A few months ago, we had planned a nice long, holiday weekend out in Colorado, mostly in Colorado Springs. We’d been chatting with Ryan, the co-owner and co-founder of Puzzah!, who invited us up to check out his location in Denver. So, we took one of our days to head back North to see what Puzzah! was all about.
We elected to do their Kazam room, since we were intrigued by this option of getting to do bonus puzzles (or “buzzles” – a new term [accidentally] coined by Mike). After the room, we were able to chat in-depth with Ryan and his lead designer, Nick, as to what makes doing a room at Puzzah! a unique experience.
Additionally, they’ve offered our readers a 10% discount on tickets when using the code ERG10 when booking the rooms.
Check out the video interview below [and apologies for the audio; Jason forgot his recording equipment on this trip]:
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 Kazam. 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): The Elves have gone on strike. They are tired of the long hours and low pay and have hopped a plane to Palm Beach before completing the final gifts for delivery.
You have 45 minutes to complete the remaining toys and save Christmas. It is not that simple, though. These elves were particularly vindictive and have created a series of puzzles to prevent anyone from being able to finish what they started. It is up to you!
Difficulty (1-10): 6/10
Time Limit: 45 minutes
Cost: $29 per person – Use ERGUYS15 to get 15% off per person when booking your reservation for any of their rooms
Identifier: T1 – temporary theme for the holidays
Party Size: 2-8
Staging Area: EXIT Plan has a great reception area (two, actually) with lots of chairs. There is a large flight of stairs to reach the main lobby. Note: this escape room experience is not in their main location, but in a small office that is next to the main parking lot.
Metro Access/Parking: This spot is in downtown Leesburg in the historic district. Lots of street parking, and there is a small lot right behind Macdowell Brew Kitchen.
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: You enter Santa’s workshop, complete with presents, Christmas tree, fireplace, and package wrapping area, along with a live “elf” sitting in a chair by the door.
Understanding of the Mission: Find the components to the remaining presents and get them into Santa’s bag before Christmas is ruined.
Did We Escape: No
Time Remaining: 0 – we probably needed another minute or two
Our Suggested Party Size: This room is rated 2-8 people, and we had 4 experienced people, which should have been enough.
Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Heather and Steph
The Escape Room Guys attempted to save Christmas, and failed to complete the last task. Damn those dastardly elves!
Worth the time and money? Yes
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
Macdowell Brew Kitchen – restaurant and bar right below EXIT Plan (the Hog Wings were awesome!)
Description (from the company website): Thirty years ago, the Richardsons moved into this house only to be driven away by pure evil. Upon putting boxes in the attic, the Richardsons’ daughter Evilyn, stumbled across a beautiful doll. In the weeks following their move into the new home, the family started being terrorized by a spirit trapped in the doll. But little Evilyn refused to be parted from it. Fed up, her parents decided to do away with the doll, but soon realized they had made a grave mistake.
One night the Richardsons went into their daughter’s room to say good night and found her dead at her vanity. In shock and – as they cradled the lifeless body of their daughter – they heard a distant voice whispering “I told you not to throw me away.” They ran from the house leaving everything behind and never returned.
You and your team will have to summon all your courage to rid the house of the evil that has held it for the last three decades. But the task won’t be easy. You need to find the spirit’s name to chase it from the house, but you have to work quick. When the spirit gets bored or thinks you may be getting too close to revealing its name, you may not be able to leave the house. You may join Evilyn and be trapped for the next 30 years. (ERG note: edited for case, grammar and punctuation).
Difficulty (1-10): N/A
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Cost: $25 (Use code ERG10for 10% off your booking)
Identifier: R1
Party Size: Up to 10
Staging Area: Small area with counter and several chairs.
Metro Access/Parking: This location is in a shopping center, but this was my first visit to CA so I drove everywhere.
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: You start off in the Richardsons’ living room (tv, lamps, couch, coffee table, etc.) and have to make your way through a locked door to Evilyn’s room. That’s where it gets weird…
Understanding of the Mission: Figure out who the spirit really is and why she’s haunting the house. Then, of course, get out, unless you want to remain trapped for eternity with her.
Did We Escape: Yes
Time Remaining: 10 minutes even
Our Suggested Party Size: I would say 4-6 is fine. While 10 will by no means be cramped, some of you may get bored.
Did the room challenge the entire team? It was only me (Jason), so yeah.
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Just Jason. (I did not take a picture at this room. Totally forgot because I was talking with Greg for a while.)
Worth the time and money? Yes. Absolutely.
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
The Thai Restaurant – Little hole in the wall that was quiet and had good food.
Description (from the company website): This is exactly the kind of thing that your mother has always worried about – the kind of situation that you thought only happened on TV. This is the stuff of nightmares.
You’ve been lured into a serial killer’s apartment. In order to survive, you have to play by his rules.
The clock is ticking. You have exactly 60 minutes to escape his sick game before you become his next victim.
But hurry – he’s watching you.
Difficulty (1-10): 5/5 (Intensity 5/5)
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Cost: $25 – but use code ERG10 to save 10% off your booking
Identifier: R1
Party Size: Up to 10 (children under 15 MUST be accompanied by an adult)
Staging Area: Small waiting area with a few chairs and things to keep your hands busy.
Metro Access/Parking: This was my first time in California, so I just drove everywhere.
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: You’re in the serial killer’s apartment. There are 4 rooms (living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom) that you make your way through as the escape progresses. It’s dark (but there’s a flashlight to find) and damned creepy. (It’s also a damn decent sized apartment…)
Understanding of the Mission: Escape with your life so you don’t become his next victim.
Did We Escape: Yes
Time Remaining: 3:33
Our Suggested Party Size: 4-6
Did the room challenge the entire team? Considering it was only me, yes. But it was a helluva lot of fun.
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Just Jason.
Jason escaped with his life. And lost his appetite…
Worth the time and money? Absolutely
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
The Thai Restaurant – hole in the wall Thai restaurant that was chill and had good food.
Description (from the company website): Dr. Jekyll needs your help! He is transforming into Mr. Hyde much more often and he fears that he will soon be destined to remain as the hideous creature forever. Can you investigate within the laboratory and help him find the cure that will save him? Or will the same fate be your destiny?
Difficulty (1-10): Advanced
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Cost: $24 (ages 15+)/$20 (ages under 15), but use ERG25 when booking to get 25% off your tickets
Identifier: R1
Party Size: 3-10
Staging Area: Small lobby with standing room and restrooms through the briefing room (which is where most of the seating is).
Metro Access/Parking: We drove. I’ve no idea of the public transportation system down there.
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: You begin in Dr. Jekyll’s lab. There’s your typical lab-found items, but you can see there’s a lot more than meets the eye (just without the Transformers).
Understanding of the Mission: Upon entering the lab, you need to decipher the clues left by Mr. Hyde and figure out how to get into the freezer in the back of the lab before it’s too late and the potion is ruined.
Did We Escape: Yes
Time Remaining: 12 minutes even
Our Suggested Party Size: 4-6 is sufficient for this escape
Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Steph, Scott, Gordon (and his daughter whose name I can’t remember)
We helped Dr. Jekyll keep himself out of trouble.
Worth the time and money? Yes
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
7 Hermanos – pretty good tex-mex restaurant we stopped in before the room
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?
As per the usual, whenever I travel anywhere (business or pleasure), I search around and see what (new) rooms are around. I reached out to 2 locations, both in Lancaster, CA, hoping to hear back from one of them, and just my luck, I heard back from both. Turns out, they have the same owners!
Anyway, while waiting to hear from them, I was trying to figure out which rooms I wanted to try (possibly on my own) and settled on Voices at Greatest Escape (owned by Twisted Exit) and The Apartment at Twisted Exit.
Greg was volunteered by his business partners as the one to be on camera. He was also my Game Master for Voices (Matt was the GM for The Apartment). In addition to being a good sport, he and his partners have set us up with a discount for all of you: 10% off your booking! Use code ERG10 when you’re booking online and tell them The Escape Room Guys sent you!
Check out the video below and leave a comment, especially if you’ve been there before. You can also use the social media buttons on the top of this post to share and spread the (escape room) love.
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 reviews of Voices and The Apartment. 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?
I recently reached out to the nice people at Perplexodus Escape as I was in town for a brief weekend. After a short phone conversation, they were more than welcoming and both offered to have us try a room (with a new theme, finally!) as well as graciously willing to sit down for a quick video interview about their location, and other things.
One of the things that makes this location unique is the live actor. There aren’t that many that do it, and honestly some of the ones that do…well, they’re not the greatest. This was an obvious exception.
Matt, our Game Master (and Dr Jekyll actor), as well as Cindy, their owner, provided us with a discount for all of you: 25% off your booking! Use code ERG25 and when you get there, tell them The Escape Room Guys sent you!
Check out the video below and leave a comment, especially if you’ve been there before. You can also use the social media buttons on the top of this post to share and spread the (escape room) love.
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 Dr Jekyll. 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?
ClueIQ is one of those locations that routinely pops up among enthusiasts as a location that provides a great location for enthusiasts and the general public as well.
On our way back from a business trip to Pennsylvania, we were fortunate to grab some time with Steven, the owner, to get some more in-depth information about his location, what makes his rooms special, and a bit of background on how he comes up with the inspiration for his puzzles and themes. We also ended up doing his Conspiracy room, which we’ll post a review on later.
Steven also provided us with a discount for our readers. Use ERG15 to take 15% off your total on games booked at ClueIQ (but not valid on Saturdays).
Check out the video below, and let us know what you think. You can also use the social media buttons on the top of this post to share with friends and colleagues.
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 Conspiracy. 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?
Room Escape DC is one of our favorite locations in the DC area, and was where we did our first escape room as just the two Escape Room Guys (check out our review on Save the White House). When they decided to update and revamp the room, of course we had to stick to tradition and go back and see if we could complete the room again with just our two-person team.
We were fortunate to be able to get some time with Andrew, one of their Sr. Puzzle Designers, to get some more in-depth information about this location, their rooms, and their design philosophy as to how they approach creating new experiences.
They also provided us with a discount for our readers. Use ERG15 to take 15% off your total on games booked for Mondays through Thursdays.
Check out the video below, and let us know what you think. You can also use the social media buttons on the top of this post to share with friends and colleagues.
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 Save the White House II. 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?
