Room Escape Artist

Send my best to Mr Manager

Lockbuster Video is one of the best games in the Chicago area. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms around Chicago.

Location:  Schaumburg, IL

Date Played: October 24, 2024

Team size: 2-6; we recommend 2-3

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: from $90 per team for a group of 2 to $320 per team for a group of 8

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The humor and cleverness of Lockbuster Video stole my heart. With strong use of an animatronic character that brought a lot more personality than it had a right to, I consistently found 60 to Escape surprising me with the design decisions that they made within this small game.

If I had to explain 60 to Escape Schaumburg in two words, they are “remarkable consistency.” All of their games are strong, and I suspect that if you were to poll a collection of people who play all of their games, “favorites” would be statistically all over the place. It’s a quality venue.

For me personally, playing Lockbuster Video as a duo, this was my favorite game in the building… but that statement comes with a big “but.” That “but” is that the game is really small, which is great if and only if you have a small group. By small group, I mean 2 people. 3 people is ok most of the time, but not all of the time. I am confident that if you bring 4 people who all want to actively play, you have exceeded the comfortable limits of Lockbuster Video.

Lockbuster Video was more than the sum of its parts. I highly recommend playing it, but I cannot state this more clearly: if you’re a serious escape room player, play as a pair. Split your group and send half to the food court or to play Mystery Manor (another game that’s good for a duo). Whatever you do, don’t cram too many active players into Lockbuster Video. Play it the way that it’s meant to be played.

Who is this for?

• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Movie buffs
• Any experience level

Why play?

• Visiting a video store
• Strong puzzles
• A funny story
• Surprising set interactions

Story

Movie rental stores are a dying breed. We entered the last Lockbuster Video on Earth to apply for a job. It seemed that the local manager was pretty intense about late fees.

Setting

Lockbuster Video really felt like a Blockbuster Video without the “B” (and some of the square-footage). This exceptionally compact game brought me back to the days of video rental, and then pushed into some interesting and unexpected directions, through creative set design.

The seams of Lockbuster Video’s set were more visible than in the other games, but I also found myself enchanted by what they were doing here and cared less about them.

Gameplay

60 to Escape Schaumburg’s Lockbuster Video was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, dexterity, making connections, communicating, and puzzling.

Analysis

➕ 60 to Escape told a fun story, led by a surprisingly funny character in Mr. Manager. I’m not usually one for animatronics in escape rooms, but I was all in on this one.

➕ The comedy and details throughout Lockbuster Video demanded attention.

➕/➖ Lockbuster Video was a physically small game. I think that it’s truly ideal for 2 or 3 people due to key parts of the floor plan… and there are a couple of spaces where 3 people might be 1 too many.

➕ The puzzling was broadly strong, with an indy movie sequence presenting the best of the bunch.

➖ There were a few nuanced moments where the puzzles needed refinement. Examples included a color puzzle that was washed in colored light, and a puzzle that had a deeply misleading clue that turned out to have nothing to do with the puzzle. (The actual answer was less interesting.)

➕ Lockbuster Video’s set really nailed the look and feel. 60 to Escape also pulled off a creative and simple approach to a truly compelling set-mechanic that is rarely seen in North America.

➕ The ending was strong and satisfying.

Tips For Visiting

• 60 to Escape Schaumburg is located near the center of the Woodfield Mall. Park wherever you desire.
• Arrive with enough time to navigate the mall. This mall’s layout is a little strange.
• 60 to Escape also has its own bathroom, separate from the rest of the mall.
• The Woodfield Mall and surrounding area are filled with food options.

Book your hour with 60 to Escape Schaumburg’s Lockbuster Video, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: 60 to Escape Schaumburg provided media discounted tickets for this game.