“The best way to solve a problem is to simply solve it.” – Alan Saporta
This quote pretty much sums up the core of escape room strategies.
More and more people are getting in on the action, testing the waters, as escape rooms keep popping up and getting famous among all ages. But now that you’ve seen how thrilling and entertaining the games can be, you’re prepared to go in headfirst and tackle even more rooms. However, you’ll need a plan if you want to get out of those difficult escape rooms like a pro.
While you’ll find all kinds of difficulty levels when you visit Hint Hunt in Mississauga, ON, having some tactics up your sleeves can get you out of there quickly. To become a professional escape room player, follow our expert escape room strategies and beat the odds next time you’re playing an escape room!
1. Search Every Corner
Find all the items and riddles in the room by searching carefully. Find the secret, unreachable places where the planner might have put their thinking caps on.
Tip: there’s a secret hidden beneath the rug!
Searching in areas where the rules prohibit you is a waste of time because if it’s off the record, it means there isn’t anything there. As a part of your escape room strategies, take the game master’s warnings that there is no need to resort to physical force in solving riddles or that there is nothing hidden above your head seriously if they tell you so before the game.
In the heat of battle, players might forget to listen to the game master or instructor and spend precious minutes looking for nothing. Also, do not touch anything marked with a “Do not touch!” sticker!
2. Organization Is the Key
To make it easier to find all the clues, gather all the tangible things you find in the room and put them in one spot. With everything going on in the room, it’s easy to lose track of a hint you haven’t solved quite yet.
Putting a hint in a clear, noticeable spot can save your team time, especially if it is useful later on in the game.
With just sixty minutes to get out of there, every second counts. You and your teammates can return to this spot whenever you need help solving a puzzle or just want to brainstorm.
3. Play In a Team
In the rule book of escape room strategies, searching the room is the first and foremost thing to do, as mentioned. Find all the information you can by searching it carefully. Nevertheless, it is not enough to just find something; you also need to coordinate with your teammates.
On many occasions, one member of the group will be attempting to solve a problem that another has already solved. It might seem obvious, but teams that talk to each other and collaborate have a much better chance of winning. Never forget that the second the time starts to run down, communication starts!
The moment you step foot in the escape room, your senses will be overwhelmed. There are a plethora of objects, escape room hints and strategies, and ideas to experiment with. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, call out to each other when you find things in the escape room, such as “Here’s a key!” or “Give me the key!” This reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings by making information available to all members involved.
4. Listen Carefully
You will often be provided with a list of regulations or instructions before you begin your escape room session. It’s tempting to disregard these regulations in your haste to get to the game, but remember that they’re usually in place to keep you safe and that being familiar with them might actually increase your chances of winning!
Even while following the rules is boring, there are situations when doing so will provide you with a significant advantage. The instructions are more than simply background information; they will usually lay out the goals for the game and provide escape room hints and strategies that might come in handy later on.
In order to solve a puzzle—for example, you could have to “cheat” on the solution while playing the role of a thief—in some escape rooms like Zen Room, you have to consider the problem from the viewpoint of the character.
The hint you get when you ask in the middle of the game is carefully designed to aid you at the precise time you need it. This hint can lead you to a code that will unlock a new area of the room, or you can use this clue to find more clues that will allow you to solve the escape room.
5. Always Ask For Hints
A common practice that people do is to not ask for hints because they think it’ll affect their success or ego. However, proactively asking for tips is one of the key escape room strategies. Using the limited number of escape room hints and strategies offered to you in order to get on the leaderboard is usually found in most games.
However, to keep things interesting and productive, it is advised not to ask for hints for the first five minutes or more than five times in a single game. After all, isn’t taking advantage of the game’s difficulty pointless? If you want to ask for tips strategically, you should do so after everyone else has failed to solve a task or when you all agree that time is running out.
With one exception, though: if you’ve been stuck for a while and aren’t enjoying it anymore, then it’s the best moment to ask for a clue.
6. Name an Alpha
Prior to entering the room, choose an Alpha or one spokesperson for your squad if you want to significantly improve your chances of winning. Alphas are tasked with more than just solving puzzles and uncovering clues.
The appointed Alphas are also uniquely positioned to keep a check on the remaining time, prioritize tasks, distribute responsibilities, keep track of what is required to move along, and ensure that the team is communicating effectively.
To put it simply, the Alpha’s job is to make sure that everyone is using the above suggestions and methods. The ideal candidate for the role of Alpha is a seasoned player with a strong sense of direction and organization.
7. Team Up Efficiently
Although any number of members in a team can play, keeping it between 4 and 5 is the sweet spot and comes under the best escape room strategies. Beyond that, keep in mind that you can only expect to succeed as a person if you know how to contribute to the whole.
If you can, surround yourself with people who are fast thinkers and creative. This is because escape rooms like Hint Hunt have a plethora of challenges that test your agility and expertise.
Your friend might not be able to keep that mirror steady for more than a minute if he drops his phone with every pick-up. But that same someone may have a sharp eye for detail that you are blind to. So, many rooms are constructed similarly, with many lines of puzzles operating concurrently. Therefore, you should divide and conquer, and you should be well-equipped to deal with challenges as they arise.
8. Enjoy Your Best!
In the end, having fun should be the only goal of these outings. In addition to entertaining you and your fellows for an hour, these game plots are meant to test and thrill you, provoke thought, and get your blood pumping (in a good way, of course!).
No matter whether you’re hosting an office team-building event or just want to have fun with friends or an amusing family outing, escape rooms are supposed to make you laugh, not cry.
So, don’t be too hard on yourself and your team members. You’re here to have fun, not compete with anyone. Some competitiveness is good, but when it starts to affect your behavior and motives, it’s a sign to stop and rethink.
FAQs
How do escape rooms use psychology to induce fear?
Escape rooms often use psychological techniques to create a sense of fear and suspense. These techniques may include creating a sense of isolation, playing with the element of surprise, and using sound and lighting to create a tense atmosphere.
How can I prepare myself for a scary escape room?
To prepare for a scary escape room, consider your personal tolerance for fear. If you’re easily frightened, you may want to choose a less intense theme or play with a group of friends.
What is the average cost of an escape room?
The cost of an escape room varies depending on the location, the length of the game, and the number of players.
Choose the Best Escape Room Experience in Mississauga
As a winner of the Traveller’s Choice Award 2024, Hint Hunt escape rooms are going to give you an incredible experience whether you’re with your family, friends, or colleagues! With carefully designed and executed rooms like Deep Down (Submarine) and Trouble in Springfield (Adventure), you can expect to solve thrilling riddles and mysteries like never before.
No matter your age, you will love these top-notch Canadian escape games. Each room offers a unique set of challenges that will give you something to think about. Combined with the best escape room strategies mentioned, groups are sure to have a great time and more chances of success at these thrilling escape rooms.
So, round up your pals because you’re about to enjoy an unforgettable experience with Hint Hunt!