Looking for the best things to do on Feb 14th?
Wondering if an escape room is a good Valentine’s Day activity?
Unsure if a game of mystery with a countdown is the best way to celebrate being an item with your boo?
Here’s the short answer—Yes.
An escape room is a pretty awesome addition to your Valentine’s Day plans.
Not all that convinced?
Want to learn more?
Let us break it down for you.
We’ll highlight the best parts of an escape game that spark shared moments, surprises, and memories. Ideal for February 14th.
Ready? Let’s begin.
Entering the room
The door clicks shut behind you, and it’s like you’ve entered another world.
The decor—like an actual prison cell with bars or a bank vault with tough steel walls—pulls you in.
Special effects like flashing lights and distant echoes add to the immersion.
You’ll exchange a glance with your partner, silently saying, “This is going to be epic.”
Finding and solving your first clue
You spot something like a flickering lamp or a tilted picture. A little poking around and voilà—You’ve spotted the first clue!
A few guesses and laughs later, you’ve cracked it as well.
Like nailing a playlist together, or assembling DIY furniture as a team.
You feel more in sync, and ready to take the next step. Just like in your relationship.
Stumbling upon a hidden part of the game
You’re poking around a bookshelf when—bam!—a hidden compartment slides open, revealing a clue. Your partner gasps, and you both can’t help but laugh at how sneaky it was.
Or a faint click catches your ear. You turn to see a panel slide away, exposing a secret passage. “No way!” you both exclaim, grinning like kids discovering treasure.
It’s the kind of surprise you’ll recount long after February 14th.
The first real “Aha!” moment
You and your partner are stuck—nothing clicks.
Then, suddenly, the pieces fall into place. “Wait, what if we line up the shadows with the map?”
It works, and you share an epic high-five.
It’s like guessing each other’s thoughts…you complement each other perfectly.
Figuring out a complex, multi-step puzzle together
The clock is ticking, and the pressure’s on. You’re both staring at a seemingly impossible puzzle, clueless where to begin.
But then you collect yourselves, brainstorm, and take a crack at le puzzle insurmontable.
Piece by piece, you trace clues, test ideas, and celebrate each small win until the final piece clicks into place.
A fun way to discover how to complement each other.
Meeting a live actor
You’re mid-puzzle when a door creaks open, and in walks a “prison guard” barking orders or a mysterious stranger with a cryptic clue.
Your heart skips a beat, but your partner bursts out laughing.
An epic “Did that just happen?” moment worthy of an Instagram blow-up.
Warning: You may be in for a lifetime of being reminded how you got spooked in an escape room.
Cracking the final clue
It’s all coming down to the wire. The clock is ticking through the final few minutes.
Your hearts are racing as you tackle yet another clue.
Here’s the thing, though.
Unbeknownst to you, that’s it.
That’s the final clue.
As you piece it together, a lock clicks open and the way out is revealed.
A moment marked by a triumphant shout and a “We did it!” grin.
This moment? Totally frame-worthy.
Escaping with only seconds to spare
It’s as fun as the climax of your favorite thriller, if not more.
The last-second dash through the exit, emerging triumphantly on the other side.
Out of breath, but on cloud nine and feeling pretty much unstoppable.
Yet another moment neither of you will forget for months.
Celebrating victory
First of all is the post-escape game photo that’s pretty much an escape room ritual.
Ask the venue for banners (like “Done in 60 minutes”), strike the best pose you can, and say cheese!
Then, relive your favorite moments over dinner or dessert, trading laughs about that one clue you almost missed.
A picture-perfect end to an unforgettable Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day in Chicago?
Hit us up! You could…
Recover a bank manager’s secret diamond stash.
Find a way out of a maximum security prison.
Break into a bunker and stop a nuclear weapon from launching.
Outwit a serial killer and escape his hideout.
As for the post-escape game dinner, we’re in the South Loop and you’ll be spoilt for options.
Here are some of the best restaurants near Fox in a Box - bon appetit!
And if you’re looking for more options, here’s how to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Chicago.
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