Escape Room Games Worth Traveling For
From Dan, owner of Baker Street Escapes: Players often ask about some of my favorite games, and I wanted to create a list of great games that shaped my views on game design. You will not be disappointed in visiting any of these experiences. Each one in some way has taught something amazing or left me feeling wowed. Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” Constant innovation or “plussing” will ensure a living, breathing destination that grows with new ideas and technologies. That is something we do at Baker Street Escapes; always be “plussing” the experience. In no particular order:
The Nest
Hatch Escapes - Los Angeles, CA
The saddest experience in the history of games, it will grab your heartstrings and rip them out. The Nest is designed for 1-2 players and is meant to be an emotional storytelling experience rather than a straight up “escape game”. The puzzles exist more to act as gatekeepers than as difficult challenges. The storytelling beautifully unfolds as you explore an old storage unit that has come up for sale. You learn about the owner, her dreams, her loss, and the loss of memories. The post-game moment is particularly poignant, and my group were left in a reflective state.
Big Brain Labs
60Out Escape Rooms - Hollywood, CA
Big Brain Labs combines humor, science and an incredibly fun, Jeston-esque, set design. The experience could be adjusted based on player skill level and the game’s narrator character offers a comical commentary as you play. I cannot emphasize enough how much fun this game was to experience and the finale was high energy and felt like a boss battle for lack of a better way of saying it. The game reminded me not to forget to include “fun” when designing. It is easy to be so focused on puzzles that you forget to add those moments that will just make the players smile and laugh.
The Ghost of Mentryville
Arcane Escape Rooms - Santa Clarita, CA
The Ghost of Mentryville smashes the common opinion that a “single room” game is inherently not a good game. The game does so much with so little space and a fair amount of darkness. The story drives the game as players uncover what happened to a ghost they encounter in an abandoned mining town. The climax and reveal are heartbreaking and jaw-dropping. One of the best “Aha” moments ever. Player’s actions will shape the multi-ending finale.
Circus of the Lost Souls
Immersia - Montreal, Canada
Circus of the Lost Souls is a spooky circus themed escape game that introduced me to games with a live character. The character allowed us to interact with them in a way that was fun and memorable. The way the group worked together to solve the mystery of the circus was entertaining and the theme was very much apart of the design throughout. The concept of an actor in the game was something I was completely opposed to until I saw how much magic it could add to the game experience.
CTRL ALT Reboot
Escaparium - Boisbriand, Canada
The most cinematic escape room I have ever seen. CTRL ALT Reboot runs for two hours and earns every minute — enormous sets, a sci-fi video game energy that never lets up, and small details like an interactive alley cat that show how much craft went into every corner of this experience. The humor is constant without undercutting the stakes. I've played a lot of games. This is the one I can't wait to play again.
Always Be Plussing
Every game on this list gave us something. A design principle, an emotional beat, a moment that reframed what was possible. Disneyland was never finished, and neither are we. If these experiences represent the standard, that's exactly where we want to aim. Come see what we've built, and watch what we build next.