Like many kids growing up, I had fantasies of thwarting boobytraps while solving complex historical puzzles in forgotten, overgrown ruins. And, of course, making memorable friends along the way.
Blame “Indiana Jones,” “The Goonies,” “The DeVinci Code,” or “The Adventures of Tintin,” because these highly specific and totally counterfactual delusions of the actual activities of archeologists still reside in the heads of dreamers like me. Because for some people, Goonies never say die.
Perhaps it’s time to feed your inner Chunk and take a well-deserved break from reality at the Escape Game in Jacksonville. It’s about as close as you can get to a real adventure while maintaining an adequate work/life balance — and you don’t have to sacrifice your 401K and health benefits to go slap Nazis with a whip.
Or, if your life is exciting enough, maybe the Escape Game would make a nice gift or a friend or family member who could use some adventure.
In any case, much like a “choose your own adventure” book, the Escape Game allows guests to pick an “immersive world” in which they’ll be asked to complete a task. For those with claustrophobia, don’t worry. The game isn’t so much about escaping the room as it is solving a story puzzle. This isn’t a “Saw” movie, thank God.
I went with a group of friends, and we decided on the “The Heist,” which involved uncovering a priceless Monet painting from a sinister and egotistical curator, who is believed to have hidden it. While the room is labeled as a difficulty level of 8/10, don’t over analyze the intelligence criteria of your group. You don’t need a master’s in fine arts or a background in detective work. The game appoints you a guide that will a times help you through your mission.
As you progress through the game, with the clock counting down, you will be amazed at all the hidden and clever tricks the room offers. And the best part? You will feel exactly like Mr. Jones did when he found the Holy Grail. Each uncovered clue and solved mystery will take you further and further down the rabbit hole of total immersion in the game. By the end, as the last-minute strikes down on you and your group finally figures out the solution, you will celebrate with your teammates like it’s the winning homerun of the World Series.
The Escape Game is located at 4720 Town Crossing Dr., Suite 107, Jacksonville. For more information, visit: theescapegame.com.
