Fallout was one of the best games in the Dallas area, but it’s now closed. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms around Dallas.
“There’s no ‘I’ in ‘nuclear wasteland'”
Location: Dallas, TX
Date Played: March 27, 2022
Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 3-6
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $25.99 – $35.99, depending on the number of players
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: One player must crawl
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Fallout offered a combination of classic lock-based puzzles and satisfying physical tasks that all fit within the apocalyptic realm of the Fallout video games. My Fallout-savvy teammate found references to the games everywhere and admired how thoroughly the experience blended those details into both the set and the puzzles. I, a Fallout newbie, could still appreciate the theme, which I processed more generally as a playful forecast of a post-nuclear world.
Aside from the careful theming, the other standout feature of this room was the set layout. A huge metal silo in the middle of a broad alleyway obscured half of the set from every viewpoint. This required us to form a mental model of the space and to refine our communication strategies as we lost track of each other. The space was also open enough to run through it at length, which we did often. This felt liberating and novel in an escape room set, but it also matched the urgency of the scenario.
The only slight drawback to the scenario was when it obscured whether a prop was unreliable due to the realism of the apocalypse or due to present-day malfunctioning. This happened twice, but our gamemaster offered prompt clarity.
For its attention to detail and unusual game space, Fallout is worth checking out as you play through noteworthy rooms in Dallas.
Who is this for?
- Scenery snobs
- Fallout fans
- Best for players with at least some experience
- Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle
Why play?
- Fun interactions with the set and props
- This is a large space that’s made to run around in
- Fans of the Fallout video game series will appreciate the references woven throughout the room
Story
In the post-nuclear apocalyptic future, we needed a new power source for our home. Our only hope was to brave the dangerous streets of New Oldsburg to unearth a fusion core battery before nightfall. Otherwise, the monsters would get us.
Setting
We explored a grafitti-ed alleyway full of dusty artifacts, radioactive doodads, and an adorable robot. The alleyway completely encircled a large metallic silo at its center, yielding a donut-shaped gamespace that begged to be run around in. This layout led to the additional puzzle of locating teammates at any given time. References to Fallout abounded throughout, pleasing our resident Fallout fan.
Gameplay
The Ultimate Escape Game’s Fallout was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Puzzles involved observation, making connections, math, and manipulating parts of the set.
Analysis
➕ To introduce each room while conveniently transporting tools like flashlights and writing utensils, The Ultimate Escape Game gave us a thematic “go bag.” For Fallout, we got this well-worn cooler.
➕ The donut-shaped gamespace enhanced the teamwork aspect of the experience. It was entertaining to keep track of each other, and some puzzles required strategy to navigate the space effectively.
➖ It was sometimes unclear which code went with which lock. The large space added extra hassle to trying codes in multiple places.
➕ Several puzzles involved interacting with fun set pieces and props.
➖ One extensive math puzzle left significant room for error. This was compounded by a finicky entry location for the code that required more dexterity to use than expected. Fortunately, the result was rewarding.
➖ One set piece seemed unresponsive at times, and it wasn’t clear when we had triggered it.
➕ Every puzzle honored the Fallout theme and was well matched to that world.
➕ This room was also engaging for players who were unfamiliar with the Fallout video games (me! me!). The set and puzzles did not require knowledge of the series and were interesting in their own right.
Tips For Visiting
- There is a parking lot.
- Many restaurants in this area close at 8pm on weeknights. Zoli’s Pizza does not, so we’ve enjoyed it every time we’ve visited The Ultimate Escape Game.
Book your hour with The Ultimate Escape Game’s Fallout, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
