Our group had such a great time at The Ruse! We did the Inventor’s Room and it was so well set up with so many fun and challenging puzzles to keep our whole group busy and engaged! I can’t wait to do another room because of how creative and well thought out everything was! I’d definitely suggest this as a great group activity!

We love escape rooms, and enjoyed this company’s room very much. Very interesting/authentic props, puzzles were not too hard, but not too easy; just right...intuitive. The puzzles had good variety. The gamemaster was great. There was a good flow that kept us moving in the inventor’s room. Super fun room for a two people that are into escape rooms.

Inventors Guild is hands down the best escape room in West Michigan. There are so many awesome elements and unique puzzles I havent ever seen in all the escape rooms Ive done. Awesome experience, great game master, fantastic puzzles.

Booked the outdoor escape for my sisters bachelorette party & everyone loved it! It was great to explore the city and collaborate to find the clues. Kyle was great and helped us out along the way! Highly recommend The Ruse!!

We had a blast at The Ruse for my bachelorette Party! We escaped with 2 seconds to spare! Highly recommend!

We did the outside challenge. Walking all over gr. Great clues but also very challenging. Highly recommend to everyone.

The indoor escape rooms are outstanding; the outdoor escape adventure is a complete let down. The clues are very obtuse, making the game almost impossible to win so there is no real satisfaction playing the game, only frustration and discouragement. And unfortunately you spend more time walking around than deciphering the riddles. My team consisted of four relatively intelligent individuals and we all came away very disappointed. The Ruse Outdoor Escape is definitely not worth the $30.00 per person. A day at the gym is cheaper and just about as much fun.

This was so much fun! Great way to spend an hour with friends :) 10/10 would recommend :)

Definitely would recommend this escape room. The theme was great (we did the Inventors Guild), the puzzles were creative and challenging, and the overall experience was exactly what I was looking for in an escape room! Looking forward to going back to try the hunters room in the near future.

We visited the Ruse @6pm and we had a great time our host was wonderful we cant wait too visit again...

Fantastic theming and challenging! We did the Inventor and Hunters rooms and had a great time. This is the 5th escape room weve done in different parts of the country and is the only time that we havent escaped. Highly recommend!

Excellent time, Kyle was quite the gamemaster! Great attitude! Will definitely be back.

My friend and I went over the weekend and had a legit great time. Although we didnt make it out (we were right at the end) it was a fun first time experience for both of us. Were already planning on going back!

This escape room is awesome!!!!! Tough and challenging! We have done both rooms and they are awesome! Recommend to do with a family or friend group!!!!!

We’ve done all three rooms at The Ruse (2 indoor and 1 outdoor scavenger hunt) and have had amazing experiences each time! Creative puzzles and wonderful staff make this a must-do in GR!

Awesome concept of a game! Very fun and hands on! Definitely going again!

It was so awesome. The concept and puzzles are pretty good and well thought out. Staff was very friendly and explained the rules well enough. I would definitely go there again.

This was my first experience with an escape room. We made it out with 2 minutes on the clock! Our host was great at explaining what we needed to know, & then giving us clues as needed. N was also a fun person & they deserve recognition for being awesome.I will be coming back when I get another crew assembled.

This was one of the best escape rooms my family has done together (and weve done a lot!). We did the Inventors Guild and got out with time to spare, but it was still a very fun time for everyone, including my younger cousins. The staff was friendly and informative, and the room/props/puzzles were top notch. There were a few puzzles that we had never encountered the likes of before, which was really fun for experienced players. The only way I would have made it better is by adding more! Another room, or a puzzle using the papers on the wall (maybe one or two can be stuck to the wall with velcro?) would add just that extra bit of challenge. Otherwise, great experience, clean and exciting facility, good puzzles, friendly folks and a great way to spend an hour.

Christmas 2018 was our familys first experience at The Ruse. Our group of seven went through the Trophy Room and had an absolute blast. We loved it so much that we went back this year (2019) to attempt the second room, The Inventors Guild. Both rooms are gorgeous and so well done. Aesthetically speaking, these are the best rooms in GR, hands down. The staff is friendly and the puzzles are fantastically creative.

They do an amazing job here! Our host was incredible, and we had a great time!

Fun challenging escape room! We went went with 2 rooms competing against each other and one of us finished and one of us ran out of time. The paper props were getting a little worn and could be replaced, but not sure if it was part of the ambiance. Had a great time though!

Absolutely amazing. The building is beautiful, the rooms are very well done, and the puzzles are super entertaining. Its not so easy that you arent getting your moneys worth, but its definitely possible to finish. There were 2 of us in the Inventors Guild room and we finished with less than 2 minutes to spare! The host was really great too! Really a top notch escape room!

We did a corporate team building event there and it was fabulous! Kyle (our gamemaster) did a fabulous job! The escape rooms were intuitive and creative. You will not be disappointed.

We had a company event at Ruse. Staff was friendly and helpful. The escape rooms were challenging and a lot of fun. The ‘game master’ could tell when we were getting stuck and offered timely clues and helpful hits to keep things moving. Absolutely recommend Ruse, you should check it out!

Really great time! Highly recommended!

It was creative and fun! Some places are just a couple lock boxes. This was really challenging and I cant wait to go back!

This is the best escape room Ive been to! Its got several unique elements and the staff is friendly and chill. Decidedly recommend for a fun time!

Rooms are really well thought out and designed. They really go the extra mile in the details and design. We did the inventors guild room, with just the 2 of us we finished with only 2 minutes to spare. The host was great at giving just the right amount of tips on the monitor (i really like that they arent actually in the room, its awkward when the host is just standing there) I dont think we wouldve finished in time if it werent for the few well timed hints we were given, but the tips also didnt give too much away.Really immersive and fun, we smiled the whole drive home.

It was a great experience. We went for a 21st birthday and they treated us nicely, answered our requests patiently and gave us a good experience. Booking and setting up a time for the room was timeless and easy they helped and walked us through the system. In terms of the rooms (as they were explained and our experience) they are well thought out impressive puzzles that is fun to work through with a rewarding feeling at the end. The only issue we had is we felt they gave us too many hints and at sometimes useless times. It felt a little too easy at times because of the hint. We did finish our room under the time but with the amount of hints given it let us finish in time. Of we had 30 more minutes to figure it out then it we would have finished without the hints. Overall the experience was fantastic and I would return again with a group of friends like last time!!!

We had a great experience with the outdoor scavenger hunt! Staff was friendly and explained things well and the hunt was well organized. We’ll definitely be back!

I was here with a few of colleagues and bosses. This was my first escape room experience ... And my oh my, do I want to come back!!! The story was so compelling and made me feel connected to the puzzle. Furthermore, the staff was so cool and friendly and awesome. Would recommend, just make sure you bring people who are smart!!!

Had a work event here. Great experience tons of fun. Highly recommended

Great experience! Staff was welcoming and fun. The room was well done. It was challenging and engaging. Thanks for the help! Great spot!

We booked the Trophy Room for my son’s 13th birthday party. He had been to this location previously through a school event and insisted The Ruse was the only place to go for his party. All the boys had a fantastic time and felt they had significant contributions to make. So much fun! Kyle was fantastic to work with. This will be a party my son will remember and talk about for a long time.

We did the outdoor escape room/mystery and had such a good time!! It took us about 4 hours but we did stop for Sushi. Walked the entire downtown area on a very beautiful day!! The puzzles aren’t rock science but they are super fun, some harder than others. We would definitely do another one!!

Great experience! My co-workers and I were attending a conference in Grand Rapids and decided to go to an Escape Room. We picked The Trophy Room! We have done other escape rooms before but here we were provided with a great explanation of the room and even made the Quote Board! I am happy to say we Won and made it out!

Great beginner room for 6 to 8 people (inventors guild room). well spent hour of fun for a group of friends!

Ive done quite a few escape rooms and this one is one of the best! 6 of us completed the Trophy Room with 60 seconds left (what a nail biter!). The staff was great and helpful. The room was challenging but not impossible. Cant wait to go back and try another room!

We planned a company outing where we divided up into 2 teams and raced. The Ruse was very accommodating and the rooms were very well put together. We will be back for sure. A 10 out of 10 experience.

My family of four came here to kill some time off a whim but found ourselves having loads of fun solving the inventors guild escape room. This was by far the best waiting area for an escape room Ive been to they had nice leather couches along withFun wooden mind puzzles to figure out the staff was kind and it was an amazing experience I would recommend for anyone looking for some fun.

My family and I had an AMAZING experience with The Ruse. From the beginning, Steve was great to work with coordinating the purchase of my gift card (and even dropping it off to my work) to ensure it made it in time for when I wanted to give the gift and even updating my reservation. He was very responsive and accommodating.The experience at The Ruse itself was even better than the customer service! We have done another escape room before, and this one was infinitely better. When we walked in we were greeted right away by our host Kyle. He was the BEST! He was very through in his explanations and expectations. He was personable and a great story-teller which really set you up for a wonderful experience. Once you got in the room the puzzles were challenging, but doable and highly interactive. The clues they gave you pointed you in the right direction without giving too much away. You could tell they were really paying attention to what your groups needs were.

Not gonna lie... a little apprehensive going into it because its not my normal idea of fun; however I was pleasantly surprised that it was a good time with family.

I was just visiting Grand Rapids and randomly drove by the Ruse, when I found out they have an outdoor escape room, I was sold: I can explore Grand Rapids without having an itinerary and play puzzle/problem solving at the same time. Highly recommend to anyone who is visiting Grand Rapids for a day trip. I think this escape room should be included in TripAdvisors Grand Rapids Top 10 things to do list. Such a gem and such a unique experience.I have done about 20 escape rooms, mostly in the Bay Area so I have a decent standard to my escape room. The Ruses puzzles are very clever and up to par with the world-ranked Palace of the Arts escape room puzzle in San Francisco. Their puzzles are fair and I love how they incorporate the environment (everything in Grand Rapids) into their puzzles which makes it not only fun, brain-teasing but also educational (to tourists) at the same time.Since the Outdoor escape room is new, there are a few mistakes in their puzzle props that we had pointed out to them. I think for anyone who are interested in the Outdoor escape room, make sure you ask them in advance what are the mistakes on their clue items so you dont waste too much time on them like we did. I also hope they read this and would tell people on advance (I was told they are ordering new props to correct all these mistakes so this is only temporary). That said, its still a very thought-out and well-designed escape room.+1 for the interior design of the lounging area. Never been to an escape room this stylish in my life! Makes it more enjoyable to walk in their door.

Loved the authentic decor, props and puzzle pieces and especially enjoyed the fact that the proprietors were sharing family artifacts with the public in this unique way. Our room had a large window which contributed to the feeling of walking into an historic venue. The room was challenging but the clues (given via screen vs voice ~ two thumbs up on this) were thoughtful without giving too much away. This was a great way to spend time with our college-aged children over the holidays. Will definitely return to attempt to escape other rooms at The Ruse!

Absolutely wonderful. Amazing staff. Very cool mechanicals and scenery. Every fan of escape rooms needs to come check out this wonderful independent company. Wonderful games.

This was our first time at an escape room so the bar has been set high! It was a ton of fun and Im happy to say that we made it out. Stephen was great; very friendly and helpful. We cant wait to try The Trophy Room next.

We did the outdoor escape for my wifes birthday and had an amazing time. The narrative was solid, great props, and staff was friendly and helpful. This is a great way to explore downtown Grand Rapids!

Had a great time! Puzzles were challenging and staff were very friendly and clear on how their system works. Will definitely come again!

Did the Trophy Room with a group of 8. Room and puzzles were fun. Hosts were knowledgeable and gave us the structure of the event in a fun way, but made clear what we were and were not to do. Price was reasonable.I know they also have a competitive room, which is two identical escape rooms next to each other so you can race with two different groups. Not every escape room company has one of those.The Ruse is great. If you want to try an escape room, The Ruse is a great choice for both starters and experienced escapers.

Five of us completed the outdoor escape in hot, sticky weather but truly enjoyed ourselves. Exercise, sun, hanging with friends, seeing the city, finding clues: what more can you ask for? Pedestrians asked us what we were doing because it looks so fun. You definitely stand out because youre inspecting buildings while holding a map, journal, tiles and knapsack.It was pretty windy, so I was eating my hair when we arrived. I didnt have a hair tie because I purposely left my purse at home. Our host let me borrow his personal hairband right from his own head! Come on, that is topnotch service and his boss should buy him a drink. Make that two.For the outdoor challenge, wear comfy shoes, bring sunglasses and a water bottle, and look at the weather report before you schedule a time. I wouldnt want to do this in heavy rain because you need clear views of the city, and you dont want to be holding an umbrella while reading maps and clues.It took us 2.5 hours with no breaks. We wanted to do it right without hints so it probably took us longer than most. We were glad the hints were there, though, because otherwise you could go way off course if youre not a seasoned escape artist. Do not do the outdoor challenge as your first escape room ever! Some of the clues were a little obscure (we thought one tile clue was a money bag, but it wasnt). Our host was very receptive to our suggestions afterward.We will definitely be back and would totally beta test new rooms! The only other advice I have is that I would reconsider the Simple Booth group photo app. Four separate group photos would be preferable to one collage of four photos, if that makes sense, because youd get better detail. I would recommend just having the host take a couple group photos with one of the guests phones, and then that guest can send it to the rest of the group.

This was the nicest escape room facility I have visited. The host was great and explained everything very well. We did the inventors guild which was very challenging but enjoyable. We made it out with only seconds to spare.

We loved it! My friends and I have done both Escape Rooms and they are both a delight. The puzzles are tough but doable and they have a monitor in each room to offer clues if you get stuck. Our game master Ryan was helpful with clues and great at setting atmosphere. Atmosphere in general here is great, it all has a 1920s sort of vibe and its just fun to be in. Honestly Im not even that great at puzzles (my friends are, hence our visits) but the atmosphere and presentation alone are worth the price of admission!We loved it and were eagerly awaiting new rooms. Be sure to check it out!

We loved our experience at The Ruse! The staff were friendly, helpful, and good at their jobs. We did escape and had a lot of fun doing so. The Inventors Guild is the room that we chose and it was entertaining for all. They even offered a free photo booth experience at the end.

We had 9 family members and did the Trophy Room. I had been to another Escape Room, everyone else it was their first time. We escaped with 2 minutes to spare. The person explaining the game took the time to show us how to work the licks. This helped as we found clues we had an idea what type of lock to look for. The props and how the clues popped out were very entertaining. I would highly recommend this game.

Great experience very inventive puzzles looking forward to going back someday

My work group and I had a great experience in the inventors guild room. Our host, Kyle, made the experience fun and also told us a lot about The Ruse which made us all want to come back to complete the other scenario!

We LOVED this escape room! I have visited almost 100 rooms all over the world and this is one of my favorites. Everything was well thought out and executed! Can’t speak highly enough of this place. Many times escape rooms are rated high by people who don’t do escape rooms frequently and I’m always disappointed. This one is accurately rated. Well done. We will be back.

Ive done tons of escape rooms at other places, but this was my first time doing one for a work event. Ruse had the best set-up for a competitive group outing - we were able to split our group of 11 into 2 teams and go head to head in separate rooms with the same layout. The cost was great for what we received. The puzzles were well thought out and possible - I always hate an escape room that makes no sense when you look back and realize that certain puzzles didnt fit the theme or required some obscure piece of knowledge. Im definitely looking forward to checking out the other room when I get the chance!

The Ruse is the highest quality escape room Ive been to. Their puzzles are original and well thought out and the staff are whitty and wonderful. Our group loved the Inventors guild room so much that we booked another experience in their trophy room as soon as we could. The only negative I could say is that I wish they had more rooms so we could keep going back. Top notch- highly highly recommended!!!

First time doing an escape room and was lots of fun. Ryan is enthusiastic and you can tell likes to have people excited about the experience. Not sure how difficult this is compared to others locations but our tram enjoyed the challenge and the experience of working together outside of a typical work environment.

Best escape you in Grand rapids no doubt. Head to head challenge was a blast. These guys take pride in their business and it shows, high quality and well designed rooms and puzzles. Staff is great and very friendly. I would highly recommend the ruse, the online reservation system was great.

Went for a birthday. 8 of us was the perfect number. Made it out of the Trophy Room with 15 seconds to spare! Had a blast and will be going back to check out another room for sure!

Amazing rooms. I do A LOT of escape rooms and this location was by far my favorite. So many special effects and fun things you do not expect. Hoping they add on more rooms so I can come back!

We had a blast during the Outdoor scavenger hunt! It was a great way to spend time with friends and for new comers to the city to do some exploring. We are looking forward to new scavenger hunts they design!

Fantastic! Cant wait to try the other room and the outdoor one! Great venue close to some great bars restaurants etc.

Great time! Fun but challenging. Staff was very helpful and entertaining.

Our family escaped from the Trophy Room. As a father I marveled at how the four kids helped each other without criticism. That alone was worth the price of admission! Everything was clean and everyone was super. Well be back for the other room this summer!

We had a great time at the Ruse! The hosts were so nice and welcoming! I recommend the inventors guild escape room (it is a bit challenging but so much fun!).

Game was incredible. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and Ive played 90 games. Game master was very friendly. Will be back next time Im in Grand rapids!!

Our group of 6 friends went for a birthday and were pleasantly surprised how much fun it was. I had done a couple of these before with work groups and had fun but The Ruse is hands-down the best escape room I have ever been to. It isnt a run into a room and find 137 knick-knacks before starting the puzzles kind of room. Instead, there is a story line and your puzzles come along the story. The room itself was very well done and professional looking. Previous rooms at other places had seemed like they filled it with items they found at garage sales.

Great for a work team outing! We did the one that took us throughout the city. Super fun and enjoyable!

The Ruse provided an excellent escape room experience. It was the first escape room for all 4 of the people in our party. We did the Trophy Room, and were thoroughly impressed and pleased with the caliber of the experience. We’ll definitely return!

Wonderful escape room! One of the best escape rooms I have ever done. It is well thought out, engaging and most importantly clean. We will be back to try their other escape room.

The Ruse is the third Escape Room I have done, and it was by far the best!! The decor in the whole building is beautiful and detailed, and the room was so cool! The quality of the accessories and decoration and detail was amazing. Our guide was helpful and very into his job. I also love that there isn’t a hint limit. It’s so sad when you don’t escape, and those hints helped us solve the room. I would highly recommend it!!

My husband and I have been to many escape rooms around Michigan, and we agree - this is the best one we have visited! Not only are the rooms challenging, intriguing, and LOTS of fun, the staff is great! They really get into introducing the story of the rooms, and theyll love to chat with you about how they started and other escape rooms, etc.Weve done both rooms and made it out of both, too! The rooms are challenging (and sometimes stumped us) but its worth the challenge. Theyre not filled with too many red herrings or all just number codes, but theyre really story based and make you think! I cant wait until they release more rooms, so we can come back!

Fun and challenging. Will be back!

Hands down amazing! I cant say enough about the staff! Theyre amazing!! They helped me with a marriage proposal and literally went over and beyond to make it a great moment! The rooms are interactive and fun! I Absolutely recommend this place! I will definitely be back!

This was our first escape room experience. The facility was very nice, as was the staff. Our guide was super helpful in making our experience great. The Inventor’s Guild challenge was fun and, challenging!

It was great! The people there were great and we all got along very well. They make you feel comfortable even though you are about to be stressed in the escape room. They also have great help and beautifully made escape rooms. My team made it out of the Inventers Guild with 5 mins to spare. We even got to take pictures afterward. It was a great experience and I em would definitely recommend!

One of the best escape rooms Ive been through, probably the best in Grand Rapids!

Weve been to The Ruse 2x (both rooms) for company outings and everyone agrees this is the best escape room in town!

Innovative puzzles that really challenged us!

Great escape rooms and super friendly and helpful staff. Facility was clean and scenarios were challenging and well designed. Definitely the best in GR. Will totally be coming here again the next time Im in town.

Well worth the money for a fun night out. We were able to enter the room with just our group (no strangers) which made the experience even more enjoyable. Kyle was awesome...great personality and so energetic! He definitely helped in making our experience an amazing one. Will definitely return to try our hand at the other room!

Wow absolutely blown away! 100% worth the money! Creative, well made, and with a great sense of showmanship! Great family fun Will definitely return to do another room!

Went with a large team, the employees were very friendly and accommodating. The puzzles can be difficult but thats the point. Im not sure if they organize any food to be brought in but that part could be better in terms of choices but also keeping it warm.

This place is where you want to go for escape rooms and team building activities. Much better than the franchise chain ones.

I did this with a group of friends and had an amazing time. It is extremely fun for groups to do. It can be a challenge but my group was able to do it fairly quickly. If you are a fan of escape games and mind puzzles then this is 100% worth doing. The staff is awesome and the inside decorations are very cool. The static generator on the table is fun to play with and to scare your friends.

We had a great time at The Ruse! It is a great opportunity to build teamwork and turn acquaintances into friends. I went with a group of people I did not know well at all on a last-minute invitation. I have been to other escape rooms before and this one was top-notch with excellent props, staff, and challenges. After the experience we were met with the pleasant surprise of a cool pint glass and a golden ticket for a beer next door at Rockwells Republic. We had a great time there as well reminiscing about our experience and congratulating each other! I cant wait to go back and experience their other challenge!

What can I say, other than The Ruse is an amazing escape room! The puzzles were challenging, but not impossible. The room and story line were immersive, really pulling you into an experience. Our moderator was professional and helpful, while being unobtrusive. We had a great time, and will be back!

The staff was great. And it was well worth the money. First escape room I’ve done ever, definitely going again.

Seriously the best escape room we have done so far!! Great puzzle, awesome effects, neat owner! We will be back!!

We had a great time with the head-to-head Inventors Rooms, really good puzzles and some nice surprises.

So worth the money for this one! Workers are incredibly helpful and awesome; we escaped our room, I’d recommend the Inventors Guild for sure! We plan to go back and try the Trophy room too! The employee showed us that room afterwards and it looks so cool, can’t wait to go back!!

Explained how to play very clearly and demonstrated how to open all locks. Puzzles were difficult but our team was able to solve them. Staff was great and facilities were clean.

Loved the service and rooms. The puzzles were great to solve and the staff was kind and very informative. There was a practice session of lock picking before you entered the rooms. Only wish parking was easier to find. Would recommend this as a top escape room in Grand Rapids.

We had an awesome time doing this!! We did the adventure guild room and we really had a great time. We are excited to come back!!

I played both of these rooms with my son. The rooms were very challenging but fun at the same time. No clues were random and everything was immersive. The rooms both looked great, and they played very well. As someone who has played many of escape rooms around the country, I must say that this has been one of my favorites. 100% recommend to anyone looking for a good escape room. I also talked with the owner after doing both rooms. He was very nice and seems very passionate about his business. Amazing rooms, lots of fun, and a great atmosphere to top it all off. 10/10 for sure.

I did a head-to-head room with a group of twelve co-workers. We were split into two teams and sent to two separate rooms with an identical puzzle, where we raced against the clock and the other team other to see which team could solve the puzzle first. It was a blast!Friendly and welcoming hosts. Well crafted puzzle. Highly recommended.