Madison

About Madison

https://crossroadsescapegames.com

Madison is the CEO, Co-owner, and Creative Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. She graduated USC with a B.A. in Fine Art and Theatre in 2013 and begin designing sets for theaters across Los Angeles. She was the Lead Scenic Painter for The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor from 2013-2015 and has some pretty crazy ghost stories from her time aboard the ship. Her and her husband, Luke, opened Cross Roads Escape Games in January of 2016 and has been creating immersive experiences ever since!

Posts by Madison Rhoades:

reopening June 19th with new operating procedures

Open June 19th with new operating procedures

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After being closed for 3 months, we are excited to announce we will be reopening June 19th! Upon reopening, we are implementing new operating procedures to make Cross Roads a safe environment for both customers and our employees. Please read below to see the precautions we are taking to keep you safe.

  • Our games will remain private. Your group will not be paired with another group.
  • Games will be spread out so the lobby is not shared by different groups.
  • Game masters will have a full hour to reset and thoroughly clean all props, locks, and surfaces between every game using medical grade disinfectant.
  • All customers are required to use hand sanitizer before entering the games. Complementary hand sanitizer will be available.
  • Employees are required to wear face masks at all times.
  • Customers will be required to wear face masks when entering, but may be removed inside the games.
  • Employees will get their temperature checked at the beginning of their shift . They will not be allowed to enter the building if their temperature is above 100.4° F.

There are a few changes coming to our games as well:

  • The Hex Room- Some costume pieces have been updated to allow for easy cleaning between games. We have also removed the blindfolds initially required at the beginning of the game.
  • The Psych Ward- Players will no longer receive a patient gown. Instead, they will get a patient number sticker to put on their chest. The game master will also spend less time inside the game with the players and only enter when necessary.
  • The Fun House- We will not offer costumes for the after game photos at this time. We are also adjusting the minimum number player requirement from 4 players to 3 players, so smaller groups can play.

We look forward to having you back soon!

Madison Rhoades, Co-Owner and Creative Director

COVID-19 update

Cross Roads COVID-19 Update

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Hello everyone! My name is Madison and I am the Co-Owner and Creative Director of Cross Roads Escape Games along with my husband, Luke. I wanted to share with you an update as to how we are handling this time being closed and what new operating procedures we will be implementing to keep Cross Roads Escape Games a safe place to visit. 

Madison and Luke Rhoades, Co-Owners of Cross Roads Escape Games

First, I want to thank everyone who was very understanding about us having to cancel their upcoming booking with us. And we really appreciate those who were willing to take a credit code over a refund. I also want to thank those who purchased a gift card from us during this time. We really appreciate all the help and support our community is showing us.

Currently, we are under a government mandated closure until further notice. We are watching the news and constantly checking to see when we may be able to reopen. We want to make sure it is safe to open, and we are not putting our employees or customers at risk. We will be reopening as soon as we receive word that gatherings of up to 10 people are permitted. 

Our last day of operation was March 15th, which was also first day of our March Madness Escape Room Tournament. Sadly, we did have to cancel that tournament but many of the businesses who sponsored a prize are willing to work with us again on a future event, so hopefully we will see a similar event again soon.

In a previous update at the beginning of March, we mentioned that The Hex Room was going to close for a period in April to allow for a revamp. Unfortunately, the revamp is postponed for the time being. With other companies closing we are finding it difficult to get the equipment and supplies that we need. We also want to make sure we have the funds to support ongoing business expenses for as long as we may be required to close. 

Upon reopening, we are implementing new operating procedures to make Cross Roads Escape Games a safe environment for both customers and our employees. A few steps we will be taking are:

  • Groups will never come in contact with another group. We will have less available games per day to insure that the lobby is never shared by two different groups. The lobby will be cleaned between every group.
  • Longer resets, to allow ample time for sanitizing the games between use. Game Masters will have a full hour to reset and thoroughly clean all props, locks, and surfaces between every game using medical grade disinfectant. 
  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building for customers and employees. All customers will be required to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands in the bathrooms before entering the games. 
  • Employees will be provided with a washable cloth mask.  Masks will be required to be worn around customers at all times. 
  • Props and costumes considered unnecessary to the game will be removed. To help prevent contamination, only necessary items will be in the game. 

We appreciate you being a loyal customer and we will continue to bring you high quality immersive entertainment. Because of your support over the years, we will be opening again soon.

Sincerely,

Madison Rhoades

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10 Board Games for Quarantine

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Hey everyone! It’s Madison. I am the co-owner, along with my husband Luke, of Cross Roads Escape Games. It’s a weird time right now for everyone. Businesses are shut down and everyone is forced to stay inside.  Everyone’s brain is going a little crazy because it is not getting its normal amount of stimulation or problem solving that it is use to. At least, that is how I feel.

I am the proud owner of a lot of board games. A LOT. So, if you need some activity in your life, here are a list of games I think anyone will enjoy!

My Board Game Shelf

I’m not too sure how many people or who you are quarantined with so I have given some guidelines as to who I think the games would be good for as far as age, group size, and complexity is concerned.

Let me know what you think! I would also love to hear of any board games you have been enjoying that I should add to my shelf.

1. SURVIVE! Escape from Atlantis

Ages: Kids, teens, and adults will all equally love this game.
Group size: 2-4
Complexity: Easy. You can learn it in 5-10 minutes.
BUY HERE

Survive! is super easy to learn, which makes it great for any age. I’ve played this game with my 7-year-old nephew, my husband, my siblings, and my parents. Seriously, it’s great for everyone. The game is pure chaos. But fun chaos.

About: “In this game, you try to lead your people from the sinking central island of Atlantis to the safety of one of four islands nearby. Your people can get there quickly by boat (if they find one) or more slowly by swimming. But it will be a perilous journey as they must avoid Sea Serpents, Whales, and Sharks.”

2. The Game

Ages: Kids, Teens, and Adults
Group Size: 1-5
Complexity: Easy
BUY HERE

This is technically a card game, but I like it so much that I actually carry it with me in my purse. The game is simple, but hard to win. Every time you play, you get a little better and better.

About: “Cooperative game that involves hand management and memory. You’ll have to work together with your friends to play cards into one of four different piles, with the hopes of discarding all 98 cards in ascending or descending order. The trick is, you aren’t allowed to tell anyone else what cards you have, so you’ll constantly be on edge as each card played could upset your best-laid plans.”

3. Codenames

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 4-6
Complexity: Easy
BUY HERE

I played this game last night with my whole family. Before you yell at me about social distancing, let me add that we were all in our own homes communicating through video! This game was pretty easy to play virtually, and you only need one person who owns the game. The Codename owner lays out the cards to create the playing board and takes a picture and sends it to everyone.  From there you can look at the picture/board and make marks on it using the writing tool on your phone to mark what agents have been found. It was pretty easy, and a great way to spend time with family while physically apart.

About: “The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin.”

4. Pandemic

Ages: Teens and adults
Group size: 2-4 (I recommend just 2)
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

What better game to play right now then Pandemic? This is a great game to introduce people into the more complex games out there. Once you know the rules, the game is easy to grasp, but hard to win. I recommend playing with only 2 people, although you can have up to 4.

About: “Four diseases have broken out in the world and it is up to a team of specialists to find cures for these diseases before mankind is wiped out. Players must work together and plan their strategy of eradication before the diseases overwhelm the world with ever-increasing outbreaks. A truly cooperative game where you all win or you all lose.”

5. Catan

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 3-6 (you will need the 5-6 player expansion for more people)
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

This is a classic game. If you haven’t played Catan yet, what are you doing? The description does not sound that interesting, trading resources sounds kinda lame, I get it, but this game is a lot of fun. Trust me. Every time that dice is rolled and its one of your numbers, you get an instant boost of endorphins and you feel unstoppable. My family loves this game so much, we have even created a Catan crown, that the winner wears, until they are dethroned of course. 

About: “Your adventurous settlers seek to tame the remote but rich isle of Catan. Get resources from Catan’s many harbors and regions: pastures, fields, mountains, hills, forests, and desert. Build your cities and rule of all Catan!”

6. Carcassonne

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 2-5
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

What I love about this game is that the board is constantly changing. It’s one of the few games where you get to create the board piece by piece, which also makes it completely different every time you play!

About: “Each new tile placed creates an ever-expanding board on which players can then add their followers.

As the map grows, so does the opportunity for players to disrupt each other’s plans. Everyone is adding to the same map and only one follower can be on any given feature at a time—so if you don’t place a follower on something, someone else probably will.”

7. Ticket to Ride

Ages: Teens and Adults
Group Size: 2-5
Complexity: Medium
BUY HERE

I was a little skeptical of this one at first, but it ended up winning me over after the first game. It is a lot like building roads in Catan, but with a lot more strategy.   

About: “Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes in North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route.”

8. Pandemic Legacy Season 1

Ages: Teens and adults
Group Size: 2-4 (I recommend just 2)
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE

If you play Pandemic and you love it as much as I do, make sure to also check out Pandemic Legacy. Legacy games are really cool and really different. Every time you play, the choices you make and their outcomes affect the next time you play. There are stickers you put on the board that help you remember what happened last time, there are mystery boxes the game tells you to open up at certain times revealing new game pieces and new rules. Sometimes you even tear up cards and you can never use them again! Pandemic Legacy is mind-blowing, and a must play in my book.

About: “The world is on the brink of disaster. In Pandemic Legacy, your disease-fighting team must keep four deadly diseases at bay for a whole year. Each month will bring new surprises, and your actions in each game will have repercussions on the next. Will you let cities fall to the diseases? Will your team be enough to keep the viruses at bay for a whole year? Craft your own unique Pandemic experience with Pandemic Legacy.”

9. Terraforming Mars

Ages: Teens and adults
Group Size: 1-5
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE

I want to preface by saying this game was hard to learn. We were intimidated by the rule book, so we ended up watching a 30-minute video explanation of the rules instead, which helped a lot. Once we knew the rules, the game was easy to get started. It is a lot like deck building games, but you also have a game board. It seems intimidating, but the cards you play tell you exactly what to do. If you are up for a challenge and like complex board games, I highly recommend this game. Once we learned it, it ended up being a lot of fun.

About: “In the 2400S, mankind begins to terraform the Planet Mars. Giant corporations, sponsored by the world government on earth, initiate huge projects to raise the temperature, the oxygen level and the ocean coverage until the environment is habitable. In Terraforming Mars you play one of those corporations and work together in the Terraforming process, but compete in doing the best work, with victory points awarded not only for your contribution to the Terraforming, but also for advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar systems and other commendable achievements.”

10. Power Grid Recharged Version

About: Teens and adults
Group Size: 2-6
Complexity: Difficult
BUY HERE

Power Grid Recharged has all the strategy and fun of the classic first edition, but adds some updates that improve the (already great) gameplay. This game is also a little hard to learn, but what I loved about it was that it didn’t involve any reading, but it does have a lot of math. I recommend having a calculator nearby to make it easier. What is so great about this game is that it constantly makes the board an equal playing field for everyone. If you are doing good and you are in first place, the game gets harder, if you are in last place, the game gets easier. It adds a new strategy of maybe not advancing in order to stay low on the score board and receive better prices. This game involves hard core strategy, which is what I love.

About: “What better way to earn money than with electric power?!! But how should you do it? However you decide to generate the energy, you’ll have to compete with your opponents not only for the most attractive power plants, but for the necessary resources and the sites to build your network of energy distribution. You’ll need to watch your opponents closely, carefully manage your money, and expand your network thoughtfully in order to generate income. The player that is able to build the largest network AND successfully power it will be the winner.”

And that is my list for the top 10 games I am playing right now in quarantine. Let me know what games you are playing, or if you have played any of the games on this list yet! I hope some of these games make time go by a little faster, and that you continue to stay inside and stay healthy!

Game Master of the month Sara Strain December 2019-2

Victoria Larson: Game Master of the Month

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Each month we like to highlight one of our amazing team members and the outstanding work they do! For the month of February our Game Master, Victoria Larson, has gone above and beyond. 

Have you had Victoria as one of your game masters at Cross Roads Escape Games? Lets get to know Victoria with some questions:

Q: How long have you worked at Cross Roads?

A: I’ve worked at Cross Roads for about nine months now!

Q: How many escape games have you played?

A: Off the top of my head, I’ve played about 8 escape rooms. 

Q: What is a unique hobby or interest you have? 

A: A unique hobby I do is European martial arts! I know how to fight with a German long sword, British sabers, and other medieval weapons. 

Q: What is your favorite game to Game Master and why?

A: It’s tough, but I think my favorite room to game master is the Psych Ward. I get to be in costume and in character and the game kind of takes place in its own world. Plus, it’s always fun to watch the competition between the teams

Q: What is your favorite board game, movie, and book?

A: . My favorite board game is either Monopoly or Arkham Asylum, my favorite movie is The Lord of the Rings, and my favorite book  is Mistborn!

Q: Without giving anything away, what is the funniest thing you have seen in a game?

A: Well, I get a ton of really good “groaner” jokes while game mastering the Fun House, and during a kid’s game I needed someone to tell me a joke for a hint. A little girl whispers to her dad to tell me her joke, and I was expecting a silly joke only kids understand. What I got instead was: “Why did Joey eat his homework? Because his mom said it was a piece of cake!” It was pretty clever coming from a kid and it’s always nice to hear original jokes.  I have used it for other groups ever since!

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Game Master?

A: My favorite part of being a game master is to be a part of the adventures that newcomers experience when coming into our games! It’s so much fun to see people experience the whimsical magic in the Fun House, the horror in the Hex Room, and the twists and turns in the Psych Ward. Every game is so unique and exciting to watch. 

March Madness Escape Room Tournamnet

March Madness Escape Room Tournament

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March Madness Escape Room Tournament

Play any game between 3/15-4/05/20 to enter to win great prizes for teams with the best escape time!

Does the NCAA tournament get you into a competitive spirit? GOOD! If you play a game at Cross Roads Escape Games anytime between March 15th– April 5th you will be competing for amazing prizes!

For the first time in Cross Roads history, we will be bringing in leaderboards for each of our 3 games. If you are one of the FINAL FOUR teams on the leader board by April 6th, you will win an amazing prize! With the final four teams getting prizes in each our games, that makes 12 total prizes you can win!

If you are the one who makes the booking, that automatically makes you the team captain and you will be the one who’s name goes on the leader board and will be the one contacted if your team makes it to the final four on April 6th!

Here are our categories and prizes:

THE HEX ROOM

  1. #1 Survivors: Most amount of time left on the clock with all 6 survivor medallions in hand
    • Prize: Play Live Nation, Fullerton: 10 gift certificates for $150 off a 15 station VIP Gaming Party Package! ($1500 value) 
  2. #2 Survivors: Second most amount of time left on the clock with all 6 survivor medallions in hand
  3. Best Time: Most amount of time left on the clock with or without survivor medallions
  4. Second Best Time: Second most amount of time left on the clock with or without survivor medallions

THE FUN HOUSE

  1. Best Time: Most amount of time left on the clock
    • Prize: VR Zone, Fullerton: ½ hour VR Session for 8 players  ($120 value)
  1. Second Best Time: Second most amount of time left on the clock
    • Prize: Play Live Nation, Fullerton: one hour free game passes for 10 people ($100 value) 
  1. Fun House KIDS Best Time: Most amount of time left on the clock in a KIDS game (majority of the group needs to be ages 12 or younger)
    • Prize: Play Live Nation, Fullerton: 5 gift certificates for $100 off a 7 station VIP Gaming Party Package ($500 value) 
  1. Fun House KIDS Second best time: Second most amount of time left on the clock in a KIDS game (majority of the group needs to be ages 12 or younger)
    • Prize: Sky Zone, Anaheim: 2 hour jump time and socks ($240 value)

THE PSYCH WARD

  1. Most Sane Points: Finishes the game with the highest number of points for the sane team
    • Prize: ArrowTag, Santa Ana- 1 Hour Private Arrow Tag Event for up to 16 ($300 value) 
  1. Most Insane Points: Finishes the game with the highest number of points for the insane team
    • Prize: Curtis Theatre, Brea: 10 tickets to any show in the 2020 Curtis Theatre Season ($400 value) 
  1. Second Most Sane Points: Finishes the game with the second highest number of points for the sane team
    • Prize: Chance Theater, Anaheim: 2 Free tickets and 8 50% off tickets to The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety
  1. Second Most Insane Points: Finishes the game with the second highest number of points for the insane team
    • Prize: The Bruery, Anaheim: Behind the scenes tour and 2 tasting flights ($60 value) 

All you have to do to enter is play a game anytime between March 15th-Apirl 5th, 2020! We will be posting our leaderboards every night to our Instagram and Facebook stories. Make sure to follow us to stay updated with your status! Winners will be announced and contacted on April 6th, 2020. The person who made the booking is the team captain and will be the one contacted if your team makes the final four!  All prizes will be either mailed or emailed.

Common Questions:

How do I enter?

Just play any of our 3 games anytime between Sunday, March 15th and Sunday, April 5th.  BOOK NOW! 

How do I check the leaderboards?

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and check our stories! We will be posting updated leaderboards daily.

How do I claim my prize?

If your team is still on the leaderboard by April 6th, your team wins that category! We will reach out to the team captain, AKA the person who made the booking, and mail or email them the prize. It is their responsibility to split it amongst their team.

Do I pick my prize?

Each category has its own sponsored prize. You will win the prize of that category if your name is still listed on the leader board by April 6th.

Will I stay on the leaderboard?

Maybe! Your name will stay on the leaderboard until another team beats your time/score. If you were in the first place position, but someone beat your time/score, you will automatically move down to the second place position.

Is there a recommended team size?

Nope! You can come with any size team as long as it is between our minimum and maximum for that game. But here is a tip- larger teams mean more minds, so it might help to bring a large group!

If I have already played your games, can I still enter?

Of course! The Hex Room and The Psych Ward are designed to be re-playable games so you can definitely come back and play our March Madness Event.

How many hints can we get in the games?

For the 3-week March Madness event, Game Masters will only give a max of 3 hints per game! If you need more then 3 hints, don’t worry, we will still help you along, but you will not qualify for the leaderboards.  

What we learn from KIds in an escape room

What We Learn From Kids In An Escape Room

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Cross Roads Escape Games is one of the few escape rooms in Southern California that has a game specially designed for kids! We find it shocking that more escape rooms don’t cater to kids because they are GREAT at escape rooms!

Adults have a way of overcomplicating a simple puzzle. We see this all the time in Fun House KIDS where adults will get stuck on a problem and overthink a very simple answer. Often times, when kids are correct, adults shoot down their idea and try to rationalize a much more complicated solution. Here are some of the things we have learned from kids that adults should learn too.

#5 Be open to weird ideas

Escape rooms are often full of crazy scenarios that have you doing things you would never be doing in real life; that is why we love them. Kids are great at coming up with creative problem solving and it usually works! Be creative in an escape room and let yourself be open to the most ridiculous ideas. Even if it is not 100% right, it might at least get you started on the right track. It is always worth a try!

#4 Don’t get stuck on one idea

We see this a lot in The Hex Room, where someone will try what they think is the right answer and a lock won’t open so they will give up. Try thinking of new ideas! Don’t get discouraged, normally you are just overlooking something obvious.

#3 Don’t get frustrated- ask for help

In a Fun House KIDS game, kids love talking to Zoltar, who is a magical talking painting that can provide guidance in the game. If you are stumped on a puzzle, there’s no shame in asking for help from either your group or your game master. Escape rooms should be fun, so if you find yourself not having fun, ask for a hint and move past it so you can start having fun again!

#2 Don’t overthink

True story: An adult got a random bunch of letters with no order and started turning those letters into numbers based on their placement in the alphabet. They then started comparing pictures that had that number of people in the picture to the letter on the block. This is overthinking. Meanwhile, as an adult is doing all this, a kid comes along to use the letters to spell out a common word. When there seems to be no connection between one clue to another and you are mixing your own hunch in there, you are overthinking it. Kids are great at taking the information they have been given and connecting the dots without using any outside knowledge.

#1 Your main goal is to have fun

Adults can become competitive and want to race the clock and make the leaderboard, but often times they blow through a room and end up missing all the fun and funny moments. Remember that you are here to have fun. Soak in the atmosphere, play with the cool props, step back and watch your friends solve a puzzle, remember that you are here to have fun.

Do you play escape rooms with your kids? What are some valuable lessons they’ve taught you that we all could learn from? Leave a comment below or on our Facebook!

haunt-x-cover

The Box Mini-Game at HauntX

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On Feb. 22nd and 23rd, we will be at HauntX with our exclusive mini-game, THE BOX. THE BOX is a 10 minute game for 3-5 players. It is free to play with the purchase of an admission ticket to HauntX, but spots are limited to first come, first served. Make sure to get to the convention early to get a time slot to play!

Here are more details:

When is it?

Saturday, Feb. 22nd from 10am-6pm and Sunday, Feb. 23rd from 10am-5pm

Where is it?

HauntX Expo, 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768

How much are tickets?

Tickets range from $20-$40. To save 10% on your admission ticket, use the promo code CROSSROADS10%OFF. The mini-game is free to play once inside the expo. First come, first served. You can get tickets here: https://hauntx.com/

What is The Box mini-game?

It’s 1972 and the doctors have ordered your Hydrotherapy treatment. One player will be locked inside THE BOX. The doctors are hoping this treatment helps calm you and heat the crazy right out! The temperature starts to rise to a deadly level; luckily you have some friends on the outside that can help you get out before you are cooked alive! This is a 10 minute game for 3-5 players.

What is HauntX?

HauntX is a Haunted House and Halloween DIY style Trade Show Expo that focuses on Haunt Education, Haunt creation and the Halloween Community. Our target audience consists of builders, crafters, creators, designers, painters, illusionists, fabricators and enthusiasts.

What is there to do at HauntX?

On top of our mini-game experience, on the show floor there will be vendors with artwork and other items for sale. There will also be classes, presentations and a DIY Make and Take project zone.

On Saturday night, come to the Asylum Costume party for drinks, dancing, and a costume contest!

one night only

Singles Night: Feb. 14th

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Have you ever wanted to play one of our games, but didn’t have a large enough group to meet the minimum? Join us on Friday, Feb. 14th, 2020 for Singles night! One night only, all of our games will be public bookings! Meet some new friends and enjoy a night of escaping. 

What is Singles Night?

A one night only event where all our games are public bookings. Normally, our bookings are private, meaning it will only be you and your friends in the game and a minimum number of tickets must be purchased per group. But for Singles Night, all our games are public bookings, meaning you can purchase one or more ticket and join a group with other players you may not know. 

When is Singles Night?

Friday, February 14th, 2020 from 4pm-10pm. Booking must be made in advance on our website. 

Do you have to be single to come?

Nope! We are just calling it singles night because it is the first time we are allowing single person admission tickets, instead of having to reserve the whole game. It’s a great night to come and meet new people and find your newest escape team!

What game should I play?

The Hex Room and The Psych Ward require a minimum of 5 players. And The Fun House requires a minimum of 4 players. We know how challenging it can be to get all your friends together on the same night, so this is a great chance to play any of 3 great games! And with new updates coming to The Hex Room this Summer, if you haven’t played or escaped, this is a great chance to play before it changes! 

What if not enough people book for the time slot I want?

Please be aware that our minimum player requirement of 5 is still needed to play The Hex Room and The Psych Ward. If the minimum requirement is not met we will give you a call an hour before your game and issue a full refund. We can not guarantee enough players will be present for the game you book.

Will you be holding singles night again?

Depending on how well this Singles Night goes, we may have another public booking night in the future. We recommending booking for this upcoming singles night, just incase! 

Game Master of the month Sara Strain December 2019

Geoff Durham: Game Master of the Month

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Each month we like to highlight one of our amazing team members and the outstanding work they do! For the month of January our Game Master and Manager, Geoff Durham, has gone above and beyond. 

Have you had Geoff as one of your game masters at Cross Roads Escape Games? Lets get to know Geoff with some questions:

Q: How long have you worked at Cross Roads Escape Games?

A: I’ve been with CREG since December of 2016 as a Game Master and I became a manager in July of 2017.

Q: How many escape games have you played?

A: I haven’t kept count, but it’s probably somewhere around 20, if not more. One of the perks of being a game master is getting to experience a lot of other escape rooms!

Q: What is a unique hobby or interest you have? 

A: I collect vinyl records. I really like colored vinyl, movie soundtracks, and electronic artists. It all started with the Donnie Darko soundtrack release from Death Waltz Recording Company many years ago and has become a large collection.

Geoff’s record collection

Q: What is your favorite game to Game Master and why?

A: I love being an orderly in The Psych Ward. Because of the game’s design, every game is different, so I always get to do something a little different. I love when patients find some of the secrets hidden throughout the experiment and I get to have an interaction with them that most other people don’t get.

Q: What is your favorite board game, movie, book, and TV show?

A: My favorite board game is probably Universal Monsters Horrified. I’m a sucker for those classic monsters (especially The Wolf Man), and I like that players work together rather than against each other. (I’m competitive and actually not that great at board games.) My favorite movie of ALL TIME is Tarsem’s The Fall starring Lee Pace. Favorite book is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. My favorite TV shows are Bryan Fuller/NBC’s Hannibal (or really, all of Bryan Fuller’s TV shows. #RevivePushingDaisies). 

Q: Without giving anything away, what is the funniest thing you have seen in a game?

A: One time I was supervising The Fun House when a group asked Zoltar for a hint. He told them he needed a joke in exchange, so the mother of the group blurts out a fairly scandalous joke that actually made me scream with laughter. I probably can’t say it on here, but it was so unexpected that it caught me off guard.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Game Master?

A: I love watching when people solve a puzzle and they get really happy and celebrate that they figured it out. Those little victory dances are what it’s all about.

Thank you for all of your answers Geoff! 

advanced players

How Advanced Players Should Approach Escape Rooms

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As an advanced player myself (I am at 240 games), I have learned that you have to start changing your approach. You are going to start to notice the same puzzles again and again and you might start feeling a little burnt out. Not to worry, I have few tricks that have helped me along the way.

#3 Don’t bring too many people

Having a lot of people in an escape room can be a lot of fun. More minds mean more ideas, which can be super helpful if you are stumped on a puzzle. However, often times the larger the group means the faster you will escape and the less you get to do yourself. If you are an experienced player, you may not want to bring too large of a group with you.

Playing escape rooms is definitely more fun with friends, but if you are an experienced player, try not to max out a room. We usually recommend half of what the maximum says. If a game can hold up to 10 players, you may want to play with 5.

#2 Look for an escape room that offers a new twist

Even if the theme is different, sometimes escape rooms can feel repetitive. Especially if you have played over 50 games. I recommend looking for an escape room with a new challenge or objective.

At Cross Roads, The Hex Room splits your team into 6 individual rooms, but you still have to work as a team to escape.  People love the added challenge of the physical barrier keeping you from your team while also figuring out how to work with them.

The Psych Ward is another example of an escape room with a twist. The Psych Ward has normal escape room challenges and puzzles to solve, but there is an added element of strategy. You are solving puzzles to gain points for your team, but there are members of your team who are trying to steal those points! You have to choose who to trust and who to betray.

#1 Have fun

Seems obvious, right? Surprisingly, advanced players can often become so puzzle crazed or determined to make a leader board that they forget that they are here to have fun! Take a moment to enjoy the company of your friends and make memories that will last.

One of my favorite experiences was when I played a game with my 7-year-old nephew. I stood back and took the extra time to let him open the locks or explain a puzzle to him so he could help me solve it, even if I already knew the answer. Playing with him made the game so much fun, but I also could have easily been distracted and missed all his wonderful (and very cute) ideas.

If you have done a lot of escape rooms, you have likely already had a chance to experience the thrill of escaping, so it’s fun to take a step back and watch your friends or family have the same thrill. Take a moment to enjoy the scenery, or how cool a prop or moment is, instead of blasting though the room. Trust me, you will have a much better time.

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