The popularity of escape rooms is skyrocketing around the world, and Quebec is keeping pace thanks to its high-quality offerings. According to experts, the escape room concepts developed here are on par with the best in the world and provide an equally compelling experience.

But what exactly is an escape room? It’s a truly immersive experience where players are immersed for a set period of time in a unique world recreated using realistic sets, music, and sometimes screens. Participants (between 2 and 8) are locked in one or more closed rooms filled with puzzles, codes, and locks to unlock. You have to stay alert and work quickly—and above all, work together—to escape! There’s really no time to get too hung up on disagreements with teammates.

A "voice" can provide clues when you're "going in circles" (employees can hear everything in an adjacent room) or add some excitement to the adventure by ramping up the adrenaline a notch.

Here are three games I’ve tried out in Laval with my kids and friends. I’m writing this with a lot of restrictions—you can imagine why!

Escaparium: The Golden Jubilee

The game "The Golden Jubilee" transports us to another world—in just 10 seconds! I can’t reveal how many rooms there are or what challenges you’ll face, but know that the game takes place in a mine in Gahcho Kuay and that you’ll have one hour to find the world’s largest diamond!

There were four of us, including two young children (ages 7 and 10). Our instinct was to split into two teams, with each team focusing on a specific task or puzzle. We were given clues along the way. All in all, our strategy paid off, because we found the Golden Jubilee with just 15 seconds left! This game is rated as a level-two difficulty, unlike the others available, which are mostly harder or scarier. On the way out, my two kids asked me, “Are we doing the others, Mom?”

*Please note that the new game "Cabinet for Sale" will be released for Halloween 2021. This antique cabinet is said to have belonged to a famous writer, Mr. Jack, who used it to store his mysterious works. It’s a Level 4—will you be able to beat it?

Immersia: A Weekend at the Cabin That Goes Wrong

Have you heard of Roseline Filion, the Olympic diver who made Quebecers so proud, especially at the 2016 Rio Games? The retired athlete is now co-owner, along with her cousins, of an escape room in Laval called Immersia.

Of the three scenarios available, we tested the "Weekend at the Cabin" scenario.

We enter two perfectly recreated rooms in an old cabin where our fictional “friends” were supposed to be waiting for us for what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend. But there’s a small problem: they’re not there. And the quest begins. The clock is ticking: 60 minutes!

This time, there were seven of us (three adults, a 16-year-old, two 10-year-old girls, and a 7-year-old). The scare factor—the atmosphere and little jump scares—really threw the three youngest off, so we didn’t manage to complete the challenge within the allotted time. Good news: apparently, 20% of participants succeed at this game. That reassured me! Adrenaline and suspense guaranteed. We loved it.

The Secret Cube: Lucky the Mafioso-2

We also delved into the world of Lucky Marciano, now in its second season, at the Secret Cube—a world where alcohol, gambling, horse racing, prostitution, and heroin trafficking take center stage.

Phew! Despite our best efforts, we didn't manage to beat the 65-minute time limit. It was a clever puzzle, perfectly crafted with the new technology integrated into it, but tough to solve late at night!

I recommend that you get to know your teammates’ strengths and weaknesses well before tackling the Cube. A little tip: every little detail can be a clue. So pay close attention and read between the lines!

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