Escape Reviewer

Captive Escape Rooms is an upscale escape facility located in the heart of downtown Toronto, just a short walk from Dundas Square. Guests enter up a dramatically lit staircase and ascend to a mysterious red door, before passing through it and emerging into a spacious lobby. Equipped with leather couches and chairs, the waiting area is clean, modern and very comfortable, offering a small assortment of boardgames and ample locker space. There’s plenty of room for guests to await for their game, or to socialize after their escape, and the larger-than-usual briefing room doubles as an attractive photospace. Game runners Shaun and Marina are always happy to talk at length about their design work and the escape industry as a whole. They’re some of the most knowledgeable, attentive, and responsive staff we’ve encountered in the GTA escape scene.  

Captive offers relatively low tech games that offer a healthy mix of searching and puzzles. Their rooms often place significant focus on narrative and storytelling, and it’s sometimes important to delineate between puzzle elements and story beats. The game design capitalizes on the large amount of space that Captive has built in, with the attic being a particular highlight; it was ignored for decades by previous businesses before Shaun and Marina reopened it for the company’s signature room, Charlotte. Props are sourced with great care from garage sales and antique suppliers, adding an air of authenticity and immersion. Hints are requested by a standard doorbell system, delivered in person by one of the staff members; they’re careful not to give away too much. Extra time is often allowed for parties that need a few more minutes, and walkthroughs are given post-game to ensure that the games are appreciated to the greatest degree possible. Booking can be done online through Captive’s topnotch website, and payment can be made onsite with cash, debit, or credit card.

Reviewed by Jason on July 18, 2015