Maze Rooms – Men in Suits [Review]

They make this look good.

Location:  Los Angeles, CA

Date Played: July 4, 2023

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $37 per player

Ticketing:  Private

Accessibility Consideration:  All rooms at this location are accessed by a flight of stairs; there is no elevator. Within the game, all players need to crawl.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

During a recent escape room marathon in Los Angeles, we played several games at Maze Rooms LA, including Men in Suits. Going into a game themed after the Men in Black movies, I expected general spaceship décor, aliens, and maybe a few references to Will Smith or that flashy thing that makes you forget. Instead, I was treated to a surprisingly detailed and immersive set that put me right in the center of the MIB universe, along with a good variety of entertaining puzzles. Yes, there were aliens, but also so much more.

We started in a training room for new recruits. After a test to assess our suitability for the MIS organization – of course we passed – we moved on to our mission: to find a dangerous criminal alien who had landed on earth and caused all sorts of havoc. As the game progressed, we were suddenly immersed in the gritty look and feel of a New York City street. Set design was inventive and included unique spaces to explore, both high and low. This creative use of space provided interest and variety to an otherwise open area. 

There was a wide variety of puzzles, from logic to observation to task-oriented. Most felt appropriate in the MIB universe. There was enough challenge for experienced players, and though some puzzles were more simplistic and task-oriented, they were still highly entertaining. In fact, this room contained one puzzle with the most unique solution I’ve come across, EVER. Game flow moved along smoothly, with many surprises. You never knew what you’d find behind a door or in a cabinet. 

After playing, I just had to re-watch the Men in Black movies. Although this knowledge was not necessary to solve any puzzles, it was fun to recognize even more connections and Easter eggs in the game. It’s obvious the designer loved these movies. There are a ton of games to play in Los Angeles, but if you are a Men in Black fan or just looking for an entertaining game that you won’t soon forget (unless you look at that flashy thing), you should check out Men in Suits.

Who is this for?

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

Why play?

• Unique puzzles
• Creative set design
• To spend 60 minutes in the Men In Black universe

Story

As new recruits to the Men in Suits organization, we were tasked with locating Mr. Dirty Ovens, a dangerous alien wreaking havoc on our planet. We had to determine what exactly he was up to.

Setting

After a brief time in a sterile, government locker room, we entered into a detailed space that effectively captured the gritty atmosphere of a New York street.

Gameplay

Maze Rooms’ Men in Suits was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ Characters inspired by the MIB universe popped up throughout the game, and it was these reveals that provided delightful, and often funny aha moments. Familiar props connected gameplay to scenes in the movies in a way that added to the immersion. 

➕ The designer perfectly captured the humorous tone and cartoon-ish feel through set design, puzzles and unexpected reveals. 

➖ After the initial introduction by the gamemaster, the story didn’t really come across through gameplay until the very end. Instead, the puzzles, interactions, and set design were the highlights. 

➕ The puzzles were clever, often integrating key ideas and themes from the movies in unusual ways. It’s hard not to laugh throughout this game. 

➕ There was one puzzle that I have never seen in any escape room… ever. I admit, I was confused at first; it had been a while since I’d seen the films. But to my surprise (and horror) my team knew exactly what to do, and was more than happy to do it. It was memorable – and hilarious.

➖ Some of the set showed minor wear and tear, with a few rough edges here and there. One large set piece was not aligned correctly from the start, essentially revealing what was to occur upon solving, yet it still didn’t spoil the aha moment when it happened. 

➖ There are several mobility requirements that some players may find challenging. As an example, all players need to crawl several times in the game. There is a bypass, however, it takes players completely out of the game space. One puzzle included a fairly difficult, though optional, physical component; an alternative was clearly provided, but it was tame in comparison. 

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.
• Note that this game is located at 8632 S Sepulveda Blvd, as there are multiple Maze Rooms locations in Los Angeles.

Book your hour with Maze Rooms’ Men in Suits, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Maze Rooms provided media discounted tickets for this game.