The escape room concept has been around for a while now, but we still see a lot of new players every day who aren’t familiar with what to expect. This has prompted us to come up with our Top 10 Commandments of a successful escape room experience. Although we cannot guarantee following these 10 guidelines will automatically result in a win, we can say that it will definitely increase your chances at conquering any escape room you play.
1. Thou Shall Not Overthink
In mostly all escape rooms, outside knowledge is not necessary and everything you need is provided for you in the room. Try to look at each puzzle with a simple mind and don’t concentrate on the smallest details.
2. Thou Shall Look Everywhere
Take the first few minutes inspecting the room. Pay attention to anything written or hanging on the walls, inside unlocked cabinets, baskets, under chairs/tables, etc. Things might be hiding or written at a higher or lower vantage point, however, things should not be hidden within the ceiling tiles or behind wallpaper.
3. Thou Shall Stay Organized
Most escape rooms follow the “one key/one lock rule.” Once you use an item, chances are you won’t have to use it again, so start a discard pile for all the clues you’ve already solved. At the same time, start a pile for things you HAVEN’T solved yet so you can stay organized and the rest of your team can pull from it when necessary.
4. Thou Shall Not Cheat
Prying open puzzles detracts from your experience and can confuse you. Some escape rooms even have consequences for cheaters, such as subtracting time or clues!
5 . Thou Shall Communicate
It is super important to share with all members of your team what you are discovering and where, no matter how simple it may be. Don’t forget that you’re a TEAM and are working together to escape the room! If the Gamemaster shares a clue, if a puzzle is solved, or if a new item/clue is discovered, make sure the whole team is aware. If you’re stuck, don’t spend all your time on that one puzzle if you know there are other things that you can work on. It could be that you’re still missing a clue needed to solve that puzzle!
6. Thou Shall Proofread And Crosscheck
Miscommunication often occurs between players when one person is saying the right code or answer but the other member isn’t entering it correctly. Always check each other’s work to avoid any frustration or delays.
7. Thou Shall Have A Fresh Perspective
If you’re stuck on a puzzle, a fresh pair of eyes might see something that you don’t. If you think you have the code correct and it isn’t working, ask another member to try it.
8. Thou Shall Read Everything
Written clues can hold a lot of information to help you solve the puzzles in the room. It’s wise to read the clue in its entirety before proceeding. Check for hidden messages within the written clues.
9. Thou Shall Look For Patterns
Pay attention to any matching or duplicate symbols/items/sequences in the room. Example: If there is a symbol/theme on one side of the room and the same symbol/theme is somewhere else, that means there is a connection between them. Finding these correlations will save you time from entering a code you found into all the locks in the room.
10. Thou Shall Listen To The Gamemaster
Your Gamemaster is your friend! Pay attention to their helpful hints and the briefing delivered before your game starts. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! They want you to enjoy your experience, whether you win or lose.
