It’s a no-brainer!

Location: Los Angeles, California

Date Played: February 6, 2026

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 80 minutes

Price:  $65-$75 per person, discount for booking in advance

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: None

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

On our last trip to Los Angeles, we experienced the wonderful, whimsical Wizard’s Treasure at 60Out’s Hollywood location. So when a new game opened at this location, created by the same game designer, it was a no-brainer to stop in and play. With a completely different look and feel than the charming wizarding world, Big Brain Labs combined retro-futuristic aesthetics, and gameplay focused on science and experimentation. Clever puzzles and entertaining, tongue-in-cheek humor added to the fun, engaging experience for players of all experience levels.

We started with an introduction from Dr. Gordon Goobler as he explained his newest pet project: a scientific mission to solve all the world’s problems. He just needed more brain power! And that’s where we came in. We puzzled our way through a series of experiments, or mini puzzles, that would collect the data Dr. Goobler needed. Most puzzles had minimal directions, leaving us to scratch our heads for a few moments and try different things before getting to a satisfying aha moment of victory. 

Gameplay was quite cohesive until a mid-game puzzle that can only be described as a show-stopper. Our fast-paced momentum slowed as we puzzled in this part. But while it felt somewhat out of place with the rest of Dr. Goobler’s experiments, it was so incredibly entertaining and memorable; it became my absolute favorite part of the game.  As reluctant as I was to leave this part of the game, the world’s problems were waiting.

The finale landed with an action-filled conclusion, followed by a thoughtful epilogue. With Wizard’s Treasure and now Big Brain Labs, the 60Out Hollywood location stands out among the crowded, robust Los Angeles market. These fresh, creative games are worth a stop when you are in town.

Who is this for?

• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Scientists
• Brainiacs
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Colorful set
• Show-stopping mid-game puzzle
• Puzzles that make you feel brainy

Story

Dr. Gordon Goobler is the genius behind IntelliCo, a neuroscience company that aims to solve the world’s problems. He was on the verge of a major scientific breakthrough and needed people with big brains (like us!) to collect data and work together to complete experiments around his lab.

Setting

The game started in the employee area for the IntelliCo corporation. It was a small, brightly-lit space with a TV monitor on the wall – presumably for employee training – and a half-dozen white lab coats hanging on hooks. Futuristic sliding doors led to other parts of the lab while a vintage science-y logo gave the space a retro look and feel.

Gameplay

60 Out’s Big Brain Labs was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty. 

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

Analysis

 The retro-futuristic set reminded us of Disney’s Tomorrowland, capturing the feel of how someone mid-century envisioned the future. It immediately added unique character to the game. 

 We liked the attention to detail in the large, brightly colored set pieces and overall design of the space. Dr. Goobler’s IntelliCo branding was subtle but visible throughout the game, making it feel like a legitimate workplace.

 Most experiments had minimal directions, allowing us to try alternative approaches until we figured out the right one. At the same time, there was a clear structure to the game flow – along with a device for keeping track of our progress – so we always knew where we were in the game. It was a fun combination, and it all blended together seamlessly.

 At one point, voice-over dialogue mentioned a prop and we thought it was part of our next challenge. We lost some time running around trying to figure out how to interact with it, but it was just story details.

/ The conclusion involved a fun, boss-level finale, though we didn’t immediately notice a significant visual reveal when distracted by several prominent props. Re-positioning these props or gating their availability would allow players to appreciate the reveal as intended.

 After the introduction, additional story points were creatively woven into several puzzles. The final scene brought emotional closure to the narrative.

 End-game credits were a nice touch, providing a glimpse into the design process and recognizing the work of the design and build teams.

Accessibility options for lighting, sound, and color-blindness were available to players to self-manage throughout the game. There was even a chair, if you needed to sit. We were impressed with the original, thoughtful approach to accommodations and putting the player experience front and center.

Tips For Visiting

• There are several 60Out locations in Los Angeles. This game is at the Hollywood location: 1316 N Western Ave.  
• Parking is available in a lot behind the building, with access via Fernwood Ave. The front door entrance is on N Western Ave.  Metered street parking is also available nearby.
• When we visit Los Angeles for games, we like breakfast at Blu Jam Cafe or DuPar’s (best pancakes!), lunch at Mel’s Diner or Porto’s, and dinner at Yang Chow. For the best soup dumplings, visit Din Tai Fung (reservations highly recommended).

Book your hour with 60Out’s Big Brain Labs, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: 60Out comped our tickets for this game.

The post 60Out – Big Brain Labs [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Duration: Runs until April 19, 2026

Location: City of Industry, CA

Date Played: February 19, 2026

Team Size: Any number; we recommend 1-4

Duration: 60 minutes game time, 110 minutes total

Price:  $55-58 per player

Ticketing: Public

Accessibility Consideration:  None

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

SCRAP has hosted many public puzzle events in the US over the years. I have played several of them, but checking my calendar, it is hard to believe the last one was eight years ago. It was exciting to see them return with a new offering: The Hunter Exam: Battle of Wits 2026.

The SCRAP games I previously attended were all fun and followed a fairly similar format. The Hunter Exam preserved that familiar SCRAP DNA while changing enough of the structure to feel genuinely fresh.

This was not a traditional ballroom-style event where each team sits at a table and works through a packet of puzzles. There were no tables or chairs but instead, up to 45 players per session moved freely around the space. The game followed a pre-determined structure with everyone working on the same puzzle at the same time. However, the fully standing format created a more kinetic, competitive energy than the usual seated experience.

I chose to play solo, and it didn’t feel like a handicap. That said, in classic SCRAP fashion, the puzzles often appeared simple on the surface but required surprisingly tricky logic. There were moments when I would have appreciated a teammate to bounce ideas off.

I was attending a pre-event session, so there were only about a dozen players in the room. Because some puzzle targets were limited physical resources, I can imagine a fuller session feeling more competitive, and potentially more challenging for solo players.

I was not familiar with the Hunter × Hunter franchise going in, but that didn’t hinder my experience at all. All necessary information was provided during gameplay. If there were subtle nods or Easter eggs for fans, I likely missed them, but the puzzles stood firmly on their own.

SCRAP events often follow a recognizable arc: approachable puzzles culminating in an almost impossibly complex final challenge. (For details on this ō-nazo structure, read Mathew’s recent piece The Brilliance of Japanese Puzzle Culture.) The Hunter Exam broke that pattern with greater variability throughout. By design, it was impossible for every player to achieve a perfect score, yet no one was shortchanged. The final stage struck a satisfying balance by being challenging yet solvable.

SCRAP doesn’t visit the US often, and that scarcity is part of what makes their events feel special. The Hunter Exam honored their signature style while confidently trying something new. If this is the direction they’re exploring next, I’m all in.

Who is this for?

• Fans of SCRAP
• Fans of Hunter X Hunter
• Any experience level
• Puzzle lovers who appreciate clever design

Why play?

• The puzzles at SCRAP games are refreshing in how they creatively challenge one’s ability to pay attention and interpret information.
• The event was designed to be perfectly enjoyable even without any prior knowledge of the theme.

Story

Attendees were taking the legendary Hunter Exam to try and get a coveted Hunter License.

Setting

The game was held in a mostly empty room that contained only the required equipment for administering the exam.

Gameplay

SCRAP’s The Hunter Exam: Battle of Wits 2026 was a unique ballroom-style puzzle game with a low-moderate level of difficulty.

When I checked in, I received a clipboard folder containing game materials. It also functioned as my writing surface.

The game was played in multiple rounds. In each round, there was a goal to accomplish. The round would end after enough players had accomplished the goal, but before everyone had. When the round ended, the puzzle was explained, and all players moved on to the next round.

The tasks in the game were not complicated, but demanded careful observation and the ability to think beyond the obvious.

Analysis

 Any number can play! Despite attending alone, I had a successful game.

 The ambiance was great, but the lighting ran a little low for reading, and I sometimes needed to borrow light from a nearby lamp.

 The game structure allowed every player to actively solve puzzles for the most part. Even if someone was not able to work on a specific puzzle, the story progressed quickly enough that they would not be left stuck for very long.

Due to the design of some of the puzzles, a fuller session of players might make them more challenging, and could potentially negatively impact the game experience. This is not something that previous SCRAP puzzle events were affected by, at least, not in this way.

 The traditionally practically-impossible last puzzle of a SCRAP puzzle event was broken up into smaller tasks, which made them seem a little easier than I was expecting (albeit still challenging!)

Tips For Visiting

• This game is located in a mall with plenty of free parking. Fun fact, this is the mall where Back to the Future was filmed!
• There are numerous restaurants within a few minutes drive of the venue. Round1 also has a snack bar with a small menu, close to where the game is located.

Book your hour with SCRAP’s The Hunter Exam: Battle of Wits 2026, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you. This game is running in Los Angeles through April 19th, 2026.

Disclosure: SCRAP comped our tickets for this game.

The post SCRAP – The Hunter Exam: Battle of Wits 2026 [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Welcome to the Grid.

Location: San Pedro, CA

Date Played: December 7, 2025

Team Size: 2-7; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $48 per player ($65 for 2 people)

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: The game is located up a flight of stairs (no elevator). One puzzle needs a player to climb a ladder; another needs a player to crawl into a tunnel.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Flynn’s Arcade wasn’t so much an escape room inspired by Tron, as it was a love letter to the movie. The game began in a cheeky manner that immediately drew us into the universe, and maintained the fantasy right up till the delightful victory scene.

I very much enjoyed the strong aesthetics in the game spaces, down to the period-accurate music. I almost never pay attention to the sound design in games, so me noticing and enjoying the soundtrack in Flynn’s Arcade is highly unusual.

Neither of my teammates had previously watched the Tron movies (to my surprise) but it did not diminish their enjoyment of the game. We found the puzzles clever, well-clued, and polished, and we generally (except for missing one blindly obvious clue) had little trouble figuring out what we needed to do at each step. However, a handful of puzzles were essentially coordination games, requiring precise throws, steady hands, or synchronized movement — areas where our team struggled more than with the puzzling itself.

Overall, I found the experience to be a marvelous excursion into the 80s and the world of Tron.

Who is this for?

• Gen-Xers
• Fans of Tron
• Video gamers
• Puzzle lovers
• Any experience level

Why play?

• The world of Tron was splendidly portrayed.
• The puzzles were fun!
• The game felt like a loving homage to a classic movie.

Story

We’d received a call for help from within the network, and entered the arcade to find the source.

Setting

The game was set in the world of Tron. The opening space was an impressively immersive video game arcade filled with numerous game machines, posters, and neon signage that had an authentic 80s feel to it.

Gameplay

Brain Games Escape Games’ Flynn’s Arcade was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Some puzzles were traditional escape room puzzles that relied on observation and pattern recognition. Other puzzles relied on skill, coordination and dexterity.

Analysis

I loved how quickly we were pulled into the universe of Tron. As escape game openings go, this one was perfectly executed. It was unexpected while still remaining firmly in-universe. The opening set the tone for the entire game and hinted at the level of thought, design, and care behind the player experience.

Solving some puzzles meant actually playing games on the arcade machines! They were games we grew up with, so they were easy enough to enjoy and nostalgic in the best way.

Some skill and coordination based challenges may be frustrating for certain players. Thankfully, the gamemasters offered helpful hints for those who are not blessed with dexterity.

 The game needed more Lightcycle! Translation: I want an entire game based on this Lightcycle puzzle. Honestly, what Tron experience would not benefit from more Lightcycle?

 The puzzles throughout the game featured breadcrumbs and clues that were surprisingly and authentically integrated into the environment.

The game spaces were exceptionally well designed. Each area had its own distinct feel, and the set pieces felt authentic, detailed, and carefully thought out. The arcade transported me straight to the 1980s, complete with eight game cabinets, wall posters, and glowing neon signage. In contrast, another space fully embraced the 8-bit video game aesthetic, with glow-in-the-dark neon colors set against deep black backgrounds, making it truly feel like the digital world.

One of the space transitions was a standout spectacle, incorporating surprise, effects, and lighting to create the sensation of entering another dimension altogether.

The ending was cinematic and unmistakably in-universe, serving as a strong capstone to the experience.

Tips For Visiting

• There are free parking spaces at the venue.
• There are numerous restaurants within a few blocks of the venue.

Book your hour with Brain Game Escape Games’ Flynn’s Arcade, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Brain Game Escape Games provided a complimentary game.

The post Brain Games – Flynn’s Arcade [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Date Played: December 11, 2025

Team Size: 1-8; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $50 per player

Ticketing: Public

Accessibility Consideration: None

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Thankfully, the story of this escape room did not involve a new murder. However, any fan of the Only Murders in the Building TV show would be delighted by all the decor and puzzle elements that drew directly upon material from the show. Even the intro/ outro videos featured an actual cast member. The game’s storyline is ostensibly from Season 4, but there is still some reference to Season 3.

The puzzles themselves were straightforward, and were what many would consider traditional escape room fare.

While it was clever that The Escape Game reused the space of a pre-existing escape game for Only Murders in the Building, it was also a drawback in that players may be familiar with the layout (and corresponding puzzle flow) from a prior visit. Additionally, the same space was previously used for a different game based on Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building TV, which we reviewed in 2023, and had significantly different puzzles from the new version. Note that this is a common modus operandi of The Escape Game; they have also previously reskinned The Playground for a limited time as a Rugrats game (read more here).

Despite my familiarity, I was having fun pretending for just a little while that I was snooping around in The Arconia with the crew.

Who is this for?

• Fans of the Only Murders in the Building TV show
• Any experience level

Why play?

• It extends the Only Murders in the Building universe with footage with actual characters and props that reference Seasons 3 and 4 of the show.

Story

The latest footage from the Only Murders in the Building film had gone missing, and we needed to search for it.

Setting

The setting was an art gallery and adjoining office. It used the space that normally contained The Heist.

Gameplay

The Escape Game’s Only Murders in the Building was a standard escape room with a low-to-medium level of difficulty.

The puzzles involved observing correlations between puzzle elements, communication, as well as some more traditional puzzle mechanics such as light searching, jigsaw assembly, and sorting.

Analysis

 The design was faithful to the source material. I loved noticing all the elements from the show.

 The room might benefit from another surface on which to place puzzle items. The available horizontal space felt quite crowded.

 The puzzle flow was non-linear, which was friendly to a large group. My team happily split up to tackle different puzzles.

 The Escape Game allows public booking during peak hours. However, the design of the room did allow the puzzles to be easily tackled by players who don’t necessarily know each other.

 Cell phone usage was encouraged, and even required for one puzzle (our host had made mention of such at the beginning). The experience was very social media friendly.

Tips For Visiting

• There is paid parking in the mall, but Gelson’s Supermarket will validate with a $10 purchase.
• There are numerous dining options, from the general food court or Eataly’s food hall, to high-end restaurants.
• Only Murders in the Building is offered at the following locations of The Escape Game: Los Angeles, CA (where I played), New York, NY, and Grapevine, TX.

Book your hour with The Escape Game’s Only Murders in the Building, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: The Escape Game provided a complimentary game.

The post The Escape Game – Only Murders in the Building (Season 3/4) [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Home Sweet Home

Location: Pomona, CA

Date Played: September 18, 2025

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $49 per player for 2 players to $37 per player for 5+ players

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: All players must climb stairs; some players must crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Quest Tavern’s newest quest transported us to a magical gingerbread house filled with candy, cheer, puzzles, and even more candy.

Through the Sugar Glass successfully captured a sense of childlike glee with a constant flow of sugar-fueled ahas. While the theming might suggest that this game was designed for kids or families, a high density of layered puzzles will keep puzzle enthusiasts of all ages actively engaged.

I’ve loved seeing how Quest Tavern’s style has evolved over time, and Through the Sugar Glass truly played to their strengths. A unique premise, creative gameplay, unexpected character development, and a particularly charming environment all made this experience an absolute delight. Through the Sugar Glass was clever in its mixing of tech and more old-school, tactile mechanisms.

Through the Sugar Glass provides a more lighthearted and playful challenge that’s a cherry on top of Quest Tavern’s other fantastic offerings: the intensely theatrical The Last Supper and the magically cerebral Bridge Between. All together, Quest Tavern continues to be a destination worth traveling to in Southern California.

Who is this for?

• Scenery snobs
• Puzzle lovers
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Delightful puzzles
• A charming and cheery environment
• You like eating candy

Story

Upon encountering a mysterious snow globe, we were sucked into a sugary realm where the sweet treats all concealed layers of secrets.

Setting

Through the Sugar Glass was set in a life-size gingerbread house, filled with a mixture of edible and inorganic treats.

Gameplay

Quest Tavern’s Through the Sugar Glass was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around solving puzzles, making connections, communicating, and consuming sugary delights.

Analysis

The set design was colorful, cheery, and whimsical, full of charmingly handcrafted details wherever you looked. You could feel the positive energy and creativity emanating from every surface. Moreover, Quest Tavern packed an impressive amount of content into a relatively small space, even including some segments of more physical exploration.

 Through the Sugar Glass was not a particularly search-heavy game… other than the ongoing search for candy. Sweet treats were scattered around the room, including a particularly lovely reveal of one candy bar, and we savored our thematic snacks during the experience.

A high density of largely nonlinear puzzles provided a ton of fun for all players. This gameplay was observational and well balanced, with some surprisingly clever ahas and layered solves in the mix.

Some nonstandard, thematic inputs required a bit of jiggling to be properly aligned. They would have benefited from clicking into place rather than freely moving.

/  Through the Sugar Glass was centered around a clever and unique narrative premise. As we stepped into the room and realized what was going on and where we were, we were instantly delighted. However, the physical setup and script in the intro could have been streamlined for improved clarity.

A visual depiction of the passage of time was thematic and beautiful.

For an experience that was so light and playful on the surface, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter another level of narrative depth. It was somewhat darker than expected, but ultimately quite wholesome.

 Whereas most of the gameplay in Through the Sugar Glass was quite puzzle-centric, the finale sequence took a hard left turn to be a bit more mini game-centric and, to some extent, more simplistic. One game didn’t work particularly well, or at least didn’t provide sufficient intermediate feedback. Another interaction escalated in pace but not difficulty, and it would have benefited from a final aha or metapuzzle. This ending told the story, but it largely felt like it belonged to a different experience.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.

Book your hour with Quest Tavern’s Through the Sugar Glass, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Quest Tavern provided media discounted tickets for this game.

The post Quest Tavern – Through the Sugar Glass [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Use your braaaaains…

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Date Played: August 24, 2025

Team Size: 2-10; we recommend 3-6

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $40-55 per player ($90 if premium experience is selected)

Ticketing: Choice of Public, Private or Premium

Accessibility Consideration: One player needs to be able to enter a small tunnel.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The description of Zombie Outbreak on the booking website notes that it “features immersive elements such as jump scares and graphic thematic visuals.” I scare very easily, but am glad to report that I survived the experience, albeit with a slight residual ringing in my ears from the screeching of the zombies.

There was a healthy serving of scares as promised, so it was a good thing that the puzzles were not complicated. The puzzle design was fair – though we struggled slightly with timing and dexterity challenges. The sets were well constructed and spacious, and given that, the spaces after the starting room had the potential to contain more puzzle elements. On the whole, this was a decent horror game, and I had fun.

I was impressed to note that PanIQ offers both a public and private booking, as well as a 3rd premium option which offers unlimited arcade and shooting gallery games, two complimentary drinks and a reserved lounge booth. We opted to try the premium experience, and it was a very nice upgrade, and would be a very nice way of expanding the standard escape game outing into a full afternoon/ evening of entertainment with friends. Additionally, the venue also offers a private karaoke lounge that easily accommodates a dozen people in the space, as well as a quiz game show room for 6.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Horror fans
• Any experience level

Why play?

• If you like horror, this room has a lot of it, while still offering a well-crafted gameplay experience.
• The premium experience at PanIQ Room is a unique offering and allows players to have a longer gathering with more fun activities.
  

Story

There has been a zombie outbreak, and we needed to find a dose of zombie antidote and get a motorcycle working so that we could escape.

Setting

The game was set in a realistic looking garage filled with aged and rusty equipment and fittings.

Gameplay

PanIQ Room’s Zombie Outbreak was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and solving puzzles.

Analysis

I found the set spacious, sufficiently lit, and solidly built, which is not always the case with horror-themed games.

There were numerous jump scares, often accompanied by extremely loud sound effects. I was still grateful that they were all designed in ways that allowed me to appreciate them as theming without being too scared to enjoy the game.

The puzzles were thematically appropriate, worked well with multiple people solving together, and were approachable even when players (ok, maybe just me) were jumpy about being eaten by zombies.

There was one puzzle that required precise timing, and another that required dexterity. Despite immediately figuring out what we needed to do for each puzzle, we spent many minutes trying to accomplish the tasks. For less patient players, it could have been a frustrating experience. With a larger group, this would probably not be an issue either, as neither puzzle would have blocked any other puzzles from being worked on.

I loved that there were cupholders in the room, which encouraged players to order refreshments at the venue bar and continue enjoying them while playing the escape game.

Tips For Visiting

• As a note about the level of horror, there were no actors in this game. The jump scares were environmental.
• There is only street parking available, so go early to find a spot.
• PanIQ is located near many decent restaurants. Note however, that some of their valet services have taken over a few of the nearby street parking spaces.

Book your hour with PanIQ Room’s Zombie Outbreak, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: PanIQ Room comped our tickets for this game.

The post PanIQ Room West Hollywood – Zombie Outbreak [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Get your Fun on Route 51!

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Date Played: August 24, 2025

Team Size: 2-10; we recommend 2-6

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  $40-55 per player ($90 if premium experience is selected)

Ticketing: Choice of Public, Private or Premium

Accessibility Consideration: One puzzle requires hearing

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

I quite enjoyed the environment in Route 51. There were loads of objects that could be picked up and handled. There was whimsical, thematic decor and colorful lights. There was convincingly designed, solidly constructed electronics throughout the space. It gave off the vibe of a kitschy roadside attraction that provides roadtrippers with a convenient pit stop. However, there may have been a missed opportunity by not including a life-sized alien interaction as a finale.

Solving the puzzles involved some element of exploration and discovery. They were generally well designed with reasonable feedback provided and nothing felt unfair.

I was impressed to note that PanIQ offers both public and private booking, as well as a 3rd premium option which includes unlimited arcade and shooting gallery games, two complimentary drinks and a reserved lounge booth. We opted to try the premium experience, and it was a very nice upgrade, and would be a very nice way of expanding the standard escape game outing into a full afternoon/ evening of entertainment with friends. Additionally, the venue also offers a private karaoke lounge that easily accommodates a dozen people in the space, as well as a quiz game show room for 6.

Who is this for?

• Puzzle lovers
• Alien invasion fans
• Any experience level

Why play?

• This was a whimsical alien-themed game with fun puzzles.
• The premium experience at PanIQ Room is a unique offering and allows players to have a longer gathering with more fun activities.

Story

The aliens have been in hiding, but now needed our help to finish their teleportation device and get home.

Setting

The game was set in a convenience store that has been secretly run by aliens, with a plethora of colorful, but appropriately offbeat decor. There were plenty of physical products on the shelves, and machines to interact with, resulting in a fun and immersive set.

Gameplay

PanIQ Room’s Route 51 was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and solving puzzles

Analysis

The game set was nicely-appointed and the whimsical retro feel of the space was appealing and cheerful. It was well-reflected in the physical objects, decorations, and puzzle elements.

One puzzle element was non-responsive, but it either worked successfully without feedback, or the gamemaster remotely skipped us past that puzzle.

I enjoyed the variety of puzzle approaches in this game. Some were challenging, some needed keen observation skills, some needed creative thinking. They were all fairly clued, and thematically relevant. 

The final puzzle was slightly tedious, and difficult to perform in parallel. The same effect could have been achieved with half the elements, but since the puzzle was built into the set, it would probably not be cost-effective to change its design.

I loved that there were cupholders in the room, which encouraged players to order refreshments at the venue bar and continue enjoying them while playing the escape game.

Tips For Visiting

• There is only street parking available, so go early to find a spot.
• PanIQ is located near many decent restaurants. Note, however, that some of their valet services have taken over a few of the nearby street parking spaces.

Book your hour with PanIQ Room’s Route 51, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: PanIQ Room comped our tickets for this game.

The post PanIQ Room West Hollywood – Route 51 [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Date Played: September 27, 2025

Team Size: no limit; we recommend 1-4

Duration: 30 minutes per game

Price:  Free for self guided, $18 per person for a live gamemaster

Ticketing: Private… but in a public space where others could join in

Accessibility Consideration:  The escapes are located in a stairwell between floors.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Located on two adjacent floors in the stairwell of a university student housing building, Return of the Radiation and Don’t Bring Your Zombies To Work were separate mural escape games. They were the latest creations of Tyler Neufeld, who had previously impressed me with his design ingenuity under tight constraints. My first experience with his work was Code Green, a full-fledged escape room in his dorm room that I played over Zoom. It had an entertaining story, engaging puzzles, and impressive home-made props. He followed that up with an immersive escape-play Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch which was all the more admirable for its environmental bent and cardboard set. These mural escapes continued that tradition, transforming the walls available to him into puzzle canvases that deserve a much wider audience.

Because the games were situated inside student housing, access for nonresidents was inconvenient. In our case, we had the privilege of being hosted by the creator himself, though the murals were designed to be fully self-guided.

Each game had a short introductory text that served to establish the story and provide a starting point. There were distinct graphical cues worked into the image to guide the puzzle flow. Despite the unusual location, I felt as though I was playing in an actual escape room, even with the occasional resident coming or going. 

While the puzzles were contained within the mural without the use of additional props, a smartphone was helpful at various points for reference, note-taking, hinting, and checking the solution.

Overall, these mural escapes were a testament to Tyler’s ability to transform limitations into opportunities, offering a fresh and creative take on the escape room experience.

Who is this for?

• Puzzle lovers
• Best for players with at least some experience

Why play?

• To experience first-hand the authentic charm of this fun set of escape puzzles in a unique medium
• You can play for free in the self-guided version!

Story

In Return of the Radiation, we were on an off-course spaceship with an important delivery and we had to find the password to gain access to the ship controls and get back on track.

In Don’t Bring Your Zombies to Work, we were in a facility where the normally-contained zombies had been accidentally released. We needed a door code to fix this situation!

Setting

Both games were implemented as murals in a stairwell in a student residence building near UCLA.

The murals were one floor apart, in the same stairwell. The art styles were completely different. They were clearly 2 separate works, although gameplay functioned similarly.

Don’t Bring Your Zombies to Work had a panel that called to the player’s attention. It looked like a message, and contained a short intro to the story, and hints at how to get started.  A QR code painted on the wall took us to a document with hints.

Gameplay

Dorm Scapes’ escape room murals had a moderate level of difficulty, when considered in the context of escape rooms.

The puzzles relied on observation, pattern matching, wordplay, and made use of some well-known codes and puzzle games. There was a small amount of process puzzle work, more so in Don’t Bring Your Zombies to Work than in Return of the Radiation.

Analysis

An entire escape game as a single mural is a unique design.

The puzzle design and flow all made sense. The murals were well integrated into the space. Puzzles were thoughtfully positioned and there was just enough room for our group of four to play.

/ Each game lasted 30 minutes, which was substantial. As an experienced puzzler coming to the stairwell to play these games, this felt like the right amount of content and difficulty. The depth of content was impressive, especially considering the unusual medium. However, this would be too much content to engage a casual, puzzle-curious audience who might be walking by. Students in the stairwell are likely busy.

No host was required. Online hints were available.

Access was inconvenient. Parking was difficult, and entry was not straightforward for non-students, if they wanted to get to the murals for a self-guided experience.

It’s hard to beat the price of free for the self-guided version!

Tips For Visiting

• The murals are located in the northwestern-most staircase of UCLA’s University Cooperative Housing Association on 500 Landfair Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024. It is available 24/7 and playable as a self-guided game. See the booking website for updated access information.
• There is free on-street parking in the area, though an open spot can be challenging to find. There are public garages half a mile away in Westwood Village.
• Westwood Village also has a large selection of restaurants.
• For more about the creator and these games, visit this website.

Play Dorm Scapes’ Return of the Radiation & Don’t Bring Your Zombies To Work, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

The post Dorm Scapes – Return of the Radiation & Don’t Bring Your Zombies To Work [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

A pup-pet project

Location: Newhall, CA

Date Played: September 21, 2025

Team Size: 4-8; we recommend 4-6

Duration: 100 minutes

Price:  $58-79 per player depending on team size and day of week

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Players with color vision deficiency should be Detectives

Emergency Exit Rating: [A] Push To Exit

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

“Election Day combined puppetry and crime scene investigation into an experience that was equal parts clever, hilarious, and inspiring. By pulling learnings and techniques from numerous other storytelling mediums, Appleseed Avenue boldly redefined what an escape room can look like and how it can make you feel.”

REA Reaction

I’ve gotta hand it to Appleseed Avenue’s Election Day for actually making politics fun in 2025.

A wondrously bizarre mashup of Sesame Street and CSI, Election Day was blazingly innovative, properly punny, and oh so satisfying. It told a unique and enthralling story that took advantage of the strengths of the escape room medium, translating video game narrative techniques into a physical space with a high level of finesse. I found myself delighted the entire time, both from the game itself and the exciting directions it opens up for the escape room industry more broadly.

Appleseed Avenue is a brand new collaboration between the seasoned creators of two beloved SoCal escape room companies: Arcane Escape Room (The Ghost of Mentryville) and Evil Genius Escape Rooms (Occam’s Apartment, Norcross Art Gallery, The Morgue – now located at Off the Couch in Fremont, CA). I’ve loved the previous games from both these companies, and impressively, both Election Day and the overall Appleseed Avenue concept are a massive leap forward in ambition and polish, while still retaining much of the charm, wit, and personal flavor that made these creators’ earlier experiences so special.

The gameplay in Election Day hit it out of the park, with puzzles that meaningfully delivered narrative. Appleseed Avenue presented an unusually effective and idiosyncratic approach to a split-team flow that gave individual players a sense of identity and purpose. The entire experience ran on a video game engine, demonstrating how screens can be integrated into an escape room in ways that are both justified within the story and also extended with physical interfaces and tactile interactions. Moreover, through all this, we were led to truly care about the world and its inhabitants.

Election Day is an experience worth traveling for, and it’s just the first of multiple stories that will live in the wild world of Appleseed Avenue. Plus, if you haven’t yet played The Ghost of Mentryville at Arcane Escape Rooms, it’s in the same building as Appleseed Avenue. However, given that Election Day is best with a larger team and The Ghost of Mentryville works best with a smaller team, you may want to divide into two groups and flip-flop with another of Arcane’s wonderful escape rooms.

Who is this for?

• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Punsters
• Best for players with at least some experience
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• Pioneering puppetry
• Puzzle prowess
• A proliferation of puns

Story

We paid a visit to Puppet Town, specifically to Appleseed Avenue: a unique place where puppets and humans can coexist. While there, we applied — and were hired for — the jobs of detectives and medical researchers. We arrived for our first day of training, which also happened to be the day of Puppet Town’s hotly contested mayoral election.

Setting

Appleseed Avenue was a magical street where humans and puppets could coexist. In addition to the detectives’ and medical researchers’ offices, various other small businesses and homes lined the avenue.

Gameplay

Appleseed Avenue’s Election Day was a structurally innovative escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Players were divided into two roles: medical researchers and detectives. Each role had its own dedicated space, though all players could freely move between spaces. Extensive communication and collaboration between roles was required, and each role had its own gameplay style.

Medical researchers focused on more analytical puzzling. This role required reading, following detailed procedures, and interpreting the results.

Detectives focused on collecting and analyzing evidence. This role involved fewer traditional puzzles, instead leaning into narrative-centric deductive puzzling, like what you might find in a murder mystery.

Both roles worked together to fill in Madlibs-esque investigation reports, in a style reminiscent of The Golden Idol games.

Analysis

 Appleseed Avenue created a fully realized and fully inhabited world, in which they told an intriguing and remarkably cogent narrative. To any escape room designers questioning how to present a memorable story with dimensional characters and a clear, evolving plot: look no further than Appleseed Avenue’s Election Day.

Election Day promised puppets, and oh boy, did they deliver puppets. As noted on Appleseed Avenue’s website, we encountered 30+ original puppet characters throughout the game, each of which featured an impressive level of craftsmanship. These puppets appeared in a range of formats, with a mix of live puppetry, pre-recorded video segments, photographs on posters, and more. Although we only encountered a few puppets in their “live” form, a high level of interactivity with these characters immediately brought the rest of the world’s inhabitants to life.

 There was an opportunity to play with even more puppet-sized props to reinforce that we were visiting a shared puppet-human world. Where did the puppets sit? How did they reach higher surfaces? Could they use human-sized tools? That said, that narrative was never unclear, the world was abundantly puppet-y as is, and I can appreciate prioritizing gameplay and human functionality.

Above all else, Election Day was absolutely hilarious. I’m not sure if I’ve encountered an escape room with more puns (perhaps giving The Keeper & the Fungus Among Us a run for its money… what’s with the pairing of puppets and puns?!) It was clear that the creators had mountains of fun creating this game, and they infused their joy into every single element.

 The set design was playful, detailed, and polished. While much of the space was designed around the events of Election Day, the world also extended further, leaving room for future adventures without creating any red herrings.

/ I loved an early-game musical number, and the sound design throughout the experience was top notch. However, there were occasional moments when the sound effect from solving a puzzle overlapped with a video cut scene, making it hard to hear either for a brief moment.

/ Election Day‘s gameplay was innovative on so many levels. The puzzle design was layered, introducing a set of core mechanics that each had a clear narrative function, and then presenting new submechanics and variations as the game progressed. An explicit training level taught us how the game wanted to be played, in a style reminiscent of a video game but divided across both digital and physical interfaces. Given that Election Day was running on a video game engine, I wonder whether there’s an opportunity to explore an adaptive content model that enables high-performing teams to fill more of the 100-minute clock? (Our team had a full and satisfying experience, though with plenty of time to spare.)

/ Appleseed Avenue designed a thoughtful split-team dynamic which balanced frequent collaboration with a bit of playful competition. Even as we were all working toward the same goals, there was space for silly shenanigans and department pride. Each role tackled the same cases from different angles, and our respective discoveries reinforced each other. Our primary control interfaces were transparent in communicating when one side got ahead of the other, so instead of silently keeping half the group waiting, we could go help our teammates. It was impossible to move ahead without solutions from both departments. In just a few instances, there was too much redundancy between what each side learned, leading to a hard-earned discovery feeling somewhat unnecessary.

There’s a potential for replayability in order to fully see the other role’s gameplay, though you’d have to hold back from spoiling the story for any teammates playing for their first time.

While we spent much of Election Day partially divided, the final scene united us in a satisfying resolution of both narrative and puzzle threads, while also pulling on our established learnings of how Appleseed Avenue’s unique world operated. Although we may have cut it close, we saw some serious emotional stakes pay off in a big way.

Tips For Visiting

• There was a parking lot.
• Arcane Escape Rooms is located in the same building as Appleseed Avenue.
• We recommend Persian Grill & Cafe for stellar and affordable dining with a range of dietary options, located in the same complex as Arcane Escape Rooms.

Book your session with Appleseed Avenue’s Election Day, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Appleseed Avenue provided a complimentary game.

The post 👑🔒 Appleseed Avenue – Election Day [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Date Played: June 29, 2025

Team Size: 10 tickets per time slot

Duration: 45 minutes

Price: $10 each during the Hollywood Fringe Festival ($23.18 each for the August 2025 run)

Ticketing: Public

REA Reaction

Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch was an interactive stage show that explored environmental issues at an intimate scale. Created by two students and escape room employees, writer Tyler Neufeld and producer Ghino Lee, the show invited us to ponder the cycle of waste and our role within it.

After some earlier workshop performances, Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch evolved into its current form as an immersive theater piece punctuated by a handful of escape room puzzles. The puzzles weren’t a highlight of the show in their own right, but served to breach the barrier between the audience and the performance. 

The show took place on a simple handcrafted set made with repurposed trash. The bare-bones cardboard and plastic scenery was charming, and required us to use our imaginations to transport ourselves to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch alongside the protagonist.

The show itself was as patchwork as the set, cobbling together statistics, references, philosophizing, thought experiments, and fourth-wall-breaking monologues that periodically reminded us that we were watching a performance. We left without one clear message, but with a lot to think about.

The Hollywood Fringe Festival production is over, but Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch will be extended for four more performances in August 2025. If you’re in Los Angeles and you’re interested in examining your relationship with garbage through a scrappy indie theater production, now’s your chance to get a ticket.

Who is this for?

• Environmentalists
• Fans of immersive theater
• Any experience level

Why play?

• Varied approach to storytelling
• DIY vibes
• To think about our place in the world

Story

A mysterious climate activist was camped out on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and we were there to witness and participate in her sit-in as it unfolded.

Setting

The set was constructed from cardboard, plastic bags, and other repurposed materials. It was intentionally DIY and designed to put the focus on trash. With the help of a little theater magic, we could use our imaginations to picture the small stage as a little island of plastic floating in the ocean.

Gameplay

Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch was an immersive theater production with various interactions including a handful of relatively easy puzzles.

Core gameplay revolved around observation, cooperation, making connections, and watching the performance.

Analysis

 The props and set pieces were clearly constructed with care, thought, and effort. Details like the plastic shimmer of ocean waves and the cardboard puppet theater made the production feel more personal.

 The somewhat abstract set and story paired well with the subject matter. The roughness of the scenery and script also made any mistakes less obvious.

/ The circular structure of the show cleverly paralleled the life cycle of the objects we consume and discard. This created a narrative harmony, even when some recurring beats got repetitive.

 Speaking of circles, the layout of the audience seating felt intimate, but also prevented us from being able to see everything from every seat.

/ The interactions were fairly basic and didn’t offer much new for the puzzling crowd. The puzzles and tasks made us feel more present and involved with the experience, but they could’ve been more strongly tied into the story and the action on the stage.

/At times the show made us uncomfortable, for example by emphasizing the enormity of the climate crisis with dire imagery and suggesting we could do more to solve the trash problem. This angle seemed intentionally provocative, and it did indeed evoke empathy and help us grasp the creators’ point of view.

Tips For Visiting

• The August 2025 run of Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch will take place at 1919 3rd Avenue, the same building as Hatch Escapes.

Book your hour with Dorm Scapes & fear our invasion’s Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

The post Escape! The Great Specific Garbage Catch [Review] appeared first on Room Escape Artist.