Random Tips For Beating Any Escape Room (18 items)

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  (#1) Know Your Lighting Options

  If you ever find a flashlight, take it with you. You will likely need it later.

  Check to see if you have the option to turn off the lights in the room. If you do, let everyone in the room know, then turn the lights off for a few seconds. Is anything glow-in-the-dark? If not, flip the lights back on and keep searching.

  If you find a blacklight at any point, flip the lights again. 
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  (#2) Pay Attention To Your Game Master

  Listen closely to your game master’s introduction. Their tips and rules are important, and every word of their briefing is intentional. There will undoubtedly be clues, so make sure you pay close attention. 

  The game master is also the almighty word when you are in the room. There are cameras all over the rooms, so they will be watching you at all times. If you ever hear them over the speaker, stop what you are doing and listen.
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  (#3) Appoint A Project Manager

  Every group of friends has an organizer. Put those skills to use! A project manager will keep your game running smoothly.

  This person should not work on puzzles but, instead, be aware of what there is to figure out, what has already been completed, and who is working on what. The project manager will keep an eye on time and keep morale high.
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  (#4) Don’t Have 'Too Many Cooks'

  If a room has an eight-person maximum, keep your group between four or six players. Pricing is per player, not per room, so it won’t do you any good to pack the room.

  Fewer players allow for each person to be more actively involved, and makes it easier to keep tabs on everyone. 
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  (#5) Choose Your Teammates Wisely

  Group dynamic is very important. An escape room is a high-pressure environment, so personal issues outside the room will likely be exacerbated inside.

  You also need to consider the balance of your team. Someone may excel at visual perception, another may be great with numbers and patterns, and yet another may have the out-of-the-box thinking that enables them to find clues in unusual places or think to use an object in an unexpected way.

  The more variety your team has, the better you will fare.
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  (#6) Work Together, Not On Top Of Each Other

  Make the most of your time by spreading out and working on different projects. A whole team hovering over one person will only stress them out.

  There will be points when you need to come together, but you likely will not need to have the entire team singularly focused until the very end of the game.
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  (#7) Pick The Right Game For Your Group

  If this is your first time at an escape room, don’t choose one with a 16% escape rate. Even if you love a challenge, choosing an extreme level of difficulty when you are a total newbie is a recipe for frustration. You’re here to have fun! You may love the idea of a room with a time-travel theme, but if the escape rate is under 35% or so, save it for next time.

  It’s also important to do a bit of pre-game sleuthing. The cheapest offering may not be the right one for you. Read reviews of a few different businesses. See if your friends have any recommendations. It is totally worth paying an extra $10 per person for a well-built game with awesome, immersive sets.
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  (#8) Toss The Room!

  When you first enter the room, the project manager should begin by looking for locks and familiarizing themselves with the different types of locks in the room. While they are on lock duty, everyone else should toss the room. Spread out to cover as much ground as possible, and go nuts! This is one of the most fun moments in any escape game, and a well-made room will make it incredibly satisfying.

  Look in, around, atop, and under everything you possibly can. Flip through books, and take things off walls and shelves - unless they are bolted down or plugged in. You can even check for loose boards, or anything that looks like it’s been moved a number of times.

  Be curious. Many things won’t make sense right away, and that’s fine! Take note and move on.
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  (#9) Ask For Clues

  Check your ego at the door. If you are really stuck, don't be afraid to ask for a clue.

  You’re here to have a good time, not get the top score. Enjoy challenges, but always keep the game moving. 
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  (#10) Use Objects In Unexpected Ways

  Many things are not as they appear in an escape room. Get creative and think out of the box.

  Perhaps you can use one item to reach another. Partner things you wouldn’t expect. There may be a surprise magnetic pairing or a trap door that’s triggered. Try everything, and let your curiosity guide you. 
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  (#11) Look For Patterns

  If you notice a pattern, you’re probably on the right track. Stick with it!

  Good escape rooms will have puzzles that tie into the theme of the room. If the puzzles are primarily word- or numbers-based, search every corner for more objects that contain these attributes. Look for hollow objects or solid objects that are similarly shaped or themed. 

  Finally, noises and lights can be incredibly revealing. Is there a corner or area of the room that's darker than the rest? Something may be hiding there. Do you hear sound effects, music, or ambient noise running in the background? It may contain a clue as well.
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  (#12) Use Your Check-In To Your Advantage

  Don’t wait until you are in the room to start taking in information. When you check in, ask what types of locks they have in the room, and ask for explanations of any that you are not familiar with.

  Ask if it is possible for each team member to have some paper and a pen for notes. If this is your first escape room, be sure to let them know. 
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  (#13) Tag Team

  Allow for human error. If a code doesn’t work to open a lock, have someone else try it. If someone has completed an equation, but it isn’t having the desired effect, someone else should give it a go.

  The beauty of a cooperative game is that you are all on the same team. Always double-check before writing things off.
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  (#14) Announce And Organize Everything You Find

  Loudly share each new discovery! Make sure everyone knows what’s been found and where.

  Organize everything you collect. Have a pile for unused items, and a discard pile for locks and objects that have already served their purpose.
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  (#15) Listen To Everyone - Even Kids

  Anyone in a room could see something everybody else has missed. Don’t write anyone off. Children think differently than adults. The more diversity of thought in your team, the better.

  The simple explanation is often the right one, and adults have a tendency to overcomplicate things. Everyone’s ideas are valid in an escape room. Forget that at your own peril!
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  (#16) Be Ready For Action

  Minimize in-room distractions by planning ahead. Bring a jacket in case the room is cold, and hit the bathroom beforehand.

  Have a bite to eat prior to entering the room, but save booze for post-game celebrations. You want to be sober, well-rested, and as clear-headed as possible.
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  (#17) Keep Morale High

  The ticking clock can be anxiety-inducing, but that’s no excuse to be a jerk! Cheer each other on, and celebrate the successes.

  If you find yourself getting frustrated, ask for help, or give someone the information you have and ask them to step in so you can move on to something else.

  The project manager should do their best to direct the room and keep all the players sane, civil, and engaged.
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  (#18) Ignore Anything That Doesn’t Fit The Theme

  You can easily waste time reading into every single number or word you find. Don’t be taken in! If it doesn’t fit the theme of the room, it isn’t worth your time.

  For example, if you flip over a rug and see a tag with cleaning instructions and a barcode, move on. Sometimes a tag is just a tag.

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