... Dr. X. We hope they will continue his adventure! 🔎 HINT One at a time. 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 Puzzle Theory for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #PuzzleTheory #Thriller #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Jungle Dimension 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 31, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $27.500/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Read our review on “The Dimension Gate” and "The Wizard Realm" to learn more about Puzzle Theory’s location. As we approached our last dimension at Puzzle Theory, we truly enjoyed the feeling of being “transported”. Each room was so uniquely designed not with just themes but the puzzles as well. This time we were looking for a rogue engineer in a jungle, hence “The Jungle Dimension”. The room was dimly lit but you would have lanterns to assist you. Our recommended player size is 3-4 since there will be a puzzle later on that would be much easier if we had an extra hand (by the way, there would be a choice to bypass this as well, but you must really give it a try first). The room was very “colorful” and most jungle props were represented by paintings to resemble the lush greens and animals. Each time you completed a puzzle, you’ll be awarded with a victory sound. It felt like a jungle “party”! We also felt a little “Jumanji” inspiration with some of the puzzle pieces. The latter part felt a little out of context in terms of the room design as we’re not sure what we’ve just entered as it just felt like a room with more puzzles. If it could be designed to correlate with the storyline more (perhaps the hiding spot of the rogue agent but somehow resemble that in the room design), it would create a more “wow” moment for the players. Overall, this was another unforgettable realm in Dr. X’s world. Puzzle Theory is currently working on their largest horror themed room called “Warehouse 13”. We are so excited to go and test out the final product when it’s ready as we heard that this time it’ll be a different Dr’s realm and it’ll have a completely different take! Disclosure: This room has some similarities with "The Jungle" at Amazing Escape Room Freehold. There were a few new puzzles we haven't seen here but majority were quite similar. You might want to take note prior to booking. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers *** We regret to inform this game is no longer available for booking but check out other games on their website*** Disclosure: We thank Puzzle Theory for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #PuzzleTheory #Adventure #Jumanji #Connecticut #USA

LOCATION: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Wizard Realm 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 31, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $27.50/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Read our review on “The Dimension Gate” to learn more about Puzzle Theory’s location. “The Wizard Realm” was the next room we were being taken into. We recommend 3-4 people as an ideal size for this room. Just from the name alone, I knew I was going to really enjoy this room as I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and this room did not disappoint. Prior to entering the room, you’ll receive your own specialized wizarding school of magic acceptance letter. We were being sent in to infiltrate the school and find out what was happening with the strange readings we’ve been receiving. The props and set design seemed very “magical” and along with the music it really made us feel like we were on a movie set at a Harry Potter production. I particularly enjoyed the plant-like creature which you’re be allowed to take photos with after the game. We went through the first part of the room fairly quickly as the game flow and puzzles were very straight forward. When we got to the latter part, there was one particular puzzle that took us 20 or so minutes to figure out. It was frustrating in the sense that there was no clues that could help you with solving it so you would either have to just keep trying or the game master will have to bypass it for you. We eventually made it work but hearing from the owner later on, most teams don’t really have an issue with it and we probably just messed up the starting sequence. Oops...! Not sure if there could be a solution to where a clue could assist with the team solving this or not as bypassing it would be kind of sad for teams that would like to feel like they’ve solved it on their own. After that hurdle, everything was smooth sailing till the end. This was probably our favorite room here! But wait, there’s still one more! 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 Puzzle Theory for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #PuzzleTheory #Fantasy #Connecticut #USA