Escape My Room - Jazz Parlour

There is so much attention to detail at all times, it is really neat to do rooms here. The perfume shop is fantastic and you really shouldn't miss it, and then there are neat things to engage you while you wait to start. The room itself follows this, as does the photo wall at the end (check out the photo above).

We really enjoyed the room and how different elements came together. We also loved the different elements of teamwork and how we had to work together in different ways to get things done.

Price:$$$30 per person

Theme:★★★★The theme is great - and not only will you feel this in the room itself, but the whole entry leading in sets the stage very well. Go a little early so you can check out the lobby area - you won't regret it.

Quality:★★★★Things worked great, with a minor thing at the beginning that was fine when we really needed it. I also have a hard time with how one of the ways to view information, but this worked for everyone else.

Difficulty:★★★★The first part of the game is perfect, and if you finish early enough (which we did) you can get extra puzzles to tell more about the story.

Fun:★★★★★This is a fun room, in part because you get the feel of the atmosphere early on, but also because there are so many fun things to play with. I let one of these distract me cause it was so fun.

With:4 peopleDan, Evan, Judy, Meredith

Outcome:☺Win

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13th Gate Escape - Cutthroat Cavern

This is now at the top of the list for my favorite rooms - what a well done experience. They really set the environment up well, and then build the story and puzzles around that to give you the best time you can't even imagine before you go through it.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★★★★OMG - just wow! This was fantastic from start to finish and just amazing. The best theme I've ever seen in a room, and left us a little speechless.

Quality:★★★★★Everything was amazing and worked together perfectly - not just functional, but completely in theme.

Difficulty:★★★★Perfect combination of puzzles - physical, logical, and very well done. We definitely had to think outside the box and work together to make this work for us.

Fun:★★★★★We love this room, and I'm sure it will become a new standard with which we compare other rooms. I will definitely recommened everyone go do this room because of the great time we had.

With:4 peopleDan, Evan, Judy, Meredith

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰N/A

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RISE Escape Rooms - Spellbound

Definitely our groups favorite of the three and a really great way to wrap up our time there. The room is super well-designed and make a great use of space, decorations, puzzles, sounds, and really everything to give you a thrilling time. From the moment you enter, to all the twists and turns between, right until the end, everything really came together.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★★★This theme is great, and from start to finish it feels like you are thrown right on into a witches home. I really enjoyed how well things were done and how elements flowed as you made progress.

Quality:★★★★★Things worked great, especially when we stopped to follow instructions.

Difficulty:★★★There are so many different things to do, and a wide variety of elements in play as you progress. We definitely had to split up and try different things to be successful.

Fun:★★★★★This was a pleasure the whole time, and we love everything about it.

With:4 peopleDan, Evan, Judy, Meredith

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰18:00

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Handmade Mysteries - Poppa Plock's Wonky Workshop

Definitely adults only! But unlike other rooms I've been in where I might say this, a lot of this is fairly subtle and not straight in your face. There are just cute hidden things in the room that will make you pause (and, in my case, giggle). We loved the creativity of the room, the story, and how awesome our game master was - she really helped the story come to life.

Price:££££35 per person

Theme:★★★★This is truly an experience, from the moment you follow the instructions on where to meet them all the way through the end. The theme definitely drives this experience.

Quality:★★★★Things were great - and as you got through things that might have seemed off early on made a lot of sense later.

Difficulty:★★★There were a lot of different things to do - only one of which we'd seen anywhere before (and that one thankfully we got on the first try because I learned I suck at it).

Fun:★★★★★We had a blast - the story was very creative, and there are a lot of things hidden in the room that make you stop and laugh.

With:2 peopleEvan, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰11:21

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Palace Games - The Edison Escape Room

We heard about this from some friends, after we told them we were going to San Francisco, and we just had to sign up for the challenge. Who doesn't want to try what they've been told is the best escape room in the country (by multiple people). Go online...see price...and found six folks Evan knows in the area to go along with us because it is a little pricey for a small group. But worth it because it is a 100 minute room. The room is fun, challenging, and really does involve everyone you bring to solve it. We had a blast and will definitely do another of their rooms when we are back that way.

Price:$$$50 per person (must book whole room for $400)

Theme:★★★★★They really make use of their location to help set the mood for this room.

Quality:★★★★Things worked very well, and the only reason I am not giving this five stars is due to a reset error that left a lock open and made it hard for us to solve one of the puzzles (but they were accommodating of this so not to worry).

Difficulty:★★★★★Strange that this was one of the hardest and most fun rooms at the same time. It just takes a LOT of team work and willingness to try things out a few times/ways before getting them right.

Fun:★★★★★SO FUN. Squealing. Running. Laughing. Smiling. Just fun!

With:8 peopleAndreas, David, Evan, Helen, Hugh, Judy, Lauren, Rose

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰2:22 (100 minute room)

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Escape Artistry - The Dollhouse

Team The Cowboys The Most Successful Football Team Ever REALLY got into the killer's mind set. #escaperoom #escapechicago #the80s #timegallery #thedollhouse

A post shared by Escape Artistry (@escape.artistry) on Nov 25, 2017 at 8:39pm PST

Before we got into the room, there was a little chaos because we were a group of two and they were going to combine us with another group that threw a small temper tantrum about it (if you want a room to yourselves, book the whole room...). So, we did this room just the two of us instead of the recommended three. Sweetheart ran the room for us, and was a great help from start to finish. In the end, the record for this room on the board in their office was 11:20 left for a group of seven, and we had 11:00 left for our group of two, so I'd say this was quite a success for us.

Price:$$$30 per person

Theme:★★★★★This was a very neat concept, and the introduction was interactive and really got you ready for the room itself. Well done here!

Quality:★★★This was nicely done - everything with the room fit in perfectly with the theme.

Difficulty:★★★There is a lot going on, so the quantity of things in the room was hard for two people. However, the puzzles themselves were more fun than they were hard.

Fun:★★★★★We had a fun time in the room itself - I wouldn't say the theme is fun for all, but for us it was.

With:2 peopleEvan, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰11:00

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Escape Reality - Down the Rabbit Hole

We had such a blast in their other room, we immediately signed up for this one on employee recommendation, and very glad we did. A good room, and Evan and I both had different things to work on along they way. A good challenge and great way to spend some time.

Price:$$$32 per person

Theme:★★★★★There was no way to anticipate what was to come, but looking back, the way this room was done was perfect just for that reason. Definitely keeps in mind the original story in those regards.

Quality:★★★Nicely done and well put together. This was built in a way to really support the story.

Difficulty:★★★★★Very challenging, and we had to make use of clues (so, while we finished within the hour, our official time is slightly over). This was definitely a hard one.

Fun:★★★★This was a great time from start to finish. You didn't need to know the original story well, but this definitely made things fun.

With:2 peopleEvan, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰51:05 (+15 for clues, 68:05 total)

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Conundrum - Double Agent

Finally a good escape room in the HEB area. We have done a bunch of escape rooms all over the US and this is a top room. We've done both double agent and the story teller and found them both very well organized, challenging, but solvable.

The rooms have multiple paths and several things going on at once. This is not a room where you're all staring at one person undoing a lock - you can split up and also work together in groups. I hate it when I'm standing around while someone else is solving the only puzzle - this room avoids that. It still requires team work to solve some things. There are no silly puzzles and the room has a logical flow. This is not a room with 20 4 digit locks where you don't know what number goes into each lock. You spend your time solving puzzles and making progress through the room, not just constantly trying combos into locks.

The owners and staff are excellent and make sure that you're having a good time. They are careful to not give away the puzzles when giving hints, but still help you along if you ask for it. We found that their level of assistance was perfect for what we requested and we were still able to solve the puzzles with a couple of nudges in the right direction.

This would be a great escape room for either newbies or experienced escapers. The staff is willing to adjust the nudge/hint level based on your request which is nice.

Price:$$$28 per person (coupon available on their website)

Theme:★★★★★This is neat - they did a great jobs finding things to put in this room that make you feel like you are a part of the story.

Quality:★★★★★Everything worked so well, except when we missed obvious things a couple of times. The puzzles were spot on and great once we figured them out.

Difficulty:★★★This room has some great challenges and a wide variety of puzzles, which is perfect for Evan and I since we are both good at different things.

Fun:★★★★★So many neat things in here and some fun puzzles inside. We had a great time (and came back later in the day as a result for their other room).

With:2 peopleEvan, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰05:36

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Escape Rooms HQ - End Run

This room was fun and we really cut it close for getting out - a great challenge. This was also fun because Evan previously worked with Enron in college as an intern, so there were some funny moments for us. This was just great, and the owner takes a real care in the quality of the room and the experience. Looking forward to more of their rooms - a really great experience.

Price:$$$$30 per person

Theme:★★★★★This was a fun theme and very well executed.

Quality:★★★★★Very well put together, with some challenges that really test your communication skills.

Difficulty:★★★★Definitely one of the trickier rooms we've done, complete with a puzzle that neither of us excels at but will be practicing.

Fun:★★★★★There was a lot of adrenaline and fun to be had.

With:2 peopleEvan, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰00:03

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Ultimate Escape Game Dallas - Roulette

We set a record! Woot! Sadly, we also finished all of their rooms at this location so eager to see what they come up with next so we can come back and do more. This room was fun we had a great time making our way out. The theme of the room, the puzzles, the props - everything was very well done. Make sure you read instructions. We'd love to hear if anyone breaks our record.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★★★★I loved how this came together, especially as there were some puzzles here that wouldn't work great with other themes.

Quality:★★★★As usual, very well put together.

Difficulty:★★This was (in our opinion) one of their easier room (which is likely why we were able to set a record).

Fun:★★★★★This was very fun, and some of the puzzles were just great. Even more so when a team member tripped and made a bigger mess.

With:4 peopleEllie, Evan, Fred, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

Time Left:⏰22:15

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Escape IT Houston - Ramses's Revenge

This was a last minute idea we did after spending the day with family. We were actually quite surprised to find a room open on Christmas day and are very happy to have found this place. The staff was very friendly (even being there on a holiday) and the room was fantastic - from the decor to the puzzles we were impressed and hope we can get back to do another room some time.

Price:$$$30 per person

Theme:★★★★★Just wow - all of this was so well done and let's just say we were seriously impressed by parts of this.

Quality:★★★★★There were some very well done puzzles in here and with the theme just made it all come together.

Difficulty:★★★This was well done - there were a few sneaky puzzles but they all fit the theme very well.

Fun:★★★★We had a great time and we very impressed by the decor puzzles.

With:2 peopleEvan, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

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SmartyPantz - Thirst for Murder

For this room, we were given 45 minutes to get out (this seemed to be the norm in BC), and we had plenty of time to succeed. From the introduction to the room, to the theme, to the puzzles, everything about this room was exceedingly well done and we had such a good time. Two people for this room was perfect, and there are some things in the room we keep thinking back to over time because there were just some creative and fun puzzles inside.

Price:$$$25 CAD per person

Theme:★★★★★From the staff bringing us to the room to the design to the props, everything about this room made you feel like you were really in the situation described.

Quality:★★★★★Everything worked perfectly and was just well put together.

Difficulty:★★★This was not the hardest room we've gone, but it definitely had some challenges and some things we've never seen before.

Fun:★★★★★This room was super fun! Enough to make us think, but enjoyable.

With:2 peopleEvan, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

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