Escape rooms are great for group dates or, if you have older kids, you can go as a family. An escape room consists of being locked in a room (or series of rooms) and the only way to get out is by solving a series of puzzles and riddles. The room you are locked in will usually be “themed” and there will be an overarching story that the riddles will follow.
Escape rooms will usually list their difficulty level, as well as the minimum and maximum amount of people allowed in the room. Some places let you book a private room while others allow people to join your group before you start.
You usually will leave your cell phones in a box by the door as the riddles and puzzles are designed to be solved without the assistance of technology. Clues for how to solve the puzzles are found in the escape room, and often involve out-of-the-box thinking. There is a time limit, although you could escape early.
While you are “locked” in a room, there is always a way to get out in case of an emergency. You are video monitored the whole time, and an employee can give you hints from time to time if you get stuck. Escape rooms are usually one-and-done experiences because once you solve the puzzle it’s not as fun doing it again. Because of that, most escape room establishments will change their rooms every few years.
Escape rooms can be pricy, so some of the best ways to save are by signing up for an email list or checking the company websites for discounts (the names listed below are hyperlinked). That being said, here are four places in Columbia where you can go to try out escape rooms:
Escape Plan
Address: 151 Riverchase Way, Lexington, SC 29072
Rooms offered: 4
Price: $33.97 per person
Time limit: 60 minutes
Minimum age requirement: Regarding age restrictions, Floor 23 participants MUST be 12 and over. For the rest of the games, they book ages 7 and over. While most of the experiences are family-friendly (and lots of fun for kids), the games are made primarily for 12 and over minds. An adult must accompany anyone under 16 in the room.
Bonus – Best room for families: Mutiny
Escapology
Address: 717 Lady Street, Suite D, Columbia, SC 29201
Rooms offered: 11
Price: $35-$40 per person
Time limit: 60 minutes
Minimum age requirement: Without an adult in the room, they recommend players be at least 12 due to the reasoning and logic skills required for some of the puzzles. All rooms are “PG” rated, so there are no issues with content being inappropriate. Children of all ages can play with adults. There is not a charge for children under 8 playing with parents.
Bonus – Best room for families: Scooby-Doo and The Spooky Castle Adventure
The Final Door
Address: 930 Knox Abbott Dr, Columbia, SC 29033
Rooms offered: 5
Price: $28-$32.99 per person
Time limit: 60 minutes
Minimum age requirement: starting at 5+ years old (some rooms require a higher age limit)
Bonus – Best room for families: Down the Rabbit Hole
Great Escape
Address: 264 Graces Way, Columbia, SC 29229
Rooms offered: 1 (with more coming soon)
Price: $27 per person
Time limit: 60 minutes
Minimum age requirement: 18+ years old
