"Best in Charlotte!"
Escape Tactic just opened in March, and we had a chance to play as Beta Testers. Wow! We tried Amazon Survival, and it was one of the best games we had ever played. The set design was immaculate, and the game play was some of the most creative we've ever seen. We then doubled back to play Devils vs Heels and had another great game. To top it off, the location couldn't be better. They're just steps from a ton of great breweries. If you only ever play one escape room in Charlotte, this is the one to play!
Price: $25
Rating: 4.9 out of 5.0
(4.9 / 5)
Rooms:
1. Amazon Survival
2. King Tut's Curse
3. Devils vs Heels
4.. Mine Trap
5. Flight 282
6. SEAL Team
"Over the top Set Design"
No question Codescape 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 trumps the others in town. Some of the rooms have some puzzles that are unfairly hard and obscure. We recently did "Deep Space." The set was again great, but we didn't enjoy the game play. Felt like this one fell short.
Price: $28
Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0
(4.6 / 5)
Rooms:
1. Shipwrecked
2. The Residents
3. The Experiment
4. Deep Space
"Best for Corporate Groups"
The leaders in the clubhouse in Charlotte Exit Strategy is generally packed on the weekends and throughout the week with corporate events. With 6 rooms, they have the capacity to handle larger crowds that the other locations simply don’t have. And there’s something for everyone. I particularly liked Cabin in the Woods but wasn’t a fan of Murder Mystery, but I’ve got good friends who have felt completely the opposite. The rooms are more about locks, keys, and codes and don’t have the technology that Codescape offers. The Exit Strategy rooms are clearly more simple and without the time spent on theme and design, but they’re challenging and that's the point.
Update: We played Bank Heist recently. This is Exit Strategy's best game (per them), but we really didn't like it. The finish was great, so props there! But we found the game play weak, props that didn't work - again - and clues that were both off theme and illogical. We got out but didn't enjoy the game as much.
Price: $25
Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0
(4.4 / 5)
Rooms:
1. Murder Mystery
2. Gone
3. Quest of Honor
4. Queen City Bank Heist
5. Lost in Space
"Ideal for Haunted House fans"
If you're looking to get your heart racing for an hour before heading out to drinks, Blackout is a great way to start. Their rooms are geared more toward haunted house fans with more blood and gore than the other rooms in town. So they offer a nice alternative if that’s what you’re looking for. Their location is a little smaller, but they make the most of it. And their three rooms tie in with a Charlotte theme. The backstories are really strong here too which helps with the experience. The biggest downside is the price. $30 is top of the market, but they don't quite have a "top of the market" experience.
Price: $30
Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0
(4.4 / 5)
Rooms:
1. South End Psycho
2. Queen City Lockdown
3. Trade Street Epidemic
"Best for First-Timers"
If you’ve never played an escape room before, Escape Hour is one to check out. Their rooms are packed with lots of mini-puzzles, so even if you’re in a big group there’s also something to try to solve. Located on Monroe road this is the place to try if you live in Matthews or anywhere on the southeast side of the city. Be sure to check to see when they’re open as the hours are limited on some days, but when you go, try The Detective’s Office. It was a great time! (Note: Couldn’t bring myself to try the Dollhouse room. Just something about dolls like that is just weird!)
Price: $25
Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0
(4.2 / 5)
Rooms:
1. The Detective's Office
2. The Dollhouse
3. Granny’s House
"Family friendly and for younger players"
Designed to be more family-friendly than most of the other rooms in Charlotte, Escape Kings is located near Carowinds down I-77. It’s clear from the moment you walk in that they’re big Halo 5 fans with gaming consoles for up to 16 players. Their escape games also show they're big gaming fans. They’ll allow kids as young as 10 to play and even younger with special permission. We’d recommend trying out Outbreak. It’s a common theme you’ll find with other escape rooms, but it was a fun and interesting play.
Price: $26
Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0
(4.1 / 5)
Rooms:
1. Aztec Ruins
2. Outbreak
3. King's Quest
