FIND A LOCATION
Escape rooms come with all sorts of different puzzles, themes, and experiences. However, no matter where or what escape room you play, one thing is always the same—the time limit! You and your team only have a certain amount of time to solve the room and escape.
Usually, the limit is an hour, which means you need to make the most of your time to escape before the clock runs out. Here are some strategies to help you out:
Research the Theme Ahead of Time
Most escape rooms have a specific theme, like a haunted house, a prison break, or an archaeological dig. Before you even enter the room, research the theme to get into the mindset of solving related puzzles and clues.
For example, a casino-themed escape room may have a safe with a combination lock, card symbols hidden in the room, or a roulette wheel with numbers that need to be deciphered. Knowing about these elements beforehand can give you an edge in solving them quickly.
Think Out Loud
You’ll hear this repeated in all the best strategies. Communication is the key to solving escape rooms, and one of the best ways to do that is by thinking out loud. This lets everyone in the room know what or where things have been discovered.
Thinking out loud can also help teams further down the road because it allows members to revisit ideas later. For example, a certain lock may not be relevant when found, but it will be five puzzles later.
Stay Organized
There are a lot of objects and clues to look through when you enter an escape room. A good strategy is to have a designated space for everything you’ve already found. If something piques your interest, let everyone know and place it in the designated spot so you aren’t scrambling to remember where it is later.
Divide the Responsibilities
Everyone is good at something, and you should take advantage of that. You can’t have everyone on your team searching for clues without anyone to solve them. Before you start your game, divide the group into roles such as searchers, solvers, facilitators, etc. This allows everyone to play to their strengths and helps the team move more efficiently.
Here are a couple of ways to split responsibilities:
- Keeping Track of Time: Assign someone to be in charge of keeping track of the time remaining. This will help you stay aware of how much time you have left and plan accordingly. They can also give reminders to the team as needed.
- Searching for New Clues: Have one or two people responsible for searching the room and finding new clues. This will prevent people from stepping on each other’s toes and help ensure no clue is overlooked.
- Solving Puzzles: Assign specific puzzles to certain team members based on their strengths and problem-solving skills. This will allow them to focus on one task and reduce the chances of confusion or overlap.
- Taking Notes: Designate someone to take notes on important information or clues. This will help the team keep track of everything they’ve discovered and remember any potential connections between clues.
- Organizing Clues: Have a designated person responsible for organizing all the collected clues in one central location. This will prevent confusion and help the team quickly access any clue.
Keep an Eye on the Clock
Time management is crucial in escape rooms. Check the time periodically and stay aware of how much time you have left. It’s also a good idea to set milestones for your team to work towards, such as solving a certain number of puzzles within a specific timeframe.
If you’re struggling with a puzzle, don’t be afraid to ask for a hint from the game master. They want you to have an enjoyable experience and may provide helpful hints to keep your team on track. Use the hints sparingly, though—they often come with a time penalty.
Listen Closely to the Game Master and the Intro Video
The game master is the expert here—they’ve seen thousands of people complete their escape rooms. They’re familiar with the puzzles and how people go about solving them. They might give you subtle hints before you go into the room.
The video shown beforehand can also be helpful. Take in all the information and use it to your advantage. And, if your game master speaks up during the game, pay extra attention. They can save you time you might have otherwise spent running around in circles.
Ready to Test Your Escape Skills? Head to Stars and Strikes!
Escape rooms are a fun and challenging way to test your problem-solving skills with friends or family. If you think you have what it takes, gather your team and book a room at Stars and Strikes. We offer fun and unique themed rooms so you can put your skills to the test and see if you can solve the puzzles before time runs out. We offer Escapology at our Huntsville, AL, and Summerville, SC locations. Learn more on our website to book a thrilling experience today!
