Location: Las Vegas, NV

Date Played: February 7, 2026

Team Size: Any; we recommend 1-2

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $0-5 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: none

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

AREA15 is an entertainment venue in Las Vegas with an overwhelming array of offerings that range from immersive experiences and augmented reality games to traditional arcade machines.

My first visit a few years ago was devoted entirely to Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart (previously reviewed), so on this second trip I was determined to explore other activities that might appeal to puzzlers like myself.

The AREA15 website and ticketing options are extensive, and frankly, a little overwhelming. I chose a Level 1 pass, which turned out to be perfect for what we wanted. The two most puzzle-oriented activities, Origin Quest and Particle Quest, were both included.

Origin Quest

We started with Origin Quest. It consisted of six escape-room-style puzzles located throughout the public areas of AREA15. Anyone can interact with the installations, but answers could only be submitted through the game website with an access pass. (It was also possible to access Origin Quest for free by booking a complimentary Level 0 pass online at least two days in advance.) Although we purchased our passes as a team of 2 and they were issued under a single access code, we each had individual access and played independently.

I’ve always had a soft spot for games that live out in the open, whether installations were designed to be puzzles from the start, or puzzles were built around existing public features. Origin Quest was very much the former. The installations were curious, clearly intentional, and beautifully bizarre. In the sensory overload of AREA15, they would be easy to miss at first. But once we began interacting with them, passersby started noticing too, scanning the space to see what we’d discovered. I loved exploring the venue with purpose, and found the quest well worth the time.

Particle Quest

Next was Particle Quest, a paid (included in passes or $5 alone) experience that required checking out handheld augmented reality devices from the VR games center on the second floor. Using them, we scanned the environment to detect and collect particle sources. The introduction suggested that different sources would yield different amounts of particles. However, after scanning every location we could find, each one registered either “very little” or “just a few.” In practice, there didn’t seem to be much distinction.

After each scan, we completed a simple puzzle to collect the nanoparticles. Disappointingly, after about eight scans, I had only encountered two puzzle types: a Simon-style pattern repetition game and a Flow-style pipe connection. Meanwhile, my companion, while scanning the same locations, unlocked an additional side-quest mini game that I never even saw.

The story unfolded through short videos that played after each successful collection. In the final step, we sent our accumulated particles to the giant Oddwood Tree in the center of the bar, where it sparkled as they were “released into the world.” It made for a charming closing moment.

Activity Options

Overall, the two quests offered very different experiences. Origin Quest felt like a true puzzle game, with installations that invited careful thought and intentional exploration. Particle Quest, by contrast, functioned more as a simple scavenger hunt – light, repetitive, and likely better suited to energetic younger visitors than seasoned puzzlers.

Both added structure to navigating AREA15, but for those specifically seeking a satisfying puzzle experience, Origin Quest is the stronger choice.

Who is this for?

Origin Quest is appropriate for:

• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Any experience level

Particle Quest is appropriate for:

• Any experience level

Why play?

• The installations throughout the AREA15 space have piqued your curiosity.
• Origin Quest: You are at AREA15 and are looking for a unique puzzle experience.
• Particle Quest: You are interested in activating the giant tree in the middle of the space.

Story

Origin Quest: We had been tasked with investigating the AREA15 building with the Multiverse Maintenance team to discover its secrets.

Particle Quest: We used the issued device to detect and collect nano-particles in the AREA15 environment.

Setting

Both games were set in the mythical universe of AREA15.

Gameplay

AREA15’s Origin Quest was an escape game with a moderate level of difficulty, focussing mainly on observation and data collection.

Particle Quest was a scavenger hunt with a low level of difficulty, focussing mainly on exploration, with a couple of simple logic puzzles.

Analysis

The puzzles in Origin Quest were of familiar styles, and playing the game felt like an actual escape room despite its open placement inside AREA15.

 The technology in Particle Quest generally worked well and made interacting with the environment interesting.

 The collection points and the puzzles in Particle Quest had the potential to be much more compelling and varied.

As I inspected every space in the building, I discovered secretly placed discount codes for the bar. What a nice bonus!

  I enjoyed exploring the overwhelming space of AREA15 with purpose and logged thousands of steps that day. The quest artifacts were well integrated into the public environment.

Tips For Visiting

• There is paid parking next to AREA15. Alternatively, at the time of this writing, there was a drop off/ pickup point where you can ride the the driverless Zoox taxi service.
• There are numerous dining options in AREA15, ranging from food trucks to restaurants.
• The paid access levels include a ride on the LIFTOFF sky ride, which provided a lovely panoramic view of Las Vegas.

Book your visit with AREA15, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

The post AREA15 – Origin Quest & Particle Quest [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location:  Las Vegas, Nevada

Date Played: February 12, 2025

Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $39.99-$54.99 per person, depending on number of players

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration:  There is one step to navigate

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

We entered Dr. Frankenstein’s low-lit parlor and stopped dead in our tracks at the sight of someone sitting in the corner, back towards us, their face obscured with wild black hair. They didn’t move. It was unnerving. One member of our team bravely crossed the room and gave a cautious nudge. It sure was an effective way to get our attention at the start of the game!

Puzzles were well-themed and straightforward, with a few that led to solid reveals. While some puzzles felt fresh and unique, others were simple, standard escape-room-fare, making the game feel a bit dated, especially in the first act. As the game progressed, it grew more engaging, with unusual interactions and effects that surprised us and made the game fun. One shocking moment was a highlight – although not the one we were expecting. And though there was some blood and gore, it was not overly gruesome, and touches of humor helped to lighten gameplay. 

This is the third iteration of an escape room business at this location, and we could see where new ideas and tech were positively incorporated into this room. Still, it’s more appropriate for newer players than hard-core enthusiasts. Monster Quest has plans to add more monster-themed rooms in the near future, with an overarching storyline to tie individual games together. We look forward to seeing what they develop next.

Who is this for?

• Story seekers
• Grave robbers
• Newbies

Why play?

• Unusual props
• You’re a Frankie fan

Story

The fair city of Frampton had angered the wizard Keldore, who summoned evil from throughout history and lore. We had been called upon as bounty hunters to explore Dr. Frankenstein’s Victorian-era mansion to find out what has happened to some villagers who have gone missing. 

Setting

The game began in the parlor of the mansion, filled with antique furniture, eerie paintings, and accessories that looked appropriate to the era. A figure sat in shadows in the corner of the room; perhaps he could offer us the first clue in our mystery.

Gameplay

Dr. Frankenstein was a standard horror-themed escape room with a low level of difficulty. 

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing, making connections, and puzzling.

Analysis

 For a game without live actors, the main characters of Dr. Frankenstein and his assistant Igor were well developed; they were featured prominently via audio clips and a unique, in-world device; it worked really well to deliver story points and move the narrative along.

 The initial space was large but simply decorated. As the game progressed, the set grew more interesting, with unusual set pieces and detailed touches that added depth and interest to the scenery. One mechanical-looking part was so realistic we kept trying to interact with it, only to realize it was just elaborate decor.

 Some of the early puzzles were basic and familiar, one’s we’ve seen many times before. They lacked pizzazz and failed to provide a spark.

One of the puzzles was particularly finicky to manipulate. Another, more complex puzzle was solved by chance before we could work through it.

 The most immersive puzzle required ingenuity to put several pieces together to solve; it engaged the entire team and resulted in a big surprise moment; it was the highpoint of the game.

  At two separate times, we were confused by details revealed that appeared to be part of a puzzle, but were never used, suggesting they were ghost puzzles.

/ A large, prominent prop drew our attention throughout the second act. It was impressive but surprisingly had only a minor role in the overall experience, leaving us wanting more.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a small parking lot.

Book your hour with Monster Quest’s Dr. Frankenstein, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Monster Quest provided media discounted tickets for this game

The post Monster Quest Escape Rooms – Dr. Frankenstein [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

You’ll float 2!

Location:  Las Vegas, Nevada

Date Played: October 27, 2024

Team Size: 1-10; we recommend 4-5 (or seven, if you want to call yourselves Lucky Seven)

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $54.99 per player (public ticket, Wednesday – Friday); $59.99 per player (public ticket, Saturday & Sunday); $74.99 per player (private VIP ticket, minimum of four tickets, Wednesday – Friday); $84.99 per player (private VIP ticket, minimum of four tickets, Saturday & Sunday)

Ticketing:  Public and private available

Accessibility Consideration:  Escape IT is designed to accommodate a standard wheelchair

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Egan Escape Productions once again showed up large and in charge with Escape IT – The Funhouse, a horror-forward escape game based on the 2019 film IT: Chapter Two. With Egan’s signature large-scale interactions, horror movie aesthetic, and thrilling scares, Escape IT – The Funhouse took me on an immersive journey through iconic locations in the fictional town of Derry, Maine. The game was full of magic moments and one sequence in particular completely absorbed me into the game world.

As with its predecessor game Escape IT – The Sewers, Escape IT – The Funhouse placed greater emphasis on scenery and immersion than on puzzles and plot lines. Puzzling sometimes felt not well clued. The storyline was thin and I relied heavily on my knowledge of the source material to understand what was taking place and why. For maximum enjoyment, I recommend watching the movies IT: Chapter One and IT: Chapter Two before playing.

Egan’s games run on a public ticketing system and when I’ve played their games in the past (The Official SAW Escape in 2019 and Escape IT – The Sewers in 2023) it has been with strangers. Their website also warns players to book early as games will sell out. Imagine my surprise when I showed up to find that I was the only one who had booked in my time slot, and ended up playing alone in a game meant for up to ten people.* I found this delightful as I got to fully experience the space and be involved in every interaction, with the help of outstanding in-game actors that were willing to serve as extra hands. However, I must caveat that this is clearly not what the creators intended and therefore I didn’t fully experience the game as it was meant to be played, as much as I did enjoy it.

I’ve vacationed annually in Las Vegas for almost 15 years and have experienced more world-class entertainment, dining, gaming, nightlife, and glittering delight than I can remember. Despite all of the things vying for my attention when I visit, I continue to return to play Egan’s games because I feel they stack up nicely against other Vegas entertainment options. For me, Escape IT – The Funhouse built on the strong foundation of Escape IT – The Sewers and offered a slight edge over its predecessor in terms of wow factor. While both games are great, if you can only play one while visiting, I would suggest Escape IT – The Funhouse, or, for a comparable wow factor, The Official SAW Experience.

Who is this for?

• Fans of Stephen King’s IT (both the novel and the movie adaptations)
• Horror game aficionados
• Players who want to feel like they’re in a movie
• Adventure seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Fans of haunts
• Players with some experience
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle or interaction
• Players who aren’t disturbed by horror-themed effects or jump scares
• Players who don’t mind actors in the gamespace

Why play?

• Impressive, immersive set design, including spaces that mimic those featured in the movie adaptations of IT
• Large-scale interactions and magic moments
• Quality jump scares and a satisfying adrenaline rush

Story

I had returned to my childhood home of Derry, Maine to join my friends for our 27-year reunion. While there, I came face to face with forgotten faces and places from my childhood and was forced to confront an ancient evil that had the town in its grip.

Setting

The gamespace featured key locations from the novel IT and the movie adaptations, including some that directly mimicked sets in the movies IT: Chapter One and IT: Chapter Two. The set was larger than life and detailed and evoked a haunted small town vibe.

Gameplay

Escape IT – The Funhouse  was a highly immersive escape room with a moderate level of difficulty, exacerbated by the distractions of standard horror-themed special effects.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing details, and making connections. On a few occasions, puzzles were collaborative and required more than one person to participate.

As a pipelined experience, we moved through multiple rooms at timed intervals.

Analysis

 The set was so immersive and fun to interact with. It alternated between scary and playful and transported me into beloved locations from the source material. Those who have not read the book or seen the movies can still appreciate its detailed design.

 One sequence really dialed up the immersion and delivered what were, for me, two back-to-back magic moments.

 The final scene was epic and made me feel like I was in the movie.

 Unfortunately, after the final scene, the game ended abruptly and the momentum fell flat.

/Puzzling felt inconsistent and sometimes poorly clued, making it difficult to get started. There were a few times where I took a hint and still didn’t understand how I would have arrived at that answer. One segment completely baffled me and I was unsure if I actually solved anything, or if the pipelined game simply advanced me through. (Here, I’m caveating that I played alone and perhaps other players with different skills sets would have understood.)

 The in-game actors were outstanding and clearly took pride in their roles. Because I played by myself, I got a little extra attention from Pennywise, including a funny moment where he tried to steal my sweater.

The story was thin. There were a few occasions where I found myself doing a cool thing, but had I not read the book and seen the movies, I wouldn’t have know what the cool thing was or how it was significant. This may not be a consideration for players just looking to be scared and have fun.

/The lighting design created an eerie ambience and elevated the scare factor. Unfortunately, this often meant that it was so dim that I had a hard time seeing. Make sure someone in your group is good in dim light.

I’ve now played three of Egan’s games (The Official SAW Escape in 2019, Escape IT – The Sewers in 2023 and Escape IT – The Funhouse) and recommend a team size of 4-5 for each. David’s review of Escape Blair Witch in 2021 also recommends 4-5 players. However, Egan’s public ticketing system sells up to ten tickets per time slot, and unless you’re willing to pay a premium for private VIP tickets, your experience will be influenced by whether or not strangers happen to book the same time slot as you. Depending on the day of the week, private VIP tickets can cost an additional $20 – $25 per person, with a minimum of four tickets, which puts it out of the range of what I would consider a good value. I think it’s good value at the public ticketing price, and I’m happy to take the gamble on randoms, but if you strongly prefer the private experience, then your assessment of value might be different.

Tips For Visiting

• Parking: There is a parking lot. Pay close attention to the street address.
• ID: Valid identification is required to enter.
• Age: The experience isn’t recommended for anyone under the age of 16, and parental supervision may be required. Check before you book if you have minors in your party.
• Food: Escape IT – The Funhouse is a five-minute drive to famous Fremont Street where you will find casinos, bars, restaurants, hotels and attractions such as ziplining.

Book your hour with Egan Escape’s Escape IT – The Funhouse, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

*Editor’s Note: Room Escape Artist contributors typically do not review when playing solo, as escape rooms are designed to be team activities. Fro asked questions about the group experience and also took multiple hints during gameplay in order to write this review.

The post Egan Escape Productions – Escape IT – The Funhouse [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location:  Denver, CO, Santa Fe, NM, and Las Vegas, NV

Date Played:  Between 2021 and 2024

Team Size: any

Duration: we recommend 1-3 hours at any Meow Wolf

Price: $40-60 per visitor

Ticketing: Public

Accessibility Consideration:  location-specific; generally compliant but mobility restrictions will prevent access to certain areas in each location, check meowwolf.com for details

REA Reaction

Visiting a Meow Wolf installation was an opportunity for a psychedelic fever dream experience without having to ingest mind-altering pharmaceuticals. It was a fantastic place for interactive exploration. A story unfolded that brought a loose coherence to the exhibit, but the creations were best appreciated simply as artworks that existed in the space.

A goal-oriented visitor, like myself, also had the ability to direct their experience by pursuing the achievement structure built into the space, but unfortunately it was not well communicated and overlooked by many others who would have enjoyed it.

Ultimately, whether engaging with the story or gameplay, each Meow Wolf was a visual spectacle orders of magnitude more interesting than today’s increasingly popular selfie museum offerings.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Newbies
• Any experience level

Why play?

• Immersive and interactive art
• Fun selfies

Background

Meow Wolf began in 2008 as a collective of artists in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and today has grown to numerous locations all around the United States. The first of their installations that I visited was Omega Mart (OM), in Las Vegas, Nevada. This was in 2021, soon after it opened. In April 2024, I visited Convergence Station (CS) in Denver, Colorado, followed by their original installation, House of Eternal Return (HOER) in Santa Fe, in June 2024. I haven’t yet visited their newest location The Real Unreal in Grapevine, Texas.

Setting

All three locations shared a similar structure. The visitor was introduced to the installation as a fairly innocuous location: OM as a large supermarket, CS as a busy city street, and HOER as a quiet family house. The surroundings were richly detailed and highly stimulating. I could have spent a long time just exploring the initial space. Everything appeared normal at first glance, but the OM products, for example, revealed a wickedly satirical sense of humor.

Visually​​ warped shelving in OM, or a bizarrely buckling bathroom floor in HOER, gave subtle indications of what was to come. I would turn a corner, or open a door, and suddenly, be transported into an alternate reality. Spaces became cavernous. A visual and aural spectacle unfolded and it was hard to decide where to wander next.

I loved the large-scale (albeit brief) interactions that visitors could trigger for everyone in the vicinity to experience. In OM, upon reaching a certain challenge goal, a message was played over the public address system that everyone in the supermarket area heard. In CS, while watching the backstory videos, I recognized the element that the character was interacting with, and repeated their actions on the real-world object with satisfying results. HOER had the most delightful secret activity, however, it required the combined strength of about half a dozen people to operate. If you should find yourself in a large toroidal space with neon spokes in the ceiling and padded seats around the center, be aware that the center core may be pushed to spin and turned into a mad merry-go-round for a few moments of psychedelic delight.

The Story

Despite the apparent chaos, there was an underlying story, which revealed itself gradually as I explored and interacted with the space. OM and CS accomplished this with RFID cards that I tapped at various terminals. In HOER, visitors could install the Meow Wolf app on their phone, which then used Bluetooth technology in each new area visited to unlock an achievement in the app.

When I visited OM in 2021, I was given a “Boop card” upon entry, though visitors now need to request one specifically. At CS, while purchasing my ticket on the website, there was a cryptic option to purchase an optional QPass. There was a single small sign near the entrance to HOER that recommended visitors to install the Meow Wolf app. Each of these opportunities to participate in the storyline of the Meow Wolf installation was easily missed, poorly described, and for me, the only entry point into the story experience that I found. As a goal-oriented player, it enhanced my visit greatly for little or no additional cost.

The story was revealed through videos, and playing them on the terminals in OM and CS can test one’s patience a little. (In HOER, they are unlocked in the phone app for convenient future viewing.) Some clips are up to 3 minutes long, and if there are a lot of other guests, there might be a wait for a terminal to be freed up. Additionally, when I am in quest mode, I do not place a high premium on the coherence or pacing of a storyline; your mileage may vary.

Analysis

 Meow Wolfs provide visual and aural spectacle, combined with a sense of whimsy.

 Meow Wolf exhibits can be overstimulating in large doses.

The lack of map or coherent layout tests the directionally challenged.

 There is so much story content to discover, along with a sprinkling of small puzzle-y elements, for those who are interested to find it.

Occasionally, elements that seemed like they should be interactive were non-functional.

 The large-scale interactions were lots of fun.

My Experience

Of the three locations, I think my favorite remains OM. I found the story more accessible, and it appealed to the puzzle solver in me more. It helped that I visited right after it opened, and the electronics also worked better. There were ambitious interactive elements in CS, but a handful were no longer functioning when I visited. These exhibits wear over time.

How to Enjoy Your Visit

Without the benefit of the story experience, a visit to a Meow Wolf installation is still spectacular. One can wander through the surreal lightscape, experience disquiet at off-kilter art, poke at interactive exhibits, and generally luxuriate in the sensations inspired by an alien realm. It is a gigantic, adult version of playground equipment, after the imaginations of a phalanx of artists have had their way with it. It is a place to rediscover that childlike experience where not everything is completely understood or explained, and to become slightly unmoored again, similarly to before you grew up and everything became pedestrian.

For the selfie-inclined, delightfully photogenic backgrounds abound.

However, if one makes the effort to participate in uncovering the backstory, the visit becomes much more purposeful. Some people, like myself, prefer a more achievement-driven experience, which gives purpose to my exploration. Despite my poor natural sense of direction hampered by insanity of the pathways and the lack of a map, I was compelled to locate every terminal and unlock every achievement. The system tracks the visitor’s progress, and reveals an overarching story in a coherent, engaging manner.

If you have visited Meow Wolf before and want more of the same style, but new content, the other locations will deliver. (Of note, I’ve heard The Real Unreal, which I have not visited, is almost identical to HOER.) Each of the Meow Wolf installations shares the same magical, surrealist spirit, and will deliver an otherworldly escape no matter how you choose to engage with it.

Tips For Visiting

• There is ample parking at all locations. At Convergence Station parking requires separate payment.
• Omega Mart did not sell food when I visited, but is located in the Area 15 entertainment complex that has food outlets. Convergence Station and House of Eternal Return both feature on-site cafes that sell snacks and drinks. No outside food or drinks are allowed.
• Visit at an off-peak time when crowds are lower.

The post A Reflection on Meow Wolf Installations: Omega Mart, Convergence Station, & House of Eternal Return [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

At the time of this review Escape IT – The Sewers was called Escape IT Chapter 1.

Time to Float!

Location:  Las Vegas, NV

Date Played: July 16, 2023

Team Size: Up to 10; we recommend 4-5 (for practical reasons) or 7 (if you want to call your team Lucky Seven)

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $54.99 per player (General Public Admission); $74.99 per player (Private VIP – minimum of four tickets required)

Ticketing: Public, with Private VIP ticketing available

Accessibility Consideration:  You’ll experience dim lighting, loud noises, and fog. At least one person needs to crawl.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

I’m a lifelong Stephen King fan, and his novel IT is one of my favorite stories in his prolific body of work. Often revered as a horror masterpiece, it’s also a timeless story about the struggle between good and evil, and the magic of friendship, told through the lens of beloved characters. I frequently return to my well-worn copy of IT to reread my favorite passages. When I heard that Egan Escape Productions had created an immersive adventure based on the 2017 movie adaptation IT Chapter 1 and its 2019 sequel IT Chapter 2, I was excited to try it.

Given my love for the source material, I knew it was important to go into this experience with tempered expectations, and I really appreciated how Egan Escape Productions approached it; they picked a very specific aspect of the story to bring to life (the 2017 and 2019 movie adaptations), leaned heavily on the horror element, and sought to immerse the participant in a life-size creation of the most iconic scenes from the story. On these fronts, they dazzled. The scenery and scare factor were the stars of this experience, with puzzling taking a backseat.

Escape IT: Chapter 1’s public ticketing system and 10-person capacity per timeslot means that the quality of your experience is highly dependent on who joins your group and how compatible your playing styles are. On several occasions, there was also not enough content (or enough space) to engage 10 people at once. If you’re looking for more control, then it’s best to bring ten of your own teammates or book VIP for a smaller group.

Ultimately, Escape IT: Chapter 1 achieved its goal of transporting players to another world and provided a series of well-paced adrenaline rushes. It’s well worth visiting (unless you’re afraid of clowns).

Who is this for?

• Fans of Stephen King’s IT (both the novel and the movie adaptations)
• Horror game aficionados
• Players who want to feel like they’re in a movie
• Adventure seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Fans of haunts
• Players with some experience
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle or interaction
• Players who aren’t disturbed by horror-themed effects
• Players who don’t mind actors in the gamespace

Why play

• Impressive, immersive set design, including spaces that mimic those featured in the movie adaptations of IT
• Large-scale interactions
• The adrenaline rush

Story

We took a journey through the eerie town of Derry, Maine, where nothing was as it seemed and several children had gone missing. Could we face our greatest fears and stand toe-to-toe with a sinister, ageless presence before it could wreak further havoc on the town?

Setting

The gamespace featured key locations from the novel and the movie adaptations, including some that directly mimicked sets in IT Chapter One and IT Chapter Two. It was large and ominous, with clear attention to detail.

Gameplay

Escape IT: Chapter1 was a highly immersive escape room with a moderate level of difficulty, exacerbated by the distractions of standard horror-themed special effects.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing details, and making connections. On a few occasions, puzzles were collaborative and required several members of the team to participate.

As a pipelined experience, teams moved through multiple rooms at timed intervals.

Analysis

 The immersion into the world of Derry, Maine (the fictional town where IT takes place) began the minute I drove into the parking lot, where the building and signage were styled to look like locations within the town. The immersion continued throughout the experience, where I sometimes felt like I was on the set of one of the movie adaptations of IT. The entire space did a great job of building a world around the players.

 The pacing of the game was excellent. Right when we were getting comfortable or were heavily focused on a puzzle, another jolt of urgency arrived.

 The experience did not have enough puzzle content to keep 10 players engaged at any given time. In some cases, there wasn’t enough space for everyone to gather around a puzzle. This resulted in a lot of down time for a majority of the group at certain points.

The game did offer a few collaborative puzzles where it was necessary to engage multiple members of the team, which helped more members of the team get involved in solving.

 Escape IT: Chapter 1 operates on a public ticketing system, and playing with strangers exacerbated the tension and communication challenges that often arise in horror-themed/ adrenaline-filled experiences. Egan Escape Productions fully disclosed upfront that I was purchasing a public ticket. However, if I had it to do over, I would go with the VIP private experience.

Fans of the IT novel and movies will be delighted by some small Easter eggs and references scattered throughout the experience.

Our in-game actor gave us a lot of help in the first few sections of the game, so we politely requested that he give us a chance to solve puzzles first before offering hints. He graciously agreed and the rest of the game went well. Other teams may appreciate this kind of help.

Escape IT: Chapter 2 is now open. (It was not open when I played Chapter 1.) If you’re so inclined, you can play both games in the same day.

Tips For Visiting

• Parking: There is a parking lot. Pay close attention to the street address.
• ID: Valid identification is required to enter.
• Age: The experience isn’t recommended for anyone under the age of 16, and parental supervision may be required. Check before you book if you have minors in your party.
• Food: Escape IT Chapter 1 is a five-minute drive to famous Fremont Street where you will find casinos, bars, restaurants, hotels and attractions such as ziplining.

Book your hour at Escape IT Chapter 1, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you by clicking the button below to help support this website.

The post Egan Escape Productions – Escape IT – The Sewers [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location:  Las Vegas, NV

Date Played: September 12, 2022

Team Size: 3-6; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $40 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: All players need to crawl; there is no bypass 

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Number One Escape Room’s The Shed picked up right where their game The Cabin had left off. After managing to escape from a serial killer’s cabin, we were now hiding in a shed in his backyard.

(Note that The Shed is a standalone game; you do not need to have played The Cabin first before playing The Shed.)

Having played The Cabin during a prior visit, I knew to expect a similar disturbing vibe and I was not disappointed. The game was moody and atmospheric from the start, with minimal lighting, blood-spattered walls, sinister-looking tools here and there, and evidence of missing victims on display. Though the room was quite dark, we were happy to discover flashlights that effectively helped us find our way around. 

Puzzles were appropriately creepy, and while we were initially grossed out by the discovery of a rather grisly item, in a short time we were enthusiastically puzzling with said item as if it were a completely normal thing to do. We even giggled at several unexpected moments, including one thrilling effect that unfortunately could only be experienced by a single player due to the nature of the event. Puzzles were approachable and not too difficult, with solutions that came together easily and made sense. Game flow was smooth throughout, except for one early action that lacked adequate feedback, causing a pause in progress. After retracing steps and asking for a hint, we realized we’d already triggered the event. 

The Shed is a fun horror-themed game for both new and experienced players not upset by a little blood and gore.  If you are in Las Vegas and looking to escape the casinos for a while, stop by and play Number One Escape Room’s The Shed. 

Who is this for?

• Horror fans
• Any experience level
• People who enjoy the occasional jump scare

Why play?

• Creepy horror theme
• Dark, foreboding set that sets an unnerving tone
• You’ve played The Cabin and want to continue the story

Story

After escaping a serial killer and his bloody cabin in the woods, we’d stumbled through the backyard and found an old tool shed. It seemed like a good place to hide for now. As we tried to stay hidden, we started to discover secrets hidden in plain sight…

Setting

It was dark; we could barely make out large tools hanging on the wall – a saw, a hand drill, others we couldn’t identify. Once we could better examine our surroundings, we couldn’t help but notice the blood… so much blood spattered on the walls. Were those victims? Something really bad happened here…

Gameplay

Number One Escape Room’s The Shed was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing, making connections, and puzzling.

Analysis

 Though the room was very dark, the darkness actually worked really well in this gamespace. There were enough flashlights discovered in the first few minutes of the game that allowed each player to continue searching and solving; as a result, we continued playing while remaining immersed in an ominous ambience. Appropriately, flashlights made total sense in a shed.

 Set design was moody and immersive, especially early on in the game. As we progressed, the set became less authentic and therefore less intense, though it still remained appropriate surroundings for a serial killer. 

 The puzzles were fun and approachable, but not overly complex, making this a good game for both new and experienced players. There were a few unusual puzzle components that were exciting to discover. We could tell there was a focus on including unique moments and discoveries.

 One early puzzle lacked adequate feedback; though we performed the required action, there was no indication it had triggered a thing. There is an opportunity to implement directive lighting and/or audio cluing to focus players’ attention to the next key area.

/ We were confused by one cool discovery that appeared to be key to solving a puzzle, but we found a redundant, more simplified clue, so it was not really necessary. 

 While the overall tone was creepy and sinister with a few minor jump scares, the game was not overly scary and there are no actors in the room. Even so, I would not recommend this game for young children due to the darkness and serial killer theme.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.
• The Vegas strip is only 10 minutes away. One of our favorite restaurants is in the Aria, called Din Tai Fung. They have amazing xiao long bao, or soup dumplings.

Book your hour with Number One Escape Game’s The Shed, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

The post Number One Escape Room – The Shed [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location:  Las Vegas, NV

Date Played: January 30, 2022

Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $39 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Players are all required to duck under a low doorway. One player is required to crawl.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Neverland was Once Upon an Escape’s first dive into non-linear gameplay. The game was based on a fairytale we had always wished to see an experience designed around. Similar to the other games by Once Upon an Escape, the puzzles encompassed some traditional escape room puzzle play with numerous twists on their typical implementations. Puzzles were overall fun to solve and interact with, including a handful of dexterity challenges. Because this room had multiple communication puzzles, it was nicely designed for teamwork.

Neverland carried the strongest story out of Once Upon an Escape’s three current offerings, with a cohesive adventure traversing varied sets that showcased a creative use of space. With this being said, the experience felt less polished due to a few of the puzzles not making sense thematically. Additionally, Neverland had the ability to break sequence, allowing us to bypass a series of puzzles and ultimately finish the game with leftover clues.

If you’re visiting Once Upon an Escape, check out the room with the fairytale that calls out to you, whether it be your childhood favorite or a novel theme you have never played before!

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Fairytale fans
• Players with at least some experience

Why play?

• Reliving a fantasy from your childhood
• Traditional escape room puzzle play

Story

Realizing that you’re not dreaming, you must sneak onto Captain Hook’s ship, rescue Tinkerbell, and escape to the land where you’ll never have to grow up.

Setting

Opening in Wendy’s bedroom, players journey through Neverland among various sets inspired by the fairytale. These include Captain Hook’s ship and the island of Neverland.

Gameplay

One Upon an Escape’s Neverland was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, making connections, observing, and puzzling. The puzzles in Neverland leaned heavily into dexterity challenges, with a sprinkling of traditional escape room puzzles.

Analysis

 Multiple puzzles were implemented with player fun in mind. These puzzles were a joy to solve, including a few unexpected twists on classic escape room puzzles.

 Once Upon an Escape created a lot of communication puzzles by separating puzzle elements into different spaces, forcing teamwork.

A mid-game interaction lacked clear direction and instruction due to a one-time triggered event seemingly intended only as part of the story (and not seemingly useful). Re-triggering this interaction was not clearly clued, leading our team to stall.

 The set was fun to traverse, with multiple varied environments that felt magical to explore.

 / Neverland was full of unique dexterity puzzles. While we loved the unique execution of some of them, others overstayed their welcome with tedious execution.

 A puzzle was easily solved without the required equipment. This allowed our team to break sequence, bypass a handful of puzzles, and ultimately finish the game with leftover clues.

/ Once Upon an Escape provided ample padding for players required to crawl through a passageway, but missed padding overhead. While our knees were nicely cushioned, we could easily bump their heads on the low ceiling.

Tips For Visiting

• Once Upon an Escape has plenty of parking on-site.

Book your hour with Once Upon an Escape’s Neverland, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Once Upon an Escape provided media discounted tickets for this game.

The post Once Upon an Escape – Neverland [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Welcome to Hell

Location:  Las Vegas, NV

Date Played: January 29, 2022

Team Size: 3-8; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 70 minutes

Price: $45 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: One player must be able to crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Third Gate Hotel was a memorable experience, grounded in a consistently haunted ambiance, and punctuated by a unique interaction in the middle of the experience.

Transitions between the vast set spaces were polished, with each door leading us to unknown and increasingly eerie scenes. The gameplay traversed these areas, making this linear escape game feel more layered than it was. While the spaces made sense to be in a hotel with the detailed décor to match, we left wishing to see more of a fleshed out story carried throughout the experience.

The final puzzle was weak and included elements of what seems to be a previously designed puzzle. The components from this ghost puzzle solved well, but they ended up being unused for the actual solution. Following the mid-game climactic sequence, this conclusion was a let down.

We really loved the haunted hotel vibe at Third Gate Hotel, and can’t wait to see what this game looks like once all of the kinks are ironed out.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Horror fans
• Best for players with at least some experience

Why play?

• Shocking yet memorable mid-game sequence
• An expansive set with stunning décor

Story

Ushered in by a silent maid, our team found ourselves at the Third Gate Hotel. This hotel was more than we’d bargained for, forcing us to escape before it was too late.

Setting

Third Gate Hotel began in a dimly lit hallway of hotel rooms, each having their own impressively designed door. Each room opened up into a spacious and extensively decorated set for players to explore.

Gameplay

Third Gate Escape’s Third Gate Hotel was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, dexterity challenges, shocking interactions, and puzzling.

Analysis

 The set was beautifully designed to look like an eerie and unsettling hotel. From the wallpaper to the velvet couches and the massive chandelier, Third Gate Escape added many small (and large) details to make the environment true to the theme.

The atmosphere was notable from the moment we stepped foot in the facility until our experience concluded. This was further enhanced with an in-character, silent gamemaster with a backstory.

 An early game jump scare felt cheap compared to the beautiful, creepy, and intricate set. This scare overstayed its welcome far beyond the first jump.

 / Third Gate Hotel combined a creepy set and a serious gamemaster with a goofy introduction video and other playful moments. The dichotomy between these elements set the tone to be campy and fun, rather than horrifying. This worked great for us, but may not be the terrifying experience players expect.

There was room throughout to polish small set details, add crawl padding, and hide exposed wires.

Third Gate Escape excelled at audio design, masking noise from next door, and integrating audio into a foreboding interaction.

We wished the puzzle inputs were further varied, and that reuse of one input mechanism was better clued. Multiple identical input locations caused confusion.

 A specific mid-game interaction was incredibly memorable. We were shocked at this moment, and Third Gate Escape managed to provide the feeling of both horror and intrigue for our team.

 The final sequence felt under-developed and missing. The bones of a strong ending existed, but need to be further fleshed out in order to truly close out the experience with a bang.

Tips For Visiting

• There is ample parking onsite
• Your experience starts the moment you enter the building. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to email or call beforehand to get these answered.

Book your hour with Third Gate Escape’s Third Gate Hotel, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

The post Third Gate Escape – Third Gate Hotel [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location:  Las Vegas, NV

Date Played: December 17, 2021

Group size: we recommend 1-4

Duration: We recommend at least 90 minutes to explore the space, and at least 4 hours to follow the story, possibly many more.

Price: $49-55 per adult (less for children, seniors, and military)

Ticketing: Public

Accessibility Consideration: The first floor of the exhibit is ADA accessible. There is also an elevator to access the second floor, but some areas include steps or narrow passage ways.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Las Vegas in and of itself is a surreal alternate reality, and Meow Wolf’s second location, Omega Mart, felt like the perfect immersive art installation to mimic, mock, and embrace the consumeristic excesses of Sin City.

The sprawling Omega Mart storefront was packed full of actually purchasable, real, fake products. It’s a hilariously dissonant world, and it’s worth the price of admission simply to spend some time walking the aisles of Omega Mart, reading the product packages.

… But there was also a much deeper and considerably larger world behind Omega Mart. This world felt like the original Meow Wolf… if it had been built by Disney. This massive step up in production value added a polish that isn’t present in Santa Fe, but that sheen came at the price of some of the grit, oddity, and soul that grabbed me in the House of Eternal Return. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing so much as it is an aesthetic preference. I can see plenty of folks preferring the Disneyification of Meow Wolf to the grittier artsy vibe of their earlier work.

Where my feelings about Omega Mart turned to disappointment was in their game design choices. The mystery and game within this world started off fantastic, and hit a wondrous climax… and then it kept going and going and going well past its “sell by” date. This could have been fine, but many of the associated touchscreen interfaces were clunky, space was limited, and lines formed at key locations. The net effect was that when we were about to have a big moment in the plot, it was destroyed by watching half a dozen people have that exact moment that I was about to have while I waited.

Finally, the conclusion of the game was utterly disappointing… it fizzled into forgettable nothingness.

Omega Mart would have been better with a little less game, or a lot more thought put into the game and the way that players would engage with it. For all of the improvements that Meow Wolf made to their overall production, it felt like they badly needed to hire some proper game designers.

My advice: absolutely go experience Omega Mart. It’s a wonder. Play the game too… but once you hit a point in the game where you feel like you’ve substantially impacted the world, not just for yourself, but for others… stop playing and go about exploring.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Story seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Any experience level

Why play?

• The store and its products are a riot
• The world was gorgeous, truly a Disney quality production

Story

We entered Omega Mart as customers, with the opportunity to become employees, learn the ropes of the business, and explore the exciting opportunities afforded to us by its revolutionary parent company Dramcorp.

Setting

Omega Mart, the anchor storefront in the Area 15 mall in Las Vegas, was an actual fictional store in a real mall. Upon entering we were greeted by eccentric employees and found aisle upon aisle of real satirical products that were truly for sale.

Everything about Omega Mart looked and felt real, especially at a distance, but upon closer inspection, it was all completely bonkers… and that went for the store itself. Beyond its storefront lived another world far larger than Omega Mart. There were corporate offices, production facilities, a town… and like the storefront, everything looked fantastically normal at a distance, but had something else going on upon closer inspection.

Gameplay

Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart was an immersive art installation. It was not an escape room.

The gameplay was in unraveling the mystery and the stories behind this unusual place. This required reading, watching videos, some light puzzles, and waiting for access to information and inputs.

The core gameplay revolved around tapping our Omega Mart card at terminals throughout the world.

Omega Mart could also be explored without acknowledging the game, it worked purely as immersive art.

Analysis

 The Omega Mart staging as a supermarket was brilliant. The products were hilarious. It would be possible to spend hours in the first set alone just appreciating how clever each product label is.

 / The Omega Mart employees were also quite funny. They brought a lot of character to the space. That said, it wasn’t clear how much they were intended to be a part of our experience. If we’d treated them like actors in an immersive theater piece, would we have uncovered more? Meow Wolf suffered from the magic circle problem where we weren’t entirely sure what was off limits.

 Omega Mart had outstanding production quality. With big open spaces, the reveals were especially impressive. Each of the 4 main areas had a clear aesthetic. Every space was designed and polished.

 Omega Mart felt a lot more “playground” (and a lot less “art”) than The House of Eternal Return. In part this was the effect of the slides, one especially cool assent, and interactions like telephones all around the place. However, beyond the opening scene, the spaces felt more like one dimensional sets. If we looked deeper, we didn’t discover more.

 There was a mystery to solve. If you’re motivated by a mission, it’s easy to get started and follow it through to completion (lines notwithstanding). The mystery was optional. If you choose not to pursue it, you’ll uncover bits of backstory anyway, and you can enjoy your time just as much without it. Our commitment to completing the mission gave our movement through the space purpose, but perhaps also detracted from our ability to just take in the magnificence.

 We visited Omega Mart on a Friday morning, arriving when it opened. In order to see the quest through, we spent a lot of time waiting on lines. Sometimes, these could be pointless, like when we spent 20 minutes waiting for the computer in a room we’d already fully explored, only to find out that we actually needed a different computer that had most of (but not all of) the same information and interactions.

 The UI design was mediocre. The touch screens left a lot to be desired. The volume was impossibly low on many phones. Terminal timers didn’t disable when events occurred. It was always more challenging to take an action than it needed to be.

 The most demoralizing element to the overall interaction design was watching someone do exactly what you wanted to do while you waited in line to do it. That put a damper on completing things.

 The verb “to boop.” It’s what you do with your card to trigger interactions. Who doesn’t want to boop?

 It was challenging to parse lore from gameplay. There was always more to be found, either stored on shelves or in desks, or at each computer terminal. In theory, this was fun, but in practice, it was maddening, especially while we were vying for space at terminals to complete interactions.

 Unearthing the story of this place required substantial reading and watching some long videos.

 At Omega Mart it was possible to impact the set on a large scale. When we did this, it felt epic. This was by far our favorite moment in the hours we spent exploring.

 The story/ mission track peaked too early with the afrementioned epic moment. The conclusion was lackluster, both as an interaction and as a story. It didn’t tie off storylines well or give us a sense of wonder. It wasn’t satisfying.

 Meow Wolf excelled at secret doors. There was so much variety to these, and even once they were expected, they were fun. We loved the shocked looks on other people’s faces when we emerged through a door they didn’t yet know was a door.

Tips For Visiting

• Meow Wolf (Las Vegas) is located instead AREA15.
• Parking: AREA15 has several large parking areas, all easily accessible from W Sirius Avenue.
• Food: There are drinks (including alcoholic ones) available for sale inside the exhibit, but no food. For a meal nearby in AREA15, we recommend The Beast.

Book your ticket to Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

The post Meow Wolf (Las Vegas) – Omega Mart [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location:  Las Vegas, NV

Date Played: January 30, 2022

Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $39 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Players are all required to crawl a short distance.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Once Upon an Escape’s Arabian Nights was an adorable game chock-full of cute references to a cult-favorite childhood movie. With solid puzzle flow and creatively hidden technology, Arabian Nights was able to design a nostalgic game for players who are familiar with the Disney rendition of the story.

The puzzles throughout the room solved cleanly and easily, although the game could have benefited from including some more layered puzzles to enhance the team experience. Even though the challenges of the room were rather simple, we always had something to do. Some of the puzzles felt like homework in style, with a few of them feeling like they belonged in a puzzle book rather than an escape room.

Spotlighting was plentiful for ease of puzzle-solving and clue-reading, with reliable and sturdy technology integrated into the set.

Some sections of the game contained more content than others. An under-utilized yet aesthetically pleasing space mid-game could have used a bit more puzzle content. This area was one of the best decorated portions of the set, yet we weren’t in there long enough to enjoy the atmosphere.

Once Upon an Escape executed their theming spectacularly from the moment we entered the venue. With a gorgeous lobby, doorways painted specifically for each game, a live fish tank, and themed cloaks for their gamemasters, the space was joyful to spend time in between games.

For newer players, this game is good as an entry level experience that will provide satisfying solves, and experienced folks will still find the game enjoyable.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Scenery snobs
• Fairytale fans
• Newbies

Why play?

• Whimsical fairytale-themed gameplay and set design
• A luminous late-game interaction
• Traditional escape room puzzle play

Story

A magic lamp had been buried deep in a cave located in a far-off land. This lamp could grant our every wish, but entering the chamber would be treacherous. Our team had to follow in the footsteps of the King of Thieves to find the magic lamp and escape.

Setting

Beginning in our lovable street urchin’s hideout, we traversed a sandy set to find the magic lamp buried under a tomb full of puzzles and shiny objects.

Gameplay

One Upon an Escape’s Arabian Nights was a standard escape room with a low level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, making connections, observing, and puzzling.

Analysis

 An unexpected interaction allowed one of the final puzzles to shine. Our entire team paused to admire the solve.

 Puzzles were well clued and clear. The path through the game, while linear, flowed well, with each solve leading to new aha moments.

 The room was light on puzzle content. While the puzzles worked and made sense, there was room to utilize more complex or multi-step puzzles for more collaborative solves.

 All tech interactions worked flawlessly. We never felt the need to fiddle with a device to make it work, and nothing was worn out.

The early-game decoration paled in comparison to later-game sets. Our team spent the most time in an entry room that was not decorated up to the standard of the other spaces. The room with only a small amount of gameplay in which we spent the least time, ended up being one of the more atmospheric sets.

The lobby had beautiful doorways leading into each of the experiences. They were inspired by the theme and made for memorable beginnings.

The room used the original subject matter as a room theme and not a as storytelling device. Every object was there for a reason, was accurate, and brought back nostalgia for some players, but without knowing the story, players won’t understand any story.

Tips For Visiting

• Once Upon an Escape has plenty of parking on-premise

Book your hour with Once Upon an Escape’s Arabian Nights, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Once Upon an Escape provided media discounted tickets for this game.

The post Once Upon an Escape – Arabian Nights [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.