An escape room is a unique activity for friends and family to have fun and solve puzzles together.To make the game exciting and enjoyable, there are many ways to decorate the room.
Step 1: The game can be held in a room in your home.
Pick a room that is large enough for the players to move around comfortably while they are looking for clues.Make sure your clues and props fit.To make your game more difficult, use two or more rooms that are next to each other and have guests "unlock" the doors between them as they progress through the game.
Step 2: The room should be interesting to add to the story.
You can come up with themed challenges if you choose an interesting setting.It will make the escape room feel more complete.During the Renaissance or the roaring 1920s, you could place the room in Italy or New York.Pick a time in the future where you can have even more control over the setting.
Step 3: A theme that fits the setting is what you should pick.
Your guests would be interested in a theme.Pick a theme that resembles a book or movie the group already likes.You should be able to find props and decorations that match your theme.If the setting is in England in the late 1800s, use a theme based on the detective.Choose a zombie or haunted house theme for your guests to enjoy.It's possible to create a prison escape theme in almost any time period.
Step 4: If this is your first escape room, set a time limit of 30 minutes.
Aiming for 30 minutes will keep you from being overwhelmed.You can focus on making puzzles and keeping your guests entertained.Extending the time past 30 minutes will give your guests the challenge they need to stay interested in the escape room.
Step 5: The theme and setting should be considered when creating a storyline.
There is a purpose to the escape room.It's possible that your players have to leave the room in order to deliver top secret intel or that they need to break into a room to diffuse a bomb.Make sure the storyline is easy to understand for the guests.
Step 6: Break the story into smaller pieces.
You want to make sure your main storyline is doable.Try to write a single sentence for each part of the story.The players wake up in a room.A big poster with letters and numbers is in front of them.They find out they are in the year 3015 when they solve the puzzle.
Step 7: Make a diagram of the story.
To outline what the players will be doing at each step of the story, use sticky notes or a powerpoint presentation.If you want to organize your one-sentence descriptions, write them on separate post-its.If the players have tounlock a door in order to escape one room, they should decide how many clues and puzzles they need to solve along the way and how long they will take.If the players are supposed to find a key, you could require them to gather clues from around the room to figure it out.If you're planning a large escape room with lots of people, you could have a system that forks at one point, as long as everything comes together nicely at the end.
Step 8: The next part of the story should flow into the first part.
After the players solve a puzzle, make sure there are instructions left that lead them to the next part of the story.Clues and information inside a box will lead players to the next challenge and puzzle if they successfully unlocked it.The beginning, middle, climax, and resolution of the story are tied together by the plot.
Step 9: The guests will encounter challenges throughout the story.
Guests figure out the challenges along the way.If your guests are new to escape rooms, stick to 3 or 4 challenges.Think of 5 or more challenges if you think they would like a more difficult escape room.There are challenges for a zombie escape room, such as figuring out who the first person was to become zombie, and finding the cure.For a futuristic theme, you could require the players to determine what year they are in, how they got there, and how to get back to the present.
Step 10: If you have a large group, set up more than one challenge.
If you're creating an escape room for more than 6 people, consider breaking them into two teams or creating challenges that can be solved simultaneously.Everyone participating will be entertained.
Step 11: There are challenges in the storyline.
Make sure the players are given enough time to solve each challenge.Once they solve the challenge, they should be able to answer or unlock it.If the challenge is to unlocked a door, you can choose to have the players open a combination lock, search for items in odd places, or decode messages in order to find the key.The players may need to find written clues in books, newspapers and pictures if they have to decode a message.
Step 12: Lock up information.
Purchase a bike lock or a small safe.The combination to open the lock is the answer to the puzzle.Make sure you give the next clue after the lock is opened.You could hide the lock under a book.If you want to do a tricky challenge, put the key to the lock in a separate box.
Step 13: There are items in the plain site that have hidden information.
You can help players open a lock by writing a code on the bottom of objects in the room.You could place several dice in the room.The players would try to piece together the numbers that were missing.The players have to piece together a sentence from certain words.
Step 14: Provide players with something to unscramble a cipher.
Give players a list of words to match.An acrostic is where the first letter of a word creates a sentence or name.Match the colors of the words to a pattern somewhere else in the room.The number of letters in each word is related to the numbers of a lock or safe.
Step 15: Make your escape room more authentic by choosing props.
You can find decorations and costumes that fit your theme at a crafts or thrift store.Candles can be used to add to a historical or spooky theme.Electric or battery operated candles are safer than real candles.Put glow sticks in containers around the room to make it look futuristic.A forest or cave can be created by branches, rocks, and dirt.
Step 16: You can set the mood with music.
The setting of the room can be found online.The players can hear the music if you have speakers or a cell phone.The players can hear each other if the volume is soft.
Step 17: Pick out costumes to make the players feel like part of the story.
Give your players costumes that fit the theme to immerse them in the story.Even a few pieces of a costume can go a long way.If you want a cheap option, get costumes from a thrift store or ask if you can borrow clothing from friends.
Step 18: The room should be set up with props and decorations.
Make sure your clues are in order for the players to find them.Make sure your locks are locked, your keys are hidden, and your props are set for clues.If you are using candles, make sure they are out of reach and don't get knocked over when the players are moving around.
Step 19: To make sure it works, do a run through of the game.
The players will see the challenges and puzzles if the room is set up like that.The clues and puzzles will lead the players through the story if you check them out.Someone else or two people could run through the game to see how long it takes.You already know the answers to the puzzles.
Step 20: The rules should be explained to the players.
At the beginning of the story, give a short speech explaining what the players are not allowed to do.The rules can be printed on a sheet of paper so they have them with them for the duration of the game.Explain that the players are not allowed to use their phones for help.It's best to set a ground rule that it would be cheating if they used their phones to solve a puzzle.Explain and point out that furniture and other objects should not be moved.
Step 21: Pick the number of hints the players are allowed to get.
Group get stumped by a challengeThey should be given 3 or more hints to help them through the game.At any point in the game, be prepared to give hints.Tell the players how many hints they can use.Don't give the answer away with your hints.If some or all of the players are children, allow them to have more than 3 hints so they don't get discouraged.
Step 22: If the players complete the escape room, you can give them a prize.
The players will finish the escape room if there is a prize that motivates them.If they finish the escape room, let them know what they will get.If you want a cheap option, you could take a team photo with props and costumes and send the team digital or physical prints.If the player is an adult, you could give them a gift card.