Escape games are tough but are almost always fun. In just about every case, however, your goal is to win and you want to do so with more than enough time to spare. After all, what’s the point in doing an escape game if you don’t actually escape?
While escape games are still fun, when it’s your first time playing one, it can be stressful if you don’t know how to play or what will and won’t help you win.
Every escape room game is different, but no matter which room you choose, here are some of the best tips for winning.
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Play With People You Know
This may seem fairly obvious, but if you end up playing with another group of strangers, it can be much more difficult to work together and communicate in order to solve the puzzles. Fortunately, you can lessen your risk of playing with strangers by upgrading to a private game or inviting a large group to play with you.
If you are playing with a large group, be careful to not have too many people. While every escape room will have a maximum capacity, this number is often higher than it should be. Having too many people in one game can lead to the room feeling crowded and not everyone will be able to solve a puzzle or feel like they are contributing to the game.
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Communicate Clearly
Communicating during an escape room game means several different things. First, you want to always make sure you are listening to what other players say. They may notice something you don’t and even if they have an idea that sounds a little too crazy, it might be the key.
Second, make sure to loudly announce any clue you think you’ve found. Shout out clearly what you’ve found in case other users find something similar on the other side of the room. While this makes it louder and more chaotic, it certainly helps you find clues faster and piece the puzzle together.
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Understand the Room Rules
Some escape rooms have certain rules about items that you should or shouldn’t touch. If you don’t know or follow these rules, you could disrupt the game and end up messing up the puzzle and ruining the game. The rules are there to ensure that you understand how the room works and to give you the best chance at winning the game, not losing it.
Another important aspect to understand is how the clues are given and how many there are. Every company will have a different method and understanding it ahead of time will save you confusion and stress once the game begins.
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Use Your Clues
You may want to solve an escape room without using any of your clues, but this mindset can and will end up wasting your time and can lower your chances of actually solving the escape game. If you come to a point where you’re simply stuck and need a hand, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to use your available clues.
Using clues will save you from wasting time looking in the wrong places or arguing about what to do next. There’s a reason clues are given and permitted throughout the game and asking for them isn’t something to be embarrassed about.
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Keep the Room Organized
As you work through the game, you’re going to collect a lot of items and it will quickly become confusing which have been used and which haven’t. This confusion can lead to wasted time, wrong turns, and wrong locks.
When you find and use keys, leave them in the locks and leave the locks on the latch. This prevents you from reusing them or confusing them for another key to a different lock. Make a space for discarded items: both used and unused. Having a single space for everything will help you match similar items faster and help you remember which items you’ve already used.
Conclusion
While escape room games are challenging, they’re supposed to be a fun way to spend time with people and solve a mystery. There will be times when you get frustrated, confused, and tired, but it’s important you don’t forget that it’s just a game. Following the above tips will improve your chances of winning but even if you don’t, it’s more important to just have fun.