We got out with nine minutes to spare! I appreciate that we were able to make a same-day reservation, and we really enjoyed our time trying to save Camila. I wish there had been a little more tie-in with her in the second room of the cottage, but oh well. It was cool that there was a second room! The place being in the basement of a building accessible by a buzzer and located in an alley adds to the experience. Half of our party hadn't done an escape room before and the guide (his name started with a J!) was welcoming and thorough in his explanation. Price is in line with what I've paid for other escape rooms, $30 per person. I would come back in the future! read more

I've been called the key to Barbie's lock. I'm not sure why. I'll keep you posted on updates. If they served Indian food, it'd be the Lock & Ghee Escape Room. If there was no charge to play it'd be the Lock & Free Escape Room. And if they had no bathrooms, it'd be the Lock & Smells-Like-Pee Escape Room. Pretty awesome escape room which I have a hundred percent record of escaping, on four attempts. I played 3 rooms at Yelp events (2 of which were at the same event), and once in between. I've loved every single one and it's one of the best and friendliest places I've done these games. I absolutely love the owners and I think their concepts are really exciting and fun. Definitely one of the better ones out there. read more

Lock & Key Escape Room - The last guy that wrote a bad review of this escape room - Escape Games Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Lots of fun! Staff was super nice and accommodating! Lots of cool puzzles that made you think. Will be back again for the other room! read more

I visited Lock & Key as part of a double date. Our group of 4 has done quite a few different escape rooms around Buffalo. This was by far one of our favorites. We have already discussed coming back to try out one of their other rooms. We did the Escape From Pirates Cove room. It was in their location across the street from their listed address. The worker at that location directed us where to go, and it was easy to find. The girl who was working really started us off on the right foot. I wish I got her name because she really did a great job. She went through the typical spiel but added some humor sharing some of the humorous things people had done that you really can hardly believe actually happen, like trying to bite things off the wall. The room itself had some really unique clues and puzzles unlike those I had seen in other rooms. I really liked the connectedness of the puzzles and how fun they were to talk through together. We only needed 2 clues, although we did take longer than we probably should have at a couple of parts. We still made it out with about 6 minutes to spare. Friendly people, unique rooms, and a really great afternoon makes me recommend this escape room to anyone, and makes me ready to go back soon to try out another! read more

My friends and I are ecape room enthusiasts so we like to try all of the different escape rooms in the area and this one has got to be one of our favorites. We recently did the pirate room which was carefully explained to us prior to entering the room. I really love that the host is hands off. You easily get into the theme of the room and forget that there is anyone watching you. You don't have to look for a way to signal to anyone that you need help, if you get stuck, a random note will find its way under the door if needed and doesn't add any time off of your escape time. The clues made you think outside of the box and there was a use for just about every item in the rooms. My team escaped! And I would love to try more of the other rooms here!! read more

To start, choose your team members (this game is about communication so keep that in mind) and get ready for a challenging and fun mix of puzzles. The premise is, you and your team have been infected with a virus that will turn you all into zombies of you do not find the antidote within 60 minutes. 1 hour is all you have to solve many interactive puzzles. Challenge excepted. Escape room was a lot of fun! My team and I did well and had a blast in the process. Currently this is the only scenario at Elmwood location. However, the mastermind who helps create them told us that there is a plan to open a second one soon. My team and I got a little sneak peek and it looks awesome! I will most definitely be returning. Tip: the location is down the alley before Realty USA, there will be a sign instructing you to ring the top left button and to go down the stairs. read more

Lock & Key Escape Room - My team. So much fun! - Escape Games Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I did the Lock & Key Escape Room with a group of nine or ten people. The Zombie room was challenging and exciting! I have done a few escape rooms and this one was definitely the most difficult! We did not make it out of the room on time, but the owner was nice enough to let us stay in the room past the hour time limit to work through the remaining clues. It was clear that the owner went through a great deal of effort to plan and decorate the escape room He manipulated the lighting, props and sounds to make the room super creepy! I was very impressed! The clues and puzzles were creative and definitely made us think! If you haven't done an escape room, I would definitely recommend going with a team of people who you know. Effective communication is crucial because there are so many puzzles being solved simultaneously. This is a unique and fun way to spend time with friends or family. If this location adds a new escape room, I will definitely check it out! read more

Our experience here was super fun! I did an escape room with fellow Yelper Vicky B. and a few others - we had about 8 people in our group altogether and only an hour to solve all of the puzzles and figure out all of the clues in order to escape the room! We were actually in the building across the street from this listing's address; they've got the Lock & Key logo in the window so it's not hard to miss. We did "The Quest For The Throne" here. Before being locked into the room we were seated and given the spiel about how the escape room works, some of the rules you have to abide by (like not moving heavy objects around, or putting anything in your mouth...yes, people have apparently done that) which only took a couple of minutes. There are cameras in the room to keep an eye on you while you solve things, so don't think you can get away with doing anything crazy once you're inside! We were allowed to leave coats and purses outside of the room or bring them in with us. With eight of us working at the same time, it was pretty easy to track down some of the initial clues and figure out the puzzles. There were only a couple of instances in which we got a little stuck, in which case our guide would slide hints written on a piece of paper beneath the door. We worked together as a team and were able to escape the room with only about 8 minutes left to spare! Our second escape room challenge was getting out of Lock & Key's building. The only exit's lock hadn't been turning correctly, and they had to call the maintenance guy and then the owner to bring the other set of keys so the door could be unlocked from the outside. But we all had a good laugh about being locked in the escape room for real. I had a great time and will definitely consider Lock & Key again if I'm ever looking for a cool place to do an escape room. Day 21 read more

Review to come. read more

See all

Once again we had an amazing time. Manager/owner is awesome and communicates very well. Rooms are set up very well with challenging and fun puzzles. Hints are appropriate and everything is very well thought out. Absolutely returning here!! read more

Just had an amazing time at Lock and Key! I'll tell you what that escape room was pretty damn challenging, it definitely takes a group to get through! We did the Pirates Cove and it was great, the clues were challenging as hell!!! read more

Lock & Key Escape Room - Escape Games Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Fun and challenging rooms and friendly staff. A little tricky to find based off the address, so note it's down a little alleyway off Elmwood. read more

Had an absolute blast at Lock & Key. It was my first time at an escape room but there were a wide variety of clues so all members of my group were able to play an active role. We solved it with only five minutes to spare. We will certainly be back again! read more

A group of 7 of us went to Lock & Key for a night out. Half of us had done an escape room while the other half never had. We completed the Grimm Forest room with 4 minutes to spare!! We had a lot of fun and Holly was great about explaining all of the rules, the story behind the room, etc. She only had to slip 3 clues under the door for us but always seemed to know right when we were stuck and needed them. We will absolutely be back for another one of their rooms!! read more

My wife and I did both of Lock and Key's escape rooms. One with our kids (9, 14, and 20). The other with our friends. Both rooms were amazing. High quality rooms that stay on theme. In our experience, independently owned escape rooms tower over their chain operated competitors in quality and imagination. Lock and Key did not disappoint. Also great location on Elmwood strip, so you can incorporate into a full evening of food and drinks. Can't wait to see what they come up with next. read more

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but this turned out to be a pretty fun group activity! I've already recommended this particular room escape to a coworker looking for a team bonding activity for her employees. The owner was very friendly and helpful in explaining the experience and the ground rules. As a tip, when he asks who wants one of the flashlights, raise your hand! The rooms were well laid out and the puzzles were challenging without being unsolvable. If we just had 5 more minutes, I'm sure we would have made it! The owner does plan on some minor improvements, like adding a clock inside the rooms. Also, he's working on a second room escape scenario in the same building. All in all, I had a really fun time and would definitely be up for another visit once there's a new room. read more

Just went to the escape room tonight and it was a lot of fun! We all said we would do it again when they open up the new theme/story in next month or so. Communication is key. Talk to your team members and let them know if you found a clue or have already worked on something. Also, don't overlook things, the item is probably there for a reason. The owner is very nice, wish he would give us another minute to escape though! read more

I went to Lock & Key Escape Room with two friends. This was our first escape room experience and Lock & Key was one of the few (maybe the only?) escape room experience in the Buffalo area that allowed a team of three to work the room as a team and not be forced to mix with an already-formed team to maximize the numbers. Some places forced you to work with others, which we did not want to do. We picked the room of secrets and it was a really fun experience. You definitely have to communicate and think to get ahead. Definitely pick people who would do well with this type of game because the one-hour time goes by really fast, so you need all the help you can get from your team. We were near the end, but did not make it out of the room. It was still an awesome time. Cannot wait to come back and try the other room! read more

This was a fun time! I must mention that I was pretty congested when I did this so I wasn't thinking straight. The first puzzle is trying to find the entrance of the building. They have a small sign by the street and nothing labeled on the front of the building. Go down the path on the left side of the building to find the entrance. Pick the group of people you go with wisely if you're looking to actually escape. You can go with any group of friends but if you don't pick patient people, you won't get out. Work together as a team. You'll split up to find clues but work together to mention where you found them and when you use them. Sometimes the details of how you found something matters. Communication is key. Have fun and good luck! read more

We have been to Lock & Key twice now, once about 2 years ago with their zombie themed room and most recently on Christmas Eve for their pirate themed room. Both were excellent experiences! We've been to probably 8 different escape rooms in different cities, and this is exactly the type that we like. Difficulty of the puzzles is at a perfect sweet spot - the pirate themed room has about a 35% escape rate, so difficult enough that it's a challenge and you'll certainly feel accomplished if you're able to escape in time, but not so difficult that a group of 4-5 adults can't get it done (we were actually told that we were only 1 minute and a half off from their record time, which was a huge ego boost!). They do an excellent job of making you put together seemingly separate clues/props from different areas in the room, so it's easy to split your group up into a few sub-groups that won't get too much in each other's way. Keep in mind that communication is key to success - many times we would have one person start a puzzle, get stuck, and then someone else would see what they were missing. The puzzles are mostly low tech, with a few higher tech additions that make things seem a little extra magical. The puzzles are perfectly integrated with the theme, which makes the experience extra memorable. The employees are very professional and do a great job of explaining things for any first timers in the group. They also will give you clues if it seems like you're struggling with anything particular for too long. One other aspect of policy that I love - they won't combine your group with strangers, and they don't make you pay for all 8 slots to get this. I always find it so awkward when you get paired up with random people, so this is a policy that definitely makes me more likely to select this escape room over a different one. Overall, we're very excited to return - they currently have a vampire room that we're interested in trying, and they're planning on replacing the pirate room with something new in 2019. read more

This was definitely not an easy escape room. Clues and items were skillfully hidden and made for a difficult escape. The only reason we deducted one star was for the lack of ambiance the room provides. We expected a bit more zombie-like, laboratory vibe going on, including some sound effects and better lighting effects. Other than that it still was a great time and highly recommended to all escape room thrill seekers in the buffalo area. Conveniently located in downtown Buffalo it is a must try for all ages. read more

This was my first Escape Room, and it was AWESOME. The puzzles were super fun and just the right difficulty. The host was great. The puzzles were diverse enough that everyone in the room was able to help in their own way. I wouldn't recommend going with more than 5 people. We had a group of 5, and we were still bumping into each other. I feel like any more might be a little tight. read more

This was my first escape room and I loved it! The room wasn't too overwhelming with decorations so each piece made sense and wasn't too confusing where to go next. The puzzles were just difficult enough that when you got them it was such an accomplishment. I'll gladly come back for the other rooms to see if I can solve them. read more

My first escape room, and certainly not my last. Very fun, very difficult but rewarding. Had a great time at a great location.

This escape room was AWESOME. It was actually the first time I ever did one live that wasn't just a video or online game, but it was just as intense and exciting as any of the rest since you got to experience that trapped-and-perplexed feeling first hand. Their current theme is zombie-based where you're trying to escape AND with the right cure, but the amount of puzzles and searching you need to do to break free really feels just right. There's two rooms in total, but there's not too much that you shouldn't be able to do within the time allotted. That said, you can only have so many people come in with you and with as much as there is going on, it's definitely in your best interest to split up and see what each of you can find out. Definitely if you don't collaborate, you're doomed to fail! Like another reviewer said, teamwork and thinking outside of the box is for sure the key to success. My friends and I were actually part of the ~20 or so teams (at the time) that didn't make it out, but just because we didn't succeed doesn't mean it wasn't one of the best activities I've done all year. It was for sure memorable, and especially so since we just happened to be celebrating my best friend's 30th birthday late at night too! The mood was just perfect. It really got the adrenaline pumping. On top of that, the guy running the event was super nice and the tricks he threw in here and there really got our hearts pounding and our minds going all over the place. Long and short of it? Go here. I hear a Lovecraft-themed escape room is also in the works across the hall too, so I can't wait to be back. This party was killer (no pun intended), and I can't wait to find out what's in store for next time!! read more

Such a great experience. The puzzles were great! Don't overthink it! Such a fun time, definitely coming back with a group of friends. The owner is such a nice guy too, so genuine! This is a must to do in the Elmwood Village! Don't miss out. read more

Very fun and challenging time. Its not something that's easily solved which makes it all the more exciting. Make sure to bring a group of at least 3 or 4 people. The should probably work on the room's decor a little more to match the setting. read more

I was very impressed my first time at the Escape Room. I joined a bunch of friends who's goal was to find unlock clues in order to find a vaccine and stop the zombie Apocalypse that was occurring (I mean, who doesn't love being locked in a room during a zombie apocalypse?) The best part was that everyone had to work together- and these clues are difficult. I mean, the room can be filled with missing puzzle pieces and every clue counts. We had 1 hour to try and find our way out of two rooms- we got close but I'm very excited to come back and try again, or try a new theme. I would definitely recommend bringing some family and friends- as long as you all work well together. read more

I'd been wanting to try a room escape. Hooray for one in Buffalo! The puzzles were the right amount of challenging and we had a great time. I'd do it again but have to wait for a new room. If you're on the fence, go. read more

BEST escape room in Buffalo! Jared the owner has created a really unique experience/space. FYI, this is not a scary activity--just fun!

This was so much fun! I'd highly recommend it. You have an hour to work as a team, solve puzzles, and escape. It was some of the most fun I've had in a long time! read more

Appropriate level of challenging, cool theme, and creative puzzles. I'd definitely go back to try the other room.

So much fun! I had a great time. Since this was my first escape room experience I'm was so glad that the staff at lock and key was so helpful and informative. Highly recommend it!! read more