The Escape Game (TEG) has 17 locations, and they're adding more all the time. Each of those 17 locations have some combination of their 12 escape rooms. I've played 9 of those rooms, and the consistency with which TEG produces quality rooms is amazing. They constantly improve and upkeep their rooms, and they are very good a focusing on entertainment. Their rooms are a lot of fun. They prioritize customer experience, and that's why they are one of the largest escape room companies in the world. Their world headquarters is in Nashville, Tennessee, and this week we got the opportunity to play a few of the rooms that they only have in Nashville.
The Depths
Mike’s Difficulty Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Their Difficulty Rating: 7 (out of 10)
The Depths is The Escape Games newest room, and it is an above average escape room. It's fun, clean, and sturdy, and it has great puzzles. The story is intriguing and immersive, and the design is pretty. The first area is a submarine, but eventually you dock the submarine and explore an underwater world. In that underwater world you meet a large creature, but I was definitely disappointed that the large creature that was supposed to be scary was not scary at all. They put very little effort into making it feel like the creature was a threat to us.
When I contrast some of TEG's other rooms to The Depths, I can see that they chose to invest in their resources on video production and large screens rather than impressive set designs. I assume that's because the cost of producing an impressive video is a one-time expense. Building an impressive, multi-level set is an expense at each location, but in my opinion, The Depths is not even in the same quality category as Gold Rush, Special Ops, or The Playground. The room is made up of three boxy rooms with minimal design elements, and the transitions from room to room were not as creative as many of TEG's other rooms.
Sabotage
Mike’s Difficulty Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Their Difficulty Rating: 7 (out of 10)
Sabotage is nothing like TEG's other games. It's a competitive race room. Two teams enter two identical rooms and compete to see who can complete the room with the highest number of points. Points are earned by quickly solving puzzles and using the codes that those solves generate to attack the other team. When the first attack happens, a window opens up between the rooms so that the teams can see each other. Teams are also given the option to compete against a computer simulation rather than another team. The centerpiece of the room is a giant screen above a control panel. The room was a lot of fun, and although there weren't multiple areas to explore, many doors opened up to allow the room to continue to evolve.
Special Ops
Mike’s Difficulty Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Their Difficulty Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Special Ops is one of the best rooms I've ever played at The Escape Game. It's incredibly unique and exciting. I've never seen a room with a more climactic ending. You start in a oriental market where there is a lot to explore and search. The elevator is realistic and fun, and the videos that you watch throughout the room are positioned in such a way that you don't feel like you have to pause the progress room in order to watch them. You then discover an elevator that takes you deep down into the earth where you find a futuristic control room with high-tech puzzles. Many game designers choose to either focus on storyline, immersive design, intricate puzzles, or fun challenges. This room manages to excel in all of those areas.
Ruins
Mike’s Difficulty Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Their Difficulty Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Ruins is without a doubt the best escape room I've ever played, and every escape room enthusiast should take a trip to Nashville, Tennessee to play it. TEG partnered with Disney to build a room that has everything I love in an escape room with the added bonus of an engaging storyline. It's probably too large and complex to reproduce it in a cost effective way at other locations, but I hope that they will continue to keep it in good repair at their Berry Hill location. Players begin the room in a realistic airplane ride then are transported into a fantasy world of adventurous treasure hunting that could rival any Indiana Jones movie. There are only three generation-one locks in the whole room, and players are given the opportunity to interact with the props in the room in fantastic ways that makes the room as immersive as any room I've ever played. As we traveled from the room's numerous areas, it felt like the ruins went on forever. The puzzles range from exciting physical challenges to complex mental challenges, and the room moves in more exciting and impressive ways than any other room I've every seen. The room has its own lobby of Disney quality that begins the immersion before the players enter the room and provides a great place for post-game fun and pictures.
Mission: Mars
Mike’s Difficulty Rating: (out of 5)
Their Difficulty Rating: 7 (out of 10)
Mission Mars is one of TEG's older rooms, and when it was built it was on the cutting edge of escape room design. They used impressive technology in this room long before escape rooms were using so much technology. There's a camera that allows you to see from one of the large rooms to another large room. There's are many large tv screens. Touchscreen keypads and many more generation two locks. Unfortunately, the room's age is evident. There were some glitchy electronics, broken parts, and other general wear and tear. There were also a few doors that required us to complete multiple puzzles in order to open them, but there was nothing telling us that was the case. As a result, we completed multiple puzzles without any feedback or celebration moment. The best thing about the room is that you get to leave the spaceship and walk on Mars! It's an impressively expansive area of the room that makes you feel like you are outside of the spaceship.
