Peanuts In My Pocket

Over the weekend, we played Prison Break at The Escape Game in the City of Orange with a team of five. It seemed like the perfect team size for the room, although it can accommodate up to eight players.

Prison Break is the most challenging room they offer, so we went in expecting a tough game. What we found, though, was that the difficulty had more to do with teamwork than the complexity of the puzzles themselves. That dynamic was both refreshing and fun. It helped that our group knows each other well and includes some top-notch puzzle solvers. I wouldn’t say we breezed through the room—it definitely kept us on our toes—but we finished with over six minutes to spare, which made us feel like we rose to the challenge.

“Many consider Prison Break our most difficult escape room. Players are split into two different prison cells and must work together to get out of a 1950s-style prison. A successful escape will include a sneaky trip to the warden’s office. An unsuccessful escape will land you in prison forever.” – Prison Break Escape Room

Like most of the escape rooms at The Escape Game, the room was linear, meaning the puzzles built on one another as we progressed. I’ve played non-linear rooms before and found them more difficult and less enjoyable, so I appreciate the careful design that goes into creating a smooth flow in these rooms.

Since the game starts with your team separated into two groups, each in its own prison cell, we found that shouting out clues and describing what we could see was the best way to begin. I enjoyed this part of the game because it sparked my imagination, trying to picture what my two sons were up to in their cell while I worked hard to solve the puzzles in mine.

We used two clues, both of which were hints for puzzles we had overcomplicated. If there’s one thing I need to remind myself during these games, it’s: don’t overthink it. Making things more complex than they need to be always slows you down.

It was fun to see how each person brought their strengths to the table. My sons were all over the tactile challenges, quickly figuring out anything that required hands-on problem-solving. Meanwhile, my wife and daughter-in-law were the masterminds behind the logic puzzles. They’d stare at a tricky puzzle, and suddenly one of them would have this “eureka” moment that sent us all scrambling to the next clue. We really had to lean on each other’s unique abilities, and that’s what made the whole experience so rewarding. There’s something satisfying about knowing that no one person could’ve done it alone—it was truly a team effort, with everyone contributing in their own way to help us escape in the end.

Our game host was fantastic. She added to the immersive experience with her interactions and support during the game, making us feel like we really needed to escape from a 1950s prison.

After the game, as usual, we gathered around a table with food and drinks to rehash the adventure. It’s always nice to celebrate our cleverness after a successful escape, and we had plenty to celebrate—our team did great.

On reflection, I think I might be the weak link on the team. The rest of the crew is really good at these escape rooms. My wife and daughter-in-law are brilliant, and when my sons work together, they’re dazzling. It’s fun to watch everyone be creative and solve problems, while I do my best to keep us organized and on track. I manage to solve a puzzle here and there, but with this team, it’s not really necessary. Just don’t call me a cheerleader.