The Dollhouse

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Escape Artistry is located in the city of Chicago, with plenty of nearby shopping, food, and ice cream.  It was easy to find, and they draw on the sidewalk to really grab the attention of passers-by.  Upon entering Escape Artistry, we were greeted by multiple employees who were all in-character, enthusiastic, and made us so excited to be there!  The waiting area was large, there were multiple bathrooms, games to play, and water available.  In addition, they had chargers for several types of phones so that you could charge them while you were in the room (we love that!).  Our briefing was one of the best, and most interactive, we’ve seen—we felt like we were part of the theme before even stepping into the room. The video we watched told us the backstory, gave us our mission, and this is where we were given some supplies for our adventure.  We were so excited to play The Dollhouse room and find the secret identity of the 80s “Dollhouse Killer!”

Upon entering the room, we felt like we had walked into a bedroom from the 80s! Everything in the room felt “80s,” from the decorations in the room, to the props, even the furniture felt like it was from that decade.  One of our favorite small details was the handwriting that felt like something we could have pulled out of our notebooks from when we were in school (great job, Nina!).  This was a very creative and well-working set design that used almost no technology, which is not a downfall by any means. Because the quality of the room was so 80s and fit the theme so well, we found ourselves easily immersed into this set.  We really did feel like we were in the bedroom of an 80s killer, and as we progressed through the room, we felt like we were unfolding more of the story about this person.  While we did not feel scared at any point in this room, the “creep” factor was definitely there as you progress through the story.

We enjoyed the puzzle design in this room, and appreciated that the physical locks were placed in areas that made sense based on the theme.  There were plenty of puzzles to solve, and we were able to work on different ones simultaneously, while still following the story progression.  In addition, as per usual with Escape Artistry, there were a variety of types of puzzles which allowed all players to feel like they were participating and contributing to the experience.  We felt like the puzzles were varied, creative, and fit the theme quite well!

Overall, we had a great time visiting Escape Artistry again to play their Dollhouse room.  We weren’t sure what to expect, but we knew we wouldn’t be disappointed.  While this 80s killer room was not scary, it was incredibly fun and the theme was on point throughout!  We had a great time learning about this killer and figuring out their identity.  We think this room would be great for newer players and experienced, alike.  In addition, we recommend this room to those who would enjoy a great story progression and a back-to-basics low-tech room (done the right way!).