What Is an Escape Room? A Guide for Beginners

Escape rooms are quickly becoming a fast-growing marvel. They offer mind-taxing thrills for all ages. They’ve even found their place as educational tools in a variety of professions including medical education.

If you’ve been thinking about breaking your escape room virginity, but you’re still not sure what is an escape room, then this guide is for you. Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about escape rooms so you’re well prepared when your 60 minutes begin.

What Is an Escape Room?

If you’ve never experienced an escape room then you’re probably wondering exactly what the experience entails. In an escape room, you and your team have 60 minutes to solve clues and complete tasks before the time is up. Once you walk through the door the timer starts and the door locks behind you.

Most escape rooms are themed. Some of the most common escape room scenarios involve:

• Escaping from a life or death situation
• Solving a mystery
• Investigating a crime
• Defusing a bomb
• Finding a missing person
• A rescue mission

Some escape rooms have a horror theme, while others are more investigative and are like playing Sherlock Holmes for an hour. The difficulty of escape rooms vary and tend to involve a variety of problem-solving. You’ll need to employ your logic as well as your cryptic puzzle-solving skills.

Despite the locked door and the 60-minute countdown, escape rooms don’t pose any real threat. You’ll be watched by escape room staff throughout your experience, and you’ll be let out after 60-minutes even if you don’t solve the escape room.

Planning for Your Escape Room Experience

Before you sign up for an escape room it’s important to do a little research to make sure you get the most out of your escape room experience. Instead of going in blind, research potential facilities.

You should look into the rules and regulations of potential escape rooms. Some won’t allow you to take your phone in with you so make sure you can afford to disconnect for an hour. Also, be sure to check the themes of each room. Not all escape rooms are suitable for younger children.

Make sure you choose a room that interests you. Escape rooms require a lot of attention, so go with a theme that you’re interested in. If you’re not scientifically or mathematically minded then an escape room that involves solving a formula might not be up your street.

Escape rooms are a great team building activity, but be sure to take some time to assemble your team. It’s important to take everyone’s preferences on board when choosing your escape room. It’s also important to choose your team wisely! You’ll want to make sure you and your team members all get on because communication is key.

Escape Room Tips and Tricks

If you’re ready to step through the door and start solving puzzles then the following tips and tricks will certainly up your chances at beating the room. Every escape room is different, but there are some overall strategies you can employ to help up your chances at escape.

Work Together, but Not Too Closely

Escape rooms are complex and usually involve solving more than one problem at a time. One of the biggest mistakes that happen in escape rooms is a group huddling together while everyone watches one person try to solve a single problem. That’s the best way to run out of time.

The best way to work in an escape room is to break the group into smaller teams so you can work on different puzzles simultaneously.

Check-in With Each Other Frequently

That being said, you’re going to need to communicate. It’s crucial that each smaller group checks in with the others regularly. The main reason for this is that all of the puzzles will be interlinked. You’ll need the solution of one puzzle to solve another. So make sure everyone is up to speed with how everyone else is doing.

Another reason to keep communication open is that each member of your team will no doubt have things they’re better at than others. There’s no point being stuck on a puzzle if someone in the same room as you has the kind of thinking that could solve it quickly.

Think Inside the Room

Each escape room has a theme and a back-story. The story behind each room is used to help increase your engagement and amplify the experience, but it can also help solve the room.

Keep all the important parts of the back-story in mind as you navigate the escape room as they could be vital in solving the various puzzles.

Look Everywhere

An escape room is not going to hand everything you need on a plate. The puzzles are difficult to find, but sometimes they’re hard to find too! Clues are often hidden in hard to find places.

Be sure to search every nook and cranny for objects around the room before you get too involved in solving particular puzzles.

Choose Your Group Wisely

If you have a competitive edge then you might want to think about who you ask to join you on your escape room experience. If your goal is to complete the escape room in record time then be sure to consider the skillset you’re going to be taking into the room with you.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Clues

When you’re in an escape room you’re up against the clock. If you’re stuck on a puzzle and can’t seem to get anywhere with it then don’t be afraid to ask for clues. Escape room staff can provide you with clues if you get stuck at any point.

Take notes

The best way to solve any escape room is to note down all the important details. In this regard, it is best to take a diary or notepad with you or prominent places like escape rooms Belfast will provide one if asked.

Start taking notes from the moment they tell you the background story till all the puzzles are solved. Moreover, make separate spaces on the page for noting down your observations and the hidden codes from various elements of the room.

Are You Ready for an Escape Room Experience?

If you’ve been wondering what is an escape room, then now you know. Nothing will ever totally prepare you for an escape room experience, but if you take these tips on board then you and your group of friends stand a good chance of success.

Remember to do your research, pick your team wisely and pay close attention to detail once you’re inside the room. Your 60 minutes start now!

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