News

Find out what is happening at Cross Roads Escape Games! Here you will find the latest news: upcoming games, special events, prizes, and more!

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An Egg-stra Challenging Easter Event!

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Join us for a special event this week only! From April 17th-21st there will be 17 golden eggs hidden inside The Hex Room game. If your team is able to find them all and escape you could win some amazing prizes!

The Hex Room is our hardest game with a 20% escape rate and 5% survival rate. We have made this already challenging game egg-stra challenging by hiding 17 golden eggs inside. Can your team take on this egg-stra challenge and still escape?

If you do, it will be worth your while! We have over $1,700 worth of prizes donated by local businesses.

Prizes include:
Tickets to Medieval Times, Buena Park
Tickets to Midsummer Scream Halloween Convention Aug. 3rd & 4th, Long Beach
Tickets to GlowZone, Huntington Beach
Gift Card to Stereo Brewing, Anaheim
Free Pizza from Top Class Pizza, Anaheim
T-shirts from Cross Roads Escape Games, Anaheim
Escape Room Table Top Games
And more!

Prizes available while supplies last, so book your game today!

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Win exclusive Pet Sematary prizes!

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“There is something up in those woods. Something that brings things back. Sometimes dead is better,” warns Jud Crandall in the trailer for the upcoming film Pet Sematary.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to see the new Pet Sematary. Starry Eyes, the first film from directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, is one of my favorite horror films ever and from the moment I heard they were taking the helm of adapting Stephen King’s book, I knew we would be in for a dark and twisted treat. The film has already been receiving rave reviews after its screening at SXSW.

We here at Cross Roads are huge fans of horror. Every day we get to see people live out their very own horror flicks in The Hex Room. The Hex Room is a unique escape room because it is designed to be replayable. Before your game you are cast as either the Detective, Jock, Rebel, Prom Queen, Nerd, or Virgin. You are then placed into individual rooms within the game where it is your team’s job to communicate and escape the individual rooms to come together and escape the game in its entirety. Furthermore, teams are able to leave some players behind. Of course, this leads to a difficult game and often leaves us with a few casualties along the way. Don’t be disparaged, however; sometimes, dead IS better.

Dead Is Better
If you don’t escape your first try at The Hex Room (or if your group left you for dead), there are a few upsides to experiencing a horror movie death.

• You are now familiar with the gameplay. This will allow you to know just how much communication and teamwork the game requires.
• You will most likely have more time to focus on your Hex Box so you survive the horror flick.
• You are now the scariest thing in the room.

Promoters of Pet Sematary teamed up with Cross Roads Escape Games to offer players some merch. Anyone who plays one of our games can reward themselves to a Pet Sematary poster.

For those cunning enough to escape and survive The Hex Room with all SIX survivor medallions, the group will win a Pet Semetary flashlight while supplies last.

See if you have what it takes to survive a horror film with The Hex Room at Cross Roads Escape Games. And don’t worry. If you don’t make it out alive, we know how to bring you back. Prizes available while supplies last!

Watch the Pet Sematary trailer below!

About the movie: Based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King, Pet Sematary follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his unusual neighbor, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow), setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences. In theaters April 5th, 2019.

Geoff Durham
Game Master, Manager, Would Pet Church the Cat
Cross Roads Escape Games

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Win 2 free tickets to Delusion!

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Escape Rooms make you feel like the star of your own movie. You know what else does that? Interactive theatre! Delusion: The Blue Blade is giving away 2 free tickets to Cross Roads’ fans. Just enter your email below to enter to win! Last day to enter is February 25th, 2019.

For the first time ever, the vanguard of interactive theatre announces an extension of its hit play, The Blue Blade, into Spring 2019! The sixth story in the Delusion Universe has guests embark on a live, otherworldly adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones. You must play your part in the most epic theatrical production of its kind.

Fun Fact: Co-Owner of Cross Roads, Madison, was apart of Delusion for its first 3 years! You may remember her as Julia, a creepy little girl who tucked you in for a bedtime story in Delusion: The Blood Rite. She says, “This is a show you don’t want to miss!”

Enter to win here!

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Escape Room Valentines

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Have you ever thought of playing an escape room for a first date? Sure, being locked in a room for an hour with someone you’re not sure if you’re interested in like that can be a little intimidating, but there are a myriad of reasons to make an escape room your first choice for first dates.

For starters, you won’t necessarily have to be alone. Whether you’re worried about stagnant conversation or would just prefer to be around other people, you can find an escape room that you can invite other friends to: like your best friend Jill who is really good at puzzles but really bad at setting you up on dates. There will be friends (or other strangers, depending on the game) to make you feel less isolated. In fact, make it a double- or triple-date and everyone will be in the same boat!

Game Masters are excellent wing-people. We can spot a budding romance a mile away and there’s nothing we like more than watching the drama unfold before our eyes. Are you really into her? We know how to make you look super smart like you just solved the hardest puzzle on your own. Not really into him? Zoltar can make him do push-ups for hints. It’s an untold truth that game mastering an escape room is like watching a bunch of hour-long telenovelas all day long. In fact, someone should totally get on with making an escape room soap opera.

Another reason to play an escape room for your first date? You’ll have something to do. You’re not just sitting at a movie wishing you could make a snarky comment (or trying not to tear up at The Lego Movie); you’re taking part in the action. You have puzzles to solve, tasks to complete, doors to open! You’ll be amazed at how quickly time goes by when you’re laughing, joking, solving puzzles, or accusing your date of stealing your points in The Psych Ward.

If you’re still not convinced that an escape room is the right choice for your first date, take a look at these valentine’s cards. There’s no way you can deny escape room puns!

Although we will be closed this Valentine’s day, you can still get your date a Cross Roads Escape Games gift card to use on a future game. Trust me, you’ll never forget a date like this.

Geoff Durham
Game Master, Manager, Basically Cupid
Cross Roads Escape Games

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3 Years of Fun

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I can’t believe Cross Roads has been open for 3 years already. We love brining our crazy ideas to life and it is so exciting to see you play and enjoy them. We often get asked about what brought us to this point or what inspires us, so I figure this is as good of a time as any to reflect on the last few years and share them with you.

How we got into this business

My husband, Luke, and I both have degrees in theatre. After college we became a tag team duo working in theatre, film, and haunts. We went to our first escape room in October 2014 and fell in love with this new form of entertainment and truly felt like it was just touching the surface of what it could be.

We began working on our own business model in January 2015. We looked at hundreds of locations, went through the rigorous city permitting and building departments, quite our full-time jobs, and finally, one year later, we opened in January 2016 with The Hex Room.

Before we opened, we played every escape room in Southern California, which was only 30 games at the time. We did our research and we saw what was missing from these experiences. Our main goal with our first game was to increase the production value, add special effects such as lighting and sound, and most of all make everyone feel like the star of their own adventure.

Our games

The Hex Room was revolutionary for its time, and still continues to get recognition for its unique game design. The Hex Room adds a new challenge to the traditional escape room by dividing the players physically, but still requiring them to work as a team to escape. After a few months, we realized that The Hex Room might be a bit too advanced for our current market. We were creating a game for enthusiasts like ourselves, but our main audience was playing for their very first time.

We then opened The Fun House in April 2016, which was a beginner room. Something more traditional in game design, but still fun an innovative in the puzzles, decor, and special effects. In March 2017 we opened The Fun House KIDS, which was an alternate version of the Fun House that allowed kids ages 8-13 to participate more inside the game. We saw a need for more family friendly games, so we wanted to have that option available for our guests with younger players.

The Asylum, our 10-minute mini game opened in June 2017 and premiered at Midsummer Scream, a local Halloween convention. This is where we tried to change things up once more. In the Asylum you were strapped in a straight jacket to your other teammate. Your goal was to escape your straight jacket and the room in under 10 minutes.  It was a huge success and we knew that from here on out, we had to continue pushing the boundaries.

In December 2018 The Psych Ward finally opened. It took much longer than we thought it would mostly because we continued to have more ideas, and more creative technology was becoming available to us. We wanted to make a game that had the escape room elements that everyone loved, but we also wanted to show people that there are many different games that could be made with this type of immersive entertainment. The Psych Ward is not an average escape room. It is an interactive game of deduction, trust, and betrayal with escape room, board game, and immersive theatre elements.  We hope this game helps revolutionize the escape room industry.

What is next

Now in 2019, it has grown from 30 escape rooms to hundreds in Southern California alone. Luke and I have played over 200 games ourselves, and can’t keep up with how many new companies are opening. Unfortunately, with how many escape rooms that are out there, our issue is that the new ones continue to copy what has already been done. We haven’t seen any innovative ideas in a very long time. If you are interested in opening your own escape room, please think outside the box and create something that has never been done before!

We hope you enjoy what we have created. Everything we do is for you. We take chances and risks with our new ideas and we are so happy that they are appreciated and recognized. We have big ideas for the future with Cross Roads and working on projects with others. One thing you can count on is that we will never make an average escape room, everything you get from us is going to be something you have never seen before. Stay tuned for future updates coming this year. You will always find out what we are working on right here!

Madison Rhoades
CEO and Co-Owner
Cross Roads Escape Games

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The Psych Ward Playbill

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The Psych Ward has been two years in the making and it could not have been finished if it was not for the amazingly talented team we had behind us. A huge shout out goes to the team at Diablo Sound, who came to our rescue and got us to the finish line. They also provided us with the hilarious, hardworking, and amazing programmer Fernando Vasquez, who we can not thank enough. He listened to all our crazy ideas and made them come to life. The Psych Ward would not exist if not for him.

I also want to give a huge thank you to Lauren Orgill who came almost every day and did any odd job asked of her. We also would not have been able to complete this game if it was not for her wonderful ideas, support, and constant help.

This game took a lot of hard work and long hours, and we want everyone to be recognized for the great work that they did. Thank you again for everything! We did it!

 

Game Design by Madison and Luke Rhoades

Programmers:
The amazing team at Diablo Sound with special thanks to Fernando Vasquez
Kevin Resler

Sound Design by Dan Waldkirch

Videos Directed and Edited by Geoff Durham
Cinematography and Video Graphics by Zach Dahm

Actors:
Gary Lee Reed- Dr. Griffin

Lindsey Alterman- Patient
Vincent Catalina- Patient
Brian Corbitt- Doctor
Susan DeCenzo- Woman
Bob Glouberman- Doctor
Tommy Honton- Man
Jordan Laemmlen- Man in Park
Ian Momii- Doctor
Blake Orgill- Doctor
Lauren Orgill- Doctor
Jessica Patow– Patient
Matt Rhoades- Doctor
Ruth Rhoades- Patient
Bradley Roa- Patient
Edwin Tactay- Doctor
Justin Tuthill- Patient
Morgan Walton- Patient
Jessie Wise– Voice Over

Costumes by Lauren Orgill

Set Design and Scenic Painting by Madison Rhoades

Scenic Construction by Luke Rhoades

Construction Crew:
Luke Rhoades, Madison Rhoades, Lauren Orgill, Blake Orgill, and Matt Rhoades.

Syringe Fabricated by Proficia

Score Board Fabricated by Raptor House Effects

Lights Fabricated by Union Digital

Illustrations:
Everett Arce, Mellanie Urquiza, and Alexandra Felix

Special thanks:
Fernando Vasquez, Drew Dalzell, Fionnegan Murphy, Noelle Hoffman, Brittany Cobb, Lauren Orgill, Blake Orgill, Jason Sakal, Zach Dahm, Geoff Durham, Donnie Buckingham, Jose Mendoza, Kerri Hellmuth, Sara Strain,  Ruth Rhoades, Theresa Rhoades, Tony Croupe, Liz Croupe, Marissa Bergman, and Cooper Floors.

Jose Games

Jose’s Top Table Top Picks!

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Imagine if you will, it’s Friday night, you’re hanging out with your friends, someone suggests you all go out and play an escape game. You decide to call Cross Roads Escape games but, alas, they are all booked up for the night. What are you to do now? Well, the fun does not have to end there, because there are plenty of great table top games for you to play! I know there are a lot of them out there, but here is a list of a few horror themed games for those of you who love The Hex Room, strategic trust games like The Psych Ward, and some wacky family games similar to The Fun House!

If you are a fan of horror films, love going through haunted houses, or even just enjoy horror themed escape rooms like the Hex Room, you are definitely going to enjoy these horror themed picks:

Betrayal at the House on the Hill

Betrayal at the House on the Hill is a strategy horror game all taking place in, you guessed it, a haunted house. Players create this haunted house one tile at time. As the players explore the house they may come across various items, events, and omens. Omens are what really drive this game; after an omen is revealed the controlling player must make what is known as a haunt roll. If the player makes a successful haunt roll, the game continues on normally. But if they fail, the haunting begins and the game takes a big turn. One of the players becomes a traitor to the group and based on which haunt was activated (that’s right, there are many different haunts that can be activated in this game) the players and the traitor now have a new goal to achieve.

This game is a lot of fun and the replay value is amazing; I have never repeated a haunt. Definitely worth checking out and usually available at most local game stores.

Elder Sign

Elder Sign is a game that takes place in a museum and has you going up against Lovecraftian creatures. You play one of many investigators, each with their own special skills and items. It is up to you and your team to go out and seek the elder signs to prevent the Ancient one from entering our realm and wreaking havoc. Sounds simple enough, but let’s hope the creatures and dice don’t stop you from achieving your goal!

This game offers a wide variety of “Ancient Ones” to face off against and a few expansions if you want to enhance your experience. Of course, if you are looking for a game similar to Elder Sign, but want something a bit more challenging, then Arkham Horror is the game for you. But that’s a discussion for another time.

If horror themed games aren’t for you, you may want to try your hand at some detective work. Here are a couple of games based on deduction and your ability to read other players which will give you a leg up when you play The Psych Ward:

Secret Hitler

Secret Hitler is a game of political intrigue set in 1930’s Germany. Each player is secretly and randomly assigned to be either a liberal or a fascist, with one player becoming the Secret Hitler. It is up to the fascists to vote their leader into power, while the liberals must find and stop the Secret Hitler. This game really tests your ability to read your friends, as the liberals have no idea who the fascists or the Secret Hitler are. Each round the players vote for a president and a chancellor, who will work together to enact a law from a random deck. If a fascist law is passed, the players must try and find out if they were betrayed or simply unlucky.

Who can you trust? Are you able to find and assassinate the Secret Hitler and bring your country back from the brink of war? Find out when you pick up this beauty of a game for your next game night!

Cryptid

Cryptid is a newer game, released in 2018, that really tests your skills of deduction. You play a member of a team of Cryptozoologist, each wanting to discover the Cryptid and claim the glory for themselves. What’s stopping you from claiming Cryptid glory? Each member of this crack cryptozoologist team has a different piece of evidence leading to the whereabouts of the elusive Cryptid. In order for you to gain more evidence you’d have to give up some of yours, but be careful, give up too much evidence and Cryptid glory can be taken from you.

It takes a lot of what the game refers to as “Honest Misdirection” to achieve victory in Cryptid. Trust me when I say that a victory in Cryptid is well deserved.

Let’s say that you just want to play some games that are fun for everyone; well party games are what you are looking for! If you are looking for something wacky and funny like The Fun House, here are a couple of games that I’ve always enjoyed playing with family and friends:

Cartoon Network Crossover Crisis

If you’re like me and you still enjoy watching cartoons on Cartoon Network, or you’re nostalgic for classic Cartoon Network shows like Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, or Samurai Jack, then this is the game for you. Cartoon Network’s baddest adversaries are loose and it’s up to you to stop them. You’ll play as one of the heroes from Cartoon Networks past and present hit shows to get this done. While this game is a deck building game at heart, it’s the party game elements that sell this game. There are various cards in this game that force players to speak in ridiculous voices, or have you sing everything you are doing. Now I can go over more of the zany antics this game has going on, but I’d hate to take that discovery away from you.

This game has something to offer to both veterans and beginners to the deck building genre, and its expansion adds even more craziness to the mix. Definitely look at your local game shop for this one. Oh, and a last bit of advice: always play this game with onion rings on the table. You’ll know why when you play.

Quelf

The best way that I could describe Quelf would be “If Cranium and Truth or Dare had a baby.” This game brings random to a whole new level, and is one the most insane games I have ever played. You get to play as one of 8 zany characters and as you move around the board, you’ll notice your play group start acting odder than usual. Trust me when I say that this is a game that changes based on who you play with. The crazier ideas your friends can come up with, the more fun you are going to have playing this game. Go out and find yourself a copy of Quelf and watch your friends go through the most random experience.

That’s it for me, I hope you enjoyed reading about a few of the games that I have had lots of fun playing. If you have any other games you’d like to suggest for people to try out, post them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

Jose Mendoza
Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games

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Join us at IndieCade on October 12th!

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IndieCade is known as “the game industry’s Sundance.” IndieCade offers a unique opportunity to play and preview the latest innovative indie games of all types and from around the world on October 11th-13th in Santa Monica. Now in its second decade, IndieCade is held each October in the Los Angeles area and this year, you are invited!

  • Play innovative games from around the world– and meet their creators
  • Attend sessions, including master classes, workshops, panels, & talks
  • Digital games, table games, physical games, music, interactive art, entreatment, a flash jam, play testing new works, & more!
  • Friday Oct. 12th at 6:00: ‘Escape the Theme Park’ Keynote conversation with the creators of Cross Roads Escape Games!
  • IndieCade’s signature Night Games event Friday night, Oct. 12!

Use promo code ICF-18-INDU-15 for 15% off IndieU tickets!

Cross Roads Escape Games’ Co-owner and Creative Director, Madison Rhoades, will be speaking along with other industry professionals at the ‘Escape the Theme Park’ Keynote Conversation at 6:00pm on Friday, October 12th. 

A conversation among creative leaders about the rebirth of the “Experience Economy” and what it means for both traditional out-of-home entertainment forms—like theme parks—and emerging forms like escape rooms and micro theme parks. What are some of the emerging trends? What is the role of games and interactivity?

Make sure to stay afterwards for a fun round of ‘Night Games!’ See you there!

Madison Rhoades
CEO and Creative Director
Cross Roads Escape Games

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The Psych Ward Update

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A note from Co-Owner and Creative Director, Madison Rhoades:

Dear Cross Roads Fans, Escape Room Enthusiasts, and future guests,

I want to apologize for how long it has taken to open Psych Ward. I know this is something we promised you a year ago, but it will be worth the wait! The game has gone through a lot of changes, and we are so excited for what it has become.

We have gone through so many revisions of this game. We have been designing the Psych Ward for two years now and building it for one year. To play test the game we have created board game scenarios, acted it out like a game of Dungeons and Dragons, and have tried to think of every possible scenario and how it could be resolved. 

That is why we didn’t open as planned last year. We found a major flaw in the game design so we put a complete halt on our build. Designing it has been one of the hardest puzzles I have ever come across. We were determined to create something new that changed the industry. The Psych Ward is part escape room, part interactive theatre, and part strategy game. Finding the perfect mesh between all of those, adding a trust and betrayal element, making individualized experiences, and keeping it easy to understand is a very difficult puzzle… and probably why no one has done it yet.

I thought it would never end. But I am happy we paused when we did. I’m glad we took a deeper look into the game and found its flaws before we opened. The game we have for you now is so much greater than anything we could have imagined a year ago.

With all that being said, I am happy to announce that The Psych Ward is indeed happening. For real this time. Get ready for something new because Psych Ward opens October, 2018!

Here is all the info I can share with you right now:

The Psych Ward takes place in a 1970s insane asylum run by Dr. Griffin. It is a strategic game of trust and betrayal, so choose your teammates wisely! Are you familiar with the card game Werewolf, Mafia, or Donner Dinner Party? I would recommend brushing up on those to get your bluffing face at 100%.

The game will be private and is for 5-8 players. For the trust/ betrayal aspect to work, a minimum of 5 people is required for the game to function.

Because of the extreme psychological testing that will take place, it will be open for ages 16+ (no exceptions). The game is an hour long and is point based. The difficulty of the game depends on you and the cooperation of your teammates.

Official synopsis: Sane or Insane? Trust or Betray? These are the questions Dr. Griffin wants you to answer. He has created a social experiment for a select group of patients. Some of these patients he believes are sane. Others, completely insane. Like lab rats, he has put you inside his twisted experiment and challenges you to figure out who to trust and who to cross. But can Dr. Griffin even be trusted?

Thank you again for your patience. We look forward to showing you this crazy game!

Sincerely,
Madison Rhoades

If you are with a media outlet and looking to do an article on The Psych Ward, please fill out our press questionnaire to qualify for a press pass (limited availability).

 

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Vote now for best Escape Room in the Nation!

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USA Today has gathered the top 20 highest reviewed escape rooms in America and wants you to vote for your favorite!

We have been nominated the 2nd year in a row for this award. Thanks to the votes of our amazing fans we were able to rank 3rd best escape room in the nation and #1 in SoCal in 2017!

You can vote for us HERE.

Voting only takes a few seconds. No sign up or email required! You can vote once a day until the contest ends on Tuesday, Oct. 2ndat noon.

Six teams of escape room reviewers were chosen to nominate their favorite escape rooms of the hundreds they have played across America. Cross Roads Escape Games has been played by all of them and highly praised in their reviews.

Escape Authority ranked The Hex Room 6 out of 5 keys and ranked The Fun House 5 out of 5 keys.

Room Escape Artist awarded The Hex Room their Golden Lock-In Award in 2016.

Esc Room Addict gave a glowing review to both of our games.

The Haunt Girl awarded The Hex Room the Skeleton Key Award in 2016.

Escape Room Tips ranks The Hex Room as one of the top 10 games in Los Angles (and we aren’t even in Los Angles!).

Escape Rumors awarded The Hex Room their Achievement Unlocked Medal in 2017 for best puzzle design.

We want to thank each of these review teams for the kind words and recommendations they gave us!

We also want to thank YOU for your support and your help in the past with this contest! Keep voting, it means the world to us to see how much you enjoy our games! We can’t wait to show you what we have been up to in The Psych Ward… We think it will be well worth the wait!

Madison Rhoades
CEO and Creative Director
Cross Roads Escape Games

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