Game Master Escape Rooms — Local services in San Rafael

Planned a birthday party and did both the Castle (Wizard, Alchemist, Witch, Sorceror) and the Simples (Simpsons-Themed room). I worked with Kent (owner) and he was very helpful in helping me plan everything. He was very accomodating and wanted everyone to have as much fun.

Our experience: Scheduling & Booking - easiest is to call during business hours; the web contact form was a bit glitchy. Once I called Kent, he was courteous, professional and provided good info about the games. He worked with us on back-to-back discounts. When we were ready, we booked over the phone and he extended our game time reservation so we can complete the game, as agreed upon. Arrival - The waiting room was spacious and complimentary bottled water was available. They allowed us to bring light snacks/beverages. The staff was courteous and was flexible in last-minute add-on guests and even allowed some of our second game/late arriving guests to finish the first game with us with no additional charge so they didn't have to just wait. We did have a late start from our reservation time which worked out in our favor (they're not super strict about late starts during slower days) as the prior group arrived and was running late. Game 1: Castle - The four "rooms" are all in one larger room so the entire group (14 people) was able to split into groups based on experience level. We were able to mingle and move amongst the groups. The puzzles ranged from simple observation and physical exploration to logic-based games. We received a lot of info at the start from the gamemaster as it wasn't clear on when we were to progress to the next room (we needed reminders). Some of the locks/puzzles were finicky. Overall the puzzles were well-designed and were not super linear so most people can contribute and stay engaged throughout the game. The rooms were also designed to be a one-way traffic flow so you didn't have to go back to the original rooms (and left through a different exit). Game 2 - Simples - This was a smaller room designed for fewer people. The decor and theme was well executed and guests are allowed to take as many photos as they want. The tech used was a nice addition. Again, some of the locks were finicky which made us second guess our solves. Bring socks as shoes are not allowed in this room; wear extra cushion socks as the floors were hard. Debrief - Kent showed us his workshop on where they made escape rooms for other locations - was really cool to see the behind-the-scenes section to see where the magic happens.

In brief - We enjoyed seeing a different design of the escape rooms and the customer service was great. Had a lot of fun - just wished some of the locks...

This was the 4th escape room my wife and I have done together and I was pretty disappointed. We did the Alchemist room.

Something that wasn't clear from the website is that the Witch, Sorceror, Alchemist, and Wizard are not there own rooms, but rather these games all take place in different corners of the same rooms. It makes it a little weird to have to tune out a bunch of the room because it's not part of your game, but also at times the delineation of what is and isn't part of your specific game is unclear. The clues didn't lead you to the next steps on their own, and without the gamemaster giving us constant directions it wouldn't have been clear when and where to proceed. We were also told that hints would only be provided when requested, but after asking for help when stuck on an early puzzle, the worker then became very involved in our game, giving heavy hints before we even got a chance to try to find or work things out for ourselves. There were also multiple prop and scenery prices that were surprisingly fragile and fell apart or came off the walls easily that were not part of the puzzles, and that made me nervous to touch anything that didn't seem definitely part of a clue. Some of the mechanisms for the puzzles were finicky and wouldn't function properly without guidance from the worker.

If you like an immersive experience with strong story and game design, there are better options. If you just want a series of puzzles, this...

Absolutely fantastic experience at The Simples and Room! My wife and I have done dozens of escape rooms across the country, and this one easily ranks among the best. The puzzles were incredibly creative, thoughtfully designed, and—most importantly—doable. We never felt stuck for the wrong reasons, and each solution gave that satisfying “aha!” moment.

A huge shoutout to Kent and Robert, our game masters, who were both professional and fun. They added to the experience without ever being intrusive. Their enthusiasm and attention to detail really stood out.

We can’t wait to come back and try the other rooms they offer. If you’re looking for an escape room that challenges you in the best...