What’s the Best Strategy for an Escape Room?
What’s the Best Strategy for an Escape Room?
At Escape The Past, we pride ourselves on delivering highly immersive historical experiences rather than a simple ‘race against the clock’… However, we know how competitive some of you are (very!), and so we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to escape room strategy.
Whether you’re looking to set a new room record, or simply want to be sure of completing the entire escape room experience in time, read on to discover our top tips for escape game success…
Pre-Game Preparation
Success starts before the clock does! Here are a couple of important things to remember before you even enter the escape room:
Choose the Right Team
When picking your team, aim for a good mix of skills and abilities that complement one-another. Does your team include..?
- The highly logical problem-solver who sees the puzzles behind the puzzles
- The comprehensive communicator who keeps everyone on track and in sync
- The detail hawk who spots the symbol that nobody else saw
- The unconventional thinker who puts things together in ways no one else considered
- The tactile searcher whose hands-on approach found that hidden lever…
- The wildcard (because every team needs a wildcard!)
As well as a mix of skill-sets, choose people who you think you’ll be able to work well alongside, particularly under pressure!
Finally, consider the right number of people for the team. Too few and you might be wanting for spare hands (and brains!), too many and well, we all know the phrase “too many cooks…”.
Listen During the Briefing
Upon arrival you’ll likely be briefed by a Gamesmaster. Some seasoned escapees have a tendency to nod-off at this point but if you do, you could miss something important!
Your chance of dozing off at Escape The Past is limited, as our live actor storytelling brings the briefing to life and immerses you in the Edinburgh’s dark history from the very start.
Nevertheless, always paying close attention during the briefing can pay dividends later as they typically combine essential rules and subtle clues about the room itself.
At the end of the brief, ask any remaining questions you might have, such as “is the room linear or non-linear” “will you ever provide unprompted hints?” Your gamemaster may (or may not!) offer some additional insight at this point.
Key Strategies During an Escape Game
Whether you’re a puzzle-solving enthusiast or a complete newbie, walking into an escape room always comes with the same adrenaline buzz. You’ve been briefed; the clock is ticking and everyone’s up for it… but where to start?
Divide & Conquer
Time is rarely on your side, and you’ll want to get the most out of your team members, particularly if the room is non-linear in style. Rather than crowding around one puzzle after another, split up and consider assigning roles:
- Searchers to comb the room for clues and hidden items
- Solvers to focus on deciphering the puzzles
- Organisers to track what’s been solved and what’s still pending
This keeps the whole team moving and prevents bottle necks.
Communicate Clearly
Speak to one another! Call out everything you find - everything! That folded napkin might look boring now, but it could be the vital missing piece for someone else. Avoid working silently or duplicating efforts. A strong escape room strategy relies on group synergy, not lone-wolf antics.
Work Systematically
Check every drawer, under every rug, and inside every box. Be thorough, but efficient - once a space has been searched, announce it as “done” so you don’t waste time rechecking.
Similarly, if a puzzle has been solved, let others know and place it to one side.
Ask for Help when Needed
If a puzzle leaves you stumped, don’t spend more than a few minutes on it alone, tag in a teammate to get their input.
And if needed, ask your Gamesmaster for a clue. There’s no shame in it - no matter how good your group, there will likely be some aspect that leaves you all flumouxed. It’s important not to waste too much time and if there are extra clues on offer – take one!
NOTE – Some Gamesmasters may provide unprompted hints to help keep your team on track. If you’re ultra-competitive and don’t want this, be sure to make this clear during your briefing!
Look for Patterns
Escape rooms live off codes, colours and repeated symbols. Keep an eye out for recurring themes and motifs as this often signals hidden connections. Each room will operate with its own rules and logic, so try to get a handle on this early-on.
Finally, if there’s an opportunity to do so, be sure to write things down or lay out unused clues clearly in a central spot – this can help patterns emerge over time.
Common Escape Room Mistakes to Avoid
Now you know the do’s there are a few don’t’s to consider as part of your escape room strategy:
Overcomplicating Puzzles
Everything in an escape room is intended to be solvable, typically using only the items available in the room, and without any prior knowledge. Often the answer is not “quantum calculus meets Morse code entered backwards.”
If something feels too complex or like too much of a stretch, you may be missing a simpler solution. Or perhaps there’s a key piece still missing which, once found, will help everything else fall into place.
Ignoring Team Input
Escape rooms reward diverse thinking and teams benefit from multiple perspectives. Just because your loudest friend is shouting the answer doesn’t make them correct.
Even the quietest teammates can hold a crucial insight. Make space for everyone to contribute their ideas and be open to different ways of approaching a problem.
Wasting Time
Too many teams waste too long focusing on a single dead end or debating whether to ask for help or not. If you’re stuck on a particular puzzle, move on. If you’re completely stuck, ask for help! Hints shouldn’t spoil the experience by giving you the answer, but rather provide a gentle nudge to get your team back on track.
Post-Game Learning
Whether you escaped or not, it’s worth taking a couple of minutes to debrief afterwards. What worked well? What slowed you down? Did your team communicate effectively?
Every escape room can teach you something new about yourself and your team. By applying those lessons your group will get faster, sharper, and more cohesive!
And finally, remember that win or lose, the most important thing is to have fun! A cliché, yes, but if an escape room is feeling like hard work rather than a thrilling experience you’re likely doing it wrong!
Ready to Test Your Skills?
Now that you’re armed with a winning escape room strategy, why not put it into action? Book your next historical adventure with Escape the Past and see if you can solve the mystery and beat the clock.
Put these tips to the test - book your next escape room adventure today!
