Did two rooms here in December 2024. The best thing about this place is that the rooms are private. Our first group had three people, our second group had four people. While I can enjoy any escape room, it was great to be with people that we all knew. On the downside, these rooms are not really well maintained. Some of the puzzles were broken, we were told about that ahead of time, so the communication was good. Something broke, while we were accomplishing our mission. And our guide stepped right in so that that wasn't an issue. Would I go here again? Sure. At the end of the day, it's an escape room, and they are still a lot of fun when you go with fun people and don't get stuck with strangers who are not fun. read more

We had a fantastic experience at this location! Our staff Adam provided an excellent customer experience and really immersed us in the game, and was so helpful in answering our questions and setting expectations. We did The Zodiac room - The escape room itself was innovative, unique, and flowed really well. I would highly recommend anyone visiting Chicago (like myself) to make a point of adding this place to their itinerary. read more

Breaking out of jail as a paid experience is craaaaaazy, but I did it. Well not successfully, but I certainly enjoyed trying. Marina, the warden, did a wonderful job of making us comfortable while undergoing this mind joggling experience. I applaud her wordsmith ability and how helpful it was navigating through the steps of resolution. This was not easy and I don't encourage wearing a dress, lol, I didn't know. As small businesses we are often aware how reviews are opportunities for growth, so this feedback should not be a surprise of how the lobby instructions on getting to your suite could dramatically improve. I was so confused but I got through it! Thanks for everything Marina, you're wonderful and we had a great time! read more

Fox in a Box - End of the experience photo, back in jail; I didn't escape! - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had so much fun doing the Zodiac escape room with my partner. It was easy to do with just two people. It was a good amount of spookiness mixed with puzzle solving. I was getting the chills at some points but I am not the biggest fan of being involved in a hostage situation. The room was set up very nicely and Alahna, our game master, was so lovely. She was friendly and welcoming and really made this experience great. I can totally see why this is the best escape room! I need to try the other rooms next! read more

Really great escape room! I did the bunker, which is their nuclear bomb room. Jo, my game master did an excellent job guiding me through as a solo player. They let me struggle for just long enough before giving me a nudge in the right direction. They never gave me the answer just enough of a hint. Really enjoyed the concept of the major puzzle. Without giving too much away, there are various steps (as is common with the bomb defuse escape room trope.) The way they do it is very cool and unique; haven't seen it done quite that way. Also they give you visual hints first. For example, I got stuck and asked for a hint and they showed me an object in the room. I immediately knew "oh I need to move that." So they didn't give me any additional info. All in all, amazing experience! I'm going to try to go back for their heist or zodiac room before I go home! read more

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This activity was a lot of fun. Our group of 4 had 2 newbies (us) and 2 peeps (them) that had done 1 escape room (different place) previously. We didn't bicker, we went with the spirit of the thing. Our game master (Alana) was helpful but not intrusive. We played "by the book" and accepted hints and nudges. Enjoyed the Zodiac killer scenario so would try a different room at this location. There are lots of bars and restaurants in the area and it's easy to get to by pub trans so you can make a night/day of it. You get digital souvenir photos that sadly, none of us have figured out how to save to a local device (I suspect if you post it, you can then get it back but whatever). No personal pictures allowed which is fine. They provide a storage bin that is with you the whole time so you don't have to worry about your coat/bag/belongings. Baby water bottle ordered at conclusion. All in all, a great intro for us into Escape Rooms. read more

Very fun escape rooms. Ryan was a great guide and my friend started referring to him as "The magic man in the walls". I had a great time.

This was such a fun experience! The entry to the building is a little tricky to find (it's on Polk St), but Fox in a Box has a sign outside the door showing you where to come in, and then their suite is in the basement. We played the Prison room with a group of 3. All of their rooms are private with just your group only, which we liked! The room was challenging but still fun - we played with unlimited hints, but you can play "by the book" with fewer hints to make it more difficult if you choose. Big shoutout to our game master, Marina. She was so sweet, knew the room super well, and made the experience extra memorable for us! read more

My wife took me to Fox in a Box on my birthday and we had a blast! We went deep cover (Sterling Mallory Archer and Lana Kane) into the Zodiac room, and -- amazingly -- we were able to escape with a few minutes to spare. Our game guide, Harley, was professional and courteous along the way. Believe me, we utilized every hint we could as soon as they were available. He also gave us an advance warning about one part of the puzzle that may be an issue for those who are claustrophobic (and we both are); so he was gracious enough to help with that part. I think this was our sixth escape room overall, and I'd say the experience was top two. We'll be back next time we are in Chicago. read more

Fox in a Box - Archer and Lana. Danger Zone. - The image shows two illustrated newspaper clippings from 'The Daily Escape' with handwritten speech bubbles and cartoon characters. The left clipping has a character labeled 'Lana' with a speech bubble saying 'Danish Zane!'. The right clipping features a character labeled 'Archer' with a speech bubble containing handwritten text. Both illustrations include simple cartoon-style drawings with minimal color, primarily black, white, and orange, and are placed on a flat surface. - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had a great time at Fox in a Box! We did "the bunker" escape room and we were successful! Yay! Our game master Jo was super fun and interactive with us. This is probably close to the 8th escape room we have done and this is definitely one of the better companies to work with. After you are successful you get a picture in the room! If you do all the rooms you get something from the gift shop as a bonus! We did the "Zodiac Killer" room in Seattle and had a lot of fun as well! Definitely a hard one! Go back and ask for Jo! She'll show you a good time! read more

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I had an amazing time here Mr. Barthalonmew was a great host . I thought I was getting scared but I was really just having fun!tysm Skibidi toilet?! read more

BUSTIN' OUT This immensely enjoyable brand of escape rooms remains the gold standard. Way back in June 2017, I was lucky enough to be part of a Yelp event held here at Chicago's Fox in a Box. Tucked away in the basement of Dearborn Station, you may have some trouble finding this place if you don't know exactly where to look within the South Loop (a.k.a. Printer's Row). Small signs will guide you. The first thing you need to be aware of is booking a timeslot in advance. All escape rooms are designed for 3-6 people; if your group is larger than that you'll have to split up, and smaller teams will likely get paired with strangers. I'd recommend getting a few friends and locking in a rez, so you don't have to share with any randos. Another important note is the pricing, which varies depending on the number of people in your party. Groups of 3+ will pay $35/pp (fair), while couples will have to shell out nearly $55/pp (ridiculous). Needless to say, it's in your best interest to assemble a small group in order to spread out the cost. Once you arrive downstairs, staff from Fox in a Box will greet you and have everyone sign electronic waivers. Each room has a 'gamemaster' assigned to watch over things via CCTV who can provide helpful clues upon request, as well as explain the groundrules and occasionally "interact" with guests. All the employees that work here are very cool. Guests are given 60 minutes on the clock to break out, and while this amount of time makes the experience a good value, the time REALLY flies by. You definitely need one (or multiple) people keeping an eye on the clock. If you get stuck, you can press a button and the gamemaster will drop a hint. Trust me, there's no shame in asking for help. I won't give away too many details, since that's all part of the mystique. Before the round, you're asked to place all personal items inside a locker -- including phones -- so pictures inside any of the escape rooms are a no-go. At the end of the round, the gamemaster performs a quick wrap up and takes a group photo. If I had one criticism, it'd be that I was disappointed we weren't given any cool outfits inside "The Bank", just some sweaty balaclavas (those playing "The Bunker" get military jackets, and you're given jumpsuits in "The Prison". RIP to the awesome white coats worn in "The Lab", a science-centric room that was taken out of circulation sometime around 2017. This was replaced by the sinister, adults-only room "Zodiac"). * TL;DR * As far as I'm concerned, these guys are a straight-up hit factory. Think Michael Jackson from the 'Thriller' era: widespread critical acclaim, universal praise from the public, and showing no signs of slowing down. I've done several escape rooms since my first time here, but none have even come CLOSE to the immersive levels and overall satisfaction of Fox in a Box. Whether you're breaking out of your jailed confines in "The Prison", deactivating the missile launch countdown in "The Bunker", escaping the clutches of a serial killer in "Zodiac", or orchestrating the perfect heist in "The Bank", rest assured you'll have a whale of a time regardless of which path is chosen. Not only is Fox in a Box one of the highest rated business in all of Chicago, it's considered one of the best escape rooms in the world (#1 in the USA, according to multiple sources like TripAdvisor). They are most deserving of all the accolades they've received over the years; I've recommended this place to damn near everyone I meet and can't wait to return. read more

Fox in a Box - This escape room in the basement of Dearborn Station is one of the BEST in the country. Truly immersive surroundings - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a fun and creative escape room! We tried the prison room and it was challenging, but the puzzles were fair, so it never felt frustrating. This one also requires collaborating with your team to escape which made the experience incredibly inclusive for everyone. Louis was our game master and he truly made the experience! We tried refusing hints but he still offered helpful nudges that we needed, but were too stubborn to ask. He was also funny with a great sense of humor and incredibly nice. Definitely hope we can make it back! read more

Robert did a very good job of providing clues that gave us the opportunities to figure out puzzles, instead of telling us what to do. We took a 11 year old family member who had never done an escape room, and Robert was great at talking her through so she could solve some clues on her own. The puzzles overall were fantastic. Clever, but also obvious once you figured them out. Highly recommend for anyone looking for your first of hundredth room. Plus we got original art. ‍ read more

Our group of 3 did the Zodiac room and we LOVED it!!! We had such a great time with the unique puzzle structure, with a helpful and entertaining game master. The set was expertly decorated with the serial killer vibe. Also enjoyed how they end the games here - won't spoil that! We are already planning our next trip back to Chicago and our goal is to try all the rooms! read more

super great experience and well thought out. Alex was a great GM and super invested in the game.

We have done quite a few escape rooms and decided to try this place out since it's right across my apartment. We decided to do the Zodiac room. Our game master was very informative and friendly. They are abiding by the covid rules to wear a mask. Throughout the hour, she would give hints if we got stuck. We made it out with a minute left. The room was difficult and a lot of fun. We will have to come back to try the other rooms. read more

Update!! We just completed ALL the rooms at this location and it was a BLAST! The rooms were all unique and enjoyable in their own ways. Thank you all for making our escape days/nights so fun! We loved all our game masters we had too. (Kenzie, Erick, Hannah and Ham) This facility is truly too notch! We can't wait until the new room opens this year, we'll be on the lookout! read more

Fox in a Box - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was amazing. We did the Zodiac, and it was Very interactive and hands on. Also, Alex, our game master, was awesome. She got into character and also provided great assistance. I'd love to go again and try a different room. read more

This is guaranteed to be one hour of puzzling fun! We've done three of the four rooms here and it's always such a wonderful, family-friendly experience. They've updated their policies to be more COVID friendly too and we all get very safe. All experiences are private rooms and you are required to wear a mask the whole time. Our game master/prison guard Libby was wonderful and gave us a few helpful hints along the way when we got a little stuck. We're so glad this is still open, it was the highlight of our week! read more

Fox in a Box - Fun souvenir from our game warden! - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Back again and just as good. Blake was amazing explaining the room and giving clues when needed. I highly recommend this escape business. Rooms are private, which I love. We played the Zodiac and it was awesome!!! read more

Had a really great time at Fox in a Box. Very well organized game experience and the puzzles and clues were very fair yet still challenging. Our gamemaster, Will, was amazing and so friendly. He even wrote us little thank you notes with personalized drawings in the end which made us feel so special. They offered us water at the end of the game after we escaped. Thank you for a great time! read more

Fox in a Box - A group of five people is gathered inside an escape room, with a gray wall background. They are holding large, clear, crystal-like objects and phones, smiling and posing for the camera. The group includes both men and women, with casual clothing and accessories. The Fox in a Box Chicago logo is visible in the bottom left corner, indicating the location as an escape room venue specializing in themed private rooms such as Bunker, Bank, Prison, and Zodiac. - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My favorite escape room(s) I've done so far! The game masters do a great job, and are really nice. They even craft a lovely little bag of freebies for you to take home afterward. One cool thing I loved was that each clue was single use, so there's no need to mess around with it after you've used it once. Done two rooms here, and would gladly return for a third. I only wish they had more! Great job. read more

We went to Fox in a Box to beat the cold day yesterday. Two of us had been previously playing different rooms. Four of us played Zodiac and had a great time. Our game master, Lindsey, did an amazing job preparing for the room and helping us with clues when we needed it. She really helped make the experience a great one. I highly recommend this place and I plan to come back to play the remainder of the rooms in the near future. Zodiac Room 10/10 read more

Fox in a Box - Escaping from the Zodiac Room - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We absolutely loved the Zodiac escape room!! it was sooo much fun and super scary hahaha Piñata was AMAZING and such a great game master read more

Fox in a Box - Three illustrated cards from The Daily Escape are displayed on a white surface. Each card features a character drawing with handwritten notes in orange speech bubbles. The first card shows a character in a suit with a hat, labeled 'Scarface,' with a note about being worried about scars. The second card depicts a character in a striped shirt labeled 'Hamburger,' with a note about staying away from hamburgers. The third card shows a character with a red hood labeled 'Joe,' with a note asking if Joe is the person in the photo. All cards include the logo 'foxbox' and are credited to Mr. Fox as the photographer. - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing time, the puzzles are very intuitive and the people are super fun. I recommend going even if you don't like escape rooms me and my friends had a great time. Alex was a perfect game master and meshed with our group well. I've only done one room but if I'm in the area again I'll definitely go another time. read more

Came here as part of a going-away party for my supervisor. I am a big fan of Escape Rooms, though this is my second one. We had two people cancel, so an Escape Room made for 6 people only had 4 people, meaning it was a bit more of a challenge. The room was small, but not necessarily cramped. I did the one with the Heist theme (this was a while ago, I do not know if they still have it), and it was a lot of fun. Some clever puzzles I haven't seen before, the clue system was really helpful, and even two people down, we finished it with seconds to spare. I did like the twist of a guard coming to check in on you, and you had to hide. I did a very cartoony hide behind the coat rack thing, and while I could obviously be seen, I was not taken out. I would definitely come here again and try a new room. read more

We have now finished all 4 of the escape rooms at Fox in a Box. I stand by my 5-star rating even though our last room (the Bunker) was not as good as the previous 3 (Zodiac, Bank, Prison). They forgot to put in a key component into our room and mixed up a few locks so the experience was soured. HOWEVER, the steps they took to remedy it after the fact was satisfactory & I rest easy knowing that they are educating their staff members so it does not happen to other people. As for the other rooms, I can see why it has a perfect 5-star rating across all platforms. The rooms are so clever, immersive, and the gamemasters are just as hands on or hands off as you need them to be. The puzzles are so unique and very different than other escape rooms we've done at other places. The little special touches here and there make THIS escape room stand out from the others. P.S. I won't spoil anything, but when they ask you for an "agent name", try to think of a clever agent name. Depending on the game-master you have, you might get a customized surprise at the end :) read more

It was a great experience! We did the Zodiac room, ever little detail was so amazing and definitely kept us on our toes! It's a must try!

yesterday, me and my girlfriend did the zodiac escape room and it was beyond fun! our game master alahna was suck a sick game master, it made our experience a hundred times better! she was super funny and down to earth! we are hundred percent coming back but only if alahna is our gamemaster (and we mean it! we will be calling before hand to make sure she is there lol) but 100/10 experience thanks to alahna! hope you remember us! Cause we'll be back! -red and snow! read more

Fox in a Box - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got to visit Fox in a Box for a Yelp Elite event, and I'm so glad I did! I'd always been wanting to try an escape room, and before the event I didn't even know this place existed! Our group did the prison room, and it was a ton of fun. I won't spoil anything, but they do get you into the experience and you do have to work as a team to get through challenges and puzzles. We made it out with one minute to spare, phew! I was a little nervous that it would be too frustrating, especially working with people I didn't know, but we banded together to get out! The gamemasters also give you a nickname and a souvenir card at the end based on your 'role' in the theme, which was a nice touch. They do take pictures after and you can register your email to get them. You don't get them instantly because they have to screen the pictures to be sure there aren't any clues in them when the publish them, but that's a minor thing. The owners, who we got to meet at the event, were also very nice and were happy to share more about their business-I'm already contemplating how/when to bring my friends back to try it out! Prices are reasonable (about $33 a person), and you can book online. Each room can be done by 2-6 people, obviously the more people you have the more brain power, but also can be harder to organize. It's nice you can customize a bit to your group size. Overall, I'm really glad I got to try this place, and I can't wait to go back, it was a great experience! read more

Fox in a Box - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Escape Rooms were the super craze a couple of years ago, but they're still a lot of fun today! Fox in a Box is located in the basement. Follow the signs that point you to it and you'll see a yellow wood-grained double-door. Inside, there is a big lobby area with multiple stations/chairs for the particular escape room you will be partaking in. Our group partook in the Prison Break. Before getting briefed on safety and things, they don't allow cell phones, so your group will be assigned a locker to throw your things in. Inside the locker, there are power cords to charge your cell phone. Lots of mini-USBs and lightning cables, but there was only one USB-C cable, for now. If you're not familiar with escape rooms, the spiel is that you're trapped in a room and through creative thinking and/or knowledge, you have a set amount of time to well..... escape. During this time, you can ask for help (limited basis) and at the end, you want to escape before time expires. Throughout the time, there are cameras and mics in which the "game master" can listen and monitor your progress and provide clues as needed. After briefly waiting, a host went through a quick presentation on the rules of the escape rooms, what to avoid, what can be messed with, and different signage and symbols to look out for. Jimmy, our game master, briefed us on some of the rules specific to Prison Break. We were handed orange jumpsuits and blindfolds that we donned. The orange jumpsuits smelled fresh and didn't smell like 20 other people wore them before you. Score. It's easy to smell it if you did, since you're blindfolded and your other senses are heightened as you're led down a corridor of sorts. I won't go into detail of who, what, when, where of the escape room, as that would ruin the game, but overall, the experience was a lot of fun! Jimmy gave us clues at decent intervals and was awesome. BATHROOM REVIEW: Almost in an escape room experience for us, the bathrooms were down the hall, winding past a ballet/dance studio, over the river and through the woods (not really) to near the front where the stair case was. Enter a code, and you get to use the bathroom. Inside the mens, there was a couple of urinals and stalls. The bathroom was shared amongst the other tenants of the building. Sit or squat? Squat. read more

Had an amazing time in the Zodiac room! Zach was absolutely amazing and he made sure that we stayed on the right track!!

Such a wild ride! My husband and I did 'Zodiac' and it's one of our most favorite escape rooms to date! Great production value and was super challenging! MacClain, our game master, was SO helpful and lovely. He made the experience so enjoyable, we'll definitely be back! read more

Bought this as a gift for my husband. We went with our friends and had a blast. We chose the zodiac room and it was well worth the money, giving us the best bang for our $. To find it, just into dearborn station and then you will find a sign next to the stairs heading down that will show you how to contact your host. Our host was Zach who was lovely. There are two options for your room, by the book or with some help meaning they can help give you hints. Either way we had a great time and would do again. We even wish we were able to solve more puzzles. Highly recommend for a fun night out with friends. read more

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Extremely streamlined and well thought out rooms. Escape rooms are a thing for my friends and I so we've seen a bunch all over the world. These guys are part of an escape room chain and it shows. The rooms are all very well thought out. They clearly spend time sorting out the different aspects of each room before they go live with a game. I have finished all the rooms (either at the Chicago location or elsewhere). Each one is very fun and unique in its setup and puzzles. The atmosphere of each room is good. Not as involved as some of the other rooms I've been to but enough that it makes it fun and adds to the experience. If you're looking for a totally immersive experience (like some of the ghost/horror themed rooms form other companies) you won't find it here. The puzzles are well thought out with enough information that you can solve them with some thought and creativity. The rooms focus on being observant and connecting the dots as opposed to complex logic or math problems. They may seem a bit simple for very experienced escape room players but I found them fun. This is a great escape room for beginners and experienced players. Plenty of fun but nothing too extreme (either good or bad). read more

I've played 150+ escape rooms, and Zodiac STILL pulled some fantastic surprises I hadn't experienced before. Joanna is also a great game master! read more

Fox in a Box - Five people, all wearing face masks, are gathered in a dimly lit indoor space with a brick wall background. One person is seated holding a dog, while others stand close, with one holding a box of snacks. The group appears to be in a casual setting, possibly celebrating or socializing. - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing time! The place really lived up to its number one in the USA moniker. It is a bit on the expensive side but in the end it was worth the money. Our game master, Alahna, was very professional, kept us engaged and provided us appropriate hints to help us through while still letting us feel like we solved the puzzles ourselves. Would definitely recommend to friends! - Thanks from Applesauce, Cupcake, Cheesecake and Croissant. read more

We were a group of 1 adult and 4 kids ages 10-13 and escaped the Prison. We did the kid-friendly version which was a little difficult but a good challenge and we finally got the hang of it in the end! We all had a great time and our Game Master Jo was fantastic--she was very interactive and entertaining!!! read more

We had a great time escaping the prison at FIAB that we booked the Bank later the same day! We are a group who has done several escape rooms and this was one of the best by far! April was our game master for both rooms and was awesome! Very friendly and helpful. Loved the "personalized" postcardS we received at the end! Our next trip to Chicago will definitely see us return to FIAB. read more

Fox in a Box - Escape Games Near Me - Chicago, Illinois