How to win an escape room

How to win an escape room

1. Assemble a great team

The most important element to having fun in an escape room is to play with the right people. Aim to invite people you know who are collaborative and great communicators.

2. Save money by checking for deals

Before booking, check your Morty app to see if any discounts may be available for the game.

3. Get there a few minutes early

It is generally a good idea to arrive at least 10 minutes before your game is supposed to start because late arrivals sometimes are not given the full time to beat the game if the escape room is fully booked. Another reason to arrive a bit early is so you can fill out the pre-game waiver. The waiver is just a standard release of liability form that (basically) all escape rooms require just to cover themselves legally. If you find yourself running late, you can usually fill out the waiver online beforehand and save yourself the time.

4. Come with your wits intact

Don’t have too many drinks beforehand. Afterwards is a great time for a drink or meal and discussion.

1. Explore your surroundings

Search everything high and low. Not everything will prove useful, but you at least want to be aware of everything in your surroundings. Sometimes things are hidden in plain sight, or sneakily in the last place you’d expect. Don’t overlook things by searching all areas of the room thoroughly and call out interesting items (locked boxes, or items that seem like they belong together) so your teammates are aware.

2. Use all your senses

Your eyes aren’t the only things that can help you find clues. Listen for audio cues and feel for things that have unexpected textures or temperatures.

3. Know what to ignore

Not everything in an escape room is a puzzle element - some items are simply there to set the atmosphere. This takes some getting used to, so don’t feel bad if you spend time working with something that turns out to be irrelevant.

1. Keep a positive attitude

Sometimes success comes in spurts after hitting a wall. Don’t be discouraged if some puzzles in the room are more difficult than others.

2. Put everyone’s skills to the best use

Everyone has different strengths, try to let everyone in your group shine. Perhaps a teammate who isn’t great at word puzzles will excel with finding hard to spot items in the room.

3. Communicate. Communicate! COMMUNICATE!

Escape rooms are designed for teams, not individuals working in parallel. A constant dialog between teammates is key to making progress towards the win.

1. Keep track of everything you find and haven’t yet used

Put these items on a surface in full view. Make sure everyone on the team is aware of items that are found and are given a chance to put them to work.

2. Also keep track of everything you used already

Most escape rooms will only use an item once, but this is not always the case. After you use an item, put it into a discard pile so your teammates don’t waste time with something that has already exhausted its purpose.

1. Look for patterns and motifs

Need a 5-digit code? Look for a 5-digit code. Sometimes things that don’t seem related at first may be when you look deeper.

2. Use your hints wisely

If you’re really stuck, don’t feel bad using a hint - almost everyone does it at some point. The best way to do this is to ask your teammates if they are ready for a hint. If there is consensus within the team, then go ahead an ask the game master for some help.

3. Don’t break anything

Rooms are carefully designed so everything is revealed when it’s supposed to be. You shouldn’t need to force anything.

4. Keep an eye on the clock

Even if you’re not trying to break the record, it’s good to be aware of how much time you have left. Feel free to ask your game master if they think you are running behind, they should have a good idea if you are on pace to finish in time.