Frequently Asked Questions

I’m Not sure how many people are coming. Can i still book?

Yep! We can add and subtract players when you get to Hatch, so no need to finalize your player count until you arrive. We can also work out taking additional payment or refunding you then. That said, your arrival time is 15 minutes before the start of your experience so we have time to do all that.

What’s an escape room?

An escape room is an interactive, immersive experience in which a team of players progresses through various challenges to accomplish some definitive end goal. Our rooms have no live actors, and they aren’t scary, claustrophobic, or built to make you feel stupid. They are instruments of joy, designed to inspire catharsis and fiero. (Have you ever heard anything so pretentious in your life?!)

What about the Nest? What’s the deal with that one?

The Nest isn’t really an escape room. It has some simple puzzles, but your goal isn’t to “escape” anything. We recommend you approach it as a piece of immersive theater. (Don’t worry, you won’t need to roleplay or perform.) Just take your time and soak in the beautiful story.

How long are your rooms?

Lab Rat is about 75 minutes top to bottom. The Nest is somewhere between 75 and 90 minutes. The Ladder is slightly over 90 minutes.

Seriously, though, Are your rooms hard?

No. In both Lab Rat and The Nest, you’ll be given hints to ensure you get through the whole story in the time allotted (unless you loudly demand otherwise). The Ladder does have tough puzzles but they are completely optional. As long as you trust us to pilot your experience, we promise you’ll have an amazing time and will feel brilliant.

Can I bring kids and babies?

The minimum age to play Lab Rat is 8. The minimum age to play The Ladder is 13. Anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by at least 1 person over the age of 18. Babies may join so long as they remain in a hands-free carrier for the whole experience.

The Nest is not recommended for anyone under 18, due to the subject matter (see the next question).

Are Your rooms scary or claustrophobic?

None of our games have horror elements. In Lab Rat and The Ladder, any intense moments are played for laughs. There is no gore, serious jump scares, or pitch darkness in any of our rooms.

While The Nest isn’t scary, there are some heavy emotional themes. Please visit The Nest FAQ page for a list of content warnings. Players who do not wish to experience this sort of story should steer clear. The game also has a few tight corridors and dimly-lit rooms, and requires at least one group member comfortable crawling. If you suffer from claustrophobia, this may not be your jam.

That said, you are never actually locked in to any of our rooms. You can leave at any time through the clearly marked emergency exits. But you won’t want to, because of all the fun you’ll be having.

Does every group get the room to itself, or will we be placed with strangers?

You always get the room to yourselves, you lucky devils.

Does Hatch serve food or alcohol? I’d sure love to get my drank on.

We do not. Also, we reserve the right to refuse entrance to anyone who arrives plastered, smashed, or sozzled. Throw up somewhere else, ya lush.

Do I need to speak English to do your experiences?

For Lab Rat, at least 1 member of your group should understand written and spoken English. For The Nest and The Ladder, all players should be fluent in English. And of course Esperanto, the universal language of love and international finance.

How early should I arrive?

You must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your booking time to provide ample time to sign waivers, use the restroom, and hear the rules of the room. Even if you arrive right at the time of your booking, you may lose some of your time in the room. There is no grace period. Sorry we have to be hard-asses about this, but we need to ensure our employees have adequate time for resetting rooms and taking their lunches and breaks.

Is there A parking lot at Hatch?

No. But there's lots of street parking on 3rd Ave and Washington. Allow yourself a few extra minutes to find a good spot.

How many people do we need to solve a room?

Lab Rat can be played by 2-12 people. We think 4-8 is ideal.

The Nest can be played by 2-4 people. We think 2 is ideal.

The Ladder can be played by 4-10 people and was designed to actually keep all of them entertained.

Keep in mind both Lab Rat and The Ladder have a minimum booking cost equivalent to 4 players. So if you come with 2, you’re still payin’ for 4.

What if I have to RESCHEDULE OR cancel?

You may reschedule or cancel if your reservation is over 48 hours away. If you are within the 48-hour window, we will be unable to change or cancel the booking. However, we will provide a refund for any amount over our minimum booking cost (4 players for Lab Rat or The Ladder; 2 for The Nest). Please direct all refund requests to bookings@hatchescapes.com.

How much do you guys cost?

Truthfully, the Hatch experience is priceless. But given that we exist in a broken capitalist dystopia, we do currently charge money. Our pricing is dependent on the game and the time slot. You can see the full schedule and pricing when booking here.

Keep in mind Lab Rat has a 4-player booking minimum, meaning you are welcome to come as a team of 2-3, but you’ll pay for the minimum of 4 players. Couples must be punished for the fact that they have found love.

The cost of The Nest is a flat rate for 1 or 2 audience members, then an additional cost per extra guest up to 4.

The Ladder also has a 4-player booking minimum and MUST be experienced with AT LEAST 4 players. If you arrive with fewer than 4 participants, you will not be able to enter the experience. We think the sweet spot is 6-8 players.