Looking to be a part of an adventure? How about solving puzzles with suspense? The following escape rooms may be what you’re looking for, based on awards and personal recommendation.
I’ve been playing escape rooms since I was a tween. Escape rooms immerse you into their stories, almost like you were dropped into a plot from a movie. For those who are unsure, let me explain the concept of escape rooms.
The broad idea of escape rooms is you and the rest of your group are locked in a room for a specified amount of time. You must complete the puzzles and use the clues around you in order to figure out how to escape. Escape rooms offer hints if you’re struggling or ask with certain locations allowing more or less than others. Each room is unique with no puzzles being the same, even if themes are similar.
The following rooms that I’ve listed have unique themes, are award-winning and in different states across America.
Paradox | The Incredible Time Machine
Located in Louisville, Colorado, Rabbit Hole Recreational Services homes Paradox | The Incredible Time Machine. This room has a total of nine awards over the past five years. These include two Best of Morty awards and many awards for being a finalist in Top Escape Room Project’s Enthusiasts’ Choice Award, or TERPECA.
The setting of this escape room is in a laboratory with an unfinished time machine as the center piece. The creator of this machine, The Architect, explains to your group that the storm outside has the potential to release enough energy to power the machine. Your group’s goal is to complete the assembly of the time machine before you miss the opportunity to harness the storm’s power.
The room provides many interesting puzzles for a group with any amount of experience. If you’re into steampunk, I’d highly recommend this room to you.
Irvine School Of Wizardry and the Dragon Wand
Have you read every single Harry Potter book and watched every movie? Then this room found in Irvine, California, is the perfect room for you! Reviews describe this room to be magical and intense, mirroring a Harry Potter story and experience. Irvine School of Wizardry and the Dragon Wand at Hidden Donkey has won seven awards over the past four years.
In this room, you and your group become students at Irvine School of Wizardry. You all face challenges and puzzles throughout the room that test your skills in spellcasting and potions. During the room, you all investigate secrets and uncover what’s needed to take down the Dark Lord.
Be sure to check out this escape room for all kinds of wizarding and mystical fun!
Montauk Project
Interested in mystery and investigation? How about Stranger Things? That’s what Montauk Project is all about! You can find this escape room in Brooklyn, New York, at MyssTic Rooms. Since 2019, the room has been rewarded with seven varying awards. Many reviewers on Monty mention how the room is reminiscent of the Netflix series Stranger Things.
Your group is tasked with investigating Camp Hero State Park, which was originally the Montauk Air Force Station, after many reports of people disappearing into the woods. There are rumors about the bunker on the sight that insinuates a bigger dangerous mystery. It is important to gather as much evidence as possible while avoiding the dangers lurking in the woods.
Go check out Montauk Project for a creepy investigation!
The Man from Beyond
If you really want to feel like you’re in a movie, play The Man from Beyond at Strange Bird Immersive. This escape room in Houston, Texas, implements immersive theatre into the room. This means that actors are present in the room with your group. This room has received a total of thirteen awards over the eight years it has been around.
Your group participates in a seance with Madame Daphne, contacting the ghost of Harry Houdini. The seance goes from an innocent contact to a more dramatic and intense situation when Houdini makes his appearance. Some descriptions suggest that you aren’t only trying to escape.
Find yourself contacting the spirit of Harry Houdini and uncover the mysteries of his spirit and the room.
The Jurassic Project
These next two rooms are my personal recommendations that I wanted to share! If you couldn’t guess from the title of this room, The Jurassic Project is themed around dinosaurs and the idea of Jurassic Park. At the Memphis Escape Rooms South Main location in Memphis, Tennessee, The Jurassic Project offers a wonderful experience for those dinosaur lovers. This room has only received one award so far, but it’s only been open for two years compared to the others being open for over four years.
You and your group are excited to go to the one and only dinosaur park that’s finally open to the public. You are all excited and expect a fun time interacting with the dinosaurs, however there’s a thought in the back of your mind. Maybe the park isn’t as perfect as the scientists say it is.
Live out your dreams, or nightmares, of being in Jurassic Park!
East End Express
East End Express has something the other escape rooms I mentioned don’t have. There are two different tracks to take in this escape room. That’s right, you and your group get to decide which track you want to take. This means that you can play this escape room again and do the other route to have a completely different story and experience the second time round. While this escape room at the East Memphis Escape Room location lacks any awards, being able to play it twice makes up for it.
The theme of this room has you and your group investigating a mysterious phone call you received. You’re asked to meet at the East End Express that you can’t find on any map or search engine. You receive a letter with an address and subway card, and you begin your exploration of the East End Express.
Another investigation type escape room, but will you be the good guys or the bad guys?
Choosing Your Escape Room
All escape rooms and escape room locations have different rules, puzzles, and methods. It can be hard to determine which room to play with so many choices and styles. If you’re looking to play your first escape room, try to look for an escape room with a genre you like. The most awarded doesn’t mean it’s the right pick for you. Good luck and have fun escaping!
