From evil dentists to Bigfoot, work as a team to escape immersive, mind-bending experiences

Escape rooms have seen a huge spike in popularity over the last few years, becoming the activity of choice for birthday parties and workplace bonding alike. It's not hard to see why—they're basically giant 4-D puzzles come to life. If you're seeking a challenge, Mission Escape Rooms in Maryland holds the key for unlocking a good time!

Founded by Jason Cherry in 2016, the company's young entrepeneur sought to create a fun-filled environment for problem-solving and teamwork. The local chain offers immersive experiences at three locations in Annapolis, Gambrills, and Hanover, with almost a dozen themed rooms. In groups of 10 or less, visitors get to hatch their escape by cracking codes, solving riddles, and working together to beat the clock. You only have under an hour (50 minutes, to be exact), so the sooner you escape the better!

Each room is ranked according to difficulty and offers a mix of beginner and advanced challenges. Test your skills in a variety of experiences—from haunted summer camps and magic shows to a fairy tale crime scene. Just in time for Halloween, the Annapolis location launched a special room called "The Mad Dentist" where visitors plot their escape from the office of a suspected serial killer dentist!

Once you finish tackling one of the many challenges—UFO landings, Sasquatch, the lost temple of civilization—you will even get a commemorative photo taken at the end to mark your visit. Intrigued? Here are a couple things to note before you go:

• Admission is $26.99–$39.99 per person
• All ages are welcome, but kids 14 and under will need to be accompanied by an adult.
• Visits can be rescheduled 24 hours in advance, though no refunds are offered
• Walk-ins are allowed, but guests are encouraged to plan ahead with a reservation—you never know if they'll be all booked up!

You can check out their website for more details.

**All photos courtesy of Mission Escape Rooms' Facebook

Have you gone to Mission Escape Rooms before? What was your favorite challenge? Leave a comment telling us about your experience!