(Newswire.net — July 19, 2019) — Whether you’re an escape room newbie or expert, it helps to learn a few escape room tactics. Bear in mind that every team in an escape room has the common goal of trying to escape the room in less than an hour. An hour may seem like plenty of time to figure out all the clues and find your way out but time can be a cruel mistress and even before you know it, time is up.
Escape Room Tactics
A few escape room tactics to try include getting into it right away, avoid bunching around just one puzzle, shout out what you find and more.
Get Into It Right Away
Escape rooms are full of clues, and they’ll be hidden all over the room. Leave no stone unturned and be sure to wear appropriate clothing to not hinder your ability to get around. The trick here is to split yourself into groups of not less than two people to quickly beat it. The idea is to have two or more sets of eyes on every corner, door, object, book, shelf and possible clue. A team member may notice something that others overlooked.
Avoid Bunching Around One Puzzle
You’ve got only six minutes to escape the room so the more things you’re looking at or doing, the better. Although an escape room is a great team building activity, if everyone concentrates on a similar clue, then other potential clues are left untouched. Also, should you or your partner get stuck on a puzzle, move on and ask a different player to try it out- there could be something you’re overlooking.
Shout Out What You Find
You might stumble upon something that your other team member needs, or someone else may have found a clue you need to complete your puzzle. To save as much time as possible, know to call out whenever you find something you think is useful. The idea is that you should be able to work as a team, even if you have different parts of the room to search.
Try Everything and Listen to Everyone
Your teammates each have their own unique experiences, knowledge and ways of thinking to draw on. What one person may see or perceive may not occur to anyone else on the team. However strange or odd an idea may seem, respect what people have to say and give it a try. Whatever you ignore may just turn out to be what you need to get out of the room.
Don’t Overthink
If you find you and your teammates getting into more dubious theories about a solution to a puzzle, the chances are you’re overcomplicating things. The escape room is designed to be a challenge, but one of the benefits of an escape room is that it’s still meant to be fun, and if you’re getting too worked up on a puzzle, maybe it’s time to have someone else have a look at it.
Bottom Line
Escape rooms are a great way to spend your free time or as a team building activity. You get to experience the thrill of finding clues and solving puzzles in an environment that forces you to think fast. Don’t shy away from asking for a hint to help you get to the next step. The staff always want to see a team succeed and will try to nudge you along in the right direction. Hints will help you to enjoy the game and possibly beat the clock.