Location: Alexandria, VA
Players: 2-10 (We Recommend 4-6)
Price: $34 per person
Time to Escape: 60 minutes
Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.
Theme:
Dr. Dakota James has gone missing in SouthAmerica while on the hunt for an ancient artifact, leaving you, his proteges, to find his campsite and figure out what happened. Unfortunately, you’ll have to act fast, because a nearby volcano is threatening to blow soon, taking the entire area with it! Find out where Dr. James went, and find the treasure before you go missing too!
First Impressions:
I don’t know what it is about DC, but it is the land of the amazing escape room lobbies! Escape Quest’s front door leads up a flight of stairs that leads to an excellent waiting area, filled with odds and ends, and a few interesting puzzles to while time away as you wait. Staff is extremely friendly and customer service is top notch here. The briefing room is separated from the lobby and the rooms, which is always a plus, and the briefing itself is succinct and to the point. The room itself was very well done, and felt immediately like stepping into a temple far from Washington!
High Points:
The immersion factor in The Lost Temple is top notch. Props and scenery feel realistic, and technology inserted within is hidden well, giving a magical feel to some puzzle solutions. Progression is mostly linear, but there are several instances where other puzzles can be solved, so there’s no shortage of things to do while exploring the temple. Puzzles are clever and give satisfying feedback when solved, and are mostly tactile in nature, which is always appreciated. The variety of things to do in the room mix escape room standbys and new interactions in surprising ways, and the build towards the climax of the room is excellent.
Low Points:
One late game puzzle felt a bit obscure in its cluing, but once it is figured out, is enjoyable to solve. The story itself was very front loaded, and while the room does not suffer from it, peppering more story bits throughout would not hurt.
Verdict:
The Lost Temple is one of the best rooms I experienced in DC, and would recommend it to enthusiasts and beginners alike. Despite a couple minor hiccups, it is an extremely entertaining and well thought out experience that will engage veterans and hook newbies into the hobby. Book your time in The Lost Temple here!
9/10 (Excellent)
Full Disclosure: Escape Quest comped our tickets for this game.
Escape Room Adventurer 