LOCATION: Portland, Maine, USA Photo above is property of The Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: World On Edge 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 13, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Historical, War 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $25/PP (Weekdays), $70Min (Weekend) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (38:12) 📖 THE STORY It's the middle of the Cold War, and the world stage is far from comfortable. The USA and the USSR are locked in a battle of escalating tensions, and if ever that conflict boils over it will mean mutually assured destruction for all parties involved. In this world on the brink of destruction, a KGB agent obsessed with starting a third world war has snuck onto the Soviet submarine Stalinsky and primed its nuclear warheads. With just an hour left until launch, it's your job to undo the agent's sabotage and keep this from becoming an incident of world-ending proportions! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Though perhaps a little minimalist in some respects, the decor captures the feeling of a military submarine effectively, with a couple small touches for character. In particular we really liked the officer election posters scattered throughout. One puzzle did a good job of challenging our initial assumptions, while another involved a cooperative skill challenge that was creative in its design and prop construction. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some areas of the room were either poorly lit or simply weren't used effectively. For instance, a large prop in the first room (an engine, perhaps?) wasn't used at all, which seemed an odd choice for something that took up so much space. While fiddling with an electronic puzzle element that shouldn't have been active until later in the story, we accidentally put in a correct answer that skipped over several puzzles. The staff didn't notice until the end of the room when we expressed our confusion that there were numerous elements we had never used. Given how easy it was to accidentally put in the correct answer, we would encourage that the puzzle in question be activated only when it is needed. One puzzle required familiarity with maritime phrases we found too obscure to be considered common knowledge. One puzzle involving studying an image on a computer screen was incredibly frustrating due to the image's poor resolution and color distinction. We stared at it for a very long time before finally resorting to guesswork, a tactic we almost never use. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Before taking on "World On Edge", we were warned by our game master that the room was new, so it was possible that the experience wouldn't be quite as smooth as our previous room ("The Blind Tiger Speakeasy", which itself had some technical difficulties). Following our experience, it was difficult not to agree with our game master, and to further conclude that the room was not yet ready for the public. While the room did an alright job of capturing the feeling of being on a submarine (including a fun synchronized key-turning sequence straight out of a war movie) and even employed some creative puzzle designs in a couple places, the overall experience felt rather rough around the edges, with multiple puzzles that my experienced team found not so much difficult to complete as they were frustrating. We had to complete a skill challenge in a dark corner, guess at obscure phrases we'd never heard before, and make ourselves cross-eyed squinting at a tangled mass of wires (with very similar colors) on a grainy TV screen. All around, the level of friction between the players and the game was much higher than what I'd expect to find in a professional business, and left us feeling rather let down. Having completed a better room at The Escape Room in Portland, I know that they are capable of putting together some solid, worthwhile experiences, so I would encourage more rigorous play-testing before releasing future rooms. Given how new this room is, my hope is that it will undergo some changes in the weeks and months to come, but in its current state it is hard for me to recommend. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Since it is in the middle of Portland, The Escape Room does not have its own parking. Metered spots are available just outside, but you may need to walk from further away if they are taken. The waiting area has plenty of seating and lockers to store your things while you play. 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 Escape Room for offering us a media discount for our tickets to this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TheEscapeRoom #WorldOnEdge #War #Historical #Maine #USA

LOCATION: Portland, Maine, USA Photo above is property of The Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Blind Tiger 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 13, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Historical 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $25/PP (Weekdays), $70Min (Weekend) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (36:12) 📖 THE STORY It's 1920's America and that means prohibition. Organized criminals like mafia boss Maximillian Malone are making a killing on illegal booze, and Uncle Sam isn't too happy about it. It's your job as a team of federal agents to infiltrate Malone's speakeasy - "The Blind Tiger", to find enough proof of his crimes to put him in jail and throw away the key. Video above is property of The Escape Room 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room's decor does a great job of capturing the period aesthetic, with plenty of little accents like advertisements and old photographs to sell the look. Though not all of it worked as intended, the room does a good job of incorporating its technology in ways that feel natural for the theme. I especially liked a particular prop that was incorporated into the game's ending. Puzzle design is strong, with several deduction-logic puzzles that we really enjoyed completing, and which matched the detective theme nicely. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some of the technology in the room wasn't working, including a skill game that wouldn't deploy no matter how many times we completed it. Staff didn't notice right away, so we wasted several minutes trying to get the machine to work. We weren't provided with pen and paper or any other means of taking notes, which was especially frustrating for a puzzle involving coded messages on the ratio. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Rooms with a period aesthetic live and die based on how committed they are to their theme. With detailed decorations that convincingly capture the look and feel of a 1920's speakeasy - "The Blind Tiger" checks the most important boxes for this style of room. Both sections of the speakeasy incorporate numerous artistic touches from advertisements to period-accurate photographs to phone booths and radios that scream Roaring 20's, and all of that lends the puzzles and the room at larges a strong sense of time and places. Plus, there are some fun secrets to uncover that feel straight out of a pulp adventure comic. Unfortunately, my partner and I found our immersion broken in some places, in large part due to malfunctioning technology. In particular, a skill game in one corner of the room failed to deploy its clue even after we had finished it several times, which delayed us for quite some time. Eventually, we were able to signal the staff to remotely deploy the clue, but this also took some time, which surprised us given how long we had spent struggling with the machine and commenting out loud that it wasn't working. If a tune-up on the machine isn't possible, then we at least encourage a closer eye be kept on the machine from the control room. A second frustration we had with this room was the lack of note-taking implements provided, despite pen and paper being available in other rooms here. Some puzzles were difficult to complete without some way to write things down, including a multi-step puzzle that began with remembering a list of code words from a radio broadcast. If you fail to remember them all in order, you need to start the whole broadcast over again, but it won't begin until several advertisements have played first, meaning a lot of wasted time if you don't have everything properly memorized. We're not sure whether the lack of pen and paper was an oversight or a deliberate design choice, but we encourage its use for the future. Despite some aspects that held our experience back, "The Blind Tiger" is still a solid room with several things going for it. It's clear that the designers put a lot of thought into it, and that shows not only in the aesthetics, but in some fun and imaginative puzzles as well. Though it needs just a little more work in our eyes, that work isn't strenuous, so we expect this to be a pretty good experience for most guests going forward. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Since it is in the middle of Portland, The Escape Room does not have its own parking. Metered spots are available just outside, but you may need to walk from further away if they are taken. The waiting area has plenty of seating and lockers to store your things while you play. 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 Escape Room for offering us a media discount for our tickets to this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #TheEscapeRoom #TheBlindTiger #Historical #Maine #USA

LOCATION: South Portland, Maine, USA Photo above is property of Maine Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Dr. Gem's Time Trap 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 13, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $35/PP (more on weekends) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (44:00) 📖 THE STORY You and your team are a group of visionary scientists working on perfecting a time machine. Just as you are ready to complete your invention, the dastardly Dr. Gem steals pieces from it and hides them in the past. With your machine now running on emergency power, you have just one hour to repair the time machine, journey into the past, and return to the present with the stolen pieces. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The puzzle elements in this room are off the charts cool! All of the props have been lovingly crafted by the designers, and the dedication to detail shows in every aspect of the experience. Tech runs smoothly every time, and is worked into the puzzles in very clever ways. The experience of completing these puzzles is wonderfully tactile, incorporating the props in ways that feel extremely satisfying. The story of this room is excellent and elegant, using the space creatively and incorporating a midpoint twist that took us completely off guard. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Honestly, nothing. Despite being a very critical person by nature, I can think of nothing bad to say about this room! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? It’s a rare thing for me to be so completely impressed by an escape room that I can’t think of a single way to improve it, but Dr. Gem’s Time Trap has managed to do just that. From the moment you first walk in, this crown jewel of Maine Escape Games’ impressive suite of rooms is an absolute joy to experience, with a wealth of hand-crafted elements that are incredibly satisfying to manipulate. Assembling the time machine’s scattered pieces feels great, and at every step the room uses impressive technical flourishes to sell the experience. We were blown away by the number of tiny details baked into each puzzle, from chemical mixtures that bubble and change color as you interact with them to the myriad custom parts that glow and hum and you slot them into various panels and systems around the time machine. The story of Dr. Gem’s Time Trap was also excellent. I won’t go into specifics to avoid spoilers, but the room does such an excellent job of incorporating the story into the experience in a meaningful way, changing the design conventions of its puzzles as the story goes on. A particular mid-game twist took us completely off guard, and will likely remain one of the single most memorable moments in any escape room we’ve completed before. Curse you and your fiendish schemes, Dr. Gem! Maine Escape Games has one of the most impressive rosters of escape rooms I’ve ever seen, without a dud in the lot. I know that I’ll be back the next time they open a new room, and I encourage anyone who has interest in escape rooms to check out whatever they can there. I think all their rooms are top tier, but if you had to pick just one, do Dr. Gem’s Time Trap, because it’s just about as close to perfect as it gets! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Plenty of parking available just outside the front door. Merchandise available for purchase in the lobby. The building itself is handicap accessible, but not all the rooms are. Double check before booking! 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 Maine 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. #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #SciFi #MaineEscapeGames #Maine #USA

LOCATION: Portland, Maine, USA Photo above is property of Maine Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Southport School For Wizards 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 13, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy, Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $32/PP (more on weekends) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (44:07) 📖 THE STORY You and your team are students at the Southport School for Wizards, where you have been learning the four core disciplines of magic. Now it’s time to demonstrate your skills in an elaborate test set for you by the faculty. Should you pass, you will earn your very own wands. However, an evil wizard has tampered with the test in an effort to stop you. Can you best the challenges set before you and earn your magic? Or will you fall prey to the evil wizard’s machinations? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The puzzles in this room are excellent, with several unique concepts I have never seen before. I was particularly impressed with some of the electronic puzzles, one of which had us strumming invisible strings. Very clever implementation of tech “magic,” all of which is well designed and runs very smoothly. The narrative is simple enough not to be distracting while lending the puzzles a strong sense of context, plus it features a fun mid-game twist to raise the stakes. The room does a great job signaling what is important without feeling too hand-holdy. Player frustration is minimized since most elements are easy to find, but puzzles remain very satisfying to solve. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One puzzle involved repeating a delicate task several times over, which became mildly tedious for two players on a time crunch. However, it was still a very cool design, and wouldn’t be an issue at all for a group of four or more players. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? I’m predisposed to be skeptical of the “wizard school” theme for escape rooms, which can sometimes feel like little more than cheap bait for Harry Potter fans. If I’d done any of Maine Escape Games’ other rooms prior to this one, I would have known not to be worried. But I hadn’t, which is why “Southport School for Wizards” ended up blowing my expectations completely out of the water. First things first: the puzzles here, as in pretty much all of Maine Escape Games’ offerings, are top notch. Every one of them was satisfying to solve, with solutions that challenged our initial assumptions and made us think outside the box. Additionally, the puzzles all do an excellent job of broadcasting themselves at a distance. Instead of the nook-and-cranny room canvassing that escape rooms often employ to hide clues, Southport and its peers tend to put the important things in plain view, challenging you not to find them but to figure out how they work. The result is a puzzle format that not only minimizes the frustration of overlooked minutia, but also focuses on the most engaging and cerebral aspects of good puzzle design. The technology in these rooms is also phenomenal. All the electronic elements are built custom by the owners, and while some of the props end up looking a tad blocky at first glance, the initial DIY impression quickly gives way to a strong sense of quality, professional design. Everything works as intended, with little to no friction taking away from the player experience. The electronic elements are also used in some very imaginative ways, with several moments that feel distinctly magical. Few rooms have ever captured my sense of wonder like this one, and it’s an experience that’s sure to please. Whatever I thought I might find going in, "Southport School for Wizards" defied my expectations with one of the strongest all-around escape room experiences I’ve ever had. I recommend it highly and without reservation, both to escape enthusiasts and first-time players alike. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Plenty of parking available just outside the front door. Merchandise available for purchase in the lobby. The building itself is handicap accessible, but not all the rooms are. Double check before booking! 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 Maine Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Wizards #Magic #MaineEscapeGames #Portland #Maine #USA

LOCATION: Portland, Maine, USA Photo above is property of Maine Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Alien Invasion 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 18, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $35/PP (more on weekends) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (32:00) 📖 THE STORY An alien spacecraft has crash landed into the escape room, flooding the area with dangerous levels of radiation. With just an hour left until the dose becomes lethal, you and your team must gain access to the ship and operate the otherworldly mechanisms within to patch up the leak. Should you fail, it’s not just your own lives that will be on the line! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The inside of the spaceship is chock full of technology custom-built by the designers, all of which runs smoothly despite some impressively complicated designs. Puzzles inside the ship feel distinctly alien in their construction and function, matching the theme nicely. The ship is very impressive to look at, and is sure to amaze players, especially if they’re new to escape rooms. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The first third of this room is a little plain, though that is likely by design in order to contrast the otherworldliness of the spaceship’s interior. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Like the rest of its peers at Maine Escape Games, "Alien Invasion" is clearly a labor of love by its designers that starts with a strong concept and goes all-in on it. Though its first area is a little simple in terms of aesthetics, all of that changes the moment the player gains access to the spaceship. From here on, Alien Invasion boasts an impressive roster of puzzles with strong integration of electronic elements, making the room feel distinctly high-tech, as a spaceship should. There are some truly impressive custom puzzle elements inside this room, all of which run smoothly and are fun to use. The room does an excellent job not only of showing off its tech, but also of challenging players to figure out how the alien technology works without the help of written instructions or recognizable terrestrial elements like locks or passwords. This self-imposed limitation takes the puzzle design in some interesting directions, with fairly simple solutions made more interesting to players by the added step of intuiting what is being asked of them in the first place. Once players have figured out the rules of a puzzle, the solution is usually easy to achieve, making this room somewhat easy for groups with lots of experience, but ideal for newcomers to the hobby. "Alien Invasion" is a great room that’s consistently fun to interact with and look at. Its theming is impressive both in terms of visual style and puzzle design, making it a solid experience all around. While an experienced team might be better served by other Maine Escape Games rooms with higher difficulty, I still had a great time in Alien Invasion, and I think it would be an ideal place to introduce new players to escape rooms. Photos above are property of Maine Escape Games ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Plenty of parking available just outside the front door. Merchandise available for purchase in the lobby. The building itself is handicap accessible, but not all the rooms are. Double check before booking! 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 Maine Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Alien #SciFi #MaineEscapeGames #Portland #Maine #USA

LOCATION: Portland, Maine, USA Photo above is property of Maine Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Uncle Ned's Cabin 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 18, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $35/PP (more on weekends) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (37:12) 📖 THE STORY Your dear Uncle Ned has recently passed away, leaving behind a sizable inheritance for you to collect. However, some jealous relatives have their eyes on Ned’s cash, leaving you with just an hour to claim what’s rightfully yours. Ned loved inventions, and he’s hidden your inheritance in a puzzle-filled cabin in the woods. Now all that’s left is for you and your team to solve what Ned left for you, and the prize is yours! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The most peaceful vibe of any escape room you’ll ever be in, guaranteed. Technology is well-integrated, giving puzzles an air of wonder and mystery while remaining largely hidden so as not to disrupt the woodland cabin aesthetic. Puzzles are fun to interact with, and can typically be completed in any order in a given area. This design would serve both large and small groups well. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The final puzzle requires players to remember where a series of tokens originally came from. There is a prominent sign reminding players this puzzle is coming, as well as a deployable failsafe clue in case no one remembers, but the puzzle is still technically “breakable.” 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? In my experience, most escape rooms try to excite players with high-tension environments and themes. Typically this is good for the room, but it wasn’t until I visited Uncle Ned’s Cabin that I realized just how refreshing a peaceful room could be. Instead of the creepy or paranormal twist I’ve come to expect from the various cabin rooms I’ve completed in the past, Uncle Ned’s Cabin goes all-in on the restorative power of nature, seeking to be as pleasant and picturesque as possible. Not only does the decor sell the forest-cabin look nicely, but a pleasant soundtrack of animal calls and other peaceful forest sounds puts the player at ease. It’s a “puzzles and zen” approach that might be atypical, but which is nonetheless enormously satisfying. Beyond aesthetics, this room also satisfies with an array of strong puzzles that are a joy to complete and which feature numerous clever applications of technology that heighten the rustic wonder of the room rather than distracting from it. Like its peers, the puzzles in Uncle Ned’s Cabin are usually easy to find but don’t always feature obvious solutions, which does a great job of minimizing frustration and keeping players thinking rather than blindly searching. My only gripe with the puzzles is that the final one is breakable if your group doesn’t heed the room’s warning to remember where several tokens came from. My group didn’t have any issues, but it’s easy to imagine a large group where one player misses the warning and breaks the puzzle as a consequence. At any rate, I’d advise leaving the tokens where you find them until the endgame if you visit this room. My one complaint aside, "Uncle Ned’s Cabin" gave me something I didn’t know I needed–a relaxing escape room–with the same level of polish and clever design flourishes that impressed me so much in Maine Escape Games’ other rooms. It’s a great experience that would be fitting both for experienced and beginner groups alike, and one which I recommend enthusiastically. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Plenty of parking available just outside the front door. Merchandise available for purchase in the lobby. The building itself is handicap accessible, but this particular room is not owing to a big step up in the middle area. 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 Maine Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystery #MaineEscapeGames #Portland #Maine #USA

LOCATION: Portland, Maine, USA Photo above is property of Maine Escape Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Escape Your Fears 📅 DATE PLAYED: August 18, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 9/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $35/PP (more on weekends) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes (54:22) 📖 THE STORY You and your team have been kidnapped by a madman who loves two things: puzzles, and killing people who aren’t good at solving puzzles. Fortunately, you’ve got a chance to escape, but your wits will have to be very quick. You’ve got one hour to solve the madman’s puzzles and earn your freedom… or else. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE If you like jumpscares and live-actor interaction, this room does a great job of using these elements to ramp up tension, and even incorporates them into the puzzle design in some clever ways. Puzzle elements are tactile and fun to interact with. Lots of attention is placed on objects that can be manipulated in interesting ways, rather than on simple riddles and paper problems. The room presents a high level of challenge, but virtually everything feels fair, which isn’t always the case for rooms with a low escape rate. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One or two props feature wear that slightly affects their functionality, and some puzzles aren’t quite as intuitive as those in the other rooms at Maine Escape Games. Live actor interaction probably should have been advertised on the website. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Escape Your Fears" is sure to be a memorable room for me, in large part because it was the first room I have been in that used a live actor. While I wish this had been advertised on the website for the benefit of those who aren’t fond of jumpscares, the presence of a masked killer lurking in dark recesses just outside the room and harassing us when we least expected it gave this room a tension I’m not used to. I’ve been hesitant to try such experiences before, but this one struck a nice balance of keeping the killer menacing without interrupting the flow of the puzzles. This is the oldest room currently in operation at Maine Escape Games, and the age shows in some minor aspects of wear and puzzle design. Technology is less present than in its more recent peers, but it remains an excellent experience that wows with other aspects of its design. The puzzles here incorporate custom props with a high degree of tactility, from hefty boards to creepy baby carriages to ash-covered bones from previous victims of the killer’s rampage. The puzzles and the space itself are also designed in a way that makes it feel as though the killer is egging you on, deliberately toying with you as he challenges your group to solve his puzzles in time. He’s a killer with personality, and that shows in the journey you take to escape his clutches. "Escape Your Fears" is a strong escape room definitely worthy of a look, though the difficulty level here is noticeably higher than the other rooms at Main Escape Games. Their website even features a warning that the room is particularly challenging, along with a recommendation that groups have at least four members. We managed to finish it with two, but given that it was with three hints and just over five minutes on the clock, I think the website’s recommendation of four or more experienced players is warranted. If that’s you (and you don’t mind some jumpscares from a really creepy clown) you’ll have a great time here! Photos above re property of Maine Escape Games ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Plenty of parking available just outside the front door. Merchandise available for purchase in the lobby. The building itself is handicap accessible, but the final area of this room is not owing to a narrow entranceway. 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 Maine Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Horror #MaineEscapeGames #Portland #Maine #USA

Videos/ Photos provided by Breakout KC (Swell Spark) Company: Breakout KC (Swell Spark) Game: Runaway Railcar Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Remote Escape Room 🗣 Genre: Adventure Date Played: 7/8/2020 Difficulty (based on 4 players): 5/10 Size of Team: 2-6 Players Time: 45 Minutes Price: $54.56 (tax included)/ team "Runaway Railcar" was a 30 minute mobile game that was converted to a remote escape room experience. This was the second trailer game we've played (the first one was in a caravan in Italy). This trailer truck (photo below) was parked right outside Breakout KC's headquarter in Kansas City. We did experience a bit of a lag since they were using a router for the WiFi but it didn't have too much impact on the game play. The game started with the avatar (Bobby) giving us a quick tour of the room. Our goal was to stop a railcar that was heading straight for Union Station and the breaks were damaged! The game had a separate link which provided three videos (one was an intro) that you're able to view on your computers (headset recommended). The set design felt like we're in the cargo section of the train with all different types of wooden boxes surrounding us. Each of the boxes contained different clue pieces or puzzles. We especially enjoyed a "surprise find" which heightened the urgency of the situation. The videos were quite humorous and provided updates on the story line. Due to Bobby's lightning speed and 4 veteran escapers, (with combined escape room played total close to 2000) we got out with 22 minutes and 42 second left. The room was a lot of fun but we felt that it was too short in comparison to some of the other remote escape rooms with closer to 60 minutes of content since the pricing was comparable. It would be great if they were able to incorporate a bit more character play or story to make up for the play time. We are not saying to have a "slow lock opener" to drag out the play time but rather develop a separate digital game to incorporate to the remote game (a hybrid) so the players can have some interactive play on their own devices. Breakout KC definitely teased us with this game as we felt like we just started to enjoy the puzzles and it ended already. We look forward to a longer production from them in the near future as their puzzle quality and set design were delightful! *** 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, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Breakout KC and Swell Spark for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ESCAPETHEROOmers #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #SparkSwell #BreakoutKC #RunawayRailcar #RemoteEscapeRoom #Avatar #Train #rescue #save

LOCATION: St. Louis, Missouri, USA Above photo is property of Escape Challenge St. Louis 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Stranger Times 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 11, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 PPL): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 8ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $25/PP ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY In the year 2021, the creatures of the “upside down” have ravaged the world you live in. Thankfully there is a time machine to send you back to Hawkins IN in the year 1984. It is up to your team of adventurers to stop upside down from being breached and make it back to the present day alive. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This room sells itself when it comes to the amount of detail they put into it. The set pieces and locations all felt familiar and reminded us exactly what decade we were sent back into. There were a lot of different puzzles and most were integrated into the room well. Some of them included classic 80s action figures, Eggo waffles, and blinking lights all seen within the show. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The puzzles didn't feel like they had a strong connection with the storyline. They were good puzzles but developing the story to try and get rid of the creatures from the upside down did not occur. The very first puzzle was a major logic leap, expect to get a hint. We talked to the game master about this puzzle after the room and she mentioned that most players can't figure out this puzzle. There is an excellent final room that was well done but when we solved the last puzzle the game master just came into the room and told us that we saved the world. A stronger ending would make this game feel a lot more conclusive. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you are a fan of "Stranger Things" this room does a good job at recreating some of the scenes in the show. It has some fun puzzles and great scenery that is sure to satiate the escape room fan. Playing this game with five people, we were able to complete it in ~45mins. The non-linearity of the game made it so that our party members felt like they were participating. If you love the show and want to relive the major moments while solving some puzzles at the same time, this is the room for you! Additional Info Parking lot Lobby area Head to head games VR We don't want to go into detail and ruin any surprises for you, but if you'd like more information on the room, feel free to email us. (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"!) #MikeSchnurr #SciFi #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #USA #EscapeChallengeStLouis #StLouis #Missouri

LOCATION: Maplewood, Missouri, USA Photos above are property of Escape from St. Louis 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: WizardQuest 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 10, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Fantasy, Magical 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 4/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $34/PP (depend on group size) ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Starting your story in the days of the old and fantastical, where magic controls the land. An evil wizard set to poison the area's river is loose and it is up to you and your team of fledgling wizards to prevent the dastardly deed from occurring. You have tracked the wizard down to an old house in the forest and just as you think you have him surrounded, he teleports away. Try to recreate the teleportation spell and find the wizard before disease takes the land. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE WizardQuest utilizes the space they were given in a very well done manner. They manage to put secrets and hideaways in the most obvious spots while subverting expectations and still making it a surprise when it is revealed. The set design gives off a wonderful illusion that you have been transported to a new space, to a new world. Each step along the story's journey is well choreographed and the room's design enforces it. While completing the room, your group may be surprised just how many different types of puzzles are included in the game. There are high tech puzzles, logic puzzles, physical puzzles, there is a puzzle to please each person in your group 🧩 MISSED THE MARK I do not see any major issues with WizardQuest. It is an extremely well put together game. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? WizardQuest is one of my favorite games in the St. Louis area. The game starts out exactly how the storyline says it should and follows a narrative path that helps the team get to the end goal. The puzzles all made sense and they were just hard enough to make sure our team thought through the solutions. The reveals all throughout the room are a ton of fun. When you solve each puzzle it truly feels like you are progressing and learning how to cast each spell, brew each potion, master the elements and even commune with nature. Additional Head to head rooms Play at home escape game & online role playing games for sale 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 St. Louis for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MikeSchnurr #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Fantasy #Magical #EscapefromStLouis #USA #Missouri

LOCATION: Biloxi, Mississippi, USA Photo above has been provided by Escape This 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Kidnapped 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 21, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Kidnapping 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $20/PP ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes This is the only escape room in Biloxi, MS. Being that we were in the area, we went to try it out. The lobby has a waiting area but not much decor. We've been to many local escape rooms before where the owner builds their own rooms but this has got to be one of the worst. First, we got there and were put into the room by our game master without any debriefing or backstory to the room. She told us to handcuff ourselves and then she just left. After we got out of our handcuffs by a very obvious clue gave us, we realized that all the combo boxes were open on the floor. Only about 50% of the room had been reset from the last group. We repeatedly called her on the camera to come and it took forever for her to respond. Finally, we pushed a door open (which should have been locked) to try to get her to come in. When she entered, she said that those boxes were supposed to be locked and then said something about her son's truck being broke down and she was very busy on her own. Regardless of what happened, we would've been happy just waiting there until the room was checked and reset before we entered. So the whole experience was ruined right from the beginning. We didn't feel immersed into the room at all. The shared bathroom was actually IN our room and we weren't sure if it was part of the set or not. Most of the puzzles were lockboxes placed everywhere in the room and you were suppose to just open them one after another with no logic or storyline whatsoever. Basically if we figured out a code, we should just try all of them. The worst part about it is that they used a lot of dial combination locks which we've NEVER used at any other location before. Mainly because these types of locks can be programmed to turn right and/or left a certain amount of times. This was the first escape room we played that we felt like we literally wanted to ESCAPE immediately! Since we were visiting, we had already booked a back-to-back room hoping that the next one - "Escape Krampus" would redeem itself and change our interpretation of them. (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"!) *We don't want to go into detail and ruin any surprises for you, but you want more info like if the room is a multi-room or what other additional tips we can provide to you, feel free to email us. #review #escaperooms #escape #rooms #games #escapethis #kidnapped #mississippi #biloxi #ms

LOCATION: Biloxi, Mississippi, USA Photo above has been provided by Escape This 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Escape Krampus 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 21, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $20/PP ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Read our review on the "Kidnapped" room in order to find out more about this escape location. After experiencing the first room, this "Escape Krampus" one wasn't much better. Our game master however was much more attentive. If we had to compare this room's design with the first one, this one was much better. After playing 60+ rooms in different locations, we've seen a lot. We would highly recommend that the owner of "Escape This" try other places in order to see where the competition level is and maybe upgrade some of the rooms to those standards. In terms of the puzzle designs, this room was a major improvement from the last, since now there's actually a storyline and it felt more linear. But there were still a few in there that we just couldn't understand why it was positioned that way. There was one puzzle in there that was really difficult for us to see. We would suggest either making it bigger, closer, or even providing binoculars. Also, we think these rooms could be greatly improved if the owner gets rid of the dial combination locks. They were very confusing to use as you really don't know how many times you have to turn it pass a number or not. Then it just becomes a number of attempts when you already have the correct code. There are many other locks that can get the job done much quicker and then the players can actually focus on the puzzle-solving instead. *** 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"!) *We don't want to go into detail and ruin any surprises for you, but you want more info like if the room is a multi-room or what other additional tips we can provide to you, feel free to email us. #review #escaperooms #escape #rooms #games #escapethis #escapekrampus #krampus #mississippi #biloxi #ms

LOCATION: Ocean Springs, Mississippi, USA Photo above has been provided by Hint Hunter Puzzle Rooms Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Submarine 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 21, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Ocean 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 PPL): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 8ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $25/PP ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes This location was a bit hard to find as it's in between the two building complexes, so if you see the police station (as that's where the GPS will bring you), the escape room is right behind it. The lobby is well designed and clean. There's some puzzles there but mostly for decor. The game master was quite immersive right from the beginning (maybe a "tad bit" too much). There's quite a long debriefing, so do plan your time wisely as you'll probably need an additional 20 minutes before your game time for the backstory. This room was mainly geared towards kids. The puzzles are very easy and direct to the point. The design of the room was fairly simple. The artwork on the wall was quite good, but it wasn't enough to make you feel like you're underwater in the ocean. We felt that most of the time we we're searching for items that are hidden instead of solving puzzles. We decided to book their "Wasted While" room back-to-back right there on the spot. (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"!) *We don't want to go into detail and ruin any surprises for you, but you want more info like if the room is a multi-room or what other additional tips we can provide to you, feel free to email us. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #HintHunterPuzzleRooms #Underwater #Adventure #Louisiana #USA

LOCATION: Ocean Springs, Mississippi, USA Photo above has been provided by Hint Hunter Puzzle Rooms 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Wasted While 📅 DATE PLAYED: October 21, 2018 🎬 GENRE: Cave 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 6 PPL): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 8ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $25/PP ☎️ BOOKINGTYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes Read our reviews of the "Submerged" room in order to find out more about this escape location. This room was much better in terms of set design and puzzle challenges. Immediately, you feel like you are in a coal mine right when you enter the room. We were joined by five military students who was stationed there locally. This room's difficulty level was definitely higher than the last room we tried so it was nice to have help. There was a good mixture of searching for clues and figuring out puzzles. However, due to the space, we felt that four people would've probably been a better fit. Obviously, it's a bit hard to see in there due to the fact that you are in a mine and not everyone was given a lantern. But I guess that kind of helped us to work in small groups together. There was a few red herrings in the room, but most of the storyline was quite clear. We ended up escaping with 13 minutes left on the clock. If you are in the area, we definitely recommend this room over the others at their location. (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"!) *We don't want to go into detail and ruin any surprises for you, but you want more info like if the room is a multi-room or what other additional tips we can provide to you, feel free to email us. #review #escaperooms #escape #rooms #games #hinthunterpuzzlerooms #hinthunter #wastedwhile #mississippi #DIberville #ms

Videos/ Photos provided by Fuzzy Logic Escape Room Company: Fuzzy Logic Escape Room Game: Vet Office Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Remote Escape Room 🗣 Genre: Fun, Adventure Date Played: 5/7/2020 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 6.5/10 Size of Team: Recommended Up to 8 Players Time: 60 Minutes Price: $69.99 (1-2 Zoom Logins), $99.99 (Unlimited Logins) When I first contacted Fuzzy Logic Escape Room and asked them to suggest a room for us to play, they immediately went for "Vet Office". I was leaning towards their other rooms since "Superheroes" or "Villains" sounded more intriguing. At first glance, we thought the room was quite small and not sure how we were suppose to last 60 minutes with 5 players that have all done over hundreds of escape rooms. Boy were we wrong! This is a classic "don't judge a book by it's cover" scenario. As we opened one lock more "mystery" unraveled. We really loved the fact that we had a real time inventory list sent to us as we discovered the items. This really helped the team divide and conquer puzzles like what we would normally do in a physical location. The camera was also very clear (except one puzzle was hard to see due to the angle) and the internet connection was smooth throughout. The cherry on top was our avatar staying in character the entire time. He knew just the right amount of "speed" to complete a task. In some rooms we've encountered avatars being super slow at opening locks or asking us three times to confirm if we wanted to open the lock or not. It was as if they wanted to drag out the 60 minutes. Our avatar played like how we would in an escape room. The puzzles were a lot of fun and very logical. I personally really enjoyed the final puzzle. By the looks on our victory photo, you can tell this is easily one of our favorite remote escape rooms! *** This game can no longer be booked as a remote game but can still be booked as an in-person experience *** (If you do decide to try this game, please remember to let them know that you heard it from"ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Fuzzy Logic Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #AtHomeGames #EscapeRooms #FuzzyLogicEscapeRoom #VetOffice #RemoteEscapeRoom #Avatar #ESCAPETHEROOMers #puzzles