End of the Line (retired)

Pre-Room & Customer Service:

7.5/10

This visit marked my second visit to Escape Games. Although their location (right across from Downsview Park on the edge of Toronto) is a bit far, it is counterbalanced by the convenience of being just minutes from Downsview Subway Stn. Like many of the larger escape room companies in the GTA, Escape Games has built a solid fan base for those looking for a variety of set designs and experiences. The lobby and seating area is nice, with a variety of tables, couches, board games and beverages for purchase. The staff greeted us with a smile and were very friendly. We were asked to wait in the lobby and would be called to play once everything was ready. There was a bit of miscommunication however as our scheduled time passed by 20mins before we finally asked if there was something wrong. We were told there were no problems and they were just waiting for us to be ready. Again a simple miscommunication, but one that a few people in our review team felt was a bit odd. As before the pre-room introduction to the story was an incredible experience, and one that I looked forward to and enjoyed!

Room Quality:

9/10

As you may have read from our other reviews, set design has always been the biggest strength of Escape Games, with End of The Line being no exception. Almost everything about the set felt real and ‘’alive’’. With such a strong set design, it was also easy to see the effort put into consistency and presence throughout the experience. I particularly enjoyed how the atmosphere managed to feel so vibrant and engaging.

Immersion:

8.5/10

It’s always hard to evaluate and fully appreciate the many factors that go into how immersive the experience is within an escape room. In this case there are many to consider. The story was very well presented and maintained in the beginning, but progressively got weaker and less emphasized as the experience went further. The atmosphere was incredible and in some ways seemed to take over as the most important aspect of the experience. Overall there aren’t too many negative things that can be said when considering how ‘in the moment’ our group felt with this room!

Puzzle Design:

7/10

The puzzles weren’t particularly creative or different from what you’d experience in other escape rooms. Furthermore, the puzzles sometimes didn’t match with the story which in a weaker designed room would be very noticeable, but in this room was covered up by the strong atmosphere. For experienced players the amount of combination codes & locks might also be frustrating. The recommended number of people of 4-9 is set too high (and would be better set at 3-6 people depending on how much of a challenge you want). We had six in our group which didn’t provide too many opportunities due to the linear design of the room (bottleneck dilemma). This may make some seasoned players feel disengaged.

Overall:

8/10

As mentioned throughout, the atmosphere and set design are the strengths of Escape Games. The End of the Line definitely upholds this reputation. The linear puzzles created a bottleneck for our group of 6 players and those who aren’t big fans of numeric locks and combination searching, may also find this room a bit frustrating. Overall, though, I enjoyed it, and I would say this room is ideal for those who place a greater emphasis on the appearance and atmosphere of a room instead of the experiences that transpire within.

As always, happy escaping!