I was pretty sure I was going to hate escape rooms. I like to skip the puzzles in video games, and I hate being trapped, constant noises, or kept on a strict time limit. Kinda seemed like escape rooms would be the worst thing on the planet for me. But a friend loves the cyberpunk-esque vibes, and I was going to swallow my hatred to try my first escape room here with the Immersive Machine. I leave the experience virtually speechless. (No spoilers here, so read away!) Why it was great for two people new to escape rooms: -You can book the place solo. You don't need to be partnered with strangers who are going to speed run the place. -There is no clock anywhere. Time flies (serously, wow, it went so fast), but you aren't feeling rushed. -I was worried about it, but there aren't any "HOLYSHIT GO FAST YOU'RE GONNA DIE" vibes like some of the "escape to live" ones I've been told about. There's an alarm going off when you first get there, but it's like, a casual alarm that just reminds you that it's going off every 5 minutes or so with a light "beep". Like a friendly alarm. Nothing in here is on a time limit, constantly flashing, or constantly making noise. Nothing is designed for a panic response. This was huge for me. -The gamemaster's involvement is fluid and very immersive in the universe (but they're not in the room), so if he sees you're struggling, he steps in, in-character, to gently guide you without making you feel stupid. -Puzzles make sense, but they're also just really fun. It was a lot more of paying attention to the room's details and exploring the space than trying to solve a Rubik's cube or a slide puzzle. There were a few moments that required some actual hard, focused thought, but most of it was trying to pull together details of the space and alternative universe you're in (that are all easily available if you look around again). -There is nothing to memorize or "called back" throughout the place. You don't need to remember something that was told to you 50 minutes ago or else you can't finish it; everything you need is always easily accessible, and all the puzzles are "solve it and move on". We started by taking tons of notes on our phones just in case, and we abandoned that quickly since it wasn't necessary. -You mostly stay in the same areas, so you can put down waters or drinks and take breaks as needed. It doesn't cut you off of any of the areas, so you don't have to stress about constantly moving. -We finished it, two person, in under the average time, despite never having done an escape room in our lives. Why it was great, overall, in general: -The "alternate universe" makes it a lot more fun. At one point, you'll get to see a calendar the team made, complete with holidays and other details specific to this universe that doesn't exist in ours. It's these small touches that made me super excited (and sad I couldn't just sit and read them). -The gamemaster (Randy, I think?)'s personality was absolutely amazing. He was super friendly, and getting into his character really made it easier for us to feel okay getting into them too. -I'm not super into LARPing or playing pretend, but if you wanted to, there are free costumes and the over-the-top vibe of the gamemaster makes you feel less silly about trying it for yourself. -There's a little personified "friend" that pretty much everyone is going to fall in love with. I now think I love escape rooms, but I'm not sure any other escape room will ever compare to The Immersive Machine. There's no way for me to go but down; there's no way any other escape room will be as good as Immersive Machine was. It entirely converted me, and now I think escape rooms are the coolest thing ever. I see why it has a straight 5 stars on every review platform AND wins annual awards from the escape room social network. This is amazing. read more

This was such a fun escape room! When you first arrive there's a lounge room to wait in, pick out some costumes if you want, and there's a mini "warm-up" puzzle. Then, they take you into the escape room where there's some cubbies to store your personal belongings. There is only one escape room here and it's called Sal's Cybernetics and is for 2-6 people. The theme was really immersive and there were some really cool puzzles to solve! The staff increases the difficultly based on the teams progress so we got the hard version and solved everything in 42 minutes. read more

The Immersive Machine - Lounge room - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Friends and I came to do their escape room, and we couldn't be more impressed. Everyone in the group had done an escape room before, but the consensus was this was a cut above. It was fun, with costumes and accessories to set the mood before you get into the room. The whole place had a coherent vibe from the second you walk in the door, and they do a good job of tuning you to their frequency. The theme is a sort of technological dystopia, cyber-punk with a touch of steampunk nostalgia. The room itself had a dynamic level of difficulty. I enjoyed the story, which followed us throughout and made sense with the aesthetic. The hints are just right to keep play active but engaging. The puzzle involves some moving around, but nothing physical enough to alienate people. (I had a knee injury acting up and I could do everything just fine.) Staff was helpful, and shared cool facts about their process and vision. We can't wait to go back when they open another room! read more

The Immersive Machine - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Very fun escape room that does truly feel immersive. The staff are very friendly as well and don't give you too many hints.

This was a very well put together escape room. Everything was great. Amazing story line, attention to detail, quality, great service, etc. It's too bad I know how to escape now or I would definitely return. 10/10 read more

This place is in my top escape rooms that I have ever done and I've done about 200 rooms now. I always love when I go to an escape room and the owners are kind, truly care about what they do and are also good at what they do! They have one room here, so far, and the set design was so cool. The 2 owners here built it themselves! I got to talk to them after playing the room and you could see how passionate and excited they were to talk about everything they have created. Of course, the name of this establishment is "The Immersive Machine" and they really do a great job making it immersive, it really feels like you are in a different universe. I don't want to spoil much, but I think the toaster is really neat. It is not mandatory, but before starting your mission, you can put on some cyber punk gear to feel more immersed as well. The theme, set, everything was spectacular and there were tons of unique puzzles in this room that made it so enjoyable. I talk about this room so often. I will absolutely be bringing more friends so they can experience this incredible place too! read more

The Immersive Machine - Lobby. All dressed up, ready to play! - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

My buddy and I just did this as our first escape room. Great experience. Loved the immersion and the props. Loved all the easter eggs if you're a SciFi geek, especially the Red Dwarf reference. The puzzles were logical and internally consistent with the story. The owner was super friendly and made it a really fun experience. Highly highly recommend. read more

This was the best escape room I have ever done! So much fun, lasted the whole hour, was just the right difficulty, and the host was so kind. Amazing for kids too!! read more

What a fantastic escape room story and experience!! Highly recommend coming and visiting Crumbz! read more

Came here with my boyfriend and his little brother, and we had such a great time! Definitely one of the best escape room experiences we've ever had. We're really looking forward to coming back when their newer rooms open! read more

This is a really fun room with a great storyline and production value. There were a couple of unique parts that we haven't seen before that really added to the experience (no spoilers here). Scott was our gym and he built the room along with his partner Kayleah. You can tell they put a lot of love into the room and he shared his vision for the location with us. I'm really excited to see when their vision comes to life because we had a great time and they truly love putting a great product together. We will add this to The Nemesis club as must do rooms in the Phoenix area. read more

The Immersive Machine - Successful escape with Crumbz - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Such an awesome experience! Definitely the best escape room I've done so far. Sals Cybernetics is super fun and the room is definitely immersive. Our game master was great in character and was friendly and helpful when needed. We made it out with 5 minutes to spare and I really enjoyed the variety of puzzles/clues. Highly recommend checking this place out! Can't wait for their second room to open. read more

I absolutely loved how pretty the rooms are and how immersive the experience was. The story line is set in the future, cyberpunk. It was so much fun and you get really into the story. They used a bunch of different varieties of puzzles not just locks and keys. I had so much fun! I can't wait to come back in town to try their new rooms and room extensions! The levels of the rooms were also adaptive so if you're good at escape rooms, they'll try to throw extra puzzles for you to solve before leaving. They have props and outfits for you to play dress up! The tech is awesome! read more

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Such a cool escape room! Very immersive with the story and lore! The owner is super nice and cool! Getting to wear costumes was so much fun! Vibes were so good and the room is insane! read more

When the people who develop an escape room really care about the quality of their room & your experience in it, You can feel it. You can taste it. You can see it in 3-D. You can see it in fluorescent. You can see it virtually. You can hear it from a talking toaster!!! Just give him his damn bread and go play this amazing room with all your closest friends!!! read more

To start, there's a cool intro room with cyberpunk gear if you want to really get into it - you should! The puzzles were incredible, VR headset, three shells, and a talking toaster among many others. It's not just locks and codes, you've got to hack your way out! We've done quite a few escape rooms and this place is number one. Say hi to Kay, from Steve and Lea! read more

The Immersive Machine - Cyberpunks! - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Incredible! Can't recommend this place enough. Truly felt the passion in this project. So fun and challenging.

An escape room to make you smile, feel the rush, and work together coupled with owners/creators who really care. Sal's Cybernetics is an excellent escape room. Aptly named "Immersive" Machine is the place to go for escape rooms. We had a great time, we laughed, we were never bored and we were involved in puzzles that were fun and included everyone on the team. Put this company with some of the other big names out in AZ. Whether veteran or new to escape rooms, please go play this game. Thanks for the great time! read more

The Immersive Machine - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Had friends come in from out of state and decided to book an escape room. This was the first one to pop up, also seen on TikTok. We had a group of 5 and all had a blast. We all had a chance to work on different puzzles while still working as a team. The puzzles were fun and interactive, nothing like I've seen in an escape room before. I was amazed by the attention to detail in the room! I can't wait to be back and see what other rooms they create. read more

The Immersive Machine - Pay attention to your instructor! - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Just an amazing experience!! Scott was our game master and offered refreshments and snacks when we arrived. What I liked about the room: The story was very interesting and interactive. There was a toaster named crumbs that helped answer any questions and served as our makeshift game master. There were props!! So we can immerse ourselves in the story. There was no official timer. We could take as much time needed. The room was relatively easy to understand. It was liner in a way that each step had a following action. This helped our team progress in the room fast and easily. It wasn't complicated at all. All of our steps made sense and had a reason behind it rather than opening up a lock just to open one up, we had a mission for each code. It's a great place for beginners honestly! I'd say take your friends or siblings to this one! I loved it and I can't wait to come back to play the next one here. Thank you Scott and crumbs! Well done and we will be back soon!! read more

Astonishing place! My team of 4 came to this place from California because we have heard numerous good things about the game, Sal's Cybernetics. 3 of us have done over 200 games and came here to make the game to our new members 100th room. It was so worth it. Refreshing idea with stunning set. Super whimsical puzzles. We had a BLAST. The owners are chill and passionate about escape rooms. One of the most friendly people! I cannot say enough good things about my experience and cannot wait to come back for the next game. read more

The Immersive Machine - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

One of the highest quality escape rooms in the valley! We had a blast doing Sal's Cybernetics. Definitely full of technology, but it's actually really well done and completely functional. I've done ones where the tech isn't necessarily reliable, but we had no issues. Everything was user friendly and on theme. I appreciate the level for this one as well, we do quite a bit of rooms and it was just the right amount of difficulty. I think we had a few minutes left, but not so little I was worried we wouldn't see it through to the end. They went for a more immersive experience and I never felt a hint or nudge was intrusive, assistance was delivered in a very unique way! XD Overall this is easily a "must do" for any escape room enthusiasts. Definitely if you're visiting the valley and debating on a room, this is the one to choose. read more

We came back and brought our kids. They are still talking about crumbz and can't get over the fact that they may never see him again. We had fun doing this room even a second time. The more the kids and us talk about it, the more we can't get over how immersive and fun the room is. Our game host is obviously passionate about what she does and I honestly don't think any other game host will ever reach the bar she set. This is for sure our new favorite room. The kids really enjoyed dressing up for their roles in the game- I've never been to an escape room that provides you with accessories before the game. I wish they had more rooms read more

A lot of escape room places have great reviews because the reviews are often written by folks who have done their first escape room, and frankly, if you haven't done one before and like puzzles or games, you'll likely have a great time almost anywhere you go But there's actually a pretty big gulf between dialed-in escape rooms following a cookie cutter flowchart and the winners where you can tell there's an experienced player behind their design with lots of personality and immersion. This is absolutely the latter. Clues are given in character, there's a ton of detail, and the pair of brilliant minds behind the curtains really understand how to keep you engaged and make sure the room has proper conveyance. The lobby is a work in progress as this place is currently in between two different business ventures but it sounds like the focus will be on the escape rooms so if you walk inside and wonder why it doesn't look like most escape room places, that's why. However once you enter your room there's no question that it's a polished game. One of the best I've done in AZ and I've done over 100 rooms across 5 states. read more

It is a cute little spot! My oldest sister and I went together! They also have air hockey!

Awesome escape room with futuristic theme! Cool immersive design, fantastic challenges, great story... I love cybertek / blade runner stuff and our girls had a great time solving all of the unique challenges and solving the room! (Ages 10 and 9) Crumbs stole the show. Would love to buy a Crumbs t-shirt! Scott the game master is a pro, and very welcoming and great at introducing new people to escape rooms! Somehow a great escape room for beginners or experts! read more

A really fun escape room - highly recommend! Also, a super-nice and enthusiastic owner. The design is awesome, as is the storyline and all the details in the rooms. The designers have figured the wittiest way to give clues - I don't want to spoil the surprise, but that was my favorite part of the experience. I went with friends who were very close and I was worried about being the outsider in the group, but the rooms were designed in a way that kept every single person in the group, engaged. We all had fun, and enjoyed the challenge! read more

We've been to a couple of escape rooms but nothing was as immersive as this one. It has cutting edge elements you won't find anywhere else and I'll leave it at that so you can go experience it yourself! read more

I've done quite a few escape rooms in the past, and this one is absolutely one of the best! The puzzles were clear, engaging, and unique, and the spaces were decorated to perfection! Even the host engagement and gameplay were both incredibly thoughtful and dynamic. It was a killer birthday experience, and I can't wait to go back for more games in the future!! read more

Hands down one of the best escape rooms in Phoenix. I've done at least 30 escape rooms, mostly in Los Angeles where you get a lot of world class rooms designed by Hollywood special effects types. The Immersive Machine delivers everything you want in a top-tier room -- fun puzzles, beautiful sets, and well-integrated technology. And on top of that, this room truly shines for its sense of humor, making it one of the most fun rooms I've done. In most escape rooms, I try to avoid communicating with the game master at all costs; it distracts from the storyline and I feel frustrated and guilty when asking for clues. BUT the Immersive Machine has easily the best communication system I've seen. It draws you further into the story in a genius, whimsical, funny way. We did this room for Father's Day and it was a big hit. WOULD RECCOMEND! read more

The Immersive Machine - Father's Day at the Immersive Machine escape room! - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

None of us is new to escape rooms and this was a blast! Appropriately challenging with a very fun guide and great costumes to wear during the room. Thanks Crumbs! read more

We just did one of the best escape rooms here. My fiance and I have done about 200 rooms and this would be one of the top rooms we've done!!

This place is an amazing new escape room that just opened up. Don't be fooled by the nondescript outside, the room is fantastic. I went any played with my girlfriend. I love puzzles and escape rooms and she's not nearly as into them but we both had a great time. There was a great balance of puzzles and fun challenges/tasks The story and design of the room is fantastic. Futuristic cyberpunk. Their hint system is one of the best I've ever seen. All in all, we had a fantastic time. I can't wait for them to build more rooms. After we finished, they told us that they have plans for a few more. This room raises the bar for escape rooms in Phoenix. read more

Having done 300+ escape rooms around the world this is in my top 10. The immersion is excellent! The designers have created a clever and fun method to provide help that can be tailored specifically to your group. They have clearly put love into this game experience. This is the first room created by this team and I'm excited to see what comes next! read more

By far one of the best escape rooms I've done. The owners carefully crafted and built a fully "immersive" experience. The puzzles all make sense and fit well into each other. I've done some where the clues for the puzzles are haphazardly thrown together. What makes this escape room unique is the way technology is integrated into the experience. There were so many elements that were leveled up by the tech implementation. Highly recommend that you come here asap! read more

Suuuuper fun immersive escape room. This is a very well done game, our family of four loved it (even the teens)!

The Immersive Machine is building something special. Their first escape room comes right out of the gate with some truly incredible world building, fun puzzles, and great characters (well, one character in particular - IYKYK). Sal's Cybernetics is a great time, and I can't wait to see what they'll do next. (The owners gave us a small sneak peak and I think it's going to be great!) read more

An incredible experience from beginning to end. The owners are in the process of converting an existing art co-op to an escape room destination with multiple rooms and their very first room set a superbly high bar. The overall theme is futuristic cyberpunk with each room adding a destination to their sprawling city. My wife and I have done countless physical escape rooms and board game escape rooms and I can say this has very unique puzzles. There are multiple puzzles to work on at the same time so you are encouraged to divide your party to their strengths. This really engaged my son as well as my wife since they both felt like they contributed. There are a lot of rooms that are linear and have 5 people looking at the same clue and that gets long in the tooth very quickly. Kudos to the owners, very very well done. CRUMBZ. read more

The Immersive Machine - Clues in here? MAYBE. - Escape Games Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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A little sketch from the outside but wow what a surprise awaits inside! Such a fun experience and will definitely be back!

This was the best escape took that I've ever played. The room was a blast and the owners were super friendly. The room was also kid friendly. Sean read more