Escape Expert - Secret Vault

This room left us with mixed feelings - we got out fine, but think this might be one of those times we did not win the pairing with random people lottery and that really made some parts of this way harder than it needed to be. It was very frustrating and because we didn't want them to have a bad experience we kept including them even though we'd have finished much sooner had we not.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★This theme was hit or miss for us - some seemed better than the rest.

Quality:★★★Things worked well (nothing was broken).

Difficulty:★★★This was difficult, but not because the puzzles were hard, but because they relied on 5th grade (and some kindergarten) abilities that not everyone in the group could do.

Fun:★So much of this room was an exercise in frustration, and we had a hard time communicating with the two people we were paired up with.

With:4 peopleEvan, Judy (and two others)

Outcome:☺Win

Visit The Site

Book This Room

Denver Escape Room - Rampancy

We booked this room after completing the super awesome Crimson Storm at the same location earlier in the day. We were told this was their hardest, and boy did it live up to that expectation. We learned a lot about escape rooms here that will be put into practice elsewhere (unfortunately, we cannot share it because it would give away some of the puzzles). But this was an enjoyable time and really we think if we had gotten a better start and used clues more wisely we would have finished this one. A neat thing they did here (which some we've lost didn't) was come in after and give us the hint where we were stuck and let us finish it quickly with their help. It gave a good idea of where we got stuck, and how much more we had to do.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★★The theme in this was good and added to the confusion felt.

Quality:★★★★Very well done room and everything inside worked as it should (even if we didn't like it not working how we wanted, it was as it should).

Difficulty:★★★★★OMG this was hard. There were several difficult puzzles that took some time, and just some great puzzles.

Fun:★★★★★This time we were paired with some experienced escape artists and it was nice that everyone could dive in and get to work. We had fun from start to finish, even though we also got frustrated.

With:8 peopleEvan, Judy (and six others)

Outcome:☹Loss

Visit The Site

Book This Room

Denver Escape Room - Crimson Storm

The theme of this room was outstanding and really made the story come to life. Puzzles were fun and really drew on the theme. Our fellow captives also helped make this experience fun. As far as the puzzles, they weren't the hardest we've seen, but they were fun and really drew on the theme and there was something for everyone in the group to do at all times. I don't think I can say enough how much of a great experience this was and I'm sad I won't be back to Denver any time soon to do some of the other rooms.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★★★★This theme was fantastic - really well designed and all of the props and puzzles really fit with the theme. This was one of the best examples I've seen of puzzles using the theme and not adding extra things just so there could be puzzles.

Quality:★★★★★Everything was well made, worked well, and made it easy to figure out what was next and to not get distracted from the experience.

Difficulty:★★This was one of the easier escape rooms we've done, but had enough challenge to not be a gimme.

Fun:★★★★★We had so much fun here both because of the room and the other group that we were joined with (they were super positive and this was their first room so it really made it fun). We ended up booking another room later the same day because this one was so well done.

With:8 peopleEvan, Judy (and six others)

Outcome:☺Win

Visit The Site

Book This Room

Boxaroo! Escape Rooms and Real Life Adventures - The Vault

This experience was fantastic. The room was super neat and just such a great location - both where it is in the city and that it is an old vault - both very good. The decor, lighting, system for getting clues, and some of the clues themselves were very neat. This was the first time my mom and dad had joined us in an escape room, so there was a bit of explaining to them the purpose, but we got along well enough when we understood how to do a puzzle. Things really deteriorated when we got to the last puzzle, though, because we simply skipped an earlier one that really was needed here and none of us thought to go back to it. Also, we might have over-complicated it even with that puzzle done. Either way, it was fun and I'm glad we got to experience together.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★★★★This theme really held up to expectations - it was in a real old bank vault, which was just really neat.

Quality:★★★Everything worked very well, once we figured out what we were supposed to do with things.

Difficulty:★★★★There were definitely some harder things in here, but we also made it harder by skipping a puzzle and then missing clues that were given to us.

Fun:★★We still had a good time even though we lost.

With:4 peopleBob, Evan, Judy, Linda

Outcome:☹Loss

Visit The Site

Book This Room

Ultimate Escape Game Dallas - Hackers

This was our first room at Ultimate Escape Game Dallas and one of the reasons we've kept going back. This is a great location and there is plenty nearby to grab dinner before or after doing a room. The team that gets you ready gives you a good intro, but not so long that you wish it were over, then you get two videos starring a guy with creepy hair when you enter the room. One goes over rules in general and is short; the other is also short and discusses your scenario and what you need to escape at the end (all of their rooms have something like this). There were a lot of fun things in this room that honestly were a bit distracting as we wanted to play with them, but didn't keep us from our goal. Also, there were puzzles to cater to each of our strengths, although Ellie was a rock star and got quite a few of these before we had all of the info due to her super-sleuthing abilities.

Price:$$$28 per person

Theme:★★There was a theme, but some of the parts seemed inconsistent and maybe better in a different story.

Quality:★★★★Everything in here worked well - we've been in other rooms with a few similar challenges where they didn't work, and they were all good here.

Difficulty:★★There was some challenge, but a lot of these played on Ellie's strengths so we were able to solve some very quickly.

Fun:★★This was enjoyable but some of the inconsistencies in the theme distracted.

With:4 peopleEllie, Evan, Fred, Judy

Outcome:☺Win

Visit The Site

Book This Room