The Rubric

How We Grade

Every room is scored across three categories — each worth up to 100 points. The final letter grade reflects the overall experience.

Quality

The physical and technical execution of the room.

Up to 100 pts

What We Look At

Set design, props, and production value
Technology — locks, sensors, AV, lighting
Maintenance and cleanliness of the space
Staff professionalism and game master quality

Example

"A room with hand-painted murals, custom-built props, and flawless tech scores high here. A room with padlocks on cardboard boxes does not."

Puzzle Cohesiveness

How well the puzzles work together as a unified experience.

Up to 100 pts

What We Look At

Logical flow from one puzzle to the next
Fairness — clues are findable, not arbitrary
Variety in puzzle types and mechanics
Difficulty calibration and pacing

Example

"Great cohesiveness means you never feel stuck because of bad design — only because you haven't figured it out yet. Every "aha" moment should feel earned."

Theme Immersion

How deeply the room pulls you into its story and world.

Up to 100 pts

What We Look At

Strength and clarity of the narrative premise
Consistency of the theme throughout the room
Atmosphere — sound design, scent, temperature
Whether the puzzles reinforce or break the story

Example

"A great immersive room makes you forget you're in a strip mall in Scottsdale. A poor one has a "pirate ship" theme with a combination lock that says "MASTER" on it."

What a Score Looks Like

Here's a sample breakdown for a strong B+ room.

Quality

Cohesiveness

Immersion

Average Score

B+

The Grade Scale

What each letter grade means in plain English.

S-Tier(97–100)

A once-in-a-while experience. Everything clicks. You'll talk about this room for years.

Excellent(93–96)

Outstanding across the board. Minor imperfections that don't detract from a great time.

A−

Great(90–92)

Clearly above average. A few rough edges but a genuinely impressive room.

B+

Very Good(87–89)

Solid and enjoyable. Worth your time and money with some standout moments.

Good(83–86)

A competent room that delivers a fun experience without anything exceptional.

B−

Above Average(80–82)

More good than bad. You'll have fun but won't be blown away.

C+

Decent(77–79)

Has its moments but notable weaknesses hold it back from being truly good.

Average(73–76)

Neither impressive nor terrible. A forgettable but functional escape room.

C−

Below Average(70–72)

More misses than hits. Might still be worth it for beginners or groups.

Poor(60–69)

Significant problems in multiple areas. Hard to recommend at full price.

Failing(0–59)

Fundamentally broken, misleading, or not worth anyone's time or money.

See the grades in action

Browse our full library of Arizona escape room reviews — every score explained.

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