Game On! A Guide to Charlotte’s Top Escape Rooms

If your family is in need of a thrilling adventure and change of scenery not far from home, try out one of Charlotte’s escape rooms! Here you can put your heads together to solve a mystery, avoid earthly disaster, stop a runaway train, uncover ancient treasures and so much more. What started as a “point and click” online sensation, challenging players to escape virtual rooms in an assigned amount of time, has evolved into a popular in-person adventure with cool themes and unique storylines! Below are four of the area’s top escape rooms ready to give your crew a break from the ho-hum.

Most escape rooms require online registration and waivers to be completed by each team member. Be sure to ask for recommendations on rooms best suited for your group. At check-in, you will be escorted to your room where you will get a run down of the rules. In most cases, each team will be assigned a “game master” or “host” who can help with additional clues and hints to keep the game moving along.

Review all COVID-19 safety measures and call before you go for more information. Good luck and happy escaping!

Breakout Games

Location: In-person or virtual. 11025 Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville, NC 28134.  704-769-9588.
Theme Rooms: Kidnapping, Operation Casino, Undercover Alley, Do Not Disturb, Runaway Train, Mystery Mansion, Hostage and Museum Heist. All rooms are family-friendly.
Safety Measures: All employees and guests are required to wear a mask at all times in the building and employee temperatures are taken before each shift. All common areas, rooms and clues are disinfected continually throughout the day and after every game. All games are private.
More info: Breakout Games gives you two great ways to play! You can visit in person or play from home. During the virtual game experience, your team works with a live game master who will interact with clues at your direction. Virtual room choices include Mystery Mansion, Kidnapping, Hostage and Museum Heist.

Escape Tactic

Location: 130 Southside Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217. 704-749-0773.
Theme Rooms: Amazon Survival (complete with waterfall!), King Tut’s Curse, Flight 282, Mine Trap, SEAL Team, Devils vs. Heels and Big Bang. Recommended for ages 10 and up. All ages are welcome for private games.
Safety Measures: Masks are required for all guests and staff and disposable gloves are provided. Props are disinfected between games and capacity is restricted in open areas. Escape Tactic offers private games for groups as small as 4 people.
More info: Local owners Scott and Sarah Hamer opened Escape Tactic nearly 3 years ago. “We wanted to create engaging escape room experiences that would surprise and delight customers,” Sarah says. “When we were designing the games, we knew that people approach problems differently and we wanted to make sure we had puzzles that would appeal to all different people. Our games are not a test of knowledge – but a test of logic. You must constantly evaluate what information is presented to you and what you can do with it.”

Timed Out Escape

Location: 12239 N Community House Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277. 980-209-9776.
Theme Rooms: West and Illusion (both great for first time and younger players), Precinct and Depth
Safety Measures: Scheduled entry, exit, and game management procedures are in place to eliminate interactions between teams. Customers are not permitted to wait in the lobby before, during, or after a game. Any individual overseeing a team (such as a parent) must enter the room with the team and will be included in the 8 person maximum. All guests must disclose if they have had any known exposure to COVID-19, have traveled to any class-3 locations (per CDC)  or are experiencing symptoms of illness.
More info: Chris and Tina Burfield opened Timed Out Escape following careers in the financial services industry. They love serving guests while pursuing their dream of entrepreneurship and – they just LOVE escape rooms! If you are up for a weekday thrill, you can receive $5 off per person Monday through Thursday with 4 players or more using the code WEEKDAYLOVE. Call for more information.

Valcarol Missions Escape Room

Location: 325 McGill Ave NW #108, Concord, NC 28027. 704-960-0529.
Theme Rooms: The Crystal Cave, The Hidden Lab
Safety Measures: Each room is cleaned and sanitized between groups with Lysol spray and wipes and a hand sanitizer station is available for guests and employees. All employees and customers are required to wear masks.
More info: All scenes, props, puzzles and technology are designed by Tara and Jody, the owners of this family run business! All rooms are private and Tara and Jody say they plan to add more theme rooms in the future. Once inside the rooms, your team can cheese it up for the camera and pose and post all you want. They encourage the whole family to enjoy the experience and say don’t leave the kids at home – sometimes children notice things adults often overlook!

Find a favorite or try them all!