After playing over 60 rooms around the US, my fiance and I along with a mutual friend paid Escape Oakland a visit to play The Bunker. After hearing about how the company came under new management. With no experience with their older rooms the three of us walked into Bunker unsure of what to expect.The Bunker is not going to win any best looking or best narrative rewards. The story is simple a scientist working on a secret project goes missing and its up to the team of players to investigate what happened. A bunker setting sit in the same area as prisons, classrooms and serial killer hideout where the visual tropes are so ubiquitous that its almost impossible to do something really different has been done beforeOn the puzzle front all classic escape room tropes are there, 4 digit locks, put objects in places to release automatic locks, find a password.With that said why did I walk away from Escape Oakland with all smiles? Its because everything was executed very well. If The Bunker were a restaurant it would be like that comfy diner thats always open that makes its burgers the way you always like it with no fuss and no mess. The room was rather cozy, everything stayed in tip top condition and we still faced a fair amount of challenge that had us asking for a few hints.Dont get me wrong there were some great surprises and fun really fun unique moments to be found. In fact I want to take a moment to really praise Escape Oakland for having a room that has a good bang for your buck while also having some neat physical elements that got us moving around. Whats even more impressive was that they were able to fit all of this in a renovated office building.If you need a quick fix for your escape room needs or just want to see a great game with some humble beginnings make sure you pay this company a visit!

Loved it! Im starting to be a veteran of escape rooms and I have to say that I loved this place!The puzzles were fun and kind of tough but doable. The only thing really different about this place is that you do not get hints unless they feel that you for sure need them. I actually liked this because it put more suspense into the game.The price was great compared to some of the other places around the Bay Area. I would go back again.

It was an amazing experience and the staff are super kind and helpful. It was our first time doing this and we loved it!

Fun escape room...We did the BUNKER...it was a little hard for me and this is our 10th escape room. I would definitely go back but i want to try an easier room this time! staff very friendly and helpful!!

Overall, great experience and we were not disappointed. Easily made a same day reservation online and found convenient on street parking quickly. Spacious, clean, and fun waiting area with connect 4 and space Invaders! We were a party of two adults, two 8 year olds, and two 16 year olds, and everyone was able to make a real contribution to solving the puzzles. We did Society, which had a fun back story-- not too creepy or scary for the kids. The puzzles were challenging-- we escaped but needed two clues. I give only 4 stars because Im ruined for escape rooms after doing 60 to Escape at Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, Illinois-- over the top Hollywood style special effects and animatronics. Escape Oakland seems so low budget in comparison, but the puzzles were just as fun and tricky. We will be back!

Thanks to my google friend Matthew C. who highly recommended this place, three teens and two adults, myself included, had a great time as we tried to escape the confines of The Lab.

Know how to use a multimeter before playing. Especially if your googling what a multimeter is right now. Good luck.

After seeing all the advertisements such as on Facebook, we decided to book the Spy Room. We were running a little late and they accommodated us, even though we were with another group of strangers. For the most part the puzzles were good and were able to be solved well, but a few tiny details made it a little difficult. We used a few clues to help us along. If you like Clockwise Escape in San Francisco, youll like this place. Parking is on the street.

Incredibly fun! We did the hardest room and had a blast. The staff is super fun and great. Clean and creative facility. Planning on going back!!

Amazing! I’ve done two of their escape rooms now! Super cool rooms and even better staff!! Can’t wait to go back and try the other games!!(PLUS: they were super accommodating to our larger group! Thanks again for that!!!)

Played the Bunker on a Sunday afternoon with a friend. This was my 10th escape room, and I had a wonderful time! Special shout-out to our Game Host Amy for the helpful clues and helping us have a fun time! 10/10 would recommend!

Much improved. If youve been over the past year, give their new rooms a shot.

Me and my coworkers played their new room “The Society”. The puzzles were highly interactive. Very well done room. Challenging puzzles, sophisticated design, good engineering and decor. We really enjoyed our time there!I would highly recommend!

This is escape room is under new management and I was lucky enough to go with a group of friends to play in one of the newer designed rooms. Puzzles were very creative and challenging as expected but overall its was a fun experience! Would be curious to come back and check out other rooms:)

Sooooo much fun, staff member was so cool and very nice, Ill be back when in town!

What an adventure! We had a blast, and I cant wait to go back! The Bunker was full of surprises, and it was perfect for our group of friends. We were able to escape from the room with a few clues.The location is perfect with a lot of street parking and walking distance to the bart station.The host was awesome! She explained all rules to us as for some of us it was first escape room. Thanks a lot!!!

Amazing!!!! Very professional, wonderful staff members and terrific escape rooms. Totally recommend it!

To go crazy as we liked, we were a team of 6 guys, Were on the quest The Society. The operators work is great. Atmosphere and tasks at the highest level. Of course, I had to hurry at the end, as many people have misunderstandings during the quest in such conditions. But we did it! It is something cool! Scenery and attributes Bombic. Thanks for the quest and such an impressive aftertaste, thank you polite and funny Host, see you!Soon we will come to you again!

I have visited twice now — once with the old manager Kayla and again with Theo last month. I have been meaning to review this place for a while. I love their games! Thanks for being so accommodating and friendly.

The manager was incredibly kind and accommodating for my large party. We had an awesome time! Only complaint was some of the rooms had some issues with broken pieces / clues so that slowed some of us down but overall it was a great experience.

The staff were really nice! This was my first escape room, and I think they did a good job explaining what to expect. The room my group did, Ex Machina, was manageable with three of us. We were given hints, but were given ample time to figure things out on our own.

Had an amazing time even beat the clock

Had a great time and the employees were very nice and helpful

Just escaped EX. Machina. Shout out to Steele for being a really cool and nice guy.

We tried Escape Oakland for a team outing, and our group had a blast! Theo was our guide, and he did a great job setting the stage and giving us clues as needed. The Dreamscape room was challenging, but a lot of fun to figure out. We are going to recommend that other teams in our company check out Escape Oakland too.

JUST visited for the first time and we loved every second of it. You could tell the operator was passionate about his job and wanted us to have a good time. Already booked another game for next weekend!! We plan on winning next time.Other things:-Clean bathroom is always a plus.-Spacious lobby (needs more decorations though)-Prompt start time-Thorough walkthrough at the end :)

Creative puzzles! Small rooms but perfect for our group of four. BEST PART = WE WON.

Awesome experience! They really do a great job of challenging all or your problem solving skills. Extremely clever.

I have been to many escape rooms on both coasts, and unfortunately I’d say this one was one of my least favorites. We did “The Study”, and were disappointed by the decor, quality,and overall immersive nature.the puzzles make no narrative sense with the story, and are almost entirely separate from the theme or objective. finding random assortments of numbers and letters and trying them into every combo lock in the room does not a quality escape room experience make.Lastly, and the thing that really prompted me to write this review, was that the room facilitators give you hints when they determine you need them. During the course of our 1 hour game, we were given upwards of 8 hints. I would have never chosen to get that many hints and felt we would have worked out the puzzles given the time to think and ask when we sincerely needed direction.All in all- a decent experience and perhaps worthwhile if it’s your first time. For veteran escapists, keep looking.

This is a great new business! We played The Dreamscape. It was challenging but we had a great time and the rooms were beautiful.

Honestly the clues were too difficult and too many and required like serious skill. Im not sure I could escape even if I knew all the tricks.

Thanks for a fun Saturday night! We never made it out of Ex Machina, but my operator was really good compared to other escape rooms Ive been to in the area. Good game flow and tough puzzles (we needed a few hints), but my teens and I had a blast trying to escape. Also love that they have monitors and dont use walkie talkies for clues.

My friends and I had a fun Saturday afternoon playing The Gallery game. Thank you Escape Oakland!

Fun for everyone! We had a great night of puzzles.

Wowza!Had I known the jam-packed fun that was involved in this escape room I wouldve surely saved infinite parking meter quarters earlier today when I went exploring Oakland for a way to immerse myself into the city.Truly, what a cool, fun, missing element that really fits in so well in this city! Theres 4 different rooms, The Gallery being arguably the hardest (ahem, RIP our grand escape). I love that each room is themed differently and gives a uniquely creative experience. We got to take pictures after, come up with team names (The Almost Escapers represent), and talked more to the team and learned about the rooms, getting to really appreciate the concept. Immediately, I started to imagine birthday parties, work team building, or other fun events that could be hosted in this space!... Although Im now picturing an interpersonal skills building where I get all my ex-boyfriends in a room together and let them watch me escape. Both physically and metaphorically of course.Im grateful for the opportunity to check this place out in person, and now have goals to successfully escape the other 3 rooms!

Friendly staff and an overall great experience!!

Super fun

Fun night. GF and I had a blast.

Our first visit to Escape oakland- we will be back! Good to finally have a n escape room in the East Bay..

I went this weekend and enjoyed the decorations, storyline, and games.

This company definitely has a lot of kinks to work out in their process. Complete one puzzle and you still might have to use part of it for another puzzle later. Or one puzzle gets you a key, but the key was already retrieved through other means so youre wasting time on a useless puzzle.My friends and I did Ex Machina. There were 5 adults and one child. There was no room for all of us in there. Luckily we had the room closest to their back gate so we could open our entry door to get some air. The guy that did our orientation didnt seem to have a lot of confidence or enthusiasm and didnt speak up.We wont go back until things have smoothed out.

First escape room ever and we are now big big fans. Already booked another game!

Fun and exciting

Fun!