Can you escape?
Comparing Escape 618's three Belleville, Illinois escape rooms by age, group size, difficulty, escape rate, and scare level, so you can pick the right one.
Owner, Game Master, Set Builder
Pick Detention if you want a lighter night built around puzzles, and your group includes kids or people who don’t love the dark. Pick The Jail Cell if your crew wants a real challenge with some physical tasks and tense moments. Pick The Haunted House of Alice if everyone is 16 or older and you’re after a genuine scare with a live actor.
| Detention | The Jail Cell | The Haunted House of Alice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages | 10+ | 13+ | 16+ |
| Players | 4-12 | 4-8 | 4-8 |
| Difficulty | Standard | Expert | Not published |
| Escape rate | About 75% | About 33% | Not published |
| Scares | None | Darkness, loud sounds | Jump scares, strobes, loud noises |
| Location | Main level | Basement | Main level |
We’re Escape 618, Belleville’s only escape room, located at 102 East Main Street downtown. Every set in the building was designed, sourced, and built in-house by owner Tyler Renner and his crew, working out of a basement workshop on East Main. We currently run three rooms, with two more on the way.
Detention suits families, school groups, and anyone who wants a game night without the scares. There are no jump scares and no lighting changes here. It’s the most puzzle-heavy of the three rooms, built around classic mechanics like locks, keys, and physical props.
Detention is open to players 10 and older, and it fits groups of 4 to 12. We actually run two nearly identical versions of the room, so we can host up to 24 players across both at the same time, which makes it a solid pick for bigger parties or field trips. About 75% of teams make it out before time runs out.
Your group starts chained to desks while your teacher, Mr. Picard, turns his back for an hour. The goal: track down a green key, get into the school computer, and fix your grades before he turns back around.
There’s nothing scary here. No strobes, no actors, no sudden lighting shifts. Detention runs on the main level, which is fully accessible.
You want a room that works equally well with a group of four or a group of twelve, and you’d rather solve puzzles than get spooked.
The Jail Cell is built for groups that want an actual challenge, not just an hour of fun. It leans on physical tasks, codes, and ciphers, and it asks your team to communicate clearly, since players start out separated.
This room is rated for ages 13 and up, with a player range of 4 to 8. It’s our most difficult room, and the numbers back that up: only about a third of teams escape.
You wake up handcuffed and locked in one of four separate cells. To get out, you’ll need to slip the cuffs, break free of your cell, work through the rest of the cell block together, and reach the door you came in through.
The room opens in darkness with some loud sound effects, though there’s no live actor. It sits downstairs in our basement cell block, reachable by stairs or a powered chair lift. There’s also a tighter crawl space in one section. If that’s a problem for someone in your group, a teammate can handle that part instead.
Your group likes a real puzzle fight, doesn’t mind a dark start, and has at least one person comfortable with a tight squeeze.
This is our only live-actor room, and it’s built for groups who actually want to be scared. If you’re looking for a quiet, puzzle-only evening, this isn’t it.
The Haunted House of Alice is for ages 16 and up only, with groups of 4 to 8. We haven’t published an escape rate for this one.
You’ve been dared to step inside Alice’s house. Light a candle, hold hands, and say her name three times to invite her in. From there, you’re racing to find a small heart-shaped necklace before time runs out, or you’ll be keeping her company for good.
Expect jump scares, strobe and flashing lights, sudden lighting changes, and loud noises. There’s no gore and no blood, but we don’t recommend this room for anyone with epilepsy or light sensitivity. It runs on the main level, which is fully accessible.
Everyone in your group is old enough, comfortable with flashing lights, and ready to actually be scared rather than just challenged.
No matter which room you choose, you’re looking at 60 minutes on the clock, though we recommend setting aside 75 to 90 minutes total for check-in, a digital waiver, a briefing from your game master, and a group photo afterward, win or lose. Every booking is private. You’ll never be grouped with strangers, and once you book a slot, it’s yours alone.
Every room requires a minimum of 4 players, since the puzzles are built around talking things through as a team. Pricing is $35 per player plus tax, with a $30 rate for military with valid ID and a $25 rate for kids ages 10 to 12 in Detention only. You’ll only pay one $35 deposit per booking, not per person, and the rest is settled after the game based on who actually showed up.
If anyone in your group is under 16, an adult needs to stay on-site for the whole game, since your game master is focused on running things from the control room. You can book online at escape618.com/booking/ or by phone, and we’d suggest doing it 1 to 2 weeks out, since weekends and holidays fill first.
If you’re still torn, think about who’s in your group. A mixed-age family or a big party leans toward Detention. A group that wants bragging rights and doesn’t mind the dark should try The Jail Cell. And if everyone’s an adult looking for a real scare, The Haunted House of Alice is the one.
Yes. Every room requires at least 4 players, since the puzzles are designed around teamwork and communication.
No. You’ll pay one $35 deposit per booking, not per player. The rest is paid after the game, based only on the players who showed up, and your group can split it however you like.
Yes. Call us at least 24 hours before your game and we’ll refund your deposit. Cancellations made later, or no-shows, forfeit the deposit.
The main level is fully accessible. The Jail Cell is in the basement, reachable by stairs or a powered chair lift. Give us a call before booking if you have specific mobility needs.
Tyler has run more than four thousand games at Escape 618 since opening on East Main in 2018. He still builds every set himself.
8 cases on file
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