Much needed update on this review. Have now payed Hotel Nocturnus and Last Chance and will definitely be back for the rest. Have done 300+ Escape Rooms at this point and Hotel Nocturnus is one of the craziest rooms I've ever seen. Very challenging, but very fun. Shane, the owner, is super welcoming and knowledgeable about Escape Rooms and it shows in his work. Do yourself a favor and do not sleep on this place if your looking for an escape room in SD! read more

Wow, I've only done a couple other escape rooms previously, but I think Nightwalker Caverns is now on my top list. My group of friends and I planned a trip to San Diego and a escape room was on our list of things to do. Luckily, this location was able to accommodate our group of 14! We had one group do the clownatorium room and the other did the hotel. We did our escape room back in September at night around 8PM. Upon entering, it was a little confusing trying to figure out where the entrance was. We first went upstairs to the door which turned out to be an exit, and then to the main entrance on the bottom floor. We knocked on the door with no answer and we were confused, so my friend called them and turns out a group was still finishing. No biggie! I don't want to spoil the rooms, but we were amazed by the effects and the challenges you had to do. Everything was super fun. The owner of Nightwalker and the other two game masters, Griffin and our clown (I forgot his name unfortunately!) were amazing. You have unlimited clues in the form of riddles. They were even so kind to let us tour each others' escape room once everyone was finished! They showed us the cool nooks and crannies of the other room. They let us take our time, we finally left the building at around 11:30PM. A friendly reminder that the rooms are on the mature side, and the minimum age to book is 14 years old. Our clown made some hilarious NSFW jokes while we were scrambling around to find out clues for our room. I highly recommend this escape room to anyone that is visiting San Diego! read more

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I found this place online while searching for an escape room near San Diego for my birthday. Once I saw their "Hotel Nocturnus" escape room, I was immediately hooked! I loved the theming and the puzzles were so much fun. I did it with 5 other people and we had an absolute blast. The staff was super sweet as well. She offered hints without directly telling us how to solve the puzzles which was lovely. I will be coming back with more of my escape room loving family read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

My friend and I did the "Last Chance" room. Both of us had done about 5-8 escape rooms each prior to this. Highly highly recommend!!!! This was hands down the BEST escape room experience I've ever had. The puzzles, decorations, and everything was one of a kind. I had booked this place as a last minute plan when our other plans had gotten canceled, and I want to go back!! I've been SPOILED. From entering to leaving, I feel like I got the escape room experience I would have never expected. When we first walked up to the door, one of the workers had creaked the door open slowly, which added a spook factor that sparked my adrenaline and excitement. They gave us free goodies for Valentine's Day which was nice. Inside the game: the gold mine cart that transported you into a different room was extremely unique. The puzzles were interactive and just the right bit of challenging! There was one piece of a puzzle that was broken but that did not affect our experience at all, and the game master had let us know when we reached that puzzle so I knew he was paying attention. The game master made our experience so much better. Throughout the game, he was extremely responsive to our questions and giving us hints that definitely didn't give the puzzles away but was just the right amount of information. I think the game master gauged how interactive and talkative my partner and I was even before we began the game, as we were cracking jokes the whole time. Thus, the game master was also making friendly fun of us inside the game too, and every time my partner and I would crack up. And this means -- I will be coming back with a larger group. :) I wish I lived closer to San Diego!!! read more

Took my daughter and her friends here for her 16th birthday, and it was such a fun experience! They did The Clownatorium-2: Upside Down, and the whole thing was fantastic -- from the escape room itself to the awesome staff. The clown who followed them around was great! He gave helpful clues, cracked jokes, and kept everything totally PG for the girls, which I really appreciated. I wasn't planning on going in at first, but the owner was super nice and let me join to help out. The clown even checked with me before making jokes -- very respectful. The owner mentioned that the clown matches your energy, and that was spot on. The girls had the best time and kept it cool. It was our first escape room ever, and honestly, it was the perfect one to start with. Highly recommend this place! read more

My partner and I had an incredible time! It was his first escape room and my third, but this escape room stands out far beyond the others I've tried before. The owner was very personable, which made the experience even better. You can really tell he cares about his guests' experience by the effort and attention he put into designing and building the room. His expertise is evident! One tip: try to arrive 15 minutes earlier than your scheduled time. We admittedly missed the bolded notice on his website about this during booking. We had an amazing time! This experience made my partner fall in love with escape rooms and eager to try more of the owner's creations. We'll definitely be back, and next time, we'll be bringing our friends and family along! read more

We booked the Hotel Nocturnus Room for 4 people early on a Friday evening... It was an experience. Shane told us that this room was the 3rd hardest room in San Diego. It includes 13 rooms that you have to get out of but there are tools in each room that you will need to get out of the hotel. Surprisingly, the 4 of us made it through with 4 seconds to spare and were the only ones to get out that day. You have unlimited clues and you should use them. The room is designed for you to ask for help. However, the help is not the answer; it is a riddle to help to point you in the right direction. Overall it was a good experience and Shane gave us a lot of information and history of this room and other escape rooms. read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Exterior - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

1000/10 - A Legendary Treasure Hunt Come to Life! If you've ever dreamed of living inside a movie--THIS. IS. IT. The Goonies-themed escape room at Nightwalker Caverns isn't just an escape room... it's a full-blown cinematic experience, handcrafted by mad geniuses with a love for adventure, nostalgia, and next-level immersive design. From the moment we stepped inside, we were transported. The space is stunning--a labyrinth of pirate coves, candlelit tunnels, underground waterfalls, and intricate chambers, each one more jaw-dropping than the last. Every inch of the room is expertly built, with obsessive attention to detail. You can FEEL the love and craftsmanship poured into it--from real wood beams and ancient maps to glowing treasure chests and secret passageways that made us audibly GASP. The puzzles? Absolute perfection. They struck the ideal balance between fun, challenging, and deeply satisfying. Nothing was random or forced--everything had a purpose, and it all tied into the story. It was like peeling back layers of mystery with each clue, each twist more clever than the last. (And yes, we had to slide down something at one point. IYKYK.) But what truly sets this place apart are the owners. You can tell they are absolute fans of the original Goonies movie and of storytelling in general. They've created something magical here--an experience that isn't just about solving puzzles, but about feeling like a kid again. They were warm, passionate, and gave us a behind-the-scenes peek after our game that made us fall even more in love with the experience. We laughed. We screamed. We clutched each other in the dark. We CHEERED when we cracked the final room. And when we emerged victorious, dripping and breathless (yes, you WILL get wet--Goonies never say dry), we all looked at each other and said the same thing: "That was the best escape room we've ever done." Book it. Don't think. Don't blink. Just GO. Take your friends, your family, your favorite adventurers, and get ready for ninety minutes of heart-pounding, brain-bending, movie-magic mayhem. This isn't just an escape room. It's an EPIC QUEST. ‍ read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Great time with amazing staff and laughs all around. Definitely recommend doing the trivia Boxing and clown room

Our group is fascinated by the unusual and this place was definitely unusual. Hotel nocturnus was the room we chose to play over the weekend and it didn't disappoint.Anyone thinking they will be solving a bunch of combination locks should look somewhere else. If I told you what the meat and bones of this room are --lol -- I 'd say it's the use of a lot of high tech but it's so well done you won't realize how complex the puzzles are. There's a lot of physical interactions in the room and parts are really scary. We walked away saying wow. Highly recommend for anyone feeling a little brave. read more

I've done multiple escape rooms over the last several years and this was one of the most unique experiences I've encountered. We chose the Last Chance room which has a working mine cart that transports you from one room to another! The puzzles were challenging and a few were very unique. We had a great time and were able to escape with a minute to spare! The owner was really friendly and shared really interesting stories with us. I definitely recommend this experience! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Winning shot at Last Chance! - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Soo fun!! Each room is so unique unlike any other rooms we've done before. We did the Last Chance and definitely will be coming back to solve more mysteries!!! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

This is one of the COOLEST escape rooms ever. Seriously, it's clear the owner loves what he does and truly goes all out for each room/experience. I had a blast coming here with my bestie and we can't wait to go back and try one of the bigger rooms. 10/10!! Don't hesitate, trust me it's a great experience! Also, there is designated parking area there. They have a small area you can place your purse or backpacks. Come 10 minutes early to get orientation. It was fully booked when I went! Do it!!! You won't regret it. read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Solving clues in a mine. Hahaha awesome. - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Tiffany and Shane are amazing !! We went there for a team building exercise with co workers and had a BLASTTT 10/10 would recommend and I will absolutely be going back read more

Not sure where to begin, it is a little tough to write a review without spoilers and give enough to know what you are getting here but here goes: our family of 5 had such an amazing time at Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room. We are not professional escape roomers but we enjoy doing them together and have done quite a few maybe a couple of dozen or more with The Basement - Dead and Breakfast and Cross Roads Escape Rooms being a couple of our favorite places that were so good we went back to do all of their rooms. Nightwalker Caverns was one of the most unique ones we have ever done. From the size of the rooms, the number of rooms you go through, the decor, props, puzzles all so unique and fun. Seems like many of the escape rooms now are almost commercialized like they could be replicated or franchised, not here. We met the owners who clearly care and have a passion for their work. I want to say their rooms have a mom and pop feel to it but that might be insulting, really it is more of that old Disneyland magic feel to it before it got so commercialized. That doesn't mean they don't have good scares or props, they just feel different, a little special, a little more magical, I can't explain why other than just that mom and pop or small town or do it yourself type magic all in a positive special way. Really enjoyed the time, had some great laughs with the family and genuine smiles at the end. The puzzles were not the impossible we hope to see you fail type, they were totally doable with some fun surprises, complexities and payoffs. Our guide helped pace us with hints at the right time - letting us know if we didn't need one because we were ahead of schedule or I think offering when we needed it. As I said earlier there are only two other places where I enjoyed them so much that I have done every one of their rooms, I assure you we will be doing every one of the Nightwalker Caverns rooms as soon as we can. Thank you to the owners for what you have done here, we enjoyed your work so much. read more

O, M, G. From end to end the best escape room experience my friends and I have ever had. We planned a bachelor party to stop by there as one of our activities for the day, and they designed PERFECT custom Sanic signs for my best friend and put them all around the escape room for us to find. But when I told them, he couldn't make it, they offered to reschedule at the earliest possible at no charge (without us even asking). We did the room without the bachelor (long story), and it was so intricate. The details and puzzles in the room were intricate. Even though I had done many escapes in the past, the puzzles didn't follow the obvious normal tropes of other rooms I'd done elsewhere. There was a legit waterslide and even with hints we ran up to the edge of our time to finish. Did I mention this is also a father/daughter business? They are good people and fun to chat with. Be it for the room, ambiance, or people, 10/10 recommendations from me. Definitely will be back. P.S. They allow pictures in the escape room, because they change up the puzzles anyway! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Water Slide in their escape room. - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Just finished the Salem 1692 escape room. It was incredibly immersive and well put together. There is a live character actor who helps you with hints as you move through the rooms. The use of puzzles and theming was top notch through the whole experience. It was fully immersive, had great engineering, excellent use of lights, and had the best design of any escape room I've done in San Diego. I loved the Salem witch trial theme and the whole game. We will absolutely be back to try out the other rooms. read more

Amazing experience. Celebrating our daughters Birthday. She had a blast. We will be back. read more

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Hotel Nocturnus was A BLAST! Very intricate and well made; challenging but not impossible. This is our third time doing an escape room here and have not been disappointed. read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here with a group of 8, and had a blast! I did the one inspired by the Goonies. There were multiple rooms, more than any escape room i've done before. There was a person in the room dressed in character to help you along if you needed a clue, we definitely needed a clue at certain points but we didn't rely on it too much and finished with 10 minutes to spare. Also the games are 1.5 hours not just an hour like normal escape rooms so its larger and also can accommodate 8 people which is more than most. The first room took us the longest maybe 30 minutes, maybe we just needed time to warm up. Your pants will get a little wet so i suggest athletic shorts or surf shorts but not necessary. The clues were non linear, meaning once you got thru a room it was not over with, you definitely had to go back to previous rooms. But once you've used an object to open something then it was done with, you didn't need to use it again. The staff was really friendly and helpful. Unlike other rooms you can bring you cell phones in, you should use your flashlight on your phone so you can see and also useful to take pics of any decoder keys. You don't have to watch the Goonies to do the room, but it does help understanding a couple of tasks it and also makes it cool to recognize things that are inspired by the movie. So i suggest watching the movie before going. We all had a blast, theres also other games here which we want to check out, the clown one sounds fun too. read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - sign from the street - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Couldn't have asked for a better Halloween night at Nightwalker Caverns! Great escapes as always!! read more

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My boyfriend and I have started doing escape rooms for date nights and tonight we tried the Last Chance room. This room was very interactive and really fun! Our game master and the owner were both very friendly and answered all our questions. We really enjoyed this room and look forward to trying all the others! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Last Chance Room - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Only my second escape room, and went with a few very experienced family members. Clownatorium was a first experience for everyone. We all had a such great time!! Shane is awesome at getting us set up and ready, and Bubbles was amazing! We actually made it out with 1:15 to spare. Such a great experience! Thank you! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Clownatorium win! Great time with family! - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Awesome experience and awesome employees. Shane is an awesome owner! Will be back forsure!

Top to bottom great experience. Host had lots of fun stories and conversation to entertain us while we waiting for our session. The room itself was a unique experience and almost collaborative. The inclusion of the in room actor / helper was great fun. Definitely worth your time, effort, and patronage. read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

On September 28th, my friends and I participated in the clownatorium experience at this location and we left with a sick feeling in our stomachs. One of the first things we are told is that we could write something on the walls of one of the rooms, anything we wanted except for hate speech (I.e. racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc). So imagine our shock when we get to our room and the live actor in there says nothing but hate speech. The first racist "joke" he made was one about asian people, then he moved on and said a "joke" about how easy it is for Jewish people to be executed then made a nazi salute. Theres a mechanic in one of the rooms where he could control a hose that would spray at us, of course he couldn't help himself and made a "joke" about it being urine. He had sprayed our backs and proceeded to say, "now you guys are true Mexicans". He made "jokes" about my breasts, one about slapping my friend's ass, another one about his sperm, another about jacking off, the list goes on. We were all visibly uncomfortable, none of us were laughing at his jokes, I had even asked him to stop talking in general as he was ruining our experience, to which he obviously didn't listen. He made the experience a waste of time, we all left feeling violated and uncomfortable. This place is a waste of money, time, and energy. He tainted our entire experience and I'd like a refund. read more

I dont leave reviews like ever but this place goes above and beyond so they deserve it. My wife and brother in law chose the King Tut room. As soon as we walked into the lobby we were greeted in such a hospitable manner. Tiffany truly is a gem like the souvenir she brought back from Egypt. She is passionate, informative, and so exciting upon arrival. We really felt like they care about the experience as well as the puzzles inside the room. They don't treat you like a number like certain places * cough * Red door *cough*. We will gladly come back and try their other rooms, thank you Nightwalkers Caverns! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

This place has the most elaborate escape rooms that I have experienced in San Diego. Shane, the owner is very personable and a great host. He puts a lot of thought into each experience and the details and themes are second to none. My friends and I have tried three of his rooms and had a blast in each one. Our favorite so far was Hotel Nocturnus based on serial killers. These escape rooms are unlike most of the rooms around San Diego where it's very linear (you figure out a puzzle and move on). At Nightwalker Caverns, each escape experience is interactive and has multiple rooms that have you running back and forth to gather clues to complete puzzles. There are secret doors, tunnels, and interesting "modes of transportation" to get you from one room to another. I highly suggest you try this place out if you are a true escape room enthusiast. read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - We escaped with 2 minutes to spare!!! - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here on a whim to fill a vacant Saturday night. DID NOT DISAPPOINT! We did the Mummy-Themed Tut's Rut room. As someone who appreciates ancient Egyptian lore and history, being in this room was the coolest experience! The decor was excellent, it's clear that lots of attention detail and careful thought was put into the design of the rooms. The ground was even covered in sand! The puzzles were challenging, but definitely manageable (especially with the help of our wonderful aid). There are plenty of parts to this one, so future adventurers proceed with caution! Keep track of everything! My favorite part, hands down was the metal detector! It was a great, interactive way to make use of the sand. Though I have to say, the integration of astronomy/astrology is a close second! If you're looking for a stimulating way to spend your evening, this is the perfect place to do it! The staff is friendly, the rooms are sick, and there's nothing more rewarding than finally getting OUT! We finished with 20 seconds to spare, btw. And let me tell you, it was a struggle. BUT THE BEST KIND! Il definitely be back to try out the clown-themed escape room! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

This was our 3rd time. I love the different rooms and layouts and how much thought they put in the room l. It's always so entertaining. This escape room is so different than the ones I usually do and it's great. We will be back for the other rooms read more

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This place is awesome! The rooms are so well done. Shane and his crew have set the bar very high - you won't find another escape room like this anywhere else! Highly recommend! read more

These escape rooms are unlike any other, And the owners are so kind! I am definitely coming back again!

Not good. We completed the clownatorium room Escape room newcomers: I would hate for this to be your first experience. It is marketed as very unique and unlike other escape games--which is actually mostly true, but not in a good way. My team encountered a lot of props and electronics that weren't functioning properly, which ruins an escape experience no matter what or where. However, we still made it out because there is a "live actor," who is just an employee dressed like a clown that gives you all of the answers (even when you did not ask for help). I feel that if this was your first time, you probably wouldn't be inclined to try more escape rooms. Escape room lovers: just skip it. It is not a challenging brain exercise, and you will not get that sense of satisfaction from puzzle solving or teamwork that a good room gives you. The room is decorated in a cool way, but I wouldn't call it immersive. That is just about the only positive comment I can make. read more

We did the Gooneez room and it was amazing! By far the most immersive escape room we've ever done.

Went for my sixteenth birthday with 3 others. The owner and like our room assistant were really fun and cool. We did the Nocturnal Hotel room and it was interactive and looked awesome visually. I did expect the room to bigger but I didn't mind at all. 10/10 Will be back soon. read more

Shane the owner is a very nice and outgoing guy! He has constructed a very cool environment and fun atmosphere! We had a very good time and we Escaped! It was really cool and a lot more detailed than I thought but our group used there Witt's and common sense to solve all the things we needed to escape. Bubbles the clown was very cool! I really recommend you try this place! read more

The amount of effort that went into the room, the details of the decor, the super kind staff, and the fun puzzles, were all very impressive. It was very reasonable priced ($38) and we did a 90 min room. Will be coming back, thank you!! read more

Nightwalker Caverns Escape Room Adventures - Hotel Nocturnus - Escape Games Near Me - San Diego, California

This place has potential, but at the same time I feel like they don't get the point of an escape room. If you are looking for an immersive experience with challenging but solvable puzzles this is NOT where you want to go. Pros: There is a lot of effort put into the design of the set. They clearly try to add a lot of effects to each of the rooms. Cons: There is a person in the room that helps you out. This totally ruins the ambience of the room. Also, Some puzzles feel very random, and require a lot of prompting to solve. Finally, if you are going to spend all this time making a room feel like an ancient Egyptian tomb don't have plastic buttons on the wall. Game started with a 10 minute introduction where the host explained in depth how to solve the final door. Here's a hint, its supposed to be an escape room.... we should be solving puzzles to escape. Not having the answer given to us. When you look at the experience as a whole it feels like a bunch of high school theater people got together to design a set without thinking about how the puzzles fit together. If they put more thought into the puzzles and get the person out of the room (yes having someone on their cellphone in the room while you are trying to pretend you are escaping an Egyptian tomb so not cool) this place has the potential to be fun. Until then there are better rooms in San Diego. read more

We did the Hotel Nocturnus room and found it to be cool and creative with some fun surprises, but was not at all solvable without tons of help, and we're usually very good at them. The clues were very disjointed and non-sensical. Too much time was needed to be spent on decoding (they really should just make a few words coded, but there were probably 20 words throughout which took up way too much time). I also thought the worker in the room with us would be an actor who was part of the story, but it was just a worker in a reflector vest sitting in a corner of each room directing us. The owner told us afterwards, when he asked what we thought and I told him this, that he feels getting help from others is always necessary in solving crimes and such, so it's OK that we were helped. I disagree and think that every puzzle of an escape room should be solvable by the ones paying to do it. If not, I'm not sure of the point. Probably won't be back, sadly. read more

Super fun. Very helpful with beginners. Cool effects and ambience. Definitely recommend