Room Escape Artist

Rivalry: Then and Now

Location: Austin, TX

Date Played: December 17, 2025

Team Size: 2-6 or 4-12 if playing head-to-head; we recommend 2-4 or 4-8 if playing head-to-head

Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  between $48 and $68 per player depending on day and number of players in group

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: At least one player must crawl, one per team if playing head-to-head

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Edison vs. Tesla illustrated how a novel mechanic can elevate an otherwise standard experience. Competitive players who approach this room as designed will bring the Edison/ Tesla rivalry to life through their own racing efforts.

The appeal of Edison vs. Tesla came from its uniquely configurable and trackable competitive structure. Escape Hour built two qualitatively identical spaces that can each be programmed as two different modes: Edison Mode and Tesla Mode. Groups can choose to play one mode as a single team or to split into two teams and compete head-to-head in separate spaces. The head-to-head experience incorporates a tracking system that keeps each group informed of the other’s progress through the room. This tracking component was the innovation in this experience, connecting players across the two spaces and adding a motivational force to propel players forward. My group did not opt to compete, but I wish we had.

Without the competition aspect, both Edison Mode and Tesla Mode offered solid but unremarkable puzzles adorned with significant tech. The head-to-head design explained much about the game’s puzzles. To satisfy the tracking mechanism, each puzzle needed to be discrete with a clearly defined end so that there could be a clear “checkmark” upon completing it. The completion was often the only reward to the puzzle, inhibiting much sense of flow. If choosing between modes, Tesla offered more energy and spectacle, while Edison was more challenging but with less pizzazz.

All things considered, Edison vs. Tesla is worth a peek from competitive Central Texans, especially if you’re trying to entertain a large group. Play Tesla Mode, race your hearts out, and come back for Edison if your ego demands it.

Who is this for?

• Competitive players who want to race each other
• Large groups
• Students of Nikola Tesla or Thomas Edison
• Best for players with at least some experience

Why play?

• To challenge your buddies to an escape duel

Story

As aspiring young inventors, we had the opportunity to serve as either Thomas Edison’s or Nikola Tesla’s interns. By wandering their warehouses and tinkering with their inventions, we had the opportunity to prove our capabilities while helping them achieve their biggest plans.

Setting

We explored a warehouse filled with BOTH Edison’s and Tesla’s various projects. Depending on our chosen mode, certain features were activated, leaving others to fade into the shadows. For such sworn enemies, this arrangement seemed ill-advised, but as desperate interns, we didn’t question it.

Gameplay

Escape Hour’s Edison vs. Tesla was a pair of standard escape rooms that could be configured into a competition or played as typical experiences.

Edison Mode had a moderately high level of difficulty. Its gameplay consisted of observing, making connections, logic, math, and searching.

Tesla Mode had a moderate level of difficulty. Its gameplay consisted of observing and making connections.

If a group opts to play as two teams head-to-head, each team can select its own mode to play. We recommend choosing the same mode given the varying difficulty levels.

Overall Analysis

➕ The game design gave discrete tasks to accomplish and a clear mechanism for tracking progress. This game is optimized for competition, and that’s the way to get the most out of it.

➕ The two modes are similar enough to set expectations fairly but different enough to both be enjoyed without spoiling each other.

➕ For competitive groups with widely varying escape room experiences, the Edison mode is clearly harder than Tesla. This difference can be used to balance the competition somewhat.

➕/➖ The modes used red/ yellow/ green indicator lights to show when a puzzle was in play. In this situation where half of each space was NOT in play EVER during a single mode, this was necessary and worked well. However, it still left us with a sense of FOMO until we played both modes.

➕ The puzzles were generally connected to each inventor’s historical endeavors (while avoiding the darker side of their rivalry).

❓ Through the magic of technology, some mechanisms were used for distinctly different purposes between modes. Our gamemaster was quick to point this out, but without that information, confusion could easily ensue.

Edison Mode Analysis

➖ A math-heavy logic puzzle suffered greatly from poor lighting and color ambiguities. It became a stressful bottleneck until we requested a flashlight.

➕/➖ A simple but clever movement puzzle suffered from misleading feedback that masqueraded as a clue.

➖ The final puzzle required a lot of information and attention to detail without feedback on errors.

Tesla Mode Analysis

➕/➖ A cool reveal happened so early in the game that it felt like part of the introduction rather than a hard-earned surprise. We wondered if there had been a reset error.

➕/➖ Colored lights played a variety of dazzling roles in this room. However, they sometimes led to misleading connections when the same color palette was used for disparate though simultaneous purposes.

➖ One puzzle required a strange combination of verifying functionality, performing deduction, and experimenting with trial and error. We wished it could have focused on the deduction.

➕/➖ The final push to the finale felt appropriately high stakes but throttled in execution. Fewer iterations would have better preserved the energy of the moment.

Tips For Visiting

• Escape Hour Austin has two locations, both within the same business complex. Edison vs. Tesla is at the older location, 2113 Wells Branch Pkwy Suite 4300, NOT Suite 6700.
• There is plenty of parking.
• As I always say with Escape Hour, visit El Huarache right around the corner, and order sopes. We’re sope connoisseurs, and these are our favorites in Texas.

Book your hour with Escape Hour’s Edison vs. Tesla, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: Escape Hour provided media discounted tickets for this game.