In response to our podcast episode being posted, we decided it was time to publish a blog post of some of the top tips we discussed in that episode. Be sure to check out our prior blog post discussing why Escape Rooms make the best date night, in our opinion!
So, here we have our Top Tips and Tricks for Success in Escape Rooms!
1. Check Everything
This was Dan’s first tip and trick. It is often something that is the most obvious that is missing. For example, in one of our rooms, we missed something as simple as a code under the chair, like duh. We should have known to look there. So, always take in everything. If it doesn’t have a do not touch sticker or icon depending on your location, then check it. Feel it, move it around, look underneath. That being said, please do respect the location’s do not touch signs or their equivalents.
2. Stay Organized
This maybe should have been the first tip, but alas. Keep yourself organized while you’re inside the room. Find an empty surface in your room (or two) and use that to put together anything you find that may be a clue, that may be useful. Then also create one spot to put everything you have already used. In most of these rooms, the clues are only used once so put it aside. Not so far that you couldn’t refer, but just as a way to sort of remind yourself that you’ve already used that. Also, if you have opened a lock, put the lock and the key there together or the lock and the clue that helped you open it. Keep those items separate from what you know you still need to use. This will save you a good bit of time and a lot of frustration.
3. Say everything out loud!
This seems silly, but say what you have found, read letters, Anything that could be a clue or a hint, and say it out loud! This does a few things, but probably most importantly, it keeps your partner(s) in the loop. Someone may see a 5 letter lock in a corner and it might be something that cannot be moved, but if you don’t let everyone else in the room know that it is there, you could be working against yourself. Someone may already have a 5 letter word and just not know where to use it.
Another way this tip could play a role is depending on the location and game master, they may be able to tell you, yes, that code is right, try it again. Or something similar if you’re on the right path. It also allows them to follow along with where you are so that if you ask for a hint, it isn’t something you’ve already completed
4. Introductory Video
Don’t ignore this video. In most rooms it plays as soon as the door closes (allowing your game master time to get to the controls before you really start the time). Most of them will give you at least some sort of hint about where you might start. Either the video does or a game master might as they get you going. Also, often times, this video is going to lay out your path and objective. For example, you need to find the secret recipe and then unlock the door to escape. Or you need to find the bomb and disarm it. Whatever the case may be that fits your theme, it tends to give some information. Be sure at least one person in your group is paying attention to the video.
5. Thematic word for locks
While there is always a clue somewhere for the locks, at least in our experience. For word locks, also think about some thematic words that might work. For example we did a candy shop themed room where the word Sour was one of the locks.
6. When Stuck – Pause and …
This is probably our number one tip for when you’re stuck. Pause, take a moment, recap, take inventory, and process through. We have found that often times just taking an inventory of what locks or puzzles we know we need to solve still or what clues are still in our organized spot of clues that we haven’t used and taking that moment to recap where we are and what we have to solve and what we think the next step is, can do wonders for getting us unstuck. Even though you have said everything out loud, you’ve said a lot, and sometimes you just have to pause and recap where you are and what you have and what you are looking for.
7. Colors as clues
Don’t ignore colors. Colors can be a huge clue. They can equate to numbers or they can dictate an order that you put something in. They might give you a hint as to what numbers to put together or it might be that a few numbers are red or blue but not everything and those are the numbers you need.
8. Have someone else try the lock!
I don’t think we touched on this in the podcast episode, but if you’re confident of the code and you have both or all reached the same conclusion on what the code should be to something and it isn’t working, have someone else try the same code on the same lock. It might just be fickle or you might not be getting it lined up or you might need to press up on a lock before opening or some other little mechanic issue that isn’t because of you having the wrong code or being wrong on the puzzle.
