Escape Boring at Big Sky Breakout
Being locked in a room with only an hour to escape may sound like the plot line to a scary movie, but it is all fun and games at Big Sky Breakout. Read on to find out more about this fun activity!
The moment you pull up to Big Sky Breakout on S. 2nd Street, you begin feel a mysterious vibe. This classic cheery yellow home, in a part of town where street lamps are sparse, shrouding the house in darkness, has been remodeled into the premier location for escape games. (P.S. Don’t accidentally pass it like one of us did, it’s located on a one-way street, so getting back will be tricky).
This setting provides an interesting juxtaposition for the colorful and playful scene when you walk through the front door. The first thing you see is the large Big Sky Breakout logo across the wall, bordered by a purple velvet settee. Nearby, a basket of props and hats are available to get you in an imaginative mood, which will come in handy when you step through the doors of your game.
With four different escape rooms to choose from, there is truly something for everyone. Each room is carefully and thoughtfully designed and accommodates different group sizes. The current themes range from dragons to Alice in Wonderland, but they do eventually retire some of the games. When you visit the website here you can read up on each game’s story line, the number of players, recommended ages and even the success rate of each game! Most games are recommended for ages 11 and up and can have anywhere from 2 to 10 players, but if you have a younger kid who is interested in participating, just give them a call for a recommendation! Depending on the room and the day you book, you may be placed with other players, unless requested. But don’t worry, we’ve been told that sometimes that combination of multiple groups makes for a very fun experience.
We booked Deception Depot, a Wild Wild West-themed room that used Montana geography and familiar, relatable characters. Before starting the game, we met Patrick. He guided us through the basics of how we play, assured us that there was nothing scary, and gave us the the background story of why we were trying to escape this room anyways. Patrick also explained to us that there would be a monitor in the room where he could communicate with us, nudge and us in the right direction, and offer up to three clues upon request.
Although we can’t reveal a lot about the puzzles we used to crack the code and unlock the door, what we can say is that the adrenaline rush you feel while trying to swiftly work through puzzles as a team is intense. The amount of thought and creativity that goes into each room is astounding. It is truly full of surprises. There are a variety of puzzles, details, locks and even a little bit of math (don’t worry, the calculator is provided). You don’t need any special skills or background knowledge to successfully escape. Everything you need is in the room (its just a matter of finding it and putting it all together). The teamwork involved is essential and we could see how some people may work better together than others. We happened to have a pretty great team of three, and just as we were down to less than five seconds, one of us read the final code aloud, hoping it was in the right order as the door unlocked. It slid open, and we spilled out of the room in a fit of giggles.
We loved our experience at Big Sky Breakout and will be recommending it to everyone! It’s the perfect date night, team building exercise or night our with friends and we are equally excited for Big Sky Breakout’s downtown game location, Operation Checkmate, to open this spring. They even offer off-site games where they bring the puzzle to you!
To book your Big Sky Breakout experience, visit their website at www.bigskybreakout.com or give them a call at (406) 493-0528.
