Escape rooms are like any other subject–everyone has a favourite. There are a variety of opinions about which escape room is best and what makes a great game experience. You can find review sites and social media posts all singing the praises of the games they are partial to. But when it comes down to it, whose opinion should you trust? We may be showing our bias, but we think you should trust a Game Master! They are in and out of escape rooms all day and have an intimate knowledge of game and puzzle design. Who could possibly be more qualified to assess an escape room’s merits? We polled the Game Masters at Escape Games Canada and here are their top three favourite escape rooms – and an honourable mention.
Honourable mention: Mindshaft
Mindshaft is an unusual game since it’s not an escape room in the traditional sense. We designed it in an attempt to break the rules of what an escape room can be. By blending video game elements with escape room puzzles, we created an experience that’s high tech and very physical. Our staff love the innovative design and the chance to stretch their legs while they play. Plus, we’re a bunch of gamers, so we all think the demon “boss” fight is pretty cool.
As Game Masters, we’re naturally always up for a challenge. The Ark is the kind of game that pushes escape room players. It was built to be the kind of game we want to play. Not only does The Ark have a lot of puzzles to solve within its hour time limit, but each puzzle has multiple steps to its solution. To put it simply, anyone who plays The Ark has a lot of work to do in an hour. As one of our newest games, The Ark features intricate and interactive set design that fully immerses you in the world of the game. We’re all enamoured by the sensation of playing an escape room on the ocean floor; this unique setting makes The Ark one of our favourite escape rooms.
If we’re being fully transparent, we love horror. Our team loves a good scare, so naturally, we love a good horror-themed escape room. Last Resort has all the creepy atmosphere and suspense that we crave, along with an element of exploration that really tests our bravery. The puzzles in Last Resort are fun! They’re mostly interactive and force players to explore in a way they might otherwise be afraid to, which really turns the fear factor up to 11.
It’s pretty much a consensus amongst the staff that we all love Missing Will. Its design to replicate an old manor house, complete with a courtyard, makes us feel like we’re stepping into the reality of the story when we play. The fact that this escape room has two sets of puzzles is what really sets it apart. The challenge of completing the main story puzzles and as many of the ‘side quest’ puzzles as possible makes this game a spectacular choice for both experts and novices alike. The game is incredibly immersive and has a dynamic story that makes it impossible to not recommend as one of our favourite escape rooms.