Big Screen Escapes (Mount Pocono) - "Nuclear Family"

Updated: Jun 9

LOCATION:  Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, USA

Photo above is property of Big Screen Escapes

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Nuclear Family
📅 DATE PLAYED: July 27, 2023
🎬 GENRE: Action
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 5.5/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-10 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins
💰 PRICE: $28.30/ pp (Min. of 3 ppl)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Everything seems perfect inside this kitchen... a little TOO perfect! It's extremely quiet and no one seems to be around. Moreover, everything looked staged. You can't help but feel like something extremely bad is headed your way...

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers\

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

One thing that always stands out for us is when an escape room start your experience before you even enter the room. For "Nuclear Family", we stood in front of an actual door to a house! Although you know it's just a door but the visual deception made it felt like you're going into something much bigger. The colors were vibrant and felt like you've just entered into a home in a picture frame. Once inside, the 80s retro style kitchen will make you feel like you've walked into a sitcom.
The backstory was quite unique and definitely provided us with a sense of urgency. There's one point during game we literally felt like we're going to run out of time!
The puzzles were innovative and implemented into the set design really well! Unlike their other game "Trapped in 88", this game is more linear and requires a good amount of perception.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

As we progressed into the game, we were hoping that the intensity would increase visually and audibly, Maybe some red light sirens with air raid sounds?
At the end of the game, we were unsure if we've successfully escaped or not. The current ending didn't feel exciting enough to be in line with the rest of the room's narrative. The owner did inform us that he's already thinking of a new way to improve on this.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

Big Screen Escapes is a relatively new company with 2 games available and a 3rd one on the way! The minute we walked inside, we felt like it was an escape room boutique shop! It had a character and charm to it that felt really welcoming! The lobby area also has a bunch of really cool merchandises available for purchase. Although "Trapped in 88" has more locks and puzzles to solve, "Nuclear Family" is more challenging in terms of difficulty level. It also has more tech than "Trapped in 88". If you're vacationing in the area of the Poconos, definitely give them a visit as this is going to be a really thing to do with your friends and family!

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

BOOK NOW

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank Big Screen Escapes for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.