"Best in Charlotte!"
Updated Oct '24:
Escape Tactic has been around for 6 years now, and they continue to impress. Their location and service can't be beat. Heading to LoSo for a game and a drink afterwards is always enjoyable. They opened Appalachian Outlaw in the summer of 2023, and it's truly a step up. It's a great game, especially for new escape room players. Escape Tactic hasn't spent the money on Hollywood-level games like others have, but it's allowed them to keep their prices lower without sacrificing quality. It's still our top choice and best value in the Charlotte area.
Price: $26
Rating: 4.9 out of 5.0
(4.9 / 5)
Rooms:
1. Amazon Survival
2. King Tut's Curse
3. Big Bang Theory
4.. Mine Trap
5. Flight 282
6. SEAL Team
7. Appalachian Outlaw
"Over the top Set Design"
Updated Oct '24:
No question Escapology offers the most immersive experience in town with the best set design. We were blown away when we walked into Shipwrecked. You felt like you were on a movie set the room was so well put together, and their use of clues and technology makes for a truly immersive experience. And, as you can see from the list below, they have a lot of escape room options. The obvious downside is the price $40 to $50 per person is a lot! If you've got the cash or want a truly premium experience, go for it. But we think there's better value for the money out there.
Price: $40-50
Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0
(4.8 / 5)
Rooms:
1. 7 Deadly Sins
2. A Pirate's Curse
3. Cuban Crisis
4. Mansion Murder
5. TH3 C0D3
6. Under Pressure
7. Batman: The Dark Knight Challenge
8. Lost City
9. Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure
10. Antidote
"6 Games in Pineville"
Updated Oct '24:
Breakout Games was the first of the national chains to show up in the Charlotte escape room scene. Like the other national chains, they have the resources and scale to create great games for their guests. They use dynamic pricing so the per person rate decrease as you add more players to your game. In some games players are blindfolded to start, and in others players are handcuffed. That can be a thrilling way to start for some players, but others won't find this to be their cup of tea. Our favorite of their current games is Bomb Squad, and they've since retired the room we didn't enjoy very much.
Price: $26-$34
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
(4.5 / 5)
Rooms:
1. The Kidnapping
2. Kidnapping 2: Afraid of the Dark
3. Mystery Mansion
4. Wild West
5. Bomb Squad
6. Runaway Train
"National Chain with Professional Design"
Updated Oct '24:
The Escape Game is another well-funded national chain that has invested in the ever-growing Charlotte market. LIke Escapology, they have exceptional set design. Their central team of designers that supports locations across the country allows them to delivery really high-end sets. For us, it was a mixed bag though. We really enjoyed their "Gold Rush" escape room, but "The Depths" (note: we played it in a different city) was pretty disappointing. The set design was - of course - special, but the game was just not good in our opinion. At $36 per person, it's not Escapology pricing, but it's close. If you're spending that much on an escape room, we'd suggest Escapology as a better value for your money.
Price: $36
Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0
(4.4 / 5)
Rooms:
1. Playground
2. Gold Rush
3. Prison Break
4. The Depths
5. Special Ops: Mysterious Market
"Strong, Local Owners"
Updated Oct '24:
The Box is a locally owned escape room. It's a smaller experience with just 3 games, but the owners are great people who care deeply about their games and their guests. It seems they've felt the unfortunate effects of large-scale national players coming to Charlotte. They continue to hang in there, but the pressure on them seems to be real. We don't think this is a $30 experience, but we do enjoy the games.
Price: $30
Rating: 4.3 out of 5.0
(4.3 / 5)
Rooms:
1. The Witch's Cabin
2. The Ventriloquist
3. Cold Case Killer
"Best for Corporate Groups"
Updated Oct '24:
The original escape room in Charlotte, Exit Strategy has been around for a long time. They replaced a couple of games at their Charlotte South location a couple of years ago, and the Charlotte North location opened around 2019. For our money, Exit Strategy was a better experience under the original founders. With a new owner not in Charlotte, the experience has slipped, and the price increase to $30 is unwarranted in our opinion. It can still be an enjoyable experience, but there are other places we'd go first.
Price: $30
Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0
(4.1 / 5)
Charlotte South Rooms:
1. Murder Mystery
2. Gone
3. Quest of Honor
4. Queen City Bank Heist
5. Lost in Space
6. Twisted
Charlotte North Rooms:
1. The Mansion
2. Spy Trainer - Red
3. Spy Trainer - Blue
4. The Ruins
5. Subject Zero
6. Baruta's Revenge
