Before you even book your escape room, you’ll face the all-important task of choosing who you want that first experience to be with. Choose wisely. We suggest selecting people who are on the same wavelength as you, that way you won’t be struggling to understand each other.
It doesn’t matter who, exactly. Bring your sibling. Bring an old classmate. Bring that co-worker who just gets you. Bring your next-door neighbor Bubba. The perfect team doesn’t have to be made up of your besties. In fact, it’s better to have people who don’t think exactly like you but who can communicate with you and share their strengths, whether it’s book smarts, street smarts or just some plain old common sense.
Even if all else fails, make sure the people on your team have a can-do, excited attitude so that they’re ready to tackle this challenge together.
Tip 2: Communicate More Than You Think You Should
As they say, two brains are better than one — but only if those two brains are talking. Vocal communication is key to any great escape. As soon as that clock starts tickin’, you should be talking to your group. Escape rooms are won and lost on the group’s ability to communicate.
Chances are you’ll find something that needs to be quickly matched to something your friend finds. It may be a key and a lock or a code and a keypad. Communication will ensure that these related items find their way to each other.
Be sure to listen too, and don’t reject ideas just because they sound a little crazy. If you’re stuck and your teammate has some wackadoo idea, their approach may be the answer that finally gets things rolling.
Tip 3: Solve Your Clues “In Order”
Go “in order” if there is such a thing in your particular escape room. Once you step through the door and realize how fast the clock is flying, you may go into sensory overload. Clues, props, doohickeys, gadgets, gizmos — you’ll probably feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of things to touch and search through.
This is where your teamwork and communication come into play. Divide and conquer. As you all explore every corner of your escape room, yell out what you find. As you discover loose objects, group them together in a methodical way.
You may want to have a different pile of items that have already been used. Make sure the whole team knows which clues have already been solved. After all, you don’t want your teammates wasting their precious time on something that’s finito.
Tip 4: Listen to Your Game Masters
The game masters are there to help — so listen up! They’ll go through all the rules to make sure you know what you can and cannot do in your escape room. Even if they have a mischievous twinkle in their eye, we promise they’re not trying to trick you. They want you to win as much as you do. Once your game master has completed their spiel, you can feel free to ask any lingering questions clambering in the back of your mind.
Tip 5: Dive Into the Character of the Room
The most exciting part of the escape room experience is the room’s theme. Each experience has a backstory and characters, and you’ll get to immerse yourself in that world for 60 whole minutes. Oftentimes, there’s a video intro that will get you into the mindset of the room, with clues hidden in the story.
Once you’re inside, allow yourself to dive into the character of the room. Just go for it! In fact, not totally immersing yourself in the story could cost you. There may be clues you can find only if you wrap your brain around this experience.
Tip 6: Have Fun!
While most people focus on the “escape” aspect of this experience, they sometimes forget that this is a game. It’s supposed to be fun. Escape rooms are designed to be hard but enjoyable. As you solve one puzzle after another, you’re going to experience an immense feeling of satisfaction, so embrace the game and have fun. Even if you don’t end up escaping, you’re bound to have a blast.
Ready to get started? Book your private escape room experience at Exit Strategy Games to experience the most thrilling escapes in the Sacramento area.
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