How to Prepare for an Escape Room: Planning for the Win

Are you looking for a unique and exciting way to spend some quality time with your friends, family, or colleagues? An escape room is the perfect activity! Whether it’s part of a team-building exercise or just some weekend fun, an escape room is sure to provide an unforgettable experience.

But before you book your next escape room, there are a few things you should know to make sure it is the most enjoyable and successful experience possible. Here’s how to prepare for a fantastic escape room adventure!

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Top 6 Strategies to Prepare for an Escape Room Experience

While no preparation is necessary for escape rooms, maybe you like to plan ahead! By following the steps below and working cohesively, you'll maximize your chances of success and ensure a thrilling and enjoyable escape room experience for everyone involved.

1. Pick Your Team

The success of an escape room often depends on the size and dynamics of the team. If you’re going with a group of friends, you may want to consider adding more people for a better chance at completing the challenge. On the other hand, if your team is too large, it might be difficult to coordinate everyone’s ideas and energy. At the end of the day, it’s important to find a balance between having enough people and making sure everyone can still be heard.

2. Pick the Right Room

Choosing the right escape room is crucial to ensuring an enjoyable and challenging experience. Escape rooms come in various themes and difficulty levels, so it's essential to consider the preferences and skills of your team members. Are they more inclined towards slaying vampires, exploring ancient tombs, or surviving the apocalypse? Discuss with your team and collectively decide on a theme that excites everyone.

Additionally, take into account the difficulty level of the room. If your team is new to escape rooms, it might be wise to start with a beginner or intermediate level. On the other hand, if you and your team are escape room veterans seeking a real challenge, go for an advanced or expert-level room.

Read more: Are Escape Rooms Hard? Picking the Right Difficulty Level for Your Team.

3. Pick Your Roles

Once you have your team assembled, it’s time to start strategizing. Assigning roles to each team member can greatly enhance your chances of success. Different people have varying strengths, and understanding each individual's skills will help you delegate tasks effectively. For instance, some team members might excel at solving puzzles, while others are great at finding hidden clues or are adept at deciphering codes.

You could have a leader who keeps the team organized, a puzzle master who analyzes and tackles the riddles, a searcher who scours the room for hidden clues, and a communicator who relays information and facilitates collaboration. By playing to each team member's strengths, you create a well-rounded group that can efficiently tackle the escape room challenges.

4. Do Your Research

While not a necessary step, if you want to go above and beyond, you can take the time to do some research into the best escape room strategies. For example, you can familiarize yourself with common types of puzzles found in escape rooms, such as riddles, ciphers, logic puzzles, and physical challenges. Understanding these puzzle formats can help your team approach each task with a clearer mindset, saving valuable time during the game.

5. Familiarize Yourself with the Rules

The next step in preparing for an escape room is understanding the rules. Most likely, your escape room will provide information about what to expect before you enter the game. Make sure you read through all of this carefully and ask any questions if something is unclear. Once inside, there may be additional rules or instructions that need to be followed, so it’s important to listen closely for these as well.

6. Get Your Body Ready

Get Your Body Ready: Not all escape rooms are created equal when it comes to physical demands. Some rooms may require a bit of physical activity, whether it’s crawling through a small space, reaching high places for clues, or even just standing and moving around for an extended period. Preparing your body can ensure you're physically comfortable and able to participate fully throughout the experience.

• Stretching: Before heading to the escape room, take a few minutes to stretch your muscles. This can help prevent cramps and make it easier to navigate any physical challenges you might encounter.
• Comfortable Clothing and Footwear: Wear clothes and shoes that you’re comfortable moving around in. Avoid restrictive clothing and high heels. Opt for sneakers or other comfortable shoes and attire that allows for a full range of motion.
• Hydration: Being well-hydrated is key, especially if the escape room is physically demanding. Drink water before you start, but not so much that you’ll need to take frequent bathroom breaks, which can interrupt the flow of the game.

By ensuring your body is as ready as your mind, you’ll be able to tackle the physical aspects of escape rooms with ease, making the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.

7. Keep an Open Mind

Speaking of your mind… Finally, it’s important to keep an open mind throughout the entire experience. Escape rooms can be tricky and it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. By taking a step back, you can gain a fresh perspective on how to approach each challenge and move forward with the game.

Remember that escape rooms are designed to challenge you, so encountering obstacles is part of the fun. Embrace the journey, celebrate each small victory, and don't be afraid to change your approach if you hit a dead-end. With determination and an open mind — and a little bit of preparation — your team can conquer the escape room and create lasting memories together.