Jed & Alissa Go! To 60-Minute Missions Escape Room Alohomora Couldn’t Open These Doors: A Spellbinding Experience

Are you willing to be locked in a magical chamber, challenged to solve puzzles in a desperate attempt to escape? 

The idea wasn’t our first choice either, but when Alissa proposed the idea for an article, we couldn’t bring ourselves to deny the opportunity. So, here’s how we found ourselves locked together in a room, under pressure to piece together a plethora of puzzles. 60-Minute Missions Escape Room is located in downtown Greensburg– all students can receive a $5 discount when their student ID is presented.

Our chosen adventure was “Spellbound,” a room that magically transported us into the world of “Harry Potter,” minus any copyright issues. As fans of the Wizarding World, it was the perfect choice for us. Having limited experience with escape rooms, and having escaped not a single one, our expectations were decidedly pretty low. The escape room itself was very impressive, with voice activated-puzzles and an enchanting (and very recognizable) soundtrack to underscore it all. 

Before entering, we were briefed that in “Spellbound,” we’d need to channel our inner witch and wizard and attempt to enroll in a special magic school. However, we flunked our entrance exams. So, the headmistress cursed us, divesting us of our magical abilities. To gain admittance, we had an hour to decipher the curse and reverse it, or face a defeated train ride home.

The professors’ names, the potion ingredients, etc. were all demonstrably derived from “The Wizard Series Which Must Not Be Named.” Even particular spells were taken directly from the series, which greatly benefited us, since we were both pretty well-versed in a certain film and book series’ wizarding lore. 

We won’t claim to be escape room experts, but we found the puzzles in “Spellbound” to be challenging but ultimately doable. Compared to our previous experiences, these puzzles felt more straightforward and allowed for smoother gameplay. Some puzzles surprised us with their ingenuity, exceeding our expectations for a basement-based escape room. We were granted five hints, and our guide even gave us some free ones when we were stuck. 

“Spellbound” was rated as a medium-level room with a seven out of ten difficulty scale, yet it had a mere 38% escape rate. We contributed to lowering that rate, as a few puzzles felt nearly impossible without hints, but most were solvable with some trial and error.

What truly made the difference was our teamwork. Our intelligence and problem-solving skills complemented each other perfectly. Together, we came tantalizingly close to success.

The staff member overseeing our game was friendly, professional, and exceptionally helpful. We could request hints by looking at the TV screens, and she provided guidance promptly, even offering subtle clues when we were close but not quite there.

As partners in this tumultuous escape, we can attest to the magic of the enchanting world we found ourselves in. Our expectations were fairly low, considering our limited, and in some cases negative, experience with escape rooms, but “Spellbound” quickly proved us wrong. It is a fantastic place to test your wits, exercise teamwork, and immerse yourself in a world of wizardry. While we might not have escaped the room in time, the journey was as enchanting as it was unforgettable.

Our adventure at 60-Minute Missions Escape Room was decidedly the most enjoyable escape room experience we’ve had yet. The themed room, balanced puzzles, and the thrill of the challenge combined for an unforgettable adventure. We wholeheartedly recommend trying out “Spellbound” or one of the other three escape rooms 60-Minute Missions offers, especially with the student discount available to Pitt students.

Must show valid student ID at checkout or use code: UPG_1963 remove _ if reserving and depositing online.