Here at Housecreep, we wish it could be Halloween all year round.

Even though everyone is gearing up for the holiday season, we like to keep the Halloween spirit alive by maybe watching a scary movie, going on a ghost walk, or of course, perusing the Housecreep vault. Occasionally, we’ll even try out a new haunted house attraction or escape room.

Recently, we were graciously offered the opportunity to test out Toronto’s latest escape room before it is officially available to the public.

Now, you might be thinking that escape rooms and haunted houses are not the same thing — and we’d agree with you. Most escape rooms we’ve been to that are thematically similar to a haunted house, don’t allow you to immerse yourself in the story or atmosphere. In many cases, it’s simply because the story is paper thin. Of course, with any time-based challenge, your focus is going to be on completing your objectives as quickly as possible, leaving little time to take in the room itself. 

But is it too much to ask for an atmospheric escape room, where the puzzles draw you deeper into the story, rather than to the periphery?

Enter ‘Beneath the Surface’ — a new escape room from Outbreak Escape Games. No spoilers here, don’t worry.

The room itself is designed in the style of a 1950's fallout shelter. Upon hearing about this concept, I was immediately intrigued.

Right from the get-go, it’s hard not to feel trapped in the creepy, mysterious world that Outbreak Escape Games has created. The music, sound effects, room design, and puzzles are all carefully crafted to draw you into the story, and build upon this haunting post-apocalyptic 50’s vibe. 

Without giving too much away, I will say that ‘Beneath the Surface’ is a challenging, immersive escape room. It’s the first escape room I’ve visited in Toronto that successfully blends the creepy atmosphere of a haunted house, with the challenge and mystery of an escape room. And it has a captivating story to boot. 

So if you’re looking to keep the Halloween spirit alive this holiday season, check out ‘Beneath the Surface’ at Outbreak Escape Games. Tickets are available now at www.outbreakescapegames.com.