Review: Lockbuster Video, 60 to Escape, Schaumburg (Chicago), IL.
Fun Factor 8
60 to Escape - Escape Games
Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Mall, D215, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Located on the middle level in the Grand Court, next to Cinnabon
Date Played: March 6, 2026
Booking Size: 2 to 6 players — we recommend 2 to 4
Game Time: 60 minutes
Difficulty: Basic to Intermediate
Horror Theme: No
Objective — Spoiler-Free
In Lockbuster Video, your team steps into a nostalgic video rental store with one major problem: you forgot to return your movies. And even if you find them, can you pay off your late fees?
The store’s AI-driven manager, Mr. Manager, takes late fees very seriously, no trust me, VERY seriously, and your debt is growing fast. To escape, your team needs to solve puzzles throughout the store, return the overdue DVDs, and find a way to settle the bill before those late fees become a permanent part of your future.
Our Experience
We had a lot of fun playing Lockbuster Video at 60 to Escape in Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois, and we highly recommend it with a Fun Factor of 8.
That rating is based on an engaging and playful story, a strong variety of puzzle types, several fun movie-genre-inspired settings, and one absolutely jaw-dropping prop that was both memorable and useful to the structure of the game. I am of course talking about the Lockbuster Video, animatronic store manager named “Mr. Manager”. Because 60 to Escape allowed us to take photos and video of it in action, and noted that it is a well-known feature of the room, I am comfortable mentioning it here.
Mr. Manager gives the game a big dose of personality and curb appeal right from the start. It is funny…and a little ridiculous…,and fits perfectly with the idea of a video store employee who takes overdue rentals much too seriously. Beyond being a memorable prop, it also helps frame the story, guide the experience, and provide structure. For us, it was the clearest reason the room earned its Fun Factor 8.
The setup is a throwback to the days of video rental stores, when we rented movies one at a time, returned them in person, and lived in fear of late fees. In the world of this game, you have not returned your DVDs, and those late fees have grown into something much more threatening than a few extra dollars.
You begin inside the Lockbuster Video store under the watchful eye of Mr. Manager. If you can solve the initial puzzles in the store, you may earn the opportunity to pay off your debt. Of course, paying off that debt is not as simple as handing over a credit card.
What We Liked
One of the best parts of Lockbuster Video is how well the theme supports variety. The idea of a video store filled with different movie genres gives the designers a natural reason to move players through very different environments, decorations, puzzle styles, and interactions. From this standpoint – its like channel surfing through a wide array of major movie motifs.
Each new area is distinct, and the changes in setting help keeps on our toes and freshly engaged. The room includes a nice mix of logic puzzles, matching puzzles, association-based puzzles, observation moments, and some light physical challenges. There is also a healthy amount of cheeky humor built into several of the interactions, which worked especially well for those of us who still remember how quickly video rental late fees could add up.
The game also has a very clear structure. Once you enter an area, it is generally apparent which puzzles belong to that space and what you are working on next. You are also told that items do not need to carry over from one area to another, which reduces complexity and keeps the game moving.
That makes Lockbuster Video a strong option for newer players, while still giving experienced players enough charm, puzzle variety, and set changes to enjoy the journey.
Things to Know
The puzzles are generally on the easier side of basic to intermediate. Experienced teams may move through the room quickly, especially if they divide and conquer. As usual, our group enjoys the journey, so we took our time, savored the experience, and tried to solve most things collectively. This room should be approachable by newer players – but some of the set pieces and game flow are anything but simple.
Most of the difficulty comes from observation and a couple of scavenging moments. There was also one moment where we triggered something silently and did not immediately realize it had happened until we looked in a different direction. That in not flaw, but a reminder that, in escape rooms, it pays to keep your eyes open.
We recommend 2 to 4 players. The room can accommodate up to 6, but because the puzzle flow is fairly clear and the difficulty is not especially high, a smaller team should have plenty to do without feeling crowded.
Location Notes
60 to Escape is located inside Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, which makes parking easy. As with most mall-based escape rooms, however, you should allow extra time to park, enter the mall, and find the location.
One pleasant surprise: unlike many mall-based escape room venues we have visited, 60 to Escape has dedicated restrooms, so you do not need to leave the venue and search around the mall.
They also have an innovative tech-forward miniature golf on site, which we did not have time to explore, but it did look fun!
We also played Magic Heist at 60 to Escape and recommend that room as well, but Lockbuster Video was our favorite because of its humor, playfulness, variety, and standout animatronic Mr. Manager!
Final Thoughts
Lockbuster Video is funny, nostalgic, puzzle-forward, and very easy to recommend. It may not be the most difficult escape room for experienced players, but it delivers where it counts: a clear theme, strong variety, clever use of movie genres, and a memorable central feature that gives the game its own identity.
If you play Lockbuster Video at 60 to Escape, please let them know you saw a Fun Factor Escape Room Review — and drop us a note, because we would love to hear what you thought.
Until next time, keep escaping — and remember: return your videos on time, because those late fees can really add up — and have fun!