Their Arcade room, offered at a "Expert" mode only, still remains one of my favorite escape rooms. It very much incorporates the arcade theme within the puzzles. You'll feel a strong sense of nostalgia from 80's and 90's video games decor. Instant favorite! Deja Vu, while not their hardest room, has very thoughtful and out-of-the-box (literally?) puzzles which makes it likeable as well. They only have 2 rooms though which I find frustrating because these 2 rooms have been around for some time and could really use an overhaul. They are located in Sorrento Valley and are likely utilized heavily for team building activities, so their rooms will always stay relevant and, therefore, there never will be a push to change them out. Their hint system is via text prompts on a TV screen in the room which is not necessarily a deal breaker. The game masters are upbeat and motivating but hardcore so their hints could be somewhat vague as they don't always want to hand you the answers. read more

Very fun game! Sam was a great host. We will be back for sure! I highly recommend coming here! read more

My partner and I have done over 20 escape rooms. Their website really undersells what they have. We completed both their deja vu and arcade rooms. The puzzles here were really fun and unique. I think if you're on the fence on which one to do, you should do arcade. I think most people would find the room nostalgic and entertaining. read more

Amazing escape room! Great staff, awesome clues, super fun! I highly recommend Escape Era.

Cool spot! Really great staff!! Really clean space! Will come back, for sure! Thanks for the free drinks!

Absolutely loved it! Went with my wife and daughter this morning and blew my expectations out of the water. Ava was awesome getting us settled in and the production level was much better than anything I have done before. We ALMOST got out but timer hit 0 as we were finishing the last piece of the last puzzle and can't wait to try another one soon! read more

Escape Era - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Super fun! As a group of 9, we did the Arcade room, which had high difficulty. I was a little nervous as it was my first time, but others in my group had experience. I loved the challenge and some puzzles definitely had me stumped! We barely made it out with just 40 seconds left. The rooms were well decorated too and had amazing tech. The game master seemed excited as well and made the overall experience fun. He had to give us some hints throughout the game ... Overall I would recommend this one! read more

Escape Era - Entrance - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Puzzles: 3.5/5 Ambiance/Set Decor: 3.5/5 Storyline/Theme: 3/5 We visited this escape room on a Friday evening to celebrate a friend's birthday. Our group had a mix of experience levels, ranging from 2 to 15+ escape rooms completed. After reading several glowing reviews on Yelp from experienced escape room enthusiasts claiming this was one of the best in San Diego, we were excited, especially since we've been on an escape room kick lately. We had originally booked the ARCADE room, but upon arriving at the lobby, we were informed that one of the puzzles (specifically, the door to the next room) was broken. The staff offered to switch us to the Deja Vu room instead. However, after reading rave reviews about the ARCADE room, we opted to stick with it and asked if the gamemaster could manually open the door when we reached that puzzle. She agreed, and we proceeded with the game. Upon entering, the room felt a bit worn out, which made sense considering it likely gets frequent use for team-building activities with nearby businesses. It wasn't the worst we've experienced, but it definitely showed signs of wear and tear. As we progressed through the game, a few additional puzzles malfunctioned--beyond what the gamemaster had initially warned us about. It sometimes took a while to get her attention through the cameras, and we lost some valuable time waiting for her to realize that things weren't working as they should. Ultimately, we escaped with a few minutes to spare, although we credit the unlimited hints for helping us get through the broken parts. Final Thoughts We really appreciated that the puzzles were non-linear, allowing multiple people to work on different tasks simultaneously, which kept everyone engaged. However, some of the puzzles weren't very intuitive, though we were glad it wasn't just a series of lock puzzles. We do wish everything had been functioning properly, as it detracted from the overall experience. The set design and theming could also use improvement to enhance immersion. Overall, it was an okay experience, but with a few fixes, it could have been great! read more

This is a review for the ARCADE room. Heard this one was challenging so we decided to check it out. Our friend group has done over ten rooms total so we are considered intermediate so with that said we finished this hour room with 15 minutes to spare so this is NOT one for beginners. But this is my favorite escape room we have done thus far in San Diego. The production value was 10/10 and you can tell that they carefully curated this experience. This is not linear which was great so we broke up into teams and were all working on different things that wove together throughout. The vibe without giving anything away is very retro/tron-like which is fun. Everyone that worked here was super cool and you can tell they enjoy doing this which is always nice. The location is in an industrial area so that means there was plenty of parking in the building's lot. It's on the third level facing the building with stairs on the right side of the building and an elevator on the left side near the water fountains. There is a bathroom on the bottom floor and they will give you the code upon arrival. There are also lockers for you to place your items in and they offer water/drinks as well. All in all like I said it's now my favorite escape room in SD so I would HIGHLY recommend but with that said don't go if you're just starting out (and do it with a group of 4+)! read more

Escape Era - Entrance/waiting area - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Came as a work group team builder. 1st: totally unexpected to find that the place is on the third floor of a mostly medical practices building. When you enter, it's just a tiny reception area, but it comfortable. The folks at the front were super kind and welcoming, anticipating questions "where's the bathroom? Can I get a water? Where do I put my stuff?" They confirmed our waivers and got us started early, since we had arrived a bit before our appt time. We did the Deja Vu challenge with 9 people, so there was a lot of chatter and chaos, but we got through to a second room then had to crawl through a tunnel to get into the last room. Which sucked cuz I'd recently hurt my knees so I took my time, while the others got going.. the last room was hot and dark so you're now physically uncomfortable as the clock ticks down. Overall we had a great time read more

It was an awesome experience! The arcade room puzzles was well thought out and connects really well. Our group had a lot of fun :)

Very friendly staff! Thanks for the free drink! Love escape rooms. Glad to see more themes!

Naomi was the best! We did Deja vu normal and she was awesome! Highly recommend her and the place.

Escape Era is located on the third floor of a building containing multiple businesses. As a group of 9 that decided to do the Arcade, we were greeted by the gamemaster at the entrance. The escape room did not contain a separate briefing room for instructions, but instead were giving at the entrance with a backstory of the escape room via video. Now for the escape room itself, the Arcade is touted as their expert difficulty room with a time allowance of 60 minutes to escape. Our group of 9 consisted of a couple of first timers and experienced escapees, but the escape room is no easy task to accomplish. With just 40 seconds to spare, we managed to escape in the end. The Arcade is well-deserved to be called expert, and I highly recommend this escape room to first-timers and experience escapees alike. As a non-linear type of room, the gamemaster allowed unlimited hints for whenever you are stuck on a certain puzzle. There are even secret bonuses to increase the time-limit by doing puzzles that are not needed to escape. read more

Awesome escape room experience! Definitely my favorite escape room I've tried. My friends and I had an absolute blast!

This was so much fun!! The puzzles were unique and kept us on our toes. The customer service was amazing. Our group couldn't stop talking about how much we enjoyed our experience. Will definitely recommend to friends and family. read more

This was our second escape room we'd ever done (and failed!) We did the 60 minute Déjà Vu escape room with the regular challenge level as I'd read on a local blog that it was a beginning level. I would not agree with that! When you arrive you are given instructions on how to play and the rules. You can use the restroom down the hall (you need a code) and place your belongings in a locker. PROS: Located in a building with ample free parking, at least when we were there on a weekend. They're located on the third floor of a building in a business park in Sorrento Valley. You can use the elevator or the stairs. Easy to book on-line. We were able to do the escape room with just the two of us -- no having to play with a big group or strangers. Along with the location, that's why I picked this escape room. Unlimited 'hints'. Complimentary water with check-in. Fun, unique and challenging. CONS: Expensive. I feel like the cost should be more like $20 each, not $35 each. It makes for a very expensive hour for a couple. I'm sorry, but we didn't find the host Silvina very inspiring. I was expecting someone a little more perky and passionate. Very hard. We probably asked for around 10 hints during the course of the escape process and still didn't get out. Once the rest of the escape room was revealed to us after the time was up, we estimated it would have taken us another half hour. read more

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Great game master. I took a date here and it was our first time doing an escape room. The GM was very patient with us and very helpful. Unfortunately we made it to the last room but we're unable to finish. Now we want to find some more people to do the more challenging Arcade one. The GM (Issa?) even took a picture of us at the end with my phone to remember our great time! read more

Came here today with 8 of my coworkers and we had so much fun! We did deja vu and solved it with 20 minutes to spare. One of the most creative yet simple escape rooms I've done. First one that I've ever had to crawl through a little cabinet lol. You definitely put your thinking cap on for this room! Which makes the room so much fun. I'll definitely be back to try the other one real soon! read more

First time play escaping room!!! Feel SO much fun!!! Especially when we finally figured out the answers and opened the door. The design is pretty cool indeed! This new experience makes me want to try more escaping rooms. I also want to shore with my kids and my friend to try it! Anthony is the guy who helped us though the whole game. He is very patient and funny. We appreciate his help and stay with us the whole time. Hope you can come try, too. read more

Escape Era - The parking lot in front of this business - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been to 15 escape rooms (NYC, LA, TAIWAN, VEGAS, SD) and most have been challening and difficult so I can say this one was very good. Not the best of the best but fun, engaging, one puzzle was ridiculous, semi challenging but did the job just fine. DEJA VU: The technology factor is about a 7/10. It did have a couple of extremely confusing puzzles that required many clues (unlimited) to solve. I did have puzzles that I have never seen before which I liked. Very friendly host. No bathrooms on the premises but they have portable ones on the parking level which were decent. The location is a bit dark and lonely. We were 3 and escaped. I wouldn't bring more than 5 people because it would be too crowded. Private escape room, no joining strangers. Free beverage means: free bottle of water. read more

Escape Era - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Just went to escape era with my friends and it was sooo fun! I love all the sd escape rooms, but this one is close to sorrento valley area so no heavy traffic and plenty of parking. The game was challenging, lots of different types of puzzles, but we escaped in time! Hosts were very friendly read more

So fun!! Such a great escape room with fun and creative puzzles. Would 100% recommend to anyone who loves to feel like Sherlock ‍

I've done 20+ escape rooms and hands down Arcade ranks in my top 2. My group and I did both Arcade and De Ja Vu here and they were both phenomenal, but Arcade steals the show. Without giving anything away- There were several personal touches in these rooms that made them stand out among others, and they were the right amount of challenging. I also appreciated the level of passion the Game Masters had and the way they gave clues when asked for but not on their own. Not going to lie, I judged a book by its cover when we first arrived as it didn't have a cool or unique entrance as some places I'd been to had, but I was so wrong. Great puzzles, amazing transitions and an incredible experience. Check it out! read more

Mad props to the team at Escape Era! A few months ago, we did this as a social activity as part of a team off site. It was super easy to work with the staff at EE as far as getting a reservation and setting the whole thing up. My co-facilitator and I stayed out of the activity, but the team let us observe how the team was doing via video monitors. It was great to see the EE team at work and how they facilitated from outside. There's also great spots for photo opps. I would definitely recommend them for a fun activity with friends, or for corporate events. Thank you team for a fun evening! read more

Booked the Arcade theme room for a work team event for 6, and without giving anything away, was incredibly impressed by the details of the room as well as the setup. Our main disappointment was that the exit was not properly locked... So a member of our team leaned on it and it opened. Host came to explain it was a faulty lock mechanism and proceeded to explain what "should" have happened, but with about 16 minutes left we were sad to have missed out on attempting the rest ourselves. But yay for getting out? Would go back again to try the other theme room! read more

Amazing place!! Lucia and Jake were super nice! Can't wait to do the other one! Fun and different!

One of my favorite escape rooms! We had Lauren as our host & we could not be happier! She was so friendly, excited, & made our experience that much better. They only have one room right now, Deja Vu, with another room, Arcade, in the makes. Deja Vu is incredible, I will not spoil it for you but I will tell you, be ready for a good time! Work with your teammates & think outside of the box. Check in for a free beverage! It is located in Sorrento Valley in the business district so make sure to drive slow when your GPS/Siri says your nearby. read more

Escape Era - Out with 23 minutes to spare! - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Super fun escape room! I just went with a friend so it was just the two of us, and we did the Arcade Room which is expert mode. We'd done a couple escape rooms before, and expert mode was manageable. They really jam-packed the room with a bunch of different puzzles and some cool effects, which is exactly what I want in an escape room. We were like 10 seconds away from finishing, so the guy just let us finish, and we really appreciated it :) tl;dr Fun and challenging room with nice employees. Would recommend expert mode if you've done a couple escape rooms before. read more

Room: Deja Vu Time: Didn't escape :( After doing the arcade, I grabbed a new set of friends to do their Deja Vu room (Expert Mode). This room was set very clever also and was a lot of fun. I have done many room and there was still something new to do, that is all I can give without giving some of the room away. We were on the last puzzle when the time ran out, but our game master allowed us to go ahead and finish the room (a plus). The reason why I gave a 4 for this room was because 1 out of the 2 flash lights they gave us wasn't working and they gave us pens to use, but no paper. So my friend left the room with words and numbers all over her hand and arm. And had to try to share 1 flashlight between four people was difficult, since we broke into teams of 2. read more

Escape Era - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

This was such a fun game!! Tests the mind and has challenges but doesn't feel impossible. Lots of teamwork involved. Great for a friend hangout or a team building event! read more

If you love escape rooms, you'll love Escape Era! Their rooms were designed so well, and the puzzles were fun and interesting. My coworkers and I played both of their rooms, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Narissa and Jasmine made our experience great by explaining to us about their rooms and connecting with us on a personal level. We had so much fun exploring around for clues and solving the individual puzzles, and whenever we needed a little help they provided excellent hints to get us on track. I definitely recommend Escape Era for it's well-decorated rooms and fun puzzles! read more

Escape Era - Our team after finishing Escape Era's Deja Vu room! We had a blast! - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

We brought our twins to Escape Era with 7 friends for their 15 year old birthday party! We did Arcade this time in expert mode. We had done Deja Vu previously. Lucas did an excellent job explaining the whole process to everyone (some had been to escape rooms before and some had not). He has a great personality and is very welcoming. Everything went smoothly from the online booking, to the event and the pictures at the end. They all had a great time! Would highly recommend! read more

BEST. ESCAPE ROOM. EVER. This was by far the best experience I've had with an escape room. If I could give 185,750 stars... I WOULD. Deja Vu was the room we did and we just kept being surprised every turn we made. AMAZING JOB. AMAZING PEOPLE (Long & Kaitlyn & The rest of the team) Thank you so much for such a great experience! Will be back soon for Arcade! read more

Escape Era - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a review for Deja Vu~ I had a party of 11 people and was desperately searching for a room that not only took all 11 of us in, but also was challenging enough to keep us confused. I searched all over for these requirements, and was hesitant at first because I read a review where 10 kids got out faster than I would expect. After reading that, I took a minute to think whether or not 11 of us adults would feel like it was too easy and get out way before the time limit. Luckily I took a chance, and we succeeded this room with only 5-10 minutes to spare. AHAHHA. ( this was the whole group's first try at an escape room, so if you're a seasoned professional... you might want to think about doing arcade or something.. (( even though I have also never tried it)) but nonetheless it was indeed challenging enough to the point that i would sometimes just let the rest of the group handle it when i was super stumped and luckily it all worked out and we escaped :) SO even for a group of 11 adults celebrating for a 28th birthday party can attest that we enjoyed our experience and were not rushing through the room in seconds. * things I would recommend is that probably do it with a group of 6 because I am not sure if all 11 of us felt like they were able to contribute as much as they wanted read more

It was so much fun (I'm usually really bad at these games) and they had the nicest staff!

Booked a room 2 hours in advance. Drove the 30 minutes, location was closed. Called and was told there was no booking but they would check. They found my reservation, apologized and my options were to wait another 15-20 minutes for someone to show up re-schedule for another day or a refund. Quite frustrating after driving 30 minutes paying 120 dollars then just get hollow apologies. read more

Escape Era has great escape rooms! My experience here has always been top notch. Both rooms are well designed and fun to play! The staff is friendly and attentive. Accessibility Note: Deja Vu does require crawling. read more

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I came to Escape Era with my family for De Ja Vu awhile back, but this time (Thursday 8/18), we came for Arcade. And we escaped!!! This room was so awesome. Very creative, lots of fun, and nostalgic (for my brother and I because our childhood was in the 1980s). My nieces and nephew completed our team. And they had an amazing time. You could tell the puzzle creators took time to craft this game. So creative and so much fun. Definitely recommend, you'll be so impressed. Escape Era never disappoints. read more

We chose Escape Era's Deja Vu room for a work team building event for a group of 4. The puzzles were challenging and fun! I appreciated how engaged our host Jack was offering proactive clues along the way to nudge us in the right direction when we were stuck or way off track. Really well designed game. Aside from the game experience I was extremely impressed with the support I received from management when I accidently left a very important item in the locker. They went ABOVE AND BEYOND to help me with such commitment and care, I'm beyond grateful for their assistance. One of the best, most memorable customer support experiences I've ever had! Highly recommend Escape Era! read more