Escape rooms can be an excellent way to stretch your mind and pass an afternoon, even if the buzzer goes off before you have managed to find your way out. Winning, though, is always the cherry on top that makes the whole experience that much better. There is no secret trick that will help you learn how to beat an escape room. Instead, you will need to focus on using the same skills you do every day — like communication, organization, and critical thinking — to find the key and unlock the door.
Skills Needed to Beat An Escape Room
Here are some of the skills you and your friends and family should polish up in order to understand how to beat an escape room.
Team Communication
Communication is critical in an escape room. Clearly outlining your ideas and needs will help people rally around one plan of action, understand what they need to do, and create better attempts when one fails. Without good communication, your group may miss important information about the room, leading to wasted time. Most escape rooms require groups to work together to find the solution, and making sure that everyone is on the same page is therefore the most important thing you can do to successfully escape. Consider assigning one person to manage the team, keep track of all information, and make announcements about new details that could help your team.
Organization
When you are on the clock, it is easy to get stressed out and disorganized. Jumping so quickly from one idea or action to the next, without ever coming up with a plan, may ultimately be your downfall. Spend a little bit of extra time to get organized. Assign tasks, think through your sequence of actions, and consider the potential outcomes of each one before you begin doing anything. This will help you avoid having too many people crowded around one puzzle, instead of focusing on separate sections of the room to find clues. Do not forget to keep track of your keys and other puzzle items by keeping all of the used and unused items in separate areas. Most keys and codes will only be needed once, and keeping them separate can help you save time. By staying organized, you will be better able to analyze failed attempts to escape, come up with better solutions, and manage your time well.
Team Collaboration
Escape rooms are a team sport, so do not be afraid to lean on your friends and other participants for support. You may need help deciphering a riddle, moving some props around, or just coming up with a different solution. By working together, you can achieve much more than keeping your ideas to yourself. One observation or comment from another participant may spark a new idea that would have never occurred to you otherwise — and it could be the winning one. Your group will win or lose together, and seeking and giving out help when possible will increase your chances of success. It may also be a good idea to swap out roles from time to time. If you have been asked to work on one particular puzzle and just cannot seem to think of any new ideas, ask a teammate to take over. Their fresh eyes and mind may do the trick.
Quick & Effective Critical Thinking
You do not have to be the most intelligent person in the room to escape it — you just have to use your critical thinking skills. Critical thinking involves objectively analyzing the facts in front of you to reach a solution. In an escape room, this means digging deep into the meaning of riddles, using the room’s storyline to give you clues, and making connections. Take some time to think through whether a proposed solution actually makes sense within the context of the room and what you know about it. This can help you save time that may have otherwise been wasted on unsuccessful attempts. It can also help you crack clues faster, giving you more time to put that information into action to make your escape. Escape rooms do not require any specialized knowledge, and the simplest solution in each one is often the correct solution. Sharpening your critical thinking skills goes a long way in helping you find it.
Book Your Next Adventure With Bond’s Escape Room
When you are ready to test your newfound escape room skills, contact Bond’s Escape Room to book your event. Bond’s offers themed escape rooms featuring cowboys, aliens, and horror movie experiences, among other stories. Each room contains theater grade props and details for a completely immersive experience that turns you into the hero of your own story. The venue is ideal for small groups, private parties, and team building events. Private groups that have booked an adventure at Bond’s receive the use of the facility’s VIP Room, which can be used to relax and enjoy refreshments before or after your game. If you think you have learned how to beat an escape room, or are willing to give it a shot, try one of our escape room adventures!