Pharaoh's Tomb: The archaeology professor has gone missing. Deep inside the Pharaoh's tomb we had to discover the ancient curse that has trapped the prof deep inside the tomb.

Pros:  We  were tired and in a time crunch by the time we arrived at Maze Rooms but the gamemaster was amazingly awesome and helped by quickly briefing us and starting our game. Once we entered the room, we were excited to begin playing since the set created an immersive feel that helped get us in the Indiana Jones mode of thinking. We solved the first puzzle relatively easily but spent too much time searching around for clues to move us ahead in the game. We did not ask for clues in part because our pride tends to get in the way sometimes and in part because we like the feeling of accomplishment when we finish a room without hints. But this proved to be our downfall in this room. We spent too much time searching around delaying us and ultimately ending in our failure to successfully escape. The puzzles however were all aligned to the theme and maintained the immersive feel of the game.

Cons: We should have asked for clues. This is not a con for Maze Rooms but for us. If we had asked for help early on we could have finished the room and more effectively evaluated game flow. We also stumbled a bit with a few of the tech puzzles that delayed us. Again this was more our fault than the game itself. A word to the wise - watch your pacing when playing Pharaoh's Tomb.

We wish we had time to play another game at Maze Rooms before we had to leave. We definitely loved the archaeological adventure of the Pharaoh's tomb and imagine that the Spy Safe House is equally as fun. Definitely a must-do escape room in Austin! Check them out!

Cabin Fever: Trapped in a blizzard at a secluded ski resort, we had to find the keys to escape. 

Oval Office: The Oval Office is rigged with a bomb that must be defused within one hour. Our team had to locate it and cut the correct wires on time.

Pros: We arrived in Austin ready to play! We had two early morning games. The  gamemasters were very accommodating and more than happy to brief us and get our games started quickly. When the door locked behind us in Cabin Fever we were ready to roll. The game was on and we moved swiftly through the puzzles with only one suggestion from our gamemaster. The puzzles were aligned to the ski resort theme and we especially enjoyed the bear puzzle (no spoilers). We flowed smoothly through the game but ended in the nick to time: a sign of a good game. It was scaled to complexity just enough to make it doable but not so difficult to make it impossible to complete on time.  We had a similar experience in the Oval Office game and enjoyed successfully defusing the bomb with minutes to spare.

​Cons:  There was nothing really stand out about the puzzles or the set design in either room.  This is a no frills, straight-forward type of escape room. 

We definitely recommend Austin Panic room as a solid escape room experience. Beginners and enthusiasts will enjoy the challenge of the games. Groups of four would be ideal for the size of these rooms and complexity of the puzzles. We really enjoyed playing at Austin Panic Room during our visit to  the Lone Star State!