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LOCATION: Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA Photo above is property of Breakout Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Undercover Alley (now titled "Bomb Squad") 📅 DATE PLAYED: September 29, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $39.99/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY As a detective for the Breakout City PD, you've been working undercover for months. Your objective has been to infiltrate a notorious crime organization known as "The Syndicate". You've discovered new intel tracking their next location to be in Doomsday Alley. This is your chance to stop the next attack and you only have one hour left... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We've played other games as undercover agents, cops, civilians, etc. but never meeting up in an alley so this was a first! The small was quite small but since we're in an alley it kind of fit the theme. The backstory built everything up to this point where our long ongoing investigation is finally going to pay off. Knowing that this is where it boils down to and the stakes are high, definitely made us feel like we had our work cut out for us. Growing up in NYC, I've hung out with my friends in an alley or two back in the day and this definitely felt like home (only a lot cleaner and doesn't smell...). The graffiti on the walls, the sneakers hanging on the clothesline and the manholes on the floor were all spot on. One thing I love about certain escape rooms is when you DON'T have access to a certain part of the room (yet), but you can SEE what's over there. In this case, there was a metal fence blocking off the neighboring building. When you're an escape room player that gets to do things that aren't just hypothetical, it really ramps up the experience. This room utilized a lot of real life situations and tools that you had to get in order to accomplish them. Essentially there was an added puzzle before the puzzle in terms of what we needed to use in order to complete the next task. We really liked that. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK As a two player team, one of the puzzles came off a bit tedious for us. A larger group might not have too much issues with it since they can designate more players to accomplish it at the same time. You better have good memory as one of the puzzles actually required you to remember some items color order or else you might have to just take a guess or ask the GM for a hint. There's a tactile puzzle that Cici (5 ft. tall) would have never been able to do reach certain parts. When booking the game, it would help to have tall people in the group or perhaps the game might need to provide some sort of booster prop. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Undercover Alley" is one of Breakout Games newest games and out of all of the set designs that we've seen by Breakout Games, "Undercover Alley" is my favorite! There's definitely a upgrade to the quality of the build and the creativity of their challenges. This room was designed to be played linear and the puzzles were literally "gated" to prevent jumping ahead. Gather your team of investigators and see if you can stop the attack!!! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers *** "Undercover Alley" has now been re-titled "Bomb Squad" (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 Breakout Games for providing a media discount for this game. Although a discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Agent #Detective #BreakoutGames #USA #Massachusetts

LOCATION: Woburn, Massachusetts, USA Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Museum Heist 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 9, 2020 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Mission, Heist 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $23.99 - $37.99/ pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY We are hired to steal a rare art collection that was stolen by a thief from the museum. Let’s see how this pans out… Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Although the decor of the room was not as impressive as some other Breakout Games that we’ve seen, we still enjoyed the puzzle elements of this room. One puzzle in particular, incorporated physical and logical elements which ultimately gave us a strong and surprising ending. We liked how Breakout Games tried to put us in the mindset of an actual thief and our entire game play was based on what a thief would do in these situations. The puzzles were intertwined within this thought process. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The initial space could use some more puzzle elements and decor as it felt like a waste of an area right now and the décor could also have more of a nighttime kind of feel. This could add a more “mysterious” feeling of breaking and entering. Some props needed updating. There was a cool puzzle element that needed repairing and it would’ve added to the surprise element of the room if it had been working. One puzzle was a bit confusing for us from a word play perspective. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? If you are good at picking locks, this is the room for you. Just kidding... then you’ll probably be good at every escape room! Some puzzles felt challenging with just the two of us but it’s definitely doable. The room is spacious enough for us to recommend an ideal group of 4 people. Release your inner “Bonnie & Clyde” and give this room a shot! 🔎 HINT Do you feel it coming out? Additional Info Parking right outside of the location Lobby with waiting area Merchandise for sale 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 Breakout Games (Woburn) 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 #BreakoutGames #Heist #USA #Massachusetts

Photo above is property of Breakout Games Company: Breakout Games Game: Mystery Mansion Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Remote Escape Room 🗣 Genre: Mystery Date Played: June 14, 2020 Difficulty (based on 5 players): 6.5/10 Size of Team: Up to 8ppl Time: 60 Minutes Price: $99/ Flat rate Video above is property of Breakout Games This was not our first time with Breakout Games. They've always been consistent with their customer service and professionalism. We've played several of their games at various locations but never a remote one. We were lucky to be playing "Mystery Mansion" at their Atlanta, GA location as they have the fastest "one hand lock opener" we've ever seen, Richard. At one point we all said: "Did you just "one hand " a Cryptex?" With that said, our journey began... We have chosen to spend the holiday at a creepy old mansion. There seems to be a presence of "something here". What's hidden deep within those walls? We were given time to watch an intro video. Once that ended, the mansion magically appeared in front of us. I've always loved when the game designer adds a "break in" scenario to the beginning of an escape room. I'm glad they were able to keep a bit of the "creepiness" as due to remote play, the rest of the game had to be well lit. I would imagine playing on site would have a much different feeling. Richard gave us the password for the portal after we had a quick scan of the room. The portal was easy to use and was very necessary for the game. It provided clear images of items we needed as clues. The puzzles were logical except one confused us with the wording. Since Richard saved us so much time with his speediness, we were able to figure that out and escape with 7 minutes and 36 seconds left. For the remote games we really appreciate a game that doesn't spend too much time on finding items or having too much props that are not in play. These are tasks that would be difficult if we were to play on site already. This game was very straightforward and had no red herrings. Nothing was hidden to the point where it would waste your game time to find them. We spend all our time enjoying the puzzles and with all these factors combined, we can say: "That was a great remote escape game!" Photos above are property of Breakout Games *** 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, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!) Disclosure: We thank Breakout Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #AtHomeGames #RemoteEscapeRooms #BreakoutGames #Mystery #Paranormal #Georgia #USA

LOCATION: Asheville, North Carolina, USA Photo above is property of Breakout Games Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Clue 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 12, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Mystery, Whodunnit? 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $26.99 - $33.99/ pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY "CLUE" - The murder mystery "whodunit" board game finally comes to life and you get to save the day! In this game, your mission is to prevent the murder from happening by uncovering who's it is, with what weapon, and in which room. You have one hour to solve the mystery!! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE What I love about this storyline is that they took a different approach to the game. Your mission is to prevent the murder from happening as opposed to solving the crime afterwards. So essentially if you guess the murder's plan, then you would have save the victim and therefore won the game. Right when we step foot inside Mr. Body's mansion, it felt like we became pawns on the game board. You will have a chance to explore various rooms, solve puzzles and earn items as rewards. This will of course help you later on in solving the case in the elimination round. I love the score card/ notepad idea in the lobby of the mansion. Instead of having players jot down things with a pen, you can just check off the items on the board. It makes it so much easier when it comes to making that final call. The attention to detail that Breakout Games put into the props was amazing. My favorite was the garden. There were plants, tools, and even a real water fountain! The puzzles were so much fun to solve and creatively implemented to contribute to the experience. You're reminded of the game of Clue and the characters every second of the way. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK One of the puzzle designs felt a bit tedious and repetitive. I think it's fine if there's 3-4 players (as they can each cover a location), but it was quite challenging for two people since there's a good amount of area to cover within a time limit. There was an image that felt confusing to us from the way it was portrayed. This hindered us in making the final decision as it could be interpreted in various ways. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? I've always been a die hard fan of the CLUE! I grew up playing the board game with my family and I must've seen the movie at least 200 times!! So when I found out that Hasbro & Breakout Games teamed up to produce "Clue: The Escape Room", you can imagine how eager I was to visit Breakout Asheville (as this game is only available at a handful of locations at Breakout) ! If you are a fan of CLUE and want to experience it in real life, then the trip will definitely be worthwhile. So far we've played (9) of Breakout Games IRL escape rooms at (6) different locations and (1) of their games remotely. They are all very different in terms of the storyline and setting. "CLUE" is definitely one of their best games and the most generous in size (with multiple rooms). Whether your fan of the game/movie or not, it's the perfect game for any mystery lover! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is a bit tricky in the downtown Asheville area. Street parking is a bit of a challenge, but there is parking lots (metered) nearby (there is one 1.5 blocks away). There is a lobby area with seating. Merchandise available for purchase. Breakout is just one of Asheville's exciting attractions. Visit exploreashville.com for more information on events and entertainment. Photos above are property of Breakout Games (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 Breakout 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 #BreakoutGames #Mystery #Whodunnit #NorthCarolina #USA

LOCATION : Epsom, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Escape from the Room 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Chambers of Champions 📅 DATE PLAYED : March 15, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Medieval 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-8 ppl (Recommend 3-6 ppl) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : £20-27.5/pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You’ve been selected as the Champions of your Realm! With the King’s recent passing, a new ruler of the 8 Realms of Kandala must be selected. Whichever Realm’s Champions are deemed the most clever will be awarded the Crown. Can you solve the challenges set before you before the other teams to claim the power for your homeland? Beware - more than just the crown is at stake, as the losers are executed! But, uh, don’t let that distract you…the clock is ticking! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE This room has a very unique structure! It is quite a small space, with an 8x3 grid of puzzles and padlocks on one wall. To win the standard 60-minute game (and escape execution), you only need to solve 8 of those, though you must do at least one puzzle per column. However, if you manage to solve ALL of the puzzles, you not only win for your realm, but actually win the crown yourselves! While this can be played by a single group, as we did, there is a head-to-head option as well. There is an identical-looking space just on the other side of a wire mesh wall, allowing the groups to easily see and hear one another, which would only amp up the competitive spirit and tension! This room is designed for puzzle-lovers, and there’s a really nice variety, with some nice a-ha’s along the way. While difficulty can be subjective, each one is rated from 1-3, which can be helpful in directing different players’ efforts. They’ve really packed a lot into such a small space, and gameplay is highly nonlinear. We largely divided and conquered at the start, then began to collaborate more towards the end with the remaining puzzles. There’s lots to do! 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We encountered a few minor technical issues, whereby a few things didn’t work, and we had to call our lovely GM in for assistance. There was also one memorably fiddly puzzle, where we were unable to get the correct answer despite several attempts and properly understanding what we needed to do. This game is highly puzzle centric. While the theming all works and there are some smaller satisfying discoveries, it won’t be ideal for those looking for incredible sets or big theatrical reveals. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Chambers of Champions " is a very clever game that can suit a wide variety of groups due to its flexible structure - whether that’s beginners just looking to survive, bigger groups wanting that competitive head-to-head experience, or enthusiasts angling to do it all and claim the crown! It is best-suited to those who love puzzles, and we encourage enthusiasts to go ahead and book the extra 30 minutes if your team is only 2-3. As a group of two who were given a few extra minutes before I had to book it to the airport for my flight out, we finished with a handful of puzzles remaining. Alas, I guess I was never meant to be King. But perhaps YOU are the future ruler of Kandala? It is a worthy challenge indeed! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO The Epsom location is about an 8 minute walk from the Epsom train station. There is a small lobby and bathroom available. There is limited wheelchair access; it sounds like their Wallington location is more accessible. 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 the Room for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapefromtheRoom #Medieval #Epsom #UK

LOCATION: Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, USA Photo above is property of Klues Escape Room Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Moonshiner 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 30, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Adventure, Suspense 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up To 6ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $24.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY We need to save our uncle Cecil from jail! We must gather a batch of his moonshine for his bail money! 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Set design was solid. With the amount of space, we still were able to feel the ENTIRE cabin. We liked the transition of the lighting throughout the rooms. Puzzles were unique and special effects were on point. Game flow was great and there were no red herrings. A physical step was added to a puzzle which made it more intriguing than just a “find”. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was a puzzle that we accidentally triggered and solved. If this happens quite a bit, perhaps the puzzle needs to be tweaked. It would’ve been great if the last part of the game could be made into a final puzzle to give a bigger reveal for the ending. If a sound or light indicator could happen when something opened as we solved a puzzle that would be great. A lot of times we didn’t know something had already opened and was still on the same puzzle wondering what we did wrong. Some music would add more ambience in the latter part of the room. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We had an awesome couple who loves escape rooms join us for this game. We worked really well together as "Klues Escape Room" also does public bookings. Our recommended group size for this room would be 2-4 people only if you have played a good amount of escape rooms before. We were able to escape with spare time left with the 4 of us. This room has a 8% escape rate according to past data. We suggest you bring as many brains with you as possible if you are a beginner escapist as you'll need all the help you can get. Their set designs are amazing and we can’t wait to try their newest room “The Curse of The Pharaoh” as it will be their most challenging room with a much lengthier play time! 🔎 HINT Exactly what is IT? (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 Klues Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Klues #Western #Pennsylvania #USA

LOCATION: Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, USA Photo above is property of Big Screen Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Nuclear Family 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 27, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Action 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $28.30/ pp (Min. of 3 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Everything seems perfect inside this kitchen... a little TOO perfect! It's extremely quiet and no one seems to be around. Moreover, everything looked staged. You can't help but feel like something extremely bad is headed your way... Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers\ 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE One thing that always stands out for us is when an escape room start your experience before you even enter the room. For "Nuclear Family", we stood in front of an actual door to a house! Although you know it's just a door but the visual deception made it felt like you're going into something much bigger. The colors were vibrant and felt like you've just entered into a home in a picture frame. Once inside, the 80s retro style kitchen will make you feel like you've walked into a sitcom. The backstory was quite unique and definitely provided us with a sense of urgency. There's one point during game we literally felt like we're going to run out of time! The puzzles were innovative and implemented into the set design really well! Unlike their other game "Trapped in 88", this game is more linear and requires a good amount of perception. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK As we progressed into the game, we were hoping that the intensity would increase visually and audibly, Maybe some red light sirens with air raid sounds? At the end of the game, we were unsure if we've successfully escaped or not. The current ending didn't feel exciting enough to be in line with the rest of the room's narrative. The owner did inform us that he's already thinking of a new way to improve on this. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Big Screen Escapes is a relatively new company with 2 games available and a 3rd one on the way! The minute we walked inside, we felt like it was an escape room boutique shop! It had a character and charm to it that felt really welcoming! The lobby area also has a bunch of really cool merchandises available for purchase. Although "Trapped in 88" has more locks and puzzles to solve, "Nuclear Family" is more challenging in terms of difficulty level. It also has more tech than "Trapped in 88". If you're vacationing in the area of the Poconos, definitely give them a visit as this is going to be a really thing to do with your friends and family! 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 Big Screen Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLEscaperooms #EscapeRooms #BigScreenEscapes #Adventure #Pennsylvania #USA

LOCATION: Tannersville, Pennsylvania, USA Photo above is property of Big Screen Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Minutes to Midnight 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 28, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 6 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp (2 ppl), $25.00/ pp (3 ppl or more) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [40:00] 📖 THE STORY It’s just one hour away from New Year’s Day 1970, and aliens are about to invade. As flying saucers gather in the skies, you and your team of agents uncover a government conspiracy that has given the aliens their foothold in this world, along with a lead on “Project Lullaby,” a plan to use a very special song on the radio to send the aliens packing. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Both rooms convincingly sell the illusion of being in a late 1960s government office without the use of heavy-handed parody. Decor is strong, yet subtle. Props and sound design are both great, taking the puzzles in some cool directions. The room has a good story that doesn’t slow down the pace of the room with exhaustive text documents. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some elements in the room are showing signs of wear and could do with some repairs. One electronic element was slightly miscalibrated, and required a frustratingly exact input to complete correctly. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? “Minutes to Midnight” is the second room I’ve done with the Big Screen Escapes brand, and overall I’m pretty satisfied. Though the decor in this room isn’t anything jaw-dropping, it nonetheless creates a convincing and interesting government office space for its story to unfold in. Speaking of the story, I was rather pleased with a narrative that is both interesting and streamlined, providing an engaging context for the puzzles without bogging the players down with the mountains of text some other rooms require players to sift through. While not everything in the room is fully explained by the end (I’m still confused about how we used the radio to avert an alien invasion), the story is refreshingly minimalist in its approach, ending up with above average writing that lends appeal beyond the limitations of the space the puzzles are housed in. The room also has some great props, one of which was a cool piece of period tech I haven’t seen in a long time. That said, the biggest difficulty we had was the wear on some puzzle elements, which were largely functional but presented some resistance. One cabinet had damage around the lock that required a gentle touch to avoid breaking further, while the aforementioned piece of period tech was dropping a couple small pieces and required one member of the group to twist and hold a key to operate. While these were minor inconveniences, our team was delayed for some time by an electronic puzzle that wouldn’t accept the correct answer and required several well-timed inputs to operate. Later we learned that the result of our frustration was a slight miscalibration in the puzzle’s electronic elements that registered one value greater than whatever we put into it. Our game master was kind enough to take five minutes off our official time for the inconvenience, though we still finished the room with slightly dampened spirits. Hopefully, the team at Big Screen Escapes 2 is able to work out this technical bug for future players. Despite these technical difficulties, I still had a great time in Minutes to Midnight, and am excited to do more rooms with Big Screen Escapes in the future. It’s clear to me that lots of love and imagination is being put into the design of these rooms, and I regret that I could only complete two of the rooms during my visit, as I am curious to see what else they have in store. If you’re in the Poconos area, I give Big Screen Escapes in general and Minutes to Midnight specifically a recommendation. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking available on site Lobby area features merchandise, games for sale, and a detailed leaderboard displaying recent completion times One player gets a polaroid victory picture Complete the interactive video puzzles on the website for a discount code! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game: 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"!) #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #BigScreenEscapes #SciFi #Pennsylvania #USA

LOCATION: Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, USA Photo above is property of Big Screen Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Trapped in 88 📅 DATE PLAYED: May 26, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $28.30/ pp (Min. of 3 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY For some reason, whenever time traveling is involved, there's always not enough fuel to return back to where you've started. Ever wondered what it was like for Marty McFly to travel back in time and navigate his way into a completely different decade?. Well here's your chance! In "Trapped in 88", your objective is to investigate the life of an 80's teenager leading up to her prom which will ultimately help you find what you're looking for! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE There are times that we appreciate a really good old fashioned traditional escape room. I'm talking about one with a lot of puzzles and locks to open. It was an amazing feeling especially after playing hundreds of remote escape games lately where only the avatar gets all the satisfaction from opening locks. The backstory for "Trapped in 88" was cleverly constructed for the existence of the tons of locks in this room. The privacy of a teenage girl's diary, love letters, and notes passed in class would all normally require secret combination codes and hidden keys. We really appreciated the retro set design, music, props and the neon lights that made this room come to live. There was definitely a lot of classic throwbacks to 80's such as VHS tapes, Nintendo games, Cabbage Patch Dolls, River Phoenix posters, etc.! We appreciated the creators leaving most of the red herring items out of reach so we didn't waste time concentrating on those as there's a lot to look at in this room. Unlike "Nuclear Family", the puzzles in this game were not linear so large groups can definitely tackle them together. If you're enthusiasts, you can also challenge yourself by having just 2 people like what we did. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK It's hard to say what "missed the mark" in this room because overall, it was a really fun game to play from beginning to end! If I had to mention one thing, it would probably be the same suggestion I gave for "Nuclear Family" again which is to have a stronger ending that celebrates the victory. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Big Screen Escapes is a relatively new company with 2 games available and a 3rd one on the way! The minute we walked inside, we felt like it was an escape room boutique shop! It had a character and charm to it that felt really welcoming! The lobby area also has a bunch of really cool merchandises available for purchase. If you want to be bought back to experience the 80s again with memorabilia and songs, you'll love this room. If you have kids, definitely take them here to check out what a CD looks like and have them try out a retro Atari game. If you have knowledge of cult classic films and music in the 80s, you might have a slight advantage in this game. However, all the puzzles can be solved without outside knowledge so get ready to have some fun! Photos 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 Big Screen Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #BrandonChow #IRLEscapeRooms #EscapeRooms #BigScreenEscapes #Retro #SciFi #Pennsylvania #USA

LOCATION: Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, USA Photo above is property of Big Screen Escapes Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Solitude 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 27, 2023 🎬 GENRE: Supernatural, Western 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp (2 ppl), $25.00/ pp (3 ppl or more) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [39:00] 📖 THE STORY After a terrible blizzard traps your group inside a long-abandoned cabin, it’s a race against time to avoid dying of hypothermia. A flare gun that could be used to signal for help lies somewhere in the cabin, but first the group must follow the clues in a series of letters that speak of a troubled family and supernatural powers. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE "Solitude" has strong set design that is both interesting to look at and very playable. Clever integration of technology creates good puzzles that don’t compromise the period aesthetics. Though mildly tedious to repeat in the event of a mistake, the final puzzle was rather original and did a great job of adding to the room’s story. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Puzzle sequence is highly linear, relying on clues written into letters at almost every step. One electronic puzzle was a little finicky to operate, leading to missed information. No countdown timer in the room means we had to use a phone to keep track of how much time had passed! 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? From the colorful lobby area to the detailed props and clever lighting, it’s clear that the designers at Big Screen Escapes have put a lot of effort into their business. “Solitude” has great cabin decor with puzzles that both look and play very well, and the puzzle design features some unique ideas that keep the overall experience fresh. The game’s final puzzle in particular used an idea I’ve never seen in another room, and it did so in a way that capped off Solitude’s underlying story nicely. One drawback to this room’s design is its linearity. Puzzles lead directly into one another, with each providing a new letter containing the clue that will unlock the next puzzle. While the puzzles themselves are good, the use of letters as a delivery method for information means this room doesn’t employ much organic exploration and discovery. For a small group or one interested in the room’s mysterious story, a linear chain of letters isn’t such a bad thing. For a larger group, however, there is little room to branch out and do more than one thing at a time, especially when the whole experience is confined to just one room. In the future, I would recommend the designers incorporate some wider segments with multiple puzzles active at a time. That said, my first experience at Big Screen Escapes was still a good one, and my critiques of the room didn’t keep me from enjoying myself. Despite its linearity and focus on written clues, Solitude creates a cool experience with its immersive atmosphere, enigmatic story, and a unique puzzle or two along the way. It’s a solid escape room, and one I’d recommend to people in the area. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking available on site Lobby area features merchandise, games for sale, and a detailed leaderboard displaying recent completion times One player gets a polaroid victory picture Complete the interactive video puzzles on the website for a discount code! Photos above are property of Big Screen Escapes Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game: 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"!) #KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #BigScreenEscapes #Supernatural #Western #Pennsylvania #USA

LOCATION: Herndon, Virginia, USA Photo above is property of Escape Room Herndon Photos above are property of Escape Room Herndon 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Magician's Workshop 📅 DATE PLAYED: February 28, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $28.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY As an apprentice for one of the best magicians - "Carter the Great", you've become aware that his biggest rival - "The Great Danton" is preparing to unveil his newest trick during tomorrow's performance. According to "The Great Danton", his newest trick will destroy not only your career, but "Carter the Great" as well! Your mission is to find out what this new trick entails and the source of it's power before it's too late! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Magician themed escape rooms are fun but definitely quite difficult to make if you want to achieve "magical moments" for the players. We've also played a lot of magician-themed escape rooms by now so it's quite difficult to find ones that'll give us those "wow" moments. As soon as we started "The Magician's Workshop", the first "reveal" already got our attention. We knew there's going to be many surprises waiting for us on this magical journey. The set design felt like you've entered the magician's workshop where you'll see the common props that magicians would use like cards, wands, crystal balls etc. but there were other props that we've never seen before in a magic themed room. One prop (you'll know once you play the game) gave us such a profound effect that we still think about it till this day. It's just a really beautiful centerpiece that "lights" up the entire room. We love it when a storyline isn't just about escaping! "The Magician's Workshop" reminded me of Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige" in that there's a strong rivalry between both magicians, Between the set design and the storyline, we felt like a character in the movie sneaking in to the backstage of the theatre searching for secrets. Although there is a good amount of tech in this room, as you venture further along you'll discover a variety of different types of challenges from traditional to physical puzzles. Every item that was utilized in the game had its purpose (and stuck with the magic theme) and unraveled secrets as if we were performing magic tricks. The finale was phenomenal. The "room" performed a magical act that we still can't figure out how it's done till this day. I guess we'll never know since a magician never reveals his secrets (If any of you think you've figured it out, feel free to indulge us with an email). 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Much like the other Escape Room Herndon games, it's hard to nitpick on what "missed the mark" for us. The overall experience was amazing from the beginning to the end! If we had to make a suggestion, we would love to see some more puzzles added to a transitional space during the game. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? One thing is for sure, we can always rely on an incredible experience at a Ravenchase escape room location! At Escape Room Herndon, we've played their famous "8-Bit Escape" game back in 2019 and before playing "The Magician's Workshop", we premiered our first episode from our new series - "Escape Down Memory Lane" where we live streamed our play of "Room 213"! All of the games were so much fun and unique in their own ways. If you're a fan of magic and love unexpected surprises that will keep you scratching your head and asking yourself repetitively with "how did they do that?" (even days after playing), then "The Magician's Workshop" is for YOU! This game will make you feel like a real magician and only through solving puzzles while doing magic trick will you be able to claim that final reward! Above photos were provided by Escape Room Herndon (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 Room Herndon 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 #EscapeRoomHerndon #Magic #Virginia #USA

LOCATION: Herndon, Virginia, USA Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: 8-Bit Escape 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 5, 2019 🎬 GENRE: Game, 80s 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $28.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public/Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes This is our second escape room location ever played in Virginia and we’ve heard great things from other companies referring us to play this room - "8-Bit Escape". Escape Herndon has a few sister companies that all fall under the umbrella corporation of Ravenchase Adventures, but all of them operate separately. They sometimes interchange rooms with each other but most of the time it gets revamped a little. Just make sure to call if you feel that the room is similar to what you have played at another location. There’s plenty of parking outside this location. The lobby area is quite spacious with plenty of seating in the waiting area. Today the two of us are attempting their most challenging room “8-Bit Escape” which usually require a 4 people minimum booking. We were debriefed of our mission by the game master and the storyline was that we had friends coming over to our basement to play the newest video game, but our mom locked it up and won’t give it to us until we finish our homework. We have 60 minutes to find the gaming gears and put it back together before our mom kicks our friends out and then they will have to go to Wade’s house. As we enter the room, we felt as if we were young kids again in the basement of our house being surrounded by different types of games and decors that reminded of us of the 80's. It was great to be brought back memories on how to operate some of the old tech and games as most of the 90's generation probably won’t even know what they are. Brandon recognized a lot more brands and games than me since he was born in the 70's, so it helped a bit more in certain puzzles. But no prior knowledge is required to solve the puzzles even if you have not seen these gadgets before. We’ve never played in a room where you can just enjoy some aspects of the room just for pure fun and not have to stress on solving puzzles. This would be a great room for you to bring a group of mix players in and for the players who are not into puzzles as much to have other things to do. There was quite a lot to do in this room. It would be great if you had at least 4 people. At the end, there was an aspect of the puzzle where I think luck was a bit involved and good thing I had it that day because we escaped with mere seconds left on the clock. We really enjoyed how they were able to incorporate the games into puzzles and everything in the room made sense to its theme. At this location, there are two other games “Maritime Mutiny” (for bigger groups as it is their largest room in terms of space right now) and “The Mystery of Room 213). They have a new room in the works which is called “Magician's Workshop” that will be ready later this year. We had the privilege of taking a peak and they all looked amazing. We have to go back to try them if we’re ever in Virginia and you should too! P.S. The Vietnamese restaurant next door is really delicious. 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 Room Herndon 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 #EscapeRoomHerndon #Retro #Mystery #Virginia #USA

LOCATION: Herndon, Virginia, USA Photo above is property of Escape Room Herndon Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: The Graverobber's Dilemma 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 8, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Horror, Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-7 ppl (Recommend Ages 13+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins 💰 PRICE: $28-39 /pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY There's a gravesite where you and your crew believe a body possessing a very large diamond was recently buried. In an attempt to dig up the precious gem, you discover that you're too late! Someone has already stolen it and the thief replaced it with a box containing an address. It appears to be some kind of game that this culprit is playing. You arrive at what appears to be a cabin filled with taxidermy...Do you have what it takes to find the diamond or will you become part of this taxidermist's collection?? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Don't be fooled by the title of the game. What starts off as a simple diamond heist planned by a crew of graverobbers, turns into a deadly game! There were so many twists and turns along the way the help built up to that final climactic ending. We can always count on Escape Room Herndon to deliver a quality set design. From the fireplace to the bear skin rug, we completely forgot that we were inside of an escape room. There was also so much attention to detail between the taxidermy to the "collectors" items discovered throughout the game. The creator utilized amazing light and sound effects to create "wow" moments throughout the game. We especially liked the "change in scenery" at one point during the game since we didn't expect that type of drastic change. The utilization of spaces for puzzles was really clever. There was a point in the game when we said: "Really? We have to go in there? No way!" Since the jump scares are manually triggered, it always got us at the right moments (well...more Cici than me). 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was one wording issue on a cluing which confused us when we're trying to come up with the solution but the owner took our feedback and changed it right away after the game. One other puzzle we noticed in the room that was a bit finicky was a maze puzzle that the owner is going to replace eventually. This is another reason why Escape Room Herndon is one of our favorite escape rooms as the owner truly cares about optimizing the player's experience by taking in their feedback and making the games better whenever possible. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We first heard about Escape Room Herndon back in 2019 and everyone recommended us to go play "8-Bit Escape". Obviously, it blew our minds and easily became one of the most memorable escape room experiences that we've ever had. Since, then we've been back (2) more times - (1) to live-stream our gameplay of "Room 213" for our new series - "Escape Down Memory Lane" and to play "Magician's Workshop", (2) to play their newest game - "The Graverobber's Dilemma". We keep coming back to Herndon, VA because they never disappoint (even if it is a 4 hour trip for us) and we can always expect an incredible time! Plus, who can resist yummy Thai food? Be sure to check out "Nunu's Thai Dishes" next door! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot outside facility Merchandise available for purchase Lounge area with plenty of seating available Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an 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 Escape Room Herndon 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 #EscapeRoomHerndon #Ravenchase #Thriller #USA #Virginia

LOCATION: Frederick, Maryland, USA Photo above is property of Clue IQ: An Escape Room Experience Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝  ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME: Crane Manor 📅 DATE PLAYED: November 8, 2021 🎬 GENRE: Paranormal, Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 7/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-10 ppl (Recommended 4-8 ppl) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 75 Mins. 💰 PRICE: $50.00/ pp (2 ppl) - $32.00/ pp (10 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes 📖 THE STORY Long ago, a schoolhouse teacher from Sleepy Hollow named Ichabod Crane was believed to suffer at the hands of the Headless Horseman. Recently, the research of the Paranormal Response Task Force has discovered that Ichabod managed to survive his confrontation with the Headless Horseman. In fact, Ichabod discovered a way to gain control of the Horseman using dark arts. As time passed, this knowledge was passed down to all of the Crane descendants. Somewhere along the way, they located the head of the Horseman and started to use it to summon him to create chaos among the residents of Sleepy Hollow. You and your team have been assigned to enter the Crane Manor, locate the head of the Horseman, and put an end to this paranormal activity. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Personally, I've always loved "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The origin story of the Headless Horseman has always been a favorite of mine! What I love and appreciate even more, is Clue IQ's decision to follow the story of Ichabod Crane and what happened after his encounter with the Headless Horseman. "Crane Manor" takes place in present day, but the paranormal activity still exists from long ago. The set design was remarkably deceiving. As you enter inside one of the halls of Crane Manor, you think to yourself, is this it? Or will all these doors lead to somewhere? And every one of them opened up to a new story... Without giving away any spoilers, I just want to mention that there is some serious tech in these rooms. This could've easily been a set designed for a "Ghostbusters" themed escape room. They are also very meticulous with details on sound and lighting which really enhanced the "paranormal" experience. The jump scares were right on point but not the "horror" type so not to worry, there are no live actors in the room. The puzzle designs were cleverly implemented into the storyline of the game. "Crane Manor" allowed players to have moments to work together or divide and conquer. There's a lot to do for two people but we were both very satisficed at the end especially as enthusiasts in this 75 minute experience (that we secret wished to be even longer). 🧩 MISSED THE MARK I honestly can't think of anything that I would change in this game. You can tell the owner is an enthusiasts himself and know exactly what players are looking for in a perfect game. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? Clue IQ is one of those escape room companies that makes you want to go and play ALL of their games JUST to see if they are all just as incredible as the "Crane Manor"! We've actually recommended this game to other escape room owners and they were thankful that we did and played all of their games in a span of two days! We will definitely be back here and hopefully we'll have more time to tackle them all next time! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO There are a couple of free assigned parking spaces right outside the facility marked "Clue IQ". The "All Saints St" garage is right across the street as well as metered street parking. There's a Lobby area with seating. Merchandise available for purchase. 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 Clue IQ: An Escape Room Experience 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 #Paranormal #Mystery #ClueIQ #USA #Maryland #SleepyHollow #TheHeadlessHorseman

Photo above is property of Tengfei Bai Company: Tengfei Bai Game: Escape SmartRoom Language: English Type of Game: Video Escape Game 📱 Genre: Mystery Date Played: May 14, 2024 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 4.5/10 Time: Unlimited (Approx. 20+ Mins. ) Price: $1.99 USD 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Waking up inside Ethan’s B&B, you remember that he installed a bunch of smart home appliances. Now, you are locked inside his house. Can you figure out how to use those and escape from the house? 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The graphics were clean and simple. The game reminded me of an old-school point-n-click game. You can purchase and download the app to start the game. There are no instructions about how to play the game. Since it is a point-and-click game, you can tap the screen and figure out what to do. Hints are available by clicking the light bulb icon on the top right corner of the screen. Photos above are property of Tengfei Bai 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Most of the puzzles were searching for clues and using items found to unlock new things. Those were straightforward. I love the idea of an escape room with manipulating smart home appliances. I wish I could do more of those. For a few puzzles, the font of written materials was too small to read on the screen of my phone. It would be nicer if I could zoom up the materials. I had fun overall and felt nostalgic about playing a classic game like this. 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 “ Escape SmartRoom ” is a fun point-n-click escape game. The game is playable wherever you are with your phone. This classic game may be too short for enthusiasts, but it is a fun introductory game for newbies! (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 Tenfei Bai  for providing us with a sample of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #ChikakoOmura #AtHomeGames #VideoGames #TenfeiBai #Mystery