What Happens in an Escape Room?
New to escape rooms? You’re not alone! We’ve welcomed thousands of first-timers to Escape The Past and most leave well and truly hooked!
Combining elements of immersive theatre, interactive storytelling and brain-teasing challenges, escape games are firmly established as a favourite group activity for couples, friends, families, and corporate groups alike.
We’re confident that our historical escape rooms offer a great introduction to the format, but time and again we’re asked by newbies; “What actually happens once we’re inside..?”
To some extent that mystery is part of the thrill of an escape room! However, if you’ve never tried one before, it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive.
Don’t worry! This spoiler-free beginner’s guide will walk you through everything that’s involved, from booking your game to the victorious team photo at the end. So, whether you’re simply escape game-curious, or already planning your first adventure, here’s what to expect…
Before You Arrive: The Setup
Your escape room adventure begins before you even set foot inside. Most venues (including ours at Escape The Past Edinburgh) require you to book your game online in advance.
You’ll choose a scenario; perhaps investigating the dirty dealing of a dubious anatomist, or uncovering a secret fortune of a condemned crook. You should find details of the difficulty level of the room, suggested age suitability and the duration (typically 1 hour). You’ll then select a convenient time slot for your team.
When you arrive on the day, you’ll check in at reception and meet your Game Master. There’s often a waiver form to sign too.
Who or what is a Gamesmaster?
Good question! The gamesmaster is your host, your guide, and behind-the-scenes assistant. It’s their job to make sure you have a great experience from start to finish. At Escape The Past our gamesmasters offer more than just a helping hand. They’re talented actors and active characters in the story that’s about to unfold…
TOP TIP: Arrive on time
It’s important to arrive on time for your experience - that could be the time of your booking, or you may be asked to arrive slightly in advance of this. Treat escape room bookings more like a theatre show than a restaurant reservation - if you're late, by even just a few minutes it could affect your experience.
The Briefing: The Rules Explained
Before the game starts, your Game Master will give a short health safety briefing - just a few ground rules to ensure everyone has a good time. Each experience varies but some common rules you’re likely to encounter include:
- No force is required – if something doesn’t open easily, it’s not meant to.
- No phones or photography – keep the mystery alive for future players.
- Follow the instructions of your GamesMaster – they’re there to help and keep everyone safe
- What to do in the event of fire or medical emergency
You’ll also learn how to ask for clues. In most escape rooms, hints are part of the experience, and your Game Master will usually be monitoring your progress remotely through cameras and microphones. If you get stuck, they can offer a nudge in the right direction.
Finally, the briefing will transition into the world of the game itself - setting up the story. Who are you and why are you here? At Escape The Past this happens with dramatic effect, instantly transporting your team to the darkest parts of Edinburgh’s rich history.
Will I actually be locked in during my escape room experience?
This is among the most common questions newbies ask at this point, and the answer is… No! In the UK it’s not permitted to physically confine groups and so you’ll always be free to leave at any point during the experience. Despite their potentially misleading name, ‘escape rooms’ aren’t always about ‘escaping’ at all. For example, at Escape The Past our experiences are focused on solving a thrilling historical mystery.
The Game Begins: What happens inside…
Now comes the exciting part: the door closes, the clock starts and the pressure begins to build… With the words of the gamesmaster still ringing in your mind, your team will need to quickly make sense of your new surroundings. Uncovering information, locating hidden objects and solving challenges that will lead you further towards your ultimate goal.
What do escape room puzzles involve?
The first step in solving puzzles is working out what actually is a puzzle! Puzzles can take many forms… they may be obvious or well disguised within the environment. What are you trying to achieve? What do you know so far? What looks out of place? These questions can get you started.
Sometimes puzzles follow a linear path, where each step leads to the next. Other times, they’re non-linear, meaning different puzzles can be solved at the same time by different players.
Good communication is key. Share discoveries out loud, divide tasks, and stay calm under pressure. You might want to consider the best strategy for an escape room or checking out our top tips for escape room success.
While no two escape rooms are completely alike, there are some common elements that you can expect to see again and again:
Atmospheric Theming:
Expect immersive environments - from flickering lanterns to enveloping music. Escape rooms are designed to transport you to another time or place, adding to the sense of mystery and adventure. At Escape The Past - we’ve brought key periods of Edinburgh's history to life through immersive set design that looks, feels, sounds and even smells authentic!
A Wide Variety of Puzzles:
The best escape rooms include a huge variety of types of puzzle and have something to challenge the whole group. These could include:
- Logic puzzles (deciphering riddles, codes, patterns)
- Physical puzzles (moving objects, assembling pieces, operating mechanisms)
- Observation puzzles (spotting details, reading symbols, making sense of the environment)
A Variety of Locks:
Most escape rooms employ a wide range of physical and electronic locks. From the basic padlocks and combination locks to more elaborate and unusual mechanisms like directional locks. Many also employ magnetic locking mechanisms which release only once a certain puzzle has been solved or task completed. At Escape The Past, we combine historically accurate locks with a subtle use of technology to enhance the experience.
Surprises & Hidden Areas
In an escape room, things are rarely as they first appear. There are often hidden items, concealed areas to explore and other unexpected surprises. Objects that appear familiar may need to be used in an entirely novel way!
There may also be live actors involved in the experience. This is particularly true of certain horror games where jump scares may be present. At Escape The Past we use actors to help set the historical stage and immerse you in old Edinburgh rather than cheap scares.
How it ends: Success or Failure…
What happens when the time runs out?
This outcome is directly dependent on the actions of your team. Did you solve all the puzzle and ‘escape’? Did you crack the codes and unravel the mysteries in time? If so, congratulations!
Didn’t quite make it out in time? That’s okay too - escape rooms are designed to be a challenge and not every group managed to complete the entire experience successfully. You’ll likely do better at the next one!
Most escape room experiences end with a debrief. This is your chance to ask the Games Master any questions and laugh about that one clue everyone missed! They may give you the chance to walk through any puzzles that your team didn’t get to in time.
And yes - there’s usually a fun photo opportunity at the end to capture your team’s heroic (or not-so-heroic!) efforts. The perfect memento from a unique experience!
Ready to try your first escape room?
Now that you know exactly what happens in an escape room, it’s time to book your first adventure! Join us at Escape The Past and experience Edinburgh’s dark history like never before.
Book your first escape room adventure today.
Want to learn more?
Check out our Beginners Guide to Escape Rooms.
Not sure escape rooms are for you?
Why not try an Outdoor City Trail instead? A brand new way to discover Edinburgh's fascinating history and a perfect introduction to the world of escape games.
