The past two Saturday’s our squad has visited Breakout Games in Timonium Maryland. Over those two days we were able to test our luck at FOUR different escape rooms. The brand Breakout Games has locations all across the United States. The Timonium location offers EIGHT different escape room experiences. We tried our luck at the following four: “The Runaway Train”, “The Kidnapping”, “Do Not Disturb” and “Hostage”. Breakout Games Escape Rooms are all 60 minute experiences and can accommodate up to 7-8 individuals. Prior to beginning each escape experience you are introduced to your “Game Master”, the individual whom will provide clues and assist you as needed. Once you enter the Escape Room you will watch a brief video backstory which sets the mood and outlines the predicament you are in. Below are our thoughts and results on each escape room!
“Runaway Train”
Survived or Died: Survived!
Escape Time: 4 minutes remaining
Difficulty: Moderate difficulty
Backstory: “You've booked the trip of a lifetime; a cross-continental journey on The Breakout Express. As the train winds through beautiful countryside, news spreads of an uproar in the locomotive car. Radicals have taken control of the conductor’s cabin, planted explosives, and the train is racing towards a non-stop destination in the heart of the city: Central Station. Gain entry to the conductor's cabin, stop the train, and free the passengers before time runs out. Can you engineer a last-minute escape?”
Feedback: As soon as you walk through the door into this escape room you immediately feel as if you are in a real train car. Many little details made this escape room have such a real life feel. From beginning to end our squad never lost momentum. Adrenaline took over and we were all determined on escaping. A wide variety of puzzles, clues, riddles, etc. were used which kept us on our toes. A good bit of math was utilized which slowed us down slightly. The ending to this escape room has a really unique twist. We recommend any Escape Room enthusiast to give Runaway Train a try!
“The Kidnapping”
Survived of Died: Survived!
Escape Time: 12 minutes remaining
Difficulty: Suitable for beginners
Backstory: “The kidnapping begins with you and your fellow captives waking up handcuffed and blindfolded in a strange room. With nothing but collective brainpower, hidden clues and 60 minutes on your side, you have to free yourselves before the kidnapper returns. A heart-pumping thriller from start to finish, you can expect a rush of non-stop fun.”
Feedback: Prior to entering The Kidnapping Escape Room all participants are blindfolded. Unable to see what awaits you as you enter the darkened room your heart can’t help but begin to race in fear. Once removing our blindfolds we truly felt immersed in a Kidnappers holding grounds. In this room we kept a rather swift pace, solving the clues and riddles thrown our way with ease. Definitely a unique escape room to say the least. Can you and your team beat The Kidnapping? Best of luck.
“Do Not Disturb”
Survived or Died: Died!
Escape Time: unable to escape in time
Difficulty: Recommended for experienced escape room players
Backstory: “A recent string of kidnappings has awakened old fears in the people of Breakout City. You've tracked the Kidnapper to a run-down motel on the outskirts of town. Unfortunately, he was expecting you, and now you're caught in his twisted web of games. This investigation-gone-wrong will send your mind spinning as you try to save his next victims... Or become one yourself.”
Feedback: We had received several rave reviews for the Do Not Disturb escape room. Out of the four total escape rooms we participated in, Do Not Disturb was our most looked forward to room but turned out to be the most difficult room we participated in! Once locked inside the escape room we truly felt as if we were in a real life hotel room. Our group got off to a slow start but eventually got our wheels turning. We stumbled and got tied up on several involved puzzles which ate away majority of our escape time. Before we knew it we only had a few moments remaining. Staff at Breakout broke the news that we only made it about halfway through (boy we were epic failures)! From the sounds of it, the second half of this escape room has some really awesome touches that’ll make any Escape Room enthusiast ooh and ahh in excitement.
“Hostage”
Survived or Died: Survived!
Escape Time: 14 minutes remaining
Difficulty: Suitable for beginners
Backstory: “While on a flight, your plane is hijacked and you lose consciousness as the cabin depressurizes. Later you wake up and realize you're trapped, handcuffed to your friends, in the hijackers headquarters. Can you lose your handcuffs, find out the details behind their hijacking and escape before time's up?”
Feedback: There’s something about beginning an escape room handcuffed and blindfolded that gets your blood pumping. Hostage by far had some of the coolest riddles, puzzles, clues, etc that we’ve seen in escape rooms. Their use of technology in this room blew us away. We kept a rather steady rhythm and were able to succeed with ease (this was a good thing after our epic fail at “Do Not Disturb”)! We definitely encourage folks that want to dip their toes into trying escape rooms to try their luck at “Hostage”!