What is an Escape Room

  • Group of young adults trying to get out of escape room

An escape room game is a real-time adventure game that takes place in one of our themed game rooms. It’s a relatively new game that originated in Japan around 2007 and made its way to the US by 2013. If you are new to escape rooms then this is the article for you. We will answer all the basic questions you might have about an escape room – what is it, how to play, what makes it unique, and so on.  

 

What Is an Escape Game? How do I Play?

In case you’re still wondering what is an escape room experience, here are some basics. Before you start, you need to form a team (usually it’s between 2 and 5 people, depending on the situation). Then, choose an adventure. The games are divided into themed adventures, and each room is designed according to the theme you choose. 

Expect to see prison cells, nuclear power plants, theatres, dig sites, pirate ships, and any more. No matter which room you choose, the goal will be the same – get out of the room in 60 minutes or less. Don’t worry, you can leave the room at any time if you wish to ignore the rules, it’s just a game after all. 

Great for Teambuilding

Work with your team or by yourself – look for clues, observe all the details in the room, explore hidden spaces, solve puzzles, and much more. Once you start, you won’t be thinking about rules or what you can and can’t do. Your mind will most likely be focused on solving the various puzzles around you. 

The best way to play is by applying teamwork. You can help each other with the puzzles individually, or you can split your group into teams and assign tasks to each team. Try split searching for clues and exchanging information, this can save you time (remember that each party has a total of 60 minutes to finish the game).

If you or your teammates get stuck on a puzzle and can’t solve it, don’t worry. Our gamemaster will be outside the room to help you with anything you need. You won’t be left alone. 

When you solve the last puzzle, the timer stops, and if you made it in less than 60 minutes, you get out as a winner!  

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can play? Is there an age limit?

A: The minimum age for unsupervised visits is 16, while kids aged 10 can come with their parents. This is mainly due to the complexity of the game. As for who can play – basically anyone. For example, pregnant women had lots of fun playing in our rooms. There are no scary, stressful surprises or any physical effort required to solve the puzzles.    

Q: What should I know before I start?

A: Aside from the info we have already given you, the games require a basic understanding of math and the English language. Everything else is up to your intuition, logic, and deduction skills.  

Q: What if I get stuck?

A: Don’t worry. There is no need for panic. The Gamemaster is there to give you tips and guide you through the puzzles you are having trouble with. We are there to supervise the game and help only if you ask us to. 

Q: How big are the rooms?

A: Each room is different so there are no standard measures. All you need to know is the rooms are big enough to walk around and explore without bumping into your teammates, while at the same time being able to hear each other from each room. If you are claustrophobic, you can check the rooms out beforehand and estimate whether you want to give them a try. 

Q: How big are the teams?

A: The number of people in each team goes from 2 to 5. We suggest organizing teams with your friends so that you play with people you know. It makes communication and cooperation a lot easier.

Q: What if I have to leave before the time runs out?

A: Don’t worry. The escape rooms aren’t actually locked. You can leave any time you want and the gamemaster will show you the exit. It’s all about having fun so nobody is forced to do anything. 

 

The History of Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are essentially puzzle-based games that started off as interactive video games. The first video game escape rooms were called Crimson Room and Myst, and they were made by Japanese video game companies around 2004. These games fall under the category of point-and-click games, and the goal is very simple – to get out of a locked room using everything at your disposal, mainly clues, and intuition. Very soon, the developers and the fans of the game realized these games could be transformed into real-life adventure games, with the rooms that are custom made to look like the ones from the video games.    

What was the first Escape Room Game?

In 2007, the first real-life escape room game was created by SCRAP, a Japanese company. The room’s name was “Origin” and it was inspired by the detective mystery novels of Agatha Christie. It didn’t take long before this trend started spreading around the world. Hungary was the first European country to open an escape room. 

After that, around 2012, we could see the beginnings of the escape room craze in the US. They started off as relatively boring rooms with no real effort put into them, but only a few years later the US started opening some of the best escape rooms in the world. Now, there are literally thousands of these rooms scattered across the world waiting for you to solve them.

Their popularity has gone beyond just playing the games. For instance, the Science Channel made a TV show in 2015 called Race to Escape, and it’s based on the escape room games.

If you have any more questions or you want to sign up your team, contact us today!

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July 24th, 2019|Blog, Escape the Room Preparation Tips|Comments Off on What is an Escape Room
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