Review: Carnage Cabin, No. 1 Escapes, Irvine, CA (Orange County)
Fun Factor 7
No. 1 Escapes
18003 Sky Park Circle, Suite F2, Irvine, CA 92614
Date we played: June 6, 2025
Booking size 2 to 8 (we recommend 2 to 4)
Game time: 60 Minutes
Objective: You’ve stumbled into Dwight’s creepy cabin in the woods. Solve the puzzles before he returns—or become his next victims.
Horror Theme: Yes. The room is passively scary—no actors or jump scares, but expect dim lighting, eerie props, and an unsettling backstory. Players begin blindfolded
Difficulty: Intermediate
We had fun playing Carnage Cabin at No. 1 Escapes and recommend it with a Fun Factor of 7. The game features an immersive set, a consistent storyline, and puzzles that flow well. It’s Chapter 2 in a three-part series, though it plays perfectly well as a standalone experience.
Although the signage says “No. 1 Escapes”, in a fun twist of wordplay, they call themselves “No one escapes”.
Our Favorite of the Trilogy
We played all three chapters—Devlin’s Manor (Chapter 1), Carnage Cabin (Chapter 2), and The Fortune Teller (Chapter 3)—but not in order. You don’t need to play them sequentially. That said, we think there’s potential for Chapters 1 and 2 to be combined into a longer, integrated back-to-back experience. Since the rooms are physically near each other, a thoughtfully designed transition could elevate the overall experience for players looking for something more expansive. In our experience when rooms are stacked cohesively the resulting combination is more fun than the sum of its parts.
Of the three rooms, while we had fun playing all, Carnage Cabin was our favorite—we had the most fun playing this one. We understand a new room is in development and sounds like it may raise the bar further. We’re looking forward to returning to see what No. 1 Escapes has in store.
Spooky but Playable – A Passive Horror Experience
The story picks up after Devlin’s Manor, with your team lost in the woods and taking shelter in Dwight’s eerie, isolated cabin. As the name suggests, the room draws from the “cabin in the woods” horror trope of escape rooms, but it does so with restraint. There are no live actors or jump scares, just an intentionally eerie atmosphere, creepy props, and low lighting. We’d call this a passively scary experience—tense and thematic without being overwhelming. Before you play this room make sure this is OK with all the participants.
The game begins blindfolded, and we appreciated that No. 1 Escapes provided individually sealed blindfolds. We’re not fans of shared ones, even when washed, so this was a thoughtful and welcome touch. You'll hear Dwight's unsettling introduction as the game begins, and while the lighting is low early on, it increases later and never overly interfered with gameplay.
Structure and Pacing – Linear, but Effective
This is a relatively linear game, with spaces and puzzles unlocking in a logical order. As typical, items found early on may become useful later, and the overall flow is steady and satisfying. There is one puzzle inparticular that can be worked on by a single person at a time—something larger groups might find frustrating. For that reason, we think 2 to 4 players is the sweet spot, despite the room allowing up to 8.
One highly realistic set piece stood out for its detail and helped deepen the immersion, even if it wasn’t tightly tied to a puzzle to the full extent of its fnction. The game world is well-contained, and the pacing builds nicely toward a climactic finish.
Puzzles – Varied, Logical, and Enjoyable
The puzzles feel like deliberate challenges Dwight has created for you to escape, rather than organic survival mechanics. But that works just fine when the puzzles are this solid. The room includes tactile tasks, pattern recognition, and logic-based steps, all supported by clear cluing. Puzzle variety kept us in the story - and progressed logically - from start to finish.
Players should be aware that somef crouching or crawling is required, so mobility considerations may come into play.
Great Staff, Clear Communication, Smooth Experience
We appreciated the friendly and welcoming staff—including the owner—who helped make the visit memorable. No. 1 Escapes operates two nearby locations, and their confirmation email made it easy to figure out where we needed to go, with helpful directions and parking info. The game is housed in an office park, which means ample parking is available.
If you visit No. 1 Escapes, let them know you read a Fun Factor Escape Room Review… and drop us a note to let us know what you think. Most of all—have fun!
We played and enjoyed all three chapters - Carnage Cabin (center photo) was our favorite.