Room Escape Artist

Down the Rabbit Hole is one of the best escape rooms in Columbia, South Carolina. Here are our recommendations for great escape rooms in the area.

Escape ‘shroom

Location:  Columbia, SC

Date Played: May 5, 2024

Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $32.99 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Players need to be mobile to fully experience this game. More details below.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

I’ve played a number of Alice in Wonderland-themed escape rooms, with each one having its own unique interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s iconic books. The Final Door’s Down the Rabbit Hole didn’t look at all like the other games, at least not at the start. Bright neon murals decorated every inch of the walls, creating an otherworldly, drug-induced atmosphere; I didn’t know where to look first. I expected to hear Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” playing in the background, and that’s even before using a prop that took the whole trippy experience to another level. 

Just as Alice travels through different places in the novels, so did we, as the set in the game changed significantly from one space to the next. However, there was a lack of cohesiveness and the areas seemed unrelated in design. This feeling carried through to the puzzles, and may have been a byproduct of a thin storyline. 

The puzzles were fun to do and not at all difficult; they were often task-oriented with a physical aspect to several. One had us hesitant at first, but giggling and out of breath by the time we’d solved it, and the activity was so much fun that it took effort to move on to the next puzzle. A few had visual wear and tear, which detracted from the aesthetic. Our favorite puzzle was a multi-layered one with several distinct parts that all came together nicely; it was satisfying when we discovered the correct solution. 

As experienced players, we weren’t challenged by this game, but we still had fun going Down the Rabbit Hole. This would be a great game for kids to burn off energy, or for adults to act like kids for an hour. While at The Final Door, also check out Vampyr and Blackout, which had darker themes and their own unique styles.

Who is this for?

• Scenery snobs
• Alice in Wonderland fans
• Any experience level

Why play?

• Groovy set
• Physical gameplay

Story

The Queen of Hearts had banished the Mad Hatter from Wonderland in one of her usual tantrums. The Mad Hatter had asked our team to find the Queen’s favorite red rose so that she would let him return.

Setting

The set was over-the-top colorful, with bright neon-painted artwork over all the walls. Oversized mushrooms around the room were the only real set pieces. Black light made everything glow; it was trippy.

Gameplay

The Final Door’s Down the Rabbit Hole was a standard escape room with a low level of difficulty.

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

Analysis

➕ The colorful set was an integral part of several puzzles, with a terrific special effect that we were talking about long after playing. Another area had completely different visual effects, creating a sense of being off-kilter and in another world.

➕ There was a variety of puzzles in this part of Alice’s world; some involved logic and deduction while others required dexterity and physicality. While most were relatively easy to solve, there were a few more involved puzzles that added balance to the game.

➖ The story was thin; though there were a few characters from the books throughout the game, the narrative was missing from the majority of the game.

➕ We threw ourselves into one puzzle that was delightful yet surprisingly challenging. For a while we were giggling 10 year olds, at least until we had to move on to the next puzzle.

➖ It was hard to miss wear and tear in several key places. Though it didn’t affect gameplay, it made one area feel tired.

➖ One transition was a tight fit; a bypass was available, however, it was not obvious and required backtracking awkwardly to reach it.

➕ Game rules given by an in-character gamemaster were both entertaining and unique to Down the Rabbit Hole. We played three games at The Final Door, and each time, the review of game rules was immersive and memorable.

🪜This game included obstacles similar to climbing, crawling, and moving across uneven and unusual terrain. Please contact the company if you have a question about your ability to play this game.

Tips For Visiting

• There is a parking lot.

Book your hour with The Final Door’s Down the Rabbit Hole, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.