What it takes to do a live-action Escape Room (and actually have fun doing it)!

Have you heard of the live-action Escape Room craze that's sweeping the nation?!

Basically, you pay a company to lock you in a room that contains hidden clues you must solve within a specific time limit in order to escape the room and essentially "win" the game. You book your adventure based on available time slots and each room has a minimum and maximum player range. If you are a small group, you will be paired up with another group to max out the room and make sure you have enough people to figure out the puzzle. Sound like fun? See any issues here?

My husband and I have recently taken an interest in these adventures since they make awesome date nights and can be a fun experience to partake in with out of town visitors. Our city currently has at least 4 of these escape room companies, so there's lots of new rooms to try! I have completed 3 rooms, which honestly is nothing since I was told about one group of friends who have completed 18 rooms and solved a 45 minute room in 15 minutes! However, I recently had my first negative experience, which had absolutely nothing to do with the company or the room itself, but rather the strangers I completed it with. Afterward I lied in bed replaying everything that happened and what went wrong. I came up with a few ideas of where the ball was dropped, so I thought I needed to write about what it takes to complete an escape room and actually have a fun time doing it (according to me). So, here it goes!

1. High Energy

You are going on an awesome adventure, it's ok to get excited about it! A high energy group is going to be a lot more fun than an apathetic one. Especially if you are paired up with strangers to complete the puzzle, don't be the stick in the mud that just doesn't care and brings everyone down.  You're paying money for this experience so make the most of it! Celebrate when you escape and be a good loser if you don't. You are all there to have fun and that only happens if you are willing to have it! This isn't the time to sit back and relax, you need to get out there and explore! Which brings me to my next point....

2. Curiosity

Everyone in your group should explore EVERYTHING and try EVERYTHING. Don't think that only you can solve a puzzle. Let everyone take a look and see if they can figure it out.  Don't keep a tally of who has completed the most puzzles and then not let them do any more.  Someone else may have noticed something you didn't and have the answer you are looking for. They might just look at the puzzle in a different way and see the bigger picture that you are missing. This isn't the time to hoard treasures. Everyone needs to work together to solve the individual puzzles and a lot of times you need the whole big picture in order to do that. Some people work best by wandering the room and looking at everything, so don't be offended if someone takes a look at something you are working on. It's also OK to divide and conquer, which means you may not be a part of solving one particular puzzle in the room, but this will save time and help your group complete the overall picture to escape before time runs out. If you are a competitive person this can be a bit difficult, but just remember that you are there to solve the overall room, which is the ultimate victory!

3. Communication

If you think you know an answer to a riddle, speak up and let your teammates know! The more people in the room the more chaotic it can become so you may not be heard. If you knew the answer but didn't share with the group then everyone loses. Don't complain later that no one listened to you. Now if you actually spoke up and shared your idea and everyone thought you were wrong that's a little different, but still don't complain about it later. It doesn't help solve the puzzle at that point and just brings down everyone's mood away from the good time you are supposed to be having. 

4. A Positive Attitude

Once again, you are there to have fun! This isn't the place for high school drama. Don't get all butt-hurt if someone solves a riddle instead of you. You are all in this together and the clock is ticking down fast! If someone else opens the lock, just be excited! Don't complain that you or someone else in your group didn't get to actually turn the key. Celebrate whoever figured it out and actually stepped up to complete the action and solve it. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. One person may not actually solve any puzzle, but may have helped in some other way, such as organizing or tying up loose ends. You are racing the clock and all have a common goal. It doesn't help to get angry at your teammates or start complaining and whispering behind their backs. Also, if you are a competitive person it can get a little stressful to get stuck on a puzzle and see the clock tick down, but try to internalize that energy. If you are stuck I have found that most rooms will offer a hint to get you moving in the right direction, which may be what you need to get you going again and cure your frustration so you don't take it out on those around you.

Seem like common sense? I thought it was, but after my last escape room experience I realized that not everyone has that same outlook. I had completed rooms with strangers before and had a great time since these 4 points were followed. However, it's not so fun for either party if someone doesn't abide by these rules, even if you DO end up escaping the room in the end! This could apply to strangers or whomever else you choose to complete your adventure with.

And remember, you must actually pay attention to the clock, which is where high energy and curiosity will help you. You can't just sit back and watch the world go bys, or you will have the ultimate ego crusher of not escaping in time. I don't know about you, but I want to have the thrill of finding out things on my own and NOT need the room master to tell me all the puzzles I didn't solve at the end. That "aha" moment is much cooler when there's still time on the clock.

Honestly, the best way to see if you have what it takes to complete an escape room is to actually get out there and do it! Find one in your area and book an adventure today!