The Escape Effect Presents “Fright Before Your Eyes”: A Ghost-Chasing Adventure on I-Drive

***Use our offer code DECODED10 to save $10 off each player’s ticket!***

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that Orlando has a lot of escape rooms. From large national chains to locally-owned establishments, residents and tourists alike LOVE these types of games. The Escape Effect on International Drive, however, offers a unique twist on this beloved product. While most escape rooms provide 60 minute games, The Escape Effect’s rooms are longer and more complex. They even have one room that can take up to TWO HOURS and requires at least four players to escape. 

Earlier this week, I was able to try their new game, “Fright Before Your Eyes.” Designed in response to the cancellation of Halloween Horror Nights and other beloved spooky events across Central Florida, this game offers a dark, creepy, haunted twist on the traditional escape rooms found in other parts of Orlando.    In “Fright Before Your Eyes,” guests will be a part of a ghost chasing team attempting to clear an abandoned theater of tortured spirits. As you investigate the old performance space of magician, Victor Strange, you’ll learn about his assistants’ mysterious disappearances and his maniacal ways. To escape, you’ll need to locate and release all of the spirits in the room before time runs out! 

Of course, any good ghost hunting team needs some supernatural equipment: 

Spectre Detector 1000

The SD 1000 has the ability to turn our normal, everyday light into a spectral wavelength capable of illuminating clues from the beyond. I don’t want to give away too much about this equipment, but I will say that it is designed to be operated by two people. While my husband was able to solely operate the device without much of an issue, I really struggled to use it without assistance. 

Spectre Detector 2000

You’ll use the SD 2000 to scan objects for spirit energy that can be translated into audio information. Before beginning your game, your host will give you a short tutorial on the use of this equipment and how it fits into your overall play experience. 

I’ve never seen props like this in an escape room. Using equipment to search our surroundings for unearthly messages made us feel like real ghost chasers! It definitely added to the game’s immersive atmosphere and game play. 

As a fan of all things spooky and creepy, I LOVED THIS ESCAPE ROOM! Of course, I won’t be giving away any spoilers, but I do want to tell you what sets this adventure apart from alternative games in the Orlando area. 

1) The Story
As the first ghost chasing escape room in Orlando, “Fright Before Your Eyes” offers a paranormal vibe that haunt enthusiasts can’t get from other games. And Ghostbusters fans will enjoy using the specialized equipment to hunt and release the spirits. But even beyond the movie vibes and spooky sounds, your investigations lead you to discover some pretty disturbing ideas. For those of us who enjoy a bit of darkness in our entertainment, this is an incredibly satisfying piece of the experience. 

2) Literal Darkness
Besides the metaphorical darkness of Victor Strange’s secrets, the lighting remains subdued  throughout the entire game. You and your teammates will use flashlights to navigate the room and search for clues. Of course, the low lighting isn’t solely to amp up the creep factor. The SD 1000 requires some level of darkness to effectively reveal ghostly messages. 

3) Game Play Style
​The Escape Effect challenges both sides of your brain by providing a variety of puzzles and riddles throughout the entirety of each game. With such a range of puzzles necessary to complete the room,  players of all skill levels and talents can find ways to contribute. At other escape rooms, I often find myself an active participant in the beginning only to become completely useless as the game progresses and the puzzles evolve. I often end up watching my left-brained teammates complete the tasks while I desperately try to assist. At The Escape Effect, however, I can always find a riddle that suits my personality and talents. 

4) Cohesive Theming 
My favorite part of any escape room is the theme. However, once you solve the initial riddles and puzzles in a room, most companies abandon the story – making the remaining tasks disjointed, as if they are just there to make the room more difficult to solve (which they are). At The Escape Effect, most, if not all, of the puzzles actually move the story forward. They are well integrated into the theme and keep you immersed in the experience.

“Fright Before Your Eyes” is no exception. Right up until the final tasks, you are lost in the story of Victor, his assistants, and the dark secrets you uncover. The missions and riddles you must solve are all related to the theme, keeping you completely immersed in the story. 

Freaky Thoughts

“Fright Before Your Eyes” is a delightfully spooky escape room for anyone interested in haunted attractions and horror themes. HOWEVER, even if you aren’t drawn to the macabre, you can still enjoy this game. There’s no gore, and the themes are sufficiently creepy to satisfy horror fans while remaining mainstream enough to not scare off others. While I love dark tales, my husband is more about happy stories and butterflies. We were both able to lose ourselves in the game and enjoy the experience. 

The Escape Effect offers incredible stories, fun puzzles, and a great value. PLUS, if you use our offer code DECODED10, you can get $10 off each player’s ticket. This brings the cost of a 75 minute – 2 hour escape room to almost equal to or even LESS than the cost of 60 minute escape room at other companies. Whether you’re a local horror fan, a curious tourist, or something in between – I highly recommend checking out The Escape Effect. With four very different games to play, there is something for everyone!