Company The Nixon Escape

Listed as 2+ but we had to pay for three, which stung for a duo. So many clues pointed to dead ends, and a poorly reset step made the exit method obvious early. Our walkie was on the wrong channel, the GM took a while to respond, and he didn’t track our progress well. Overall, it felt less like a rough night and more like sloppy operations.

Classic Gen 1 vibe with a manageable number of locks, a straightforward set, and familiar elements for enthusiasts. Some clues lacked context and a few red herrings fried our brains; four players felt ideal, and we all thought the price was a bit high for this style.

This is a Gen 1 room with a manageable number of locks and keys. Be meticulous, because context is thin and a few red herrings waste time. Not scary, but there’s a lot of crouching, and the price is high for what you get. Still, we had fun and it’s a decent night out in Uptown Whittier.

Great example of a classic room: simple set, familiar mechanics, and not too many locks. The immersion lags behind newer builds, and vague clues plus red herrings boosted our brain burn. Four players felt ideal, we had fun, but the price is steep for this level. Staff were kind and welcoming, which helped.

Non-linear in the best way. Every corner mattered, and regrouping paid off when we stalled. Not flashy, just solid puzzle design.

The theme had potential but the flow never locked in for us, with too many knickknacks that didn’t feed the game. It was our second room with this company—better than Outpost but only barely—and most of our group felt lost more than engaged.

Creepy without being nightmare fuel, and the linear puzzle flow clicked for our group of three. Search a lot, think a little, celebrate often—good night out. I’d come back for their other room.

Too many props that looked important but weren’t, so we spun our wheels and felt lost. Cool concept and a few clever locks, just wish the signal-to-noise ratio was better.

Went after work with coworkers and had a blast in the Asylum room. Staff were super friendly and set a great vibe. We’ll be back to try Outpost next.

For a first build by the owner, it’s impressive. The puzzles pushed two of us pretty hard, so I’d recommend going with three or four.