Hidden Temple is one of the best games in the Chicago area. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms around Chicago.
Hello, Mr. Big Stone Face
Location: Gurnee, IL
Date Played: March 13, 2022
Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 3-4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $90 for up to 3 players, $30 for each additional player
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: Kneeling/ crouching required for at least some players
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
The set of Hidden Temple was stunning. Stepping from a bland and generic shopping mall hallway into a cinematically lit, vividly textured temple chamber, the contrast was instantaneous as we were immersed in a different world.
As the game progressed, the temple continued to open up in exciting ways. Hidden Temple was as much about exploration and ambience as it was about puzzle-solving, and the puzzles skewed more towards fun process, with the occasional aha in the mix.
While Hidden Temple at 60 to Escape’s Illinois location did nearly everything right, it felt like it was playing in much safer territory than 60 to Escape’s Wisconsin location, where the rooms had quirkier themes, endearing characters, and more nonstandard gameplay.
Both approaches are valid. Hidden Temple and the other offerings at the Illinois location would be phenomenal introductions to escape rooms for newer players or families. Enthusiasts would enjoy both locations but likely will especially appreciate the Wisconsin rooms for their showstopper finales and the risks they each take.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Scenery snobs
- Any experience level
Why play?
- Gorgeous set
- An exciting intro to escape rooms
Story
We had been hired to recover an ancient relic from the Hidden Temple. A famous explorer had gone missing — or run off — searching for this relic, and it was up to us to solve his disappearance and find out what happened to the relic.
Setting
Hidden Temple had a blockbuster ancient temple set. Each area of the temple was spacious and polished, with a high attention to detail in design and build quality. Imposing stone walls and reliefs, rustic wooden doors, and flickering lanterns filled the space.
Gameplay
60 to Escape’s Hidden Temple was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around puzzling, making connections, and communicating.
Analysis
➕ The set of Hidden Temple was gorgeous. Expansive, detailed, and full of twists and turns, the environment was an absolute delight to explore and spend time in.
➕ The puzzles were generally fun and fit the space well. Though never particularly challenging, some puzzles involved some nice environmental ahas.
❓There was a low density of puzzles within each new section of the game, often just one puzzle per area. This was especially suitable for newer players, as the gameplay remained focused and led to rapidly exploring new areas. As more experienced players, there was a reasonable amount of content overall, though we found some areas of the set to be underutilized.
➕ Along with almost nonstop exploration came a slew of exciting, sometimes unexpected transitions into new spaces. We felt like we were in an action movie as we explored chamber after chamber of the temple.
➖ One puzzle posed an obvious interaction, but lacking a visible input mechanism, it felt underclued.
➖ A lengthy communication challenge overstayed its welcome.
➕ The gameplay crescendoed into a satisfying, nicely produced finale.
Tips For Visiting
- There was a large parking lot for the mall.
Book your hour with 60 to Escape’s Hidden Temple, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: 60 to Escape comped our tickets for this game.
