by Brian Capps
It is natural to want to beat the escape room as soon as you possibly can, emerge victorious and feel like a detective. In haste to do so, many groups end up making the same mistakes, so we thought we could help you avoid such commonly seen mistakes.
Unfamiliar with the concept of an escape room? Click here to learn more.
There are a few aspects that make great escape rooms stand out:
NOT COMMUNICATING
This takes the prize when it comes to the biggest mistake teams make in the game. When you find anything interesting, make sure your teammates know all the information regarding the item or clue. Never return things of interest to where you found them; otherwise, your teammates won't know it's been found.
Also, feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with the rest when solving a puzzle! Even if you're worried that it's silly or that you might be wrong, you never know when one of your teammates might have their eureka moment and solve the puzzle.
Communication also includes listening, so pay attention to your teammates! Don't disregard any ideas, even if they seem like grasping at straws or appear silly.
POOR TIME MANAGEMENT
Due to the limited time in an escape room, if your team is unable to solve all the puzzles and make an escape, the game will be lost. Once the clock starts to click, you have no time to waste and should dive right in, looking for clues and anything of interest.
Not all puzzles are easy to solve, so if you and your team spend too much time on one puzzle, it's a good strategy to move on to the next and return to this puzzle later. Splitting up the team for individual tasks is another option to cover more within the limited time and focus on various tasks simultaneously.
NOT TAKING INVENTORY
Your group may be stuck and can't find the combination of a lock, but the combination has actually already been found, just overlooked or forgotten about.
To avoid running into such issues, make an inventory, and divide them into two separate piles - a pile of all the objects that have been used and another pile of things yet to be used. This organization system can help you when you are stuck; you can revisit the pile of items instead of wandering around the room.
NOT ASKING FOR HELP
A big ego won't help your escape! If you've spent over five minutes without any solid leads on a puzzle, feel free to ask for help. It's way better to escape by asking for clues than to not escape without any help; there isn't any penalty if you seek help.
It's okay to admit when you need help. It doesn't mean you're not smart, it usually means you've probably just overlooked something small, and you only need a slight nudge in the right direction to get the momentum going.
KEEPING THE GOOD IDEAS TO YOURSELF
In the escape room, information is as invaluable as time. Patterns, numbers, intuitions, educated guesses, leaps of faith that you cannot explain, any of these might potentially be the key to solving the puzzles.
Withholding information in the hope that you can figure out a puzzle allby yourself will not bode your team well in the escape room. Remember that the game is not designed to be done with all alone; it's all about teamwork.
LOSING YOUR COOL
An escape room is no place for an argument; however, it happens frequently and is detrimental to the entire team. Between the drama of the escape room scenario, the ticking of the clock, and adrenaline surges, keeping your cool will be of an invaluable advantage.
NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE GIVEN INFORMATION
All the information you are provided inside the escape room is important; keep your excitement from making you less attentive to detail.
Listening to the briefing and the story can help you understand what to look for, what to ignore and how to utilize your time in the game. So, pay attention when you're headed into an escape room.
GETTING STUCK AT THE BEGINNING
If you can't solve a puzzle, don't waste too much time; move on. Because a puzzle presents itself first in the escape room doesn't mean it must be solved immediately, and it may be something that can be solved later with a new piece of information.
GIVING UP TOO SOON
Obviously, escape rooms are not meant to be easy, but don't let that sway you from your goal of seeing this game through to the end.
So, whenever you feel stuck, don't have the answer, or simply have a moment of confusion in solving a puzzle, remember that you are not alone and are here to make a memorable experience.
Visit our adventurer's gallery and look at the wonderful memories being made here at All In Adventures.
Okay, so to sum it up, as long as you follow the points mentioned above and use them as a guide to prevent you from making the same mistakes, you have an excellent chance to ace your next escape room game.
However, don't get lost in all these guidelines and forget to have fun. Not having fun is the biggest mistake you could possibly make in an escape room, as it defeats the very purpose of playing the game. So, whatever you do, remember to have fun!
Have more questions? Chances are, your questions have already been covered in the FAQ section.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT
Looking for an escape room adventure? Look no further than All In Adventures for your next escape room experience! Book now and prepare to be fully immersed in a thrilling world of puzzles, challenges, and excitement.
Click the "BOOK GAMES" button and choose your location to get an instant online booking for a group of 2-10 people.
Planning an event with a large group of over 10 people? We've got you covered! Contact one of our local stores, and we will take you through the process and get you our special deals.