Room Escape Artist

Stay frosty

Arctic Expedition 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 23, 2024

Team size: 2-8; we recommend 3-4

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

Arctic Expedition was aesthetically beautiful; I was thoroughly impressed with the ice and snow built into the game.

Beyond aesthetics, the narrative design of Arctic Expedition was strangely inventive. They took some interesting swings here, and hit. My biggest gripe with Arctic Expedition was that the wildest risk that they took and landed was kind of undermined by the fact that they did something far too similar in one of their other games.

From a gameplay standpoint, Arctic Expedition was a good, if slightly chaotic game with difficulty spiking and flatlining without rhyme or reason.

Of the 5 games that I have reviewed from 60 to Escape Schaumburg, Arctic Expedition was probably my least favorite… and I still liked it a whole lot. It’s a very strong game. This is a matter of taste not quality, underscoring how impressive 60 to Escape Schaumburg is. I’ve visited a lot of escape room companies over the past 11 years and there are not many that have 5 games that I’d even bother playing, let alone enjoy. Word is that they have another game on the way and I hope that I get to play it soon.

Who is this for?

• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Cryptid connoisseurs
• Any experience level
• Players who don’t need to be a part of every puzzle

Why play?

• A beautiful, frosty set
• Humor
• Solid puzzles

Story

While staying at an Arctic research facility, we received a distressed radio signal that led us to believe that there was a Yeti in our midst. With the temperature plummeting, we had a finite amount of time to confirm this amazing discovery.

Setting

Arctic Expedition was heavily detailed and arguably the most refined set in the current 60 to Escape Schaumburg lineup. While the gamespace felt a bit tight, it was exceptionally well-designed.

The entire game focused on delivering an arctic adventure within the smallest footprint possible, and they pulled it off.

Gameplay

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

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observation, minor physical challenges, making connections, communicating, and puzzling.

Analysis

➕ The set was cool. The snow and ice were especially notable, both from a set design and gameplay standpoint.

➕ The writing of Arctic Expedition was surprisingly funny and well-executed.

➕/➖  While Arctic Expedition had solid puzzles, there were flow issues stemming from the game’s physical layout (because they gave us too much information too early) and small execution flaws like tiny fonts on the game’s most complicated puzzle.

➖ There is nothing wrong with extremely easy puzzles, but they are best served at the beginning of the game.

➕ A less common puzzle-type that usually ends in confusion or tears was well-clued.

➕/➖ The finale was interesting and comical. It also felt like it could have been more of a moment. It was a bit undermined by the fact that 60 to Escape Schaumburg did something far too similar with another game in the building. This was probably the better version, but it was the second one, and it was made worse by the existence of the other game’s ending.

➕ I missed it in the moment, but the beginning of and end of Arctic Expedition was brilliantly and subtly tied together.

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 Arctic Expedition, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

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