Escape Room Hacks

Playing an escape room is fun whether or not you win, but most of us are always aiming for the thrill of a good escape time. Every escape room is different, so you will never completely know what to expect. But we can offer you some solid tips to help get you started.

For those of you who like to be prepared (or maybe you’re just a bit competitive), we’ve put together a list of all the expert escape room hacks from our seasoned game masters, expert escape artists, and Breakout super fans!

 When you first enter the room, have everyone spread out and explore the room from top to bottom. Make a mental note of anything you find that seems unusual or important. Collect any loose pieces or clues and gather them together so you can all analyze them and see what makes the most sense.

 A good way to hunt for clues is to watch for patterns or unusual things in a room. See a book that looks out of place? Maybe it’s a clue! Are certain words bold, italicized, or misspelled? That’s something different, right? Anything that seems unusual is likely worth taking a closer look at. Patterns can sometimes be hard to miss, so don’t forget to communicate with other players so that you all are on the same page.

 You might find one half of a puzzle on one side of the room while another team member finds the other half. If you don’t share what you found, you may never know they go together! It’s a good idea to speak out loud what you find and work together to solve puzzles. Every person plays a role in an escape room, so pay attention to each person’s findings and ideas.

 One of the biggest pet peeves of game masters is when one person in the room has solved a puzzle or knows how to but is too nervous to share their idea. It happens ALL THE TIME! If we could give you one piece of advice, it’s this: don’t be afraid to share your ideas! Even if it’s wrong, it could trigger another line of thinking that is on the right track. It’s a good starting point to know what doesn’t work, even if you don’t land on what does work right away.

Make sure you aren’t overlooking any locks! Sometimes they are pretty well hidden. And there may be situations where you have the right code-- you just didn't try the right lock.

Pro tip: We use many kinds of locks in our escape rooms, and some may seem a little tricky if you've never used them before. Feel free to ask your game master for help with the locks when you need it.

Do you feel a bit more prepared for your next escape room? We’d love to hear any other tips and tricks you have to add! If you are ready to book your next game, then click here to start your next Breakout adventure!