“Hey… Listen!” 🧚
Location: San Bernadino, CA
Date Played: April 20, 2023
Team Size: 4-8; we recommend 4-5
Duration: 70 minutes
Price: $40 per player
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: All players must crawl; at least one player must navigate stairs
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
The Tree House made it easy to get swept away in a canopy of wonder. Confusion Escapes consistently delivered a plentiful grove of non-linear experiences, with shining puzzling moments mixed into magical spaces. Story was woven seamlessly throughout the scenery changes and hinting mechanisms alike, with delightful discoveries packed into every nook.
These scenic details hid an impressive layer of nested technology that created fantastic aha moments and opportunities for team collaboration.
That wonder was once eclipsed by overstated pauses of a delayed reveal. While introducing necessary safety protocols is important with certain mechanics, we wondered if perhaps a more in-world, story-driven distraction could activate in parallel with this delay.
Confusion Escapes’ The Tree House is a perfect, light-hearted activity for friends or a family (with children age 7+) and is certainly worth experiencing if you are in Inland Empire. Enthusiasts in the greater Los Angeles region or individuals with a fondness for charming woodland experiences will find it worth the drive. For those who have also enjoyed Confusion Escapes’ The Last Job, you’ll notice a significant step-up in the gameplay curve.
Who is this for?
- Scenery snobs
- Story seekers
- Puzzle lovers
- Any experience level
- Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle
Why play?
- Impressive set design and ambiance
- Sense of wonder and discovery
- Solid gameplay flow
Story
Finding the treehouse wasn’t our only problem. The larger issue was needing to fight off some rather threateningly cute troll bullies for ownership of the arboreal estate.
Setting
The Tree House was predictably set in an enchanting tree house and the immediate woodland vicinity. The variety of spaces were immersive in nature and cheerfully crafted with storybook touches everywhere.
Gameplay
Confusion Escapes’ The Tree House was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
It had a varied blend of puzzle types seamlessly nestled within a beautiful set.
Analysis
➕ We went in expecting (and received) a delightful treehouse experience. What we did not expect was an equally as delightful onboarding sequence that was well-clued and just…fun.
➖ A puzzle to close out the first segment narrowed the experience so that only one person could participate in the solve.
➕ The Tree House presented a generous amount of scenarios to puzzle through and satisfyingly sizable props to puzzle with. Clever carve-outs and other signposting made it quite obvious what you were seeking to accomplish.
➕ Wow moments were sprinkled throughout the experience, some of which made us laugh out loud.
➖ A very late-stage area felt under-clued and it needed some additional feedback, as compared to the rest of the experience.
➕/➖ Unscripted, in-world hinting really shone through in all areas of the experience, while scripted recordings could use a bit more finesse.
Tips For Visiting
- There was parking in front of Confusion Escapes. If you’re lost, just look through the windows for a massive semi truck inside the lobby.
- The bathroom is a picturesque experience.
Book your hour with Confusion Escapes’ The Tree House, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.