In 2023, four Quebec escape games made the list — all in Greater Montreal — earning each of them a Top Escape Rooms Project Enthusiasts' Choice Award (TERPECA).
One of the concepts even took fourth place out of 939 nominees submitted by 1,114 escape room enthusiasts from across the globe.
Considering that these enthusiasts have played a combined total of 314,782 escape rooms, we can probably take their word for it when they say that you can experience la crème de la crème of escape room games without leaving la belle province.
Top Escape Rooms Project is about to open its nomination period for the 2024 TERPECA award season, and the results are set to be announced on December 21. That leaves you with just over two months to explore the 2023 winners before this year's top 100 takes over — and isn't spooky season the perfect time for an exhilarating adventure?!
Here's everything you need to know about the Montreal area's best escape room games.
#98: PROJECT R.E.S.E.T. - Immersia Escape Games Boisbriand
Price: $38.99 per person
Address: 608, boul. du Curé-Boivin, Boisbriand, QC*
*Please note: Immersia's Boisbriand location is temporarily closed due to water damage. Check Facebook and the website for reopening updates.
Number Of Players: Two to seven
Why You Need To Go: Launched in March 2023, Project R.E.S.E.T. earned Immersia a "TOP ROOM" badge from TERP for the very first time. Billed as the company's most technologically-advanced experience, this room places you inside the mind of a "metacriminal," offering you the chance to regain your freedom.
Thanks to a new government project called R.E.S.E.T. (Rehabilitation, education and self-awareness of errors through technology), you'll be released from prison if you can demonstrate that you're able learn from your mistakes.
Anyone who's into escape games can expect to have a great time, but that's especially true for sci-fi lovers. As one player told the TERP team: "This is the stuff I used to dream about when I first started getting into escape rooms. A delightful concept executed wonderfully."
The game takes a maximum of 60 minutes to complete, and the success rate is 40%.
Accessibility: Partially accessible to people with reduced mobility (but it's still possible to participate).
#28: The Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen - Escaparium Laval
Price: $50.99 per person
Address: 5545, boul. des Rossignols, Laval, QC
Number Of Players: Four to eight
Why You Need To Go: Climbing from 31st place in 2022 to 28th place in 2023, this massive escape room — which cost $350,000 to build — transports participants to a tropical island that is far from paradise, even if the scenery says otherwise.
Yes, your dream of embarking on an action-packed, Pirates of the Caribbean-style mission can come true, as you join the Admiral's crew and head off in search of the Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen. However, you'll soon discover that the hunt doesn't end there, as the mysterious Admiral also seeks "eternal loneliness" for nebulous reasons.
"This room invites you to take the lead roll in a world class movie level adventure. With an incredible set design at an unbelievable scale, Voodoo leaves even the most seasoned players awestruck from start to finish," says an enthusiast interviewed by TERP.
The game must be solved in a maximum of 75 minutes, and the difficulty level is four out of four. The physical rating is set at zero, while the scare factor is one out of four.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible.
#7: Wardrobe for Sale - Escaparium Laval
Wardrobe for Sale at Escaparium Laval.
Price: $81.99 per person
Address: 5545, boul. des Rossignols, Laval, QC
Number Of Players: Four to eight
Why You Need To Go: This escape room moved up from 17th place the previous year to seventh place on the 2023 list — and for good reason. Impressive storytelling, fantastic sets and compelling puzzles make the experience memorable, as you step into the shoes of someone looking for a used armoire online. When you find one — and discover a secret door inside it — the adventure begins.
This game, worthy of a Narnia chronicle, will take you to a whimsical universe filled with endearing characters, dynamic villains and original puzzles to solve. You're sure to feel like the star of an epic movie, so gather your trustiest sidekicks because teamwork is everything.
You can read Narcity Québec Editor-in-Chief Izabelle Bee's review of Wardrobe for Sale in French here.
Otherwise, Kimberly Lawson of Bakersfield, California told TERP, "Wardrobe for For Sale does things I always wanted to see in a room, but didn't think were possible."
The difficulty level is four out of four, and you have 120 minutes to complete your journey. Note that the scare factor and physical rating are both one out of four.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, but some parts are more difficult to access.
#4: The Forgotten Cathedral - Escaparium Laval
Price: $66.99 per person
Address: 5545, boul. des Rossignols, Laval, QC
Number Of Players: Four to eight
Why You Need To Go: Opened at the end of 2022, The Forgotten Cathedral quickly rose to fourth place in the 2023 world rankings, making it North America's best escape room of the year.
Although this concept boasts a fairly high scare factor (three out of four), it's not too morbid or gory. Rather, the elaborate sets and Gothic architecture reinforce the illusion of an old abandoned church while the acting, storytelling and eerie atmosphere — not to mention, a few jump scares — are responsible for giving you the creeps.
On your guided tour of an ancient cathedral nestled within the Escaparium Laval complex, you'll explore artifacts from centuries-old rituals. Just as you immerse yourself in the history, things take a dark turn. A demon begins to haunt the premises, unveiling puzzles that are equal parts challenging and exciting.
In the words of one reviewer, shared on the TERP website, "Your jaw will drop so many times you may as well just leave it on the floor."
You can also find Narcity Québec Editor-in-Chief Izabelle Bee's review in French here.
This game is a three out of four difficulty level, and you have 90 minutes to complete your quest. It's important to note that the scare factor and physical rating are also three out of four. You have to climb steps and pass through tight spaces.
Accessibility: For ages 13 and over only. Not suitable for wheelchairs, as the game is played on several levels.
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
This story was adapted from the article "Ces 4 jeux d’évasion du Québec se classent dans le top 100 des meilleurs au monde en 2023," which was originally published on Narcity Québec by Noémi Lincourt.
A hockey game.
Fans at a Montreal Canadiens game.Courtesy of Laurie Bergeron
Youppi! the mascot.
Fans at a Montreal Canadiens game.Courtesy of Laurie Bergeron