Are you looking for a new experience for you and your friends or colleagues? The history of escape rooms proves that this is a relatively new thing to the United States, but what are they and how do they work?
If you’ve never attended an escape room experience, it can be a little overwhelming trying to prepare for your first one. What are you supposed to do? How hard will it be, and will there be a time limit?
You’re not alone if feeling overwhelmed, but knowing what to expect can help you feel more comfortable and confident before you arrive. Read on to learn how to make the most of your escape room party and experience the fun for yourself!
What is an Escape Room Experience?
An escape room experience is an adventure game that takes place in real-time and has different challenges and puzzles based on the theme. Before you start, you will schedule a time slot with your escape room and create a team of around two to five people. You will also choose between any available adventure storylines which determine the theme for your experience.
Themes for these escape room parlor games can be anything, but some you could see are prison cells, power plants, theaters, pirate ships, dig sites, and more. Whatever theme you choose, your goal will always be the same: look for clues to solve the puzzles and get out of the room by the end of your time slot.
But don’t worry, if you can’t solve the puzzles or if anyone if your party gets stressed or scared, you’re able to leave the room at any time. It’s just a game, so it should be fun for all participants.
In-Person Escape Room or Virtual Escape Room?
One of the most amazing things about an escape room experience is the hands-on, tactile experience. You get to physically enter the space and interact with the objects to look for clues and solve the puzzle that will result in your escape.
But what do you do if the team you want to do the escape room with aren’t all in the same area? Or what if you’re stuck on lock-down from a pandemic again? Digital escape room experiences are still a relatively new option, but they still give you the same opportunities as you have in person.
Popular locations like Escape Room Gatlinburg book you and your team a time slot, and then you all guide them through the room to solve the puzzles and escape the room within your 60-minute time slot.
4 Essential Escape Room Party Tips
If you’re ready to book your first escape room party, these tips can help you solve the puzzles and successfully get out before your time is up! While every room will have different themes and puzzles, these tips can steer you in the right direction to look for common themes that will help you beat your escape room.
- Is It a Clue or Decoration?
Not everything in the room will be there to help you. Some objects may be there to trick you or to add decoration to the theme.
If you see a pair of shoes sitting in the room and notice the manufacturer size stamped on the bottom, that likely won’t be much help. But if there is a number written in Roman numerals under the heel, that is likely an important clue.
2. Keep Your Time in Mind
If you have 60-minutes to escape the room, it’s crucial that you keep that in mind because time will pass by more quickly when you’re searching for your escape. Before you start, check with your host to see if they will notify you of the time as it passes or have someone on the team mark time on a watch to keep you on track.
It’s also a good idea to regularly check with the riddle or puzzle you need to solve to figure pieces out as you go rather than waiting to solve it all at the end. By working it in chunks, you may see the answer before finding all the clues!
3. Take Note of Disappearing Clues
While many of the clues you receive along the way will be something you can review over and over again, some may be temporary or fleeting. If, for example, an audio clip is played with important dates, names, or other details, it’s a good idea to take notes in case those details are crucial to you solving the puzzle.
When you enter the room, identify anything you can write with and have someone ready to take notes or write down the information you received before entering so you can reference it as needed. While this may not always be the case in every room, it can help you avoid frustrating situations should they arise.
4. Keep Objects in Order
If your escape room looks a bit chaotic, it’s probably designed that way to keep you frustrated. A good rule of thumb is designating an area to put things once they’ve been reviewed. You can even sort items with clues, those that don’t, and anything that needs further investigation to keep you moving quickly around the space.
It’s also a good idea to open up and check everything thoroughly to ensure there aren’t hidden compartments. When in doubt, always put things in the double-check pile to make sure you don’t miss critical pieces of information.
How to Book an Escape Room Experience
Are you ready for an exciting and interactive escape room experience? Search for escape rooms in your area and see what opportunities there may be for in-person experiences.
If you don’t have any escape rooms in your local area or want to play with remote people, you can also look for an online experience to elevate your gameplay to the next level. For more information on exciting activities you can do with your friends, family, or colleagues, check out our blog.
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