Room Escape Artist

Boo yah! 👻

Location: Port Charlotte, FL

Date Played: February 19, 2024

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

Duration: 90 minutes

Price: $49.99-53.99 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: All players must climb a few steps

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Phantom Files enthralled us with an intricate, expansive set and a boatload of nerdy nostalgia, pulling from the likes of Ghostbusters, Scooby Doo, and even Clue. The Escape Ventures’ signature humor and quirkiness were on full display throughout every act of this epic adventure.

We were recruited as new members of the Spirit Stalkers, complete with jumpsuits and a catchy theme song. Our objective was simple: find our way into the Lockturne Mansion and find a way to defeat a particular pesky ghost.

Phantom Files didn’t take itself too seriously, giving us full permission to play — and to sing along, to dance, to crack jokes — from start to finish. The joy and glee designed into this experience were infectious, and it was impossible not to be delighted by the countless cheeky references and accessible, satisfying puzzles.

At times, Phantom Files was a notch less thematically focused than The Escape Ventures’ newer Click ‘N Glitch, with some puzzles that fit the environment but didn’t necessarily contribute to the story and a patchwork of pop culture allusions. Though Click ‘N Glitch was a somewhat tighter and more cohesive experience, Phantom Files was no less impressive or delightful. And both experiences demonstrated a wealth of learnings from the many strong offerings at The Escape Ventures’ original Orlando location.

Port Charlotte, Florida, is a sizable trek away from any other escape room hotspots, but if you happen to be in the area or can fit the detour into your itinerary, both Phantom Files and Click ‘N Glitch are not to be missed.

Who is this for?

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

Why play?

• A labyrinthian manor that’s fun to explore
• You wanna bust some ghosts

Story

As newly recruited Spirit Stalkers, we entered Lockturne Manor to bust some ghosts!

Setting

Phantom Files began outside the infamously haunted Lockturne Manor. Intricate white and purple moulding and lattice-work covered the facade and porch, with bright flowers and the hint of a cemetery around the corner giving the scene an almost cartoonishly Victorian vibe.

Gameplay

The Escape Ventures’ Phantom Files was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around solving puzzles, making connections, searching, and interacting with an actor.

Analysis

➕ The labyrinthian manor of Phantom Files was gorgeous. Both outside and inside, every detail was polished and meticulously handcrafted, with tasteful laser-cut components and bold textures. Each new space felt different and exciting, yet there was a consistent aesthetic throughout. The space was creatively utilized, with disorienting twists and turns making it feel even more expansive than it actually was.

➕ Thematic costuming immediately enhanced our immersion.

➖/➕ There were a few too many stages to the introductory onboarding, and we’d have benefited from a more streamlined entrance into the game. Once we got into the room, the in-character intro was entertaining and clear.

➕ The gameplay was smooth, fun, thematic, and well situated in the environment.

➕/➖ The physical mechanics around identifying and capturing ghosts made sense and established our roles as ghost hunters. These ghosts were funny yet ultimately minor characters, appearing too briefly to meaningfully contribute to the narrative.

➖ A radiant input was awkwardly positioned, literally tripping over itself and inevitably leading to some amount of breakage.

➖ The Escape Ventures loves their 2×5 positional locks. While I have nothing against this uncommon lock type, being told how to use a special lock type before every game begins is not fun. I question whether these instructions could be provided in-line, in-game.

➕ An environmental transformation cleverly took advantage of the layout of the set.

➕ The final act was surprising and satisfying, with an emotionally resonant and appropriately campy payoff.

❓ Phantom Files was a 90-minute game, yet we finished in around 45 minutes. The game included a substantial quantity of puzzles that all flowed very smoothly, and I have no doubt that most teams in the regional market will take closer to the full 90 minutes. That said, enthusiasts needn’t puzzle too hard. Additionally, as The Escape Ventures continues to experiment with more involved, larger-scale experiences, I encourage them to explore alternate quality labels (such as “traditional” vs “premium” experience) when explaining or justifying their price differentiation, beyond just charging more relative to the duration of the experience.

Tips For Visiting

• Phantom Files is located in The Escape Ventures’ Port Charlotte location.
• There is a parking lot.
• Review our tips for playing escape rooms with actors.

Book your hour with The Escape Ventures’ Phantom Files, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: The Escape Ventures comped our tickets for this game.