There are Secrets the Government Doesn’t Want You to Know (That’s Why We Have The X-Files) – Room: Conspiracy – September 29, 2018

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… your belief in government conspiracies grows every year as you get older.

Avoid if… you think that your Amazon Echo (or Echo Dot) is secretly spying on you. (Seriously, ask Alexa if she works for the CIA…)


THE BASICS

ClueIQ:

Address: 103 S. Carroll St. #1A, Frederick, MD 21701 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 240-815-6458
www.clueiq.com
info@clueiq.com

Room – Conspiracy:

Description (from the company website): Trust no one.

Question everything.

Uncover the truth.

Step inside of a thrilling mystery centered around some of the greatest conspiracies of our time. Players will need to piece together the clues and connect the dots before time runs and the truth is lost forever. Strap on your tin foil hats and uncover the truth beneath the lies.

Difficulty: Intermediate/Expert

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $31 per person, but use ERG15 to take 15% off your games booked (not valid on Saturdays)

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 4-8

Staging Area: A small waiting room with a reception desk, and small fridge with water (don’t they have a fridge here???) and some small puzzles to work on while you wait.

Metro Access/Parking: It’s in the historic part of downtown Frederick, so if you’re going to visit from DC, you’re gonna need to drive. There is a parking lot right next to the building, or ample street parking nearby.


OUR EXPERIENCE

We actually forgot to do the pre- and post-videos because we had such a good time talking (at length) with the owner. W0mp W0mp

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 walk into a room with 2 tables, a bunch of string-pointed diagrams on the walls, and what we could only guess to be a clean room in the back.

Understanding of the Mission: Uncover the clues in Icarus’ hideout, determine where he hid all the information, and get out with it before the Feds find you there.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: 3:30

Our Suggested Party Size: We had 4 with one novice and one escape room virgin (ERV), and that was tough. We’d likely recommend 5-6.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Absolutely

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Alex and Anna

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: You’re in downtown Frederick in the historic district. Lots of places nearby to eat and drink (we don’t have a recommendation because we didn’t stop anywhere).

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Where are Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts When You Need Them? – Room: Conspiracy X – June 23, 2018

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you truly still believe that Elvis is alive or the pyramids were built .by aliens.

Avoid if…you have a friend who is a conspiracy theorist who is always trying to get you to believe his/her stories (our condolences).


THE BASICS

Cville Escape Room: (MOVED TO NEW LOCATION June 1, 2018)

Address: 310 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA

Contact and Website: 434-566-9499
https://www.cvilleescaperoom.com

Room – Conspiracy X:

Description (from the company website): Obsessed with conspiracy theories, a friend sends a final desperate message: one of his theories is true! Separate fact from fiction before time runs out! An intriguing mystery for up to 8 investigators.

(image taken from Cville Escape Room’s website)

Difficulty (1-10): unlisted

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $25 + tax per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: Up to 8

Staging Area: They put us in a small waiting room with chairs and then came in to give us the briefing. It’s cool that Cville Escape Room has a Lock & Key Club for players who have done 4 rooms at this location. Once you hit your 4th room, you get your name on a ribbon attached to an antique key, and for every successive room, you get a small key pin added to the ribbon.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s a pay-parking lot about 1.5 blocks away and street parking, if you can find it.


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 is a cluttered apartment littered with stuff all around, and tons of posters, newspaper articles, and other stuff on the walls.

Understanding of the Mission: We have to explore the different conspiracy theories of a friend of ours (who has since gone into hiding) to determine which conspiracy theory is correct.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: 4:47

Our Suggested Party Size: 6 was good, but only if you have experienced people with you (there is a LOT to do in this room… see below).

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Heather, Steph, Corey, and Brittany

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: It’s downtown Charlottesville right off the main pedestrian walkway, so there are tons of options. We ate dinner at the place below.

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Rather It Be a ‘Nocturnal Emission’ – Room: A Nightly Reminder – June 10, 2017

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you like a good mystery, groping around in the dark, or you’re just plain weird.

Avoid if… you are claustrophobic or are prone to getting seizures. This room is NOT for kids.


THE BASICS

Immersion Escape Rooms:

Address: 2125 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 434-249-8797
https://www.immersionescaperooms.com
hello@immersionescaperooms.com

The Room – A Nightly Reminder:

Description (from the company website): For months, Dave has been haunted by a tragic memory. Every time he closes his eyes he is forced to re-live devastation and loss. This room, a specially made experience for two people, is a dark and intense exploration into the mind of our main character, and it is up to you to save him from himself. Enter the dream and help Dave recover, because in 30 minutes he will wake to the greatest adventure of his life. (see House Arrest).

Note: This experience may be intense for individuals who are sensitive to low light situations, confined spaces, and eerie audio/video effects. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Difficulty (1-10): N/A, no record or success rate listed

Time Limit:  30 minutes

Cost: $15

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2 (you CANNOT do this with one person)

Staging Area: The location is downstairs in the strip mall and does not have an outside door to the parking lot (you have to go in through the building and down the stairs). Waiting area is clean, several chairs; place looks nice and cozy.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s no metro or anything nearby, but there is plenty of parking.


OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

Logistics:

Description of the room: You are in a mostly-dark room that’s about 3′ x 12’… we can’t describe anymore without spoilers, but even that small space seems… smaller for some reason.

Understanding of the Mission: We set out to learn what’s keeping Dave up at night and how he became a conspiracy theorist.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: About 3 minutes (we had some technical difficulties at one point, so we lost about 3 additional minutes).

Our Suggested Party Size: Must be 2 people. It’s physically impossible to do this on your own.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): None

Worth the time and money? YES

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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His Roar Was More Like a ‘Meow’… Room: Lion’s Den – June 10, 2017

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… your sleuthing skills are high and you love the smell of books.

Avoid if… you hate libraries.


THE BASICS

Immersion Escape Rooms:

Address: 2125 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 434-249-8797
https://www.immersionescaperooms.com
hello@immersionescaperooms.com

The Room – The Lion’s Den:

Description (from the company website): The Silver Lining computer virus is spreading and the world is now on the brink of total collapse. Alfred Roland, the CEO of Locus Industries, is harnessing its power to locate items of great value without remorse of the destruction it is causing. He is hosting a party at his private manor and Dave has been put on the guest list, thanks to some help from a friend. Jump into Dave’s shoes and sneak into Alfred’s study to disable the core of the virus. It’s a stealth mission, and security is on high alert at this corrupt billionaire’s abode.

Difficulty (1-10): N/A, but the record is 42:15 and it has only a 41% success rate

Time Limit:  60 minutes

Cost: $25

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2-8

Staging Area: The location is downstairs in the strip mall and does not have an outside door to the parking lot (you have to go in through the building and down the stairs). Waiting area is clean, several chairs; place looks nice and cozy.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s no metro or anything nearby, but there is plenty of parking.


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:

Logistics:

Description of the room: You start off in a library surrounded by books. There’s a desk, a full wall of bookcases, and a podium with a map.

Understanding of the Mission: We had to break into the office and find out how to steal the virus. And then escape.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining:12 min

Our Suggested Party Size: A slightly larger group (7/8) is great for searching this room, as there’s a lot to look for.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Amanda, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Rohan

Team Disturbed Friends (Rohan, Amanda, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Mike and Jason) infiltrated the Lion’s Den and found the code for the computer virus!

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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I Don’t Remember Putting on That Ankle Bracelet… Room: House Arrest – June 10, 2017

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you live in a messy house or apartment. Or you think escaping death is thrilling.

Avoid if… you are prone to wetting yourself or truly believe the moon landing was faked.


THE BASICS

Immersion Escape Rooms:

Address: 2125 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 434-249-8797
https://www.immersionescaperooms.com
hello@immersionescaperooms.com

The Room – House Arrest:

Description (from the company website): The world is heading for a catastrophic collapse since the release of Silver Lining, a cloud-based computer virus developed by Locus Industries. Dave Benson, Chicago journalist and conspiracy theorist, knows this and Locus will stop at nothing to keep him quiet. Enter his apartment and retrace his steps during the final moments leading up to Locus’ arrival at his door. Does he get out in time? The story is in your hands.

Difficulty (1-10): N/A – website lists a 40% success rate with a record of 36:45.

Time Limit:  60 minutes

Cost: $25

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2-8

Staging Area: The location is downstairs in the strip mall and does not have an outside door to the parking lot (you have to go in through the building and down the stairs). Waiting area is clean, several chairs; place looks nice and cozy.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s no metro or anything nearby, but there is plenty of parking.


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:

Logistics:

Description of the room: You enter a small studio apartment that is somewhat in shambles. Obviously, the person living here has other things to be concerned about than regularly cleaning the place.

Understanding of the Mission: Escape your locked apartment before agents from Locus Industries show up and cart you away.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: Roughly 2 minutes.

Our Suggested Party Size: 6 would have been the sweet spot, but 7 didn’t hurt us

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Amanda, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Rohan

Team Disturbed Friends (Rohan, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Amanda, Mike, and Jason) embraced our inner conspiracy theorist and escaped our apartment before being captured by some very bad men.
Photo courtesy of Immersion Escape Room’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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