Frequently Asked Questions

About Escape Rooms:

What are escape rooms?
Escape games are themed challenges where teams of players uncover narratives, decipher clues, solve mysteries, achieve objectives, and escape within a time limit (usually 60 minutes).

Is this like a haunted house, or what?
At Cracked It! Escape Games, We Put Fun First! Though the plot and the atmosphere of some games may be a little chilling, we’re not a haunted house. There are no actors or animatronics. We are not out to scare you; however, New Blood, New World does contain some atmospheric elements that may be disturbing or startling to younger or more sensitive players.

What do I need to know before playing?
All our games can be solved using only the clues and objects found within the room. To meet the variety of challenges you will face, you may need to leverage skills such as reading, counting, observation, deductive reasoning, and teamwork. You will not need to know any trivia or esoteric knowledge in order to succeed (though it may give you a leg up if you do!)

About Cracked It!

Why Cracked it! Escape Games?
The Cracked It team works hard to build games that are immersive, exciting, challenging, and above all: fun! We also pride ourselves on our friendly and attentive Game Masters who will make your visit an outstanding and memorable one!

Where are you located?
We are located half a mile past the Piney Green Gate on Hwy 24 as you’re heading toward Swansboro. Take the second turnaround and pull in to the big green building between Halz Mobile Home Supply and Space Place Self Storage.

559 Freedom Way
Midway Park, NC 28544

What are your hours?
WE ARE OPEN BY RESERVATION ONLY. We cannot guarantee there will be anything available if you try to walk in without booking in advance. Please note that “closing” time is the start time for the last game of the night, and we do not accommodate unscheduled walk-ins at that time.

opening hours for Cracked It Escape Games, Hours listed include Monday, Thursday, 3 PM – 8 PM, Friday 3-930pm Saturday 12 PM – 9:30 PM, and Sunday 12 PM – 8 PM. The venue is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Is our appointment a firm start time or do we have a grace period?
Players are expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to their reserved time in order to go over rules and safety and begin on time. Game Masters will start the experience at its scheduled time. Excessively late teams may have time deducted, be asked to reschedule, or be turned away.

How much does it cost?
Our games cost of $87 for 1-3 people plus $29 for each additional person beyond 3. Follow us on social media to be alerted to special offers and discounts!

What is your refund policy?
Cancellations with at least 24 hours advanced notice will be 100% refunded. Same-day cancellations will not be refunded BUT may be rescheduled one time at no cost. NO SHOWS WILL NOT BE REFUNDED OR RESCHEDULED. During inclement weather conditions that restrict travel, all parties will be rescheduled or refunded.

Do you use Groupon or Living Social?
In a word, no. We provide a premium experience to our customers and this is reflected in our pricing. However, we do offer some discounts, including our #GIVEBACK Initiative (15% discount on Mondays and Thursdays, with a portion of proceeds going to a designated local charity organization each month) and Military/First Responder tickets (see below). We also periodically run specials and promotions, which we publicize on various social media platforms.

Do you have a military/first responder discount?
Yes! We offer a 10% discount to groups with military members and first responders. Use offer code mil-10-20 when you check out or click the “get military discount” button.

Get Military Discount

About Our Games:

Will my team have the whole game to ourselves? Yes! All of our games are now private, meaning your game is limited to you and the people you brought with you.

What is the minimum/maximum team size?
We recommend 3-6 players for optimum value and experience, but we can sometimes accommodate single players as well as groups of up to 7. To comply with fire safety, groups of 8 or more will need to be split into separate games. Due to spatial limitations, Project Skylabs cannot accommodate groups larger than 6.

The website says I need to have 3 people to book. Can I play with just one/two people?
Yes, all of our games are playable by one or two people, though these smaller groups may find the games much more challenging to complete. In order to ensure the safety of our patrons during the ongoing pandemic, we have shifted to all-private games with a flat price equivalent to three tickets for groups of 1-3 players. You can select 3 players to complete your booking online, as it is the same price.

How difficult are your games?
Over our many years of operation, we have found that game difficulty is hard to quantify and does not communicate anything useful to the players. While we can measure that XX% of people escape this room while YY% escape that one, this is no indication of how likely your particular group is to do well.

In reality, the number of players, their willingness to use hints, and their diversity of skill sets are all much more important factors that play into a group’s likelihood of winning than how “difficult” the room is. A room that may be challenging for most people might be a piece of cake for you because the puzzles are more suited to your style of play, and vice versa.

We strongly recommend ignoring misleading “challenge” ratings and just booking the room that sounds the most interesting or fun to you!

How often do you change up your rooms?
We are so thrilled that you are enthusiastic about our games and are eager for more! We wish that we could have something new for you every week, but building out new games is expensive and very time and labor intensive. We at Cracked It! design and build all of our games in-house and it can take a while to execute something that meets our very high standards, so we aim to introduce 1-2 new games per year. If you want to stay informed when new games drop, follow us on social media (@crackeditnc) or join our email list! If you just can’t wait to get a taste of that sweet, sweet escape room dopamine again, we recommend giving other escape room companies in NC a shot! Scroll to the bottom of the page for an incomplete list of escape rooms in North Carolina.

How can I book my escape?
Click the “Book Now” button to be directed to the booking page!

Book Now

Icon Legend:

What do the icons mean on your Games page?

Game parameters:

Time limit: 60 minutes

Group size: recommended for 2-4 OR 3-6 players

Age limit: recommended for ages 8+ OR 10+

Game style:

Linear: puzzles lead from one to the other along a single path

Semilinear: puzzles lead from one to the other along multiple paths that may converge, diverge, or overlap

Nonlinear: puzzles can be worked independently with little to no crossover

Tech: contains puzzles with technological elements

Locks ‘n Boxes: contains traditional analog puzzles with combination or key locks

Creepy: may startle or disturb younger or more sensitive players

Puzzle style:

Observe: pay attention to your environment, search thoroughly, read text closely, look for connections or things that stand out

Investigate: discern what information is relevant & how to apply it

Riddles: deduce answers to cryptic statements or questions

Logic: infer intended conclusions through reasoning

Problem Solve: creatively apply the items available to further your goals

Sequence: follow instructions precisely and in order

About Accessibility:

I have a service animal, can I bring them to the escape room? Absolutely! We will politely inquire if your animal is a service animal, and what tasks they are trained to do. We are sensitive to the emotional needs of our guests, however emotional su… — **I have a service animal, can I bring them to the escape room?** Yes!

I have a service animal, can I bring them to the escape room? Absolutely! Service animals are more than welcome, but we ask our guests to please leave house pets at home.

Are the rooms wheelchair accessible?
We have taken special care to ensure that our building is accessible to people with mobility disabilities. Renovations include 36” doors, ramps, and grab bars in all restrooms.

Unfortunately due to the trailer layout, Project Skylab is not accessible to wheelchair users.

Do I have to do obstacle course-like challenges?
Our puzzles are designed to test your mental agility and problem solving skills, but no strenuous activity is required. We are more than happy to accommodate any players with limited mobility or other disabilities. Please let your GM know if you have concerns and we will work to ensure you can enjoy your experience to the fullest!

I am claustrophobic, can I play?
Absolutely! Though “escaping” is the name of the game, you’re never locked in and are free to leave and reenter the room at any time.

Can I bring my little ones?
Kids age 8+ are more than welcome! Please DO NOT bring infants (even in carriers/strollers), toddlers, or children under 8 to your experience. Our games are not child-proofed, and little ones who are under-stimulated or momentarily unattended are at risk of injuring themselves, damaging game elements, and disrupting your experience. We love children, but our experiences are best enjoyed when your full attention can be devoted to the game. Parents who arrive with young children, infants, or toddlers may not be permitted entrance to the game and will be rescheduled. Children ages 10-16 are permitted to play without an adult in the room to supervise, but an adult must remain on the premises in case of emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Escape Rooms:

About Cracked It!

About Our Games: