We’ve been fans of Room Escape DC (Fairfax) for a while now, and we heard that they had opened up a second location in Arlington. Their themes looked pretty cool (very fantasy-based).
Their new location is called Bond’s Escape Room, which will eventually become the official name of the both (and all future) locations.
We were contacted by their digital marketing admin and they invited us in to try out one of their new rooms, so we also made sure we got to spend some time talking with Andrew, their General Manager and puzzle designer extraordinaire.
Check out the video below and find out what makes Bond’s Escape Room a bit different from some of the other locations in the DC area.
Have you done any of the rooms at this location? What was your experience like? You can add your comments to this post.
Stay tuned for our upcoming review of the Enchanted Castle. Check out and follow our social media channels below to be notified when new postings and interviews are published.
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Description (from the company website): Have you ever had a dream, that you were stuck in an escape room, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream and unable to escape? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the escape room you’re trapped in? Jump down the rabbit hole and find out.
Difficulty:Not rated
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Cost: $28
Identifier: R1
Party Size: Up to 8 players
Staging Area: There is a large lobby with very comfy couches and the check-in desk. There are also tables with chairs along the hallway. Sodas and waters are complimentary.
Metro Access/Parking: Pentagon City Metro is 1.6 miles away, so we suggest you take the bus, Uber, or Lyft. However, there is a parking garage and some on-street parking if you decide to drive.
OUR EXPERIENCE
This is the video we took before we entered the room:
This is the video we took just after we completed the room:
Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this room for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process we’ve used on all of our other ratings.
Logistics:
Description of the room: The room you enter is stark white, has a number of panels along the walls, and some framed artwork. There is also a table in the center. Very minimalist.
Understanding of the Mission: You are trapped in a computer program and have to figure out how to crash it so you can escape back to “reality”.
Did We Escape: Yes
Time Remaining: 15 minutes
Our Suggested Party Size: We had a full contingent for the room (party size of 8) and that actually worked pretty well. There is a lot more to this room than meets the eye.
Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes, and we had a mixture of veterans and Escape Room Newbies (ERNs)
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Lisa and her team
Did the Escape Room Guys and their team find their way out of the digital world?
Worth the time and money? Yes
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: You’re on the main strip of Columbia Pike, so there are a lot of restaurant and bar options to choose from.
The original 5 Wits adventure, Tomb has thrilled more than a million guests since it first appeared in Boston in 2004.
Your group takes on the role of a team of archaeologists, tasked with unsealing the newly-discovered tomb of a long forgotten Pharaoh. Once inside its pitch black halls, you’ll have only your wits and a flashlight to guide you. But tread carefully – the mighty Pharaoh is not happy with your intrusion into his resting place!
This tomb is filled with ancient riddles, deathtraps to outsmart, and tests of skill and courage. It’s up to you solve Pharaoh’s challenges, find his burial chamber, and set his spirit free… or fail, and face his wrath.
Difficulty (1-10): none given
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Cost: is based on how many adventures you purchase:
3 adventures: $39.99 per person (can use over different days/doesn’t expire)
2 adventures: $36.99 per person
1 adventure: $29.99 per person
Identifier: R1
Party Size: Minimum of 2; maximum of 12
Staging Area: There is a very large lobby where you can check out previous groups’ scores and buy some merchandise. Additionally, they have party rooms for corporate/private events.
Metro Access/Parking: It’s in Ballston Quarter Mall so you can take the metro to the Ballston-MU Station, or drive and park in the parking lot (or on the street).
OUR EXPERIENCE
This is the video we took before we entered the adventure:
This is the video we took just after we completed the adventure:
Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this adventure for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process that we’ve used on all of our other ratings.
Logistics:
Description of the room: You start off outside a tomb entrance and have to find your way inside. Once you do, you are in a large antechamber that is sparsely decorated with items.
Understanding of the Mission: Figure out how to enter the tomb, make your way through the tomb by solving the Pharaoh’s riddles, and find a way to release the Pharaoh’s trapped spirit… or spend eternity trapped with him.
Did We Escape: Yes
Scores: 99% with two secrets found
Our Suggested Party Size: 8 worked okay, but you can probably do 6 if you are all experienced players
Did the adventure challenge the entire team? Yes
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Heather, Brittany, Corey, Tara, Eric, and Steph D.
Worth the time and money? Yes
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
Punch Bowl Social – it’s less than a 30 second walk from 5 Wits and has good food and drinks and more games, if you haven’t had enough
Espionage is a covert spy thriller, placing you in the role of a secret agent.
The evil CABAL Corporation is threatening to launch a false flag event, inciting worldwide chaos… unless your team of agents can stop them! Your mission: dodge lasers, crawl through real air ducts, hack their computer system, and put a stop to their nefarious plan; and think before you act — with several possible endings to your mission, your mistakes could have global consequences.
Difficulty (1-10): none given
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Cost: is based on how many adventures you purchase:
3 adventures: $39.99 per person (can use over different days/doesn’t expire)
2 adventures: $36.99 per person
1 adventure: $29.99 per person
Identifier: R1
Party Size: Minimum of 2; maximum of 12
Staging Area: There is a very large lobby where you can check out previous groups’ scores and buy some merchandise. Additionally, they have party rooms for corporate/private events.
Metro Access/Parking: It’s in Ballston Quarter Mall so you can take the metro to the Ballston-MU Station, or drive and park in the parking lot (or on the street).
OUR EXPERIENCE
This is the video we took before we entered the adventure:
This is the video we took just after we completed the adventure:
Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this adventure for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process that we’ve used on all of our other ratings.
Logistics:
Description of the room: You start off outside in an alleyway with graffiti on the walls. You need to find your way into the experience, and then have your choice of entrances for the first room.
Understanding of the Mission: Infiltrate the safe house, find a way to disarm the missiles, and escape the safe house without being captured.
Did We Escape: Yes, in multiple ways (and multiple times)
Scores: 93%, 96% and 97% (our best score to date)
Our Suggested Party Size: 6 is good
Did the adventure challenge the entire team? Yes
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Heather, Brittany, Tara, and Chris
Worth the time and money? Yes
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
Punch Bowl Social – it’s less than a 30 second walk from 5 Wits and has good food and drinks and more games, if you haven’t had enough
As part of our due diligence of keeping track of all the escape rooms in the metro DC area, Jason started a conversation with Zephyr, the Sales and Marketing manager at 5 Wits Adventures in Arlington, VA. He wanted to check on their timetable for the grand opening of their new location in Ballston Quarter. After a few months, Zephyr confirmed that they were ready to do a soft opening and invited us in to check out some of their experiences.
While we were there, Jason was also able to spend some time with Dawn, their Operations Manager, and find out what makes an experience at 5 Wits Adventures a bit different from your typical escape room, and how they came up with their design philosophy.
Check out the video interview below:
Please note that 5 Wits Adventures prefers not to be listed as Escape Rooms, but Adventures (they are a very different breed of interactive experience), but for purposes of consistency within our blog, this is tagged as an Escape Room Interview.
Have you done any of the adventures at this location? What was your experience like? You can add your comments to this post.
Stay tuned for our review of Espionage and the other adventures after we get a chance to do them. Check out and follow our social media channels below to be notified when new postings and interviews are published.
Are there locations or rooms you’d like us to scout out?
Last August, we were one of the sponsors of a scavenger hunt/race in DC. We offered a lucky winner and their team a free escape room to play with us. We coordinated a time with the winner and chose to do Glitch (review to come) at Escape Room Arlington.
We’ve known about Escape Room Arlington (and Ravenchase Adventures) for quite some time now, and had been meaning to try and get over there since they opened this past June, and try out one of their rooms.
We met with the manager, Bobby, and had a nice chat before starting the video, but he was very forthcoming with his answers and we had a lot of fun chatting with him on, and off, camera.
We also have a DISCOUNT for you! Using the discount code THEGUYS will net you $3 off per person.
Have you done any of the rooms at this location? What was your experience like? You can add your comments to this post.
Stay tuned for our review of Glitch. Check out and follow our social media channels below to be notified when new postings and interviews are published.
Are there locations or rooms you’d like us to scout out?
