You’ve seen the ads online. You’ve heard people raving about the fun. You’ve seen the establishments pop up all over town. You’ve read all the reviews on your favorite Wichita blog. You know what I’m talking about: Room Escapes.
If you’ve been living under a rock, let us help you guide your way through Room Escapes in Wichita. In 2016, there was a big boom on Room Escapes opening in Wichita. That has calmed down as of late and we are now left with a great set of options to choose from all over Wichita and the surrounding area.
What is a Room Escape?
Room Escapes are exactly what they say they are. You and a set number of people are put inside a room and given usually 60 minutes to figure your way out of the room. You’ll have to work your way as a team (keyword being team) through puzzles, key locks, combinations, and solve other brain teasers in order to achieve your goal.
Don’t fret though, you are not forced to stay inside the room. If you need to step out for an emergency, to use the restroom, any reason, they will let you out.
Where can I play a Room Escape?
Simple. Here are your options along with our very own reviews of all the establishments. Fortunately for the readers out there, my friends, family, co-workers and I have literally participated in every Room Escape in town along with a majority of the rooms each place currently has to offer.
Wichita Room Escape
3700 E Douglas Ave
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$20 a person
Up to 8 people per room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You could be paired with other people if you don’t fill up all spots in the room
Key Quest Escape Room
2120 N Woodlawn St (Located inside Laser Quest)
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$15 a person
3-6 people per room
45 minutes to escape
Bookings can be made by calling 316-652-9500
You have the option to play with just your group; no strangers
Art of Escape ICT
3540 W Douglas
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$20 a person
Up to 8 people in a room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You could be paired with other people if you don’t fill up all spots in the room
Entrap Games
443 N Mosley
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$20-25 a person depending on the number of people
Up to 8 people in a room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You could be paired with other people if you don’t fill up all spots in the room
Puzzle Plex
301 E Madison Avenue (Derby, KS)
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$22-28 a person
Up to 6 people in a room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You could be paired with other people if you don’t fill up all spots in the room
The Room Hutchinson
2 E 2nd Avenue (Hutchinson, KS)
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$20 a person
2-6 people in a room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You have the option to play with just your group; no strangers
The Room Wichita
617 W Douglas Avenue
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$20 a person
2-8 people in a room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You have the option to play with just your group; no strangers
We Xcape
1999 N Amidon Avenue
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$25 a person
2-8 people in a room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You could be paired with other people if you don’t fill up all spots in the room
Escapology
11413 E 13th St
Our Review | Website | Facebook
$30 a person on the weekend / $25 during the week
2-6 people in a room
60 minutes to escape
Bookings available on their website
You have the option to play with just your group; no strangers
Which one should I go to first?
 |
| So Many Options! |
My group and I have always had fun at all the rooms we’ve attempted. For your very first time, it could be overwhelming. If it’s your very first time or someone in your group is trying it out for their first time, research the rooms. Most Room Escape websites have descriptions on their rooms and the success rate. Choose a room with a high success rate if you have many newbies to your group.
Key Quest Escape Room is probably the one place to avoid for your first time going. It’s very different from all the other rooms in town. The reason being they use the exact same room for all their themes. In every other Room Escape, they have individual rooms for each theme. There’s a better ambience and atmosphere in the other ones.
Two places I always refer people to are The Room and Puzzle Plez. Both have great first time rooms followed up with excellent customer service.
If you want our current personal favorite room it’s Project 403 at Puzzle Plex. It’s by far the most unique room of them all; a major hit with my friends and family. Not sure if this it the type of room a first timer would want to do. But once you get the hang of it, this room is amazing. That’s not to say the other rooms in town aren’t good but this just happened to be the best of them all. Places like Wichita Room Escape, Art of Escape, The Room, etc all have fantastic rooms.
Also always be on the look out for Specials, Promotions, Discounts, Groupons, anything to save you some money! We won’t spend $25 or more on a room ever again. With so many options in town, we find that to be on the steep end and will wait for any discounts or promo codes if prices are that high.
What’s next?
I have seen people who have gone to the Room Escapes as a date night, as a work outing, family time, a group of friends, the start of a bachelor/bachelorette party, a wedding proposal, you name it. The number one key to deciding on who to do this with is “Do the Room Escapes with people you who like to have fun.” You’re stuck inside a room for an hour, so you’ll definitely want to do it with upbeat people who are easy going and there for the thrill and fun of it. No Grouches, No Debbie-Downers allowed.
After that having a good mix of people of all backgrounds is vital. If you have a room full of like minded people in there, it could be tough. You will know this when you are looking at a puzzle and everybody has a different way of trying to solve it. Stand in a room with a group who’s all looking at a brain teaser and solving it the same wrong way could make for a long time. I’ve had the best luck in these rooms by being in there with people of an assortment of professions.
Any tips on successfully escaping a room?
My group has had quite a bit of success in these Room Escapes. Don’t be afraid to think out the box but at the same time don’t avoid the most obvious of answers. Sometimes the clues require thinking and sometimes the clue flat out tells you the solution. Try anything and everything. Don’t over-analyze too much and don’t give up right away.
Most rooms have a visible running clock. Don’t panic. While the 45-60 minutes go by really fast, it actually is quite a bit of time. My first few times in a room when there was 20-30 minutes left, my group would be scrambling which is never a good thing. Later on, I would find out 20 minutes is still a lot of time. It’s happened before where my group has made no progress in the first half but then came together and whizzed through it all with just 10-15 minutes left.
Teamwork is key. Don’t hog an entire puzzle. If you’re spending too much time on something, swallow your pride and get other members involved. Play to your strengths but don’t act like you are a know it all. While inside the room, laugh, make fun of each other in a playful manner, loosen up, and most of all just have fun.
The most lasting impression a Room Escape is trying to give you is a good time. They want you to feel your money was well spent for the hour of time. We’ve been to every Room Escape in town and to be candid, we’ve felt like we got our money’s worth in every one of them except one place. My friends and family have thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of Room Escapes we’ve participated in. My brothers and sister-in-law even started downloading Room Escape games on their phone to pass the time until new rooms open up in town.
I have written a lot about Room Escapes and tried to recommend them over and over to people because they are THAT. MUCH. FUN.
Seriously, make your reservation to one of the many great options in town and enjoy!
Happy Escaping,
Eddy
To nominate your business or event to be considered for a review, please e-mail us with your information. We are always open to suggestions.
Check out more from Wichita By E.B. by visiting our social media sites:
Thanks for this guide! This is exactly what I was looking for for myself and my friends.