The Outdoor Escape Room in Playhouse Square swaps the locked room for the streets of downtown Cleveland. You pick up a game box on Euclid Avenue in Playhouse Square, where the game begins, and follow a story that sends you on foot, roughly 1.5 miles around the Entertainment District, to find clues hidden in public places. The box holds a lockbox with a real lock, locked clue envelopes, a magnifying glass, a handkerchief, QR codes and a pen. You scan a QR code to open a web-based app, which requires no download and supplies the storyline, videos and hints, with no penalty for using them. Stops include the arched Playhouse Square sign where the game begins, the retro Playhouse Square sign, Nancy Dwyer's Things Change sculpture and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Public Square. All clues are in publicly accessible places, so you never need to go inside a shop or restaurant, although you can stop for a drink whenever you like.
How long and how hard
The game can take from about 1.5 to 3 hours depending on how experienced your team is and how often you stop to eat, drink and look around. Teams of two to six work best, since everyone can share the clues, although you can also play alone.
The app's free hints keep things moving, so it suits beginners as much as keen puzzle fans. Because you set the pace, there is no fixed start time pressure, and a team that wants a relaxed afternoon can stretch the game over a long meal.
What to bring
The game box and its contents, a device that can scan QR codes and open the app, and comfortable shoes for the route. Check the weather before you start, since the game is played outdoors, and plan for cold hands in winter, when you will be writing and handling envelopes.
The start is at Euclid Avenue and East 17th Street. Paid parking garages are nearby, or you can use a rideshare or the HealthLine bus. Because the game is played in public streets, keep an eye on traffic at crossings and agree a meeting point in case your group splits up to chase different clues.
Who it suits
Friends, couples and families with teenagers who like to puzzle and walk will enjoy it, and it works as a way to see Playhouse Square, one of the city's best-known theatre districts, without a guided tour. It is a better fit than a bus tour for people who prefer to move at their own speed. Pair it with dinner downtown or a show, and combine it with a daytime visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Choose the ghost tour or the comedy bus instead if you want a guide, and treat the game as the choice for groups who like to lead. It is also a reasonable wet-weather fallback only if the rain is light, so check the forecast the day before and be ready to postpone if conditions are poor, since paper clue envelopes and rain do not mix well. A thermos of something hot is a sensible addition in winter.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided, app-assisted clue game on foot around Playhouse Square, with a lockbox, clue envelopes and QR codes.
Best time
A dry afternoon or early evening, when you can pause at nearby cafes.
How long
One and a half to three hours.
Tips
Play in a team of two to six, use the free hints, wear walking shoes and check the forecast, since you are outdoors.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Friends, couples and teenagers who like puzzles and walking.
- Families
- Works well with older children and teenagers, since there is a lot of reading and walking.
- Couples
- A shared puzzle around Playhouse Square followed by a show or dinner.
- Pair with
- A show at Playhouse Square, or the ghost tour on another night.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
How long does the Playhouse Square outdoor escape game take?+
Between about 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on your experience and how much you stop to eat and drink. It covers roughly 1.5 miles on foot.
Where does the game start?+
It starts on Euclid Avenue in Playhouse Square, near East 17th Street, where you open the game box.
Do I need to download an app?+
No, the game uses a web-based app that you open by scanning a QR code. It provides the story, videos and hints.
How many people can play?+
Two to six players per box is suggested so everyone can share clues, but you can also play alone.
Do I have to go inside any businesses?+
No, all clues are in publicly accessible places. You can stop for food or drinks whenever you like.
