A Thank You to Paruzal

December 19, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

One of my favorite new developments in 2019-2020 was the advent of the online escape room. While businesses everywhere were locked down, clever business owners realized there was a new opportunity to offer puzzle games playable from home. While escape rooms you can play on your computer are nothing new, the novelty of having an online game master walking you through a scenario was great, and even after physical businesses reopened, I still appreciate playing these games from time to time.

Bethlehem, PA: Escape.exe – Neon Tokyo (Resistance)

November 7, 2022 Brian Gondek 3

The last time I visited Escape.exe, in April 2021, Neon Tokyo was coming soon. After the experience I had in the first room, Site: 117, Neon Tokyo was a must-visit, and the next time Christina and I needed to drive to the east coast, we made sure our path took us past Escape.exe.

Congrats on 200 Rooms!

June 23, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

What do you do for someone who reaches an escape room milestone? I periodically went out of my way to do something special for mine- my 300th room was at a port of call in Mexico, and my 500th was a four hour deluxe game. When my dad reached #199, I knew I wanted to do something special for his.

Branson, MO: Escape Code – Secret Passage

May 8, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

March 20, 2022 – I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to play some really cool escape rooms on my birthday in the past, and 2022 was no exception. Escape Code in Branson has placed well in the USA Today escape room rankings, and I was curious to see what it was all about.

Oak Creek, WI: City 13 Escape – Save the City

February 18, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

September 7, 2021- For my 500th escape room, I wanted to do something special. Thankfully, I live less than two hours from one of the most ambitious and impressive escape room experiences out there- a four hour “Save the City” experience at City 13 Escape in Oak Creek, WI, touted as the world’s largest escape game.

Nampa, ID: Labyrinth Escape Games – Shipwrecked & Nightwalker 1944

November 11, 2021 Brian Gondek 0

October 11, 2021 – It was the last full day of our tour around the American west, and we still had a long way to go. We started the day in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and we had a reservation at a VRBO in Boise, Idaho. Everything in between was a blank slate. But as I looked to my plan for the day, I realized I really wanted to squeeze in a room at Labyrinth Escape.

Oak Brook, IL: Escape the Room – Clock Tower and The Theater

September 30, 2021 Brian Gondek 0

September 1, 2021 – I had been avoiding Escape the Room Oak Brook. I had one prior experience in 2018 with Escape the Room, playing The Dig with a group of friends almost immediately after returning from a long road trip including Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and South Dakota. We felt The Dig was ok, and given that it’s quite pricy for smaller groups, I steered clear of another trip in this direction.

Bethlehem, PA: Escape.exe – Site 117: Duos Challenge

August 10, 2021 Brian Gondek 0

April 24, 2021 – At the end of our stay on the east coast, Christina and I hit the road for home late. We intended to get on the road early but ended up spending a lot of time in New York City, and it was already well on the way to evening when we hit the road. I had scouted ahead and spotted an extremely unique-looking challenge- the Duos game at Escape.exe.

Bridgeport, CT: Mind Factory Escape Games – Breathless

April 21, 2021 Brian Gondek 0

I have to admit, I sort of stumbled across Mind Factory. Christina and I were exhausted after two unusually long days of work, so I scanned for nearby escape rooms we could do on a weeknight, and voila- Mind Factory presented itself as an option. I am so glad we found it- Mind Factory’s “Breathless” game is one of the most unique and cool games we’ve played in recent memory.