Today, we had our annual RentHop Secret Santa gift exchange. We upgraded from the old “names in a hat” method to the much higher-tech Elfster (because one employee was tired of getting the same recipient three years in a row, which Elfster can prevent).
Photos from the gift exchange and drinks will follow, but we also spent time discussing our multi-year tradition of exploring various escape rooms in New York City (we used to also play NY Urban volleyball). Our latest conquest is the Ultimate Heist, a puzzle from Clue Chase near Bryant Park.
Escape Room Stats – Which Is Most Important?
Some people prioritize the decor and ambiance of an escape room. Call it part of the immersion experience and production value. Others want extremely clever or memorable puzzles. I usually ignore the storyline, but some rooms punish you if you forget key points in the plot!
Lawrence in particular likes what I call the “Zelda effect” – performing a seemingly innocuous task triggers some huge surprise. For example, a tiny switch opens an unexpected secret passage into a new, larger room, or a sturdy looking wall suddenly collapses away revealing an exotic contraption (or dummy corpse).
Something for Everyone at Ultimate Heist
Thankfully, Ultimate Heist has something for everyone, checking all of my boxes, but also with a unique twist. Ultimate Heist is one of the most parallel escape rooms ever designed. A team can split into groups working on an endless slew of side quests. Just don’t forget to actually solve the main puzzle and… escape the room!
Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.
