The Ultimate Escape Room Experience

Part 1: Escape Room Expectations

Playing an escape room, especially for the very first time, can be a daunting experience. So we have decided to break down the entire experience into a 5 part series! Skip to the parts that interest you, or read the whole. No matter what, we are here every step of the way!

With every company being so different even a vast amount of preparation can still lead to no help when you are in the room, let alone dealing with the post-room effects. So today we’re discussing we are discussing escape room expectations to hopefully help you get rid of the pre-game jitters. This list is far from comprehensive (there are just so many escape room companies out there, and all of them are unique!), but we do hope that this article will help you get ready for your first (or 100th) escape-room experience. 

So you want to book an escape room?  What should you expect?

So you’ve decided you want to try out an escape room for the very first time, but have questions about what it would be like or if you will like it. Generally speaking, people who love puzzles, murder mysteries, and similar games will often find they really enjoy escape rooms. This is doubly true if you enjoy a challenge as often escape rooms are built on a time that the average person should escape with a little bit of time left. Mind you, these times can vary from company to company and room to room. Most games will be built with sixty minutes in mind, however, there are rooms that exist that are long or short. Some “Couples night out” rooms may last for only thirty minutes, whereas some rooms may be larger multi-hour experiences. Another great example of variation in escape rooms comes to live actors. Some companies use them, and some do not. Given the theme of the rooms, actors can vary from helpful participants to ghoulish adversaries. It never hurts to call beforehand and verify these conditions if you find yourself squeamish at the thought of a zombie in a room with you. Personally, I always enjoyed the challenge of puzzle games and stumbled into an escape room that was a mobile game at a convention. The experience was a bit less involved than a brick-and-stone store experience, however, the puzzles were just as good as some store-based games I have played. Post playing my first game, I was hooked, and have played many more since then.

But what about logistics? What about the process of booking and building your group? 

This is where the pre-escape room experience can get a bit tricky, especially during a pandemic. Generally, it is highly suggested to book in advance. Currently, many places are not taking on-site bookings due to the pandemic, so sometimes this may be the only option. However, even in non-pandemic times this idea still holds true. Depending on the popularity of both the company and the room you are wanting to book, you may find that peak times are booked days if not weeks in advance.  So sometimes booking early is key to getting that perfect time slot for you and your group. On the flip side, don’t let this stop you from making a same-day booking either, spontaneous trips can make for a fun experience regardless. As for finding exactly what times are available, the best way is to find the company’s website as often they have a full listing of their times that are available on that day.  However make sure you show up with time to spare (most companies suggest you show up 10-15 minutes in advance), as there are several things to take care of before entering your room. This time can quickly disappear between signing waivers, putting away belongings, restroom runs, and the general conversations that happen before entering the room. Remember, these bookings are on a time schedule, and missing your start time can sometimes mean having to reschedule your room.