Room Escape Artist

Duke’s Farm is one of the best games in the Chicago area. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms around Chicago.

That cow is radiant!

Location: Gurnee, IL

Date Played: May 3, 2025

Team Size: 2-6; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: Prices start at $90 per game, but pricing varies by day and number of players.

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: At least one player has to crawl.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

I thought that I had 60 to Escape’s style figured out. Then I played Duke’s Farm and had to accept that there was even more depth here than I had realized. Duke’s Farm was silly, verging on unhinged.

There was a playfulness to all of 60 to Escape’s games, but not like this. Duke’s Farm leaned hard into the absurd and landed it.

To add to the intrigue of this game, Duke’s Farm felt notably difficult compared to 60 to Escape’s other games. It’s not unreasonably challenging, but there were individual puzzles that asked a lot more than the other 60 to Escape games that we have played.

All of this combined into a truly interesting game. I don’t think that this is a must-play for everyone, but for players who are excited by a combination of challenge and whimsy with just a bit of edge to it… Duke’s Farm was a unique experience. I have to imagine that 60 to Escape must have had a blast designing this one.

Who is this for?

• Adventure seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Comedy fans
• Best for players with at least some experience

Why play?

• An unhinged story
• Fun environmental design
• Strong, challenging puzzles

Story

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Duke’s Farm. It’s just a normal farm, doing normal farm things.

Setting

Duke’s Farm had us exploring a barn where everything looked great… but narratively it was clear that everything was just a little bit wrong. 60 to Escape clearly had a lot of fun building this space and cramming it with humorous details.

Gameplay

60 to Escape’s Duke’s Farm was a standard escape room with a higher level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around observing, making connections, and solving puzzles.

Analysis

➕ This thematic mashup was brilliant, and lent itself to really funny set decor, props, and puzzles. 60 to Escape made this core to the game, integrating it from the opening moments through to the final interaction.

➕ The set looked great. As we moved through it, the look and feel changed dramatically, but in each area the vibe was right, which made the ridiculous theme come to life.

➖ We encountered some low doorways in the late game that meant we had to be especially cognizant moving through the gamespace.

➖ One big late game prop was a bit finicky. The main interaction required precision that wasn’t clued.

➕ Duke’s Farm pulled off a surprising set-based maneuver rarely seen in the U.S. This is hard to do, and 60 to Escape executed it exceptionally well.

➕ The puzzles were challenging but fair. The clues were there. We had to put in effort, but the payoff was worth it. We felt smart solving these puzzles.

Tips For Visiting

• The game is in Gurnee Mills mall. Park at entry J near Top Shelf Hockey
• There is a food court nearby in the mall.

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

Disclosure: 60 to Escape comped our tickets for this game.