60 to Escape Archives - Room Escape Artist

60 to Escape – Mystery Manor [Review]

1 August 202230 July 2022 by Theresa, posted in 60 to Escape, Illinois, Reviews

G-g-g-GHOST!

Location: Gurnee, IL

Date Played: March 13, 2022

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

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $30 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: One player must be able to crawl

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

60 to Escape’s Mystery Manor was a goofy and spooky take on the haunted mansion theme, full of character and whimsy. With a clear yet easy puzzle flow and parallel paths to victory, this experience was on the easier end of 60 to Escape’s offerings. The build quality was on the same level as their other experiences, including fantastical lighting and audio cues. Atmospherically, 60 to Escape nailed the immersion of the space in every corner.

Compared to their other experiences at both locations, Mystery Manor’s ending was missing some of the charm we’ve come to love from 60 to Escape’s games.

An old, rundown victorian manor with an assortment of pictures, and items laying on and around a desk.

Mystery Manor is a fantastic game for newer players. It will be a great introduction to the wonderful world of escape rooms. If you’re choosing between 60 to Escape’s games, we recommend Hidden Temple for more experienced groups. However, if you have time in your day, Mystery Manor would be a delightful add on.

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60 to Escape – Hidden Temple [Review]

26 July 202229 July 2022 by Matthew Stein, posted in 60 to Escape, Illinois, Reviews

Hello, Mr. Big Stone Face

Location: Gurnee, IL

Date Played: March 13, 2022

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

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $90 for up to 3 players, $30 for each additional player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Kneeling/ crouching required for at least some players

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

The set of Hidden Temple was stunning. Stepping from a bland and generic shopping mall hallway into a cinematically lit, vividly textured temple chamber, the contrast was instantaneous as we were immersed in a different world.

As the game progressed, the temple continued to open up in exciting ways. Hidden Temple was as much about exploration and ambience as it was about puzzle-solving, and the puzzles skewed more towards fun process, with the occasional aha in the mix.

A stone temple with a carved face illuminated by sconces.

While Hidden Temple at 60 to Escape’s Illinois location did nearly everything right, it felt like it was playing in much safer territory than 60 to Escape’s Wisconsin location, where the rooms had quirkier themes, endearing characters, and more nonstandard gameplay.

Both approaches are valid. Hidden Temple and the other offerings at the Illinois location would be phenomenal introductions to escape rooms for newer players or families. Enthusiasts would enjoy both locations but likely will especially appreciate the Wisconsin rooms for their showstopper finales and the risks they each take.

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60 to Escape – Merlin’s Legacy [Review]

15 June 202215 June 2022 by Theresa, posted in 60 to Escape, Milwaukee, Reviews

The heat, the chill, the unknown

Location: Greendale, WI

Date Played: March 11, 2022

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

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $30 per player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: At least one player must be able to fit in a tight passage. There are also strobe lights and fog.

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

60 to Escape’s strong suit is capturing players in an engaging story from beginning to end, and they achieved this magically in Merlin’s Legacy. Filled to the brim with personality and charm, the game was truly an adventure concealed within a shopping mall.

Merlin’s Legacy was able to create memorable characters using sounds, lights, and effects. They have forever burned into our memories an incredible end game interaction, and continue to design larger-than-life props and interactions. We loved how tactile these interactions and the set felt; they had the right amount of heft to them without being cumbersome.

While the aesthetic fit in the time period and story, the first area of the game felt a little too loved, like it had been glued down one too many times. This never took away from the solid gameplay, puzzle flow, and seamless tech, but we wished it had been a bit more polished .

A wizard's library with a desk covered in books. In the middle of the desk is a very tall stack of books.

60 to Escape is designing such joyful rooms bursting with crazy stories, creative puzzles, and awesome scenery. If we had to choose one game to play, we’d recommend enthusiasts play INVASION! If time permits, be sure to check out all of their offerings at this location in Greendale, WI.

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60 to Escape – Pirate’s Curse [Review]

13 June 202212 June 2022 by Matthew Stein, posted in 60 to Escape, Milwaukee, Reviews

I smell a rat

Location: Greendale, WI

Date Played: March 11, 2022

Team Size: 1-8; we recommend 3-5

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $90 for up to 3 players, $30 for each additional player

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Walking over an uneven surface (there is a way around)

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Pirate’s Curse took a puzzle-forward approach to a classic pirate theme. A primary puzzle path guided us into an eerie pirate’s cove… and a set of bonus puzzles offered up the chance to earn some real treasure.

The set was beautiful. The puzzles were consistently fun.

But what I’ll remember most about Pirate’s Curse is a particular pun it made. It made me laugh, I loved how it was presented, and it provided narrative framing for our primary objectives. Yet it left me wanting more, as this delightful moment of whimsy didn’t really extend into the rest of the game, which skewed more serious in tone.

A dungeon with a pirate skeleton hung against it.

If you are visiting 60 to Escape, we found INVASION! to be the clear stand-out. It took the sort of whimsy that I enjoyed in Pirate’s Curse and really ran with it. But if you have the time, Pirate’s Curse packs a ton of puzzling into an alluring environment and is well worth a play.

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60 to Escape – INVASION! [Review]

23 April 202230 April 2022 by Theresa, posted in 2022 Golden Lock, 60 to Escape, Milwaukee, Reviews

You’re killing me, Smalls!

Location: Greendale, WI

Date Played: March 11, 2022

Team Size: 1-8; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: $30 per player with a $90 minimum

Ticketing: Private

Accessibility Consideration: Players are required to duck through a low doorway

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

2022 Golden Lock Award Ribbon — 2022 Golden Lock Award Winner

REA Reaction

I have been yearning for an outrageous theme to be brought to fruition in an escape room for a very long time, and 60 to Escape accomplished this mind-boggling feat in INVASION!. In the game, we were sent on a quest to retrieve our prized baseball and find our friend Brian who had gone missing looking for said baseball.

We were blown away by the set, reveals, puzzle variety, and full-circle story, halting only at a key decision point. The range of emotions our team encountered was a rollercoaster full of pure joy, fright, sorrow, and everything in-between in a mere hour. Furthermore, 60 to Escape designed a protagonist for the experience who guided this endearing story arc, further elevating the immersion and narrative.

A front door beside a garage, the door has warning signs. The garage door and exterior walls have strange writing on them.

60 to Escape designed something special when they created INVASION!. If you’re anywhere within driving distance of Milwaukee, it is absolutely worth going on a journey to find your friend Brian in your weird neighbor’s house.

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