A new indoor family-friendly attraction opened in South Lake Union just in time for the dark, rainy season and we are so here for it.
Great Big Game Show and The Escape Game are sister companies that share a lobby. Their building is one block from the Amazon Spheres. The attraction opened Dec. 1, the first Seattle location of this national chain. A Westfield Southcenter location in Tukwila opened in October.
When I walked in the front doors, the first thing I thought was, “Wow, this is perfect for a birthday party.” And behind me came a big birthday group of adults. (Yes, adults have birthdays too!) There isn’t a party room where you could do cake and presents, but Urban Triangle Park, with its incredibly imaginative name, is right across the street.
Both experiences take about an hour to complete, and both are a super fun way to spend a rainy afternoon. We’ll give you the rundown on each — plus a free parking tip.
Exterior of The Escape Game (left) and Great Big Game Show (right) in South Lake Union. Courtesy photo
Great Big Game Show: A High-Energy Game Show for All Ages
When you enter the lobby, Great Big Game Show is to the right. It’s like stepping onto the set of a TV game show: two teams face off in classic game shows with a live host.
This game is for you if you are a competitive person. It’s also a great choice if you are the type who glazes over reading game directions. The host, an actual person, explains the rules as you go along. Our host, Carlos, kept the pace going and the energy high.
The first Great Big Game Show opened two years ago, and the South Lake Union location is one of more than 15 nationwide. It’s fit for all ages, newborns and up. Winning takes a mix of trivia, skill, and luck, so adults have no advantage over kids. My son came from 100 points behind to crush me with a 2,000 point lead.
A live host guides you through Great Big Game Show. (Image: Caroline JiaYing Grygiel / Seattle’s Child)
There are about 20 games to choose from, some more physical, some more trivia-based. The host tailors the difficulty of the game for your group. They even have a children’s version, so a kids’ trivia question might be, “Who is the main character in ‘Frozen?’”
You need at least two people to play, with a max of 14. The hour-long session is typically enough time to play six to eight games. We tried these two:
- Chip shot: Like Plinko, only with more twists and spins. You have six chips to drop, with the stakes varying from wagering to charity to doubling points.
- Spin out: When you spin the wheel, you might hit the jackpot (2,000 points) or you might lose it all. You decide whether to keep spinning or walk away.
Chip Shot is like Plinko, only with more twists and spins. (Image: Caroline JiaYing Grygiel / Seattle’s Child)
The Escape Game: A Challenging Escape Room for Tweens, Teens, and Adults
Across the lobby from Great Big Game Show is The Escape Game. This one is about collaborative problem-solving, and skews older than Great Big Game Show.
The Escape Game is rated for ages 13 and up, though younger kids are welcome, and my tween really got into it. Kids under 15 need an adult in the group to play. There’s nothing inappropriate for kids; they need an adult because the puzzles are really challenging. I was completely stumped.
Luckily, there’s a big red button you can press to ask for a clue. Ask for as much help as you need with no penalties or limits. And if you get really stuck, a staff member will come on the speaker to spell it out for you. It was our first time doing an escape room, and we didn’t know what we were doing, so we leaned into the lifelines.
Timeliner is one of five escape rooms at the South Lake Union location. Your mission is to find a golden ticket while time-traveling. (Image courtesy Great Big Game Show)
You can have a maximum of eight people in a group, and you have an hour to complete your mission (though I’m pretty sure they fudged the clock for us). If you are claustrophobic, don’t worry. The door isn’t locked, and you can step out anytime.
The first Escape Game opened in 2014 and has more than 50 locations across the country. At South Lake Union, you can choose from these five games (with their difficulty levels): Ruins (6), Depths (7), Timeliner, (7), Cosmic Crisis (7) and Prison Break (9).
We played Timeliner, which is a train that travels through time. We solved puzzles with medieval knights and dinosaurs, then skipped to the future and back to Da Vinci’s workshop and ancient Egypt. The puzzles are tricky and they really make you work for it. It was such a rush when we finally found the golden ticket.
Your mission is to find a golden ticket while time-traveling. (Image courtesy Great Big Game Show)
Know Before You Go: Tickets, Parking, and Food Nearby
- Tickets: $44.99 per person for Great Big Game Show or The Escape Game; kids 4 and under are free.
- Shop around for discounts:
- Gift cards are 20% off through Dec. 31.
- Get 20% off a future booking if you book the same day you play.
- On weekdays, get 20% off if you do both The Escape Game and Great Big Game Show.
- You’ll get a Great Big Game Show punchcard after your first time playing. After three punches, your fourth game is free.
- Shop around for discounts:
- Location: 2101 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, one block from the Amazon Spheres.
- Secret Free Parking: Amazon does not advertise this, of course, but it is free to park in their garages after 4 p.m. on weekdays and all day weekends. Pull a ticket to enter the garage, and scan the ticket when you leave. It’s free. No need to stop by the ticket validation machine in the lobby.
Amazon Doppler is the closest to Great Big Game Show and The Escape Game. The garage entrance is 6th Avenue next to Marination. - Nearby Eats: This is a neighborhood that caters to tech workers, so it’s full of quick food options for anything you’re in the mood for. Within a one-block radius of Great Big Game Show and The Escape Game are Shake Shake, Marination and the newest branch of Supreme Dumplings.
Looking for more ways to burn energy without getting soaked? We’ve rounded up plenty of indoor activities for kids around Seattle, from hands-on museums to rainy-day favorites. If this experience sparks an interest in puzzles, you’ll also want to check out our parent guide to the Tomb Raider Experience escape room, which dives deeper into what to expect with kids in tow. And if your “wow, this would be perfect for a party” instinct kicked in like ours did, our Seattle birthday party ideas guide has even more creative, kid-approved ways to celebrate.
