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What I Look For In An Escape Room: Jason

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Personally, I love escape room and I will try and solve ANY puzzle I come across. I love puzzles, riddles, scavenger hunts, and even the pixel hunt kind of games in video games. I love the process of going from being completely unaware of the answer, to a full understanding of the puzzle by piecing together the clues. If a puzzle can do that for me, then I am over the moon!

The puzzles are a HUGE part of what I look for in an escape room. Though I don’t think that puzzle design can carry the experience on its own, it is definitely one of three big factors to my enjoyment of a room.

When I solve a puzzle, I want to know exactly how the puzzle works just by solving it. For example, there have been times where I thought “I don’t think this makes sense but maybe ____ is the answer?” Then it works, and I feel a little disappointed, even though I got the answer correct. The reason I feel let down is because the puzzle didn’t work the way I had thought it was going to.

Now I know what some of you might be thinking. You didn’t like the puzzle because it didn’t work the way YOUthought it would? And I completely understand the eye rolls that I might be getting right now but let me explain!

Making a good puzzle is very much like writing a good plot twist into a story or movie. If the twist is not foreshadowed earlier in the movie, then it just feels like a plot device. But if there are subtle hints from earlier that influence how you should be thinking, then when the twist happens you are like “WHOA! I knew that that painting from earlier was going to be important!” Same goes for puzzles. If your team has been trying things to no avail and then you look at one clue you haven’t used yet and suddenly everything clicks and you exclaim “WAIT! What if the ____s are actually showing us how to use these other clues!” then you have yourself a GOLDEN “aha moment!” And in the end, isn’t that what all puzzles are really about?

The next thing I look for in an escape room is theme. At the end of the day, if you don’t like the theme of a room then you won’t be having as much fun as other people that can really engage with the setting.

I am a huge Horror film junkie! I watch them all; everything from the Exorcist to Zombie Mutant Vampires from the Hood! What can I say? I am a silver lining kind of person. I can find diamonds in just about any roughs. However, just because I enjoy the genre does not mean that all horror movies are good. Same goes for escape rooms. The theme of the room is kind of like the salesman for the room: It is what catches my eye fastest when I am looking for an escape room to play. However, once I actually get into the room, I feel that theme carries the least amount of weight on whether I will find the escape room enjoyable or not.

Third, and possible most importantly, is immersion. I don’t care if my team is being hunted by a serial killer or if we are all aliens trying to break out of area 51, I need to be sold on the idea. It isn’t enough to tell me that I am a fish in an aquarium, you need to sell me on that every moment of the experience.

This can be achieved in many ways. It could be as simple as giving everyone a mask to wear, or as complex as having actors in the room that interact with the players in a certain way to get the desired result. Trust me, nothing convinces someone that they are an outlaw in the wild west more than giving them a cowboy hat, a bandana, and having the “law dogs” lock them up in a jail cell. We’ve already talked a lot about immersion in one of our other blog posts, so I don’t need to go too far into how to achieve full immersion… but it is VERY important!

So, to sum this up, when I am looking for an escape room to play the three things I am looking for are:

1) What is the theme?

2) Do they have well thought out puzzles? (This is kind of hard to find an answer without spoiling anything, but reading people’s reactions to the puzzles in reviews is often a good way to find out how good the puzzles are.)

3) How immersive is the game? (One thing I look for is people discussing a game’s hint system in the comments. I ask myself if it makes sense for the setting or not.)

Look at the escape room’s website to get an idea for theme, and then if you are intrigued read some reviews. I can temper my expectations based on other peoples’ reviews and how well the room markets itself. I have only played around 30 escape rooms so far, so I would not consider myself an expert, but this method has helped me search for the next game my team will take on.

What do you look for in an escape room? Let us know in the comments below!

Jason Sakal
Game Master & Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games

Characters of The Hex Room

What Your Hex Room Character Says About You

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Good! So, you’ve taken our online personality test! But do you know what it means to be a Jock, Nerd, Virgin, Rebel, Prom Queen, or a Detective? In case you haven’t watched as many horror movies as we have, here is some information on what your horror movie stereotype says about you and how you can best live up to your role within your very own horror movie. It’s basically a mood ring, but instead of colors, it’s made of archetypes!

Detective

The Detective is the person who has enough rapport with everyone to actually get them to listen to what they say. They are great listeners and when people talk, they pay close attention. However, the Detective usually spends most of their time trying to keep the other characters alive instead of actually solving the mystery.

  • Has the highest chance of being killed while helping another character.
  • PROS: Great communicator, great multitasker, good puzzle solver.
  • CONS: High responsibility, so much paperwork, dresses like they’re in the 70s.
  • EXAMPLES: Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) in The Wicker Man (1973); Dewey Riley (David Arquette) in Scream (1996).

 

Rebel

The rebel is known for doing rebellious things (who would have guessed it). This leads many of the other characters into thinking that they are more prepared for the horror movie than they actually are. I mean, if they are already used to doing crazy things, how much harder can it be to try and fight for your life against an insane serial killer… right? They are independent and don’t ask for other characters help, usually to their own dismay.

  • Has the highest chance of being killed after separating from the group.
  • PROS: Thinks outside the box, focused, outside observer.
  • CONS: Not really a team player, probably has a tragic backstory.
  • EXAMPLES: Marty (Fran Kranz) in Cabin in the Woods (2012); Taryn White (Jennifer Rubin) in Nightmare on Elm Street III (1987).

 

Jock

Probably the only person in the group that voted against the rest of their team’s decision of leader of the group. Most likely, they voted for themselves. Plays enough sports to think that they are good at everything.

  • Highest chance of suggesting the group split up to search for clues. Probably dies shortly after.
  • PROS: Brave, protective, loyal.
  • CONS: Can’t easily change their mind, relies on strength over brains, has to ask Coach for permission.
  • EXAMPLES: Glen Lantz (Johnny Depp) in Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); Curt (Chris Hemsworth) in Cabin in the Woods (2012).

 

Nerd

Has watched the most movies, horror or otherwise, of any of the other players in the group. They remember small bits of information from each movie, quotes and factoids mostly, and they are happy to tell people this information

  • Highest chance to be killed right as he figures out some piece of vital information.
  • PROS: Observant, good memory, planner, book smart.
  • CONS: Nobody listens to them until it’s too late, loses their glasses like way too much. Seriously, get contacts.
  • EXAMPLES: Randy (Jamie Kennedy) in Scream (1996).

 

Prom Queen

Probably showed up to the escape room late or right on time. Also, is most likely to have read the question “how many people have you kissed?” and asked if they have to answer that question.

  • Highest chance of dying after saying the words “Hello? Is anyone there?”
  • PROS: Driven, confident, has small group of close friends.
  • CONS: Can get caught up on appearances, trust issues, can’t run in heels.
  • EXAMPLES: Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997).

 

Virgin

The person that was brought along because everyone actually likes them. This being said, the virgin is most likely to be the one that is too afraid to fill out the questionnaire fully. They will leave answers blank in hopes that if they don’t admit to having fears, that they won’t have to deal with anything scary. Most likely to have not realized that the Hex Room is a horror themed escape room when they were invited/when they booked the room.

  • Highest chance of surviving the ordeal only to drag a new group of friends into the sequels!
  • PROS: Sweet, friendly, avid reader.
  • CONS: Too trusting, prone to being sacrificed, is going to suffer.
  • EXAMPLES: Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) in Halloween (1978); Sally (Marilyn Burns) in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).

Keep in mind, being the Virgin doesn’t guarantee you are the “Final Girl,” a common horror movie trope pertaining to the last remaining victim of a horror movie. After all, remember Sigourney Weaver’s wise words from Cabin in the Woods: “It doesn’t matter if the virgin lives or dies, as long as she suffers.”

After taking this personality quiz, we are sure you will better know yourself and be better prepared for surviving a horror film. Want to put your new understanding of self to the test? Get your most trusted group of friends together and enter The Hex Room.

Jason Sakal
Game Master and Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games

Fun House KIDS

A Magical Birthday: Escape Room Birthday Parties at Cross Roads

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Is your child’s birthday quickly approaching? Are you looking for a way to make their party extra special? Well, come on down and test your wits in our FUN HOUSE!

An escape room is a great birthday party idea because they are an interactive group experience that emphasize and strengthen many skills including teamwork, communication, and problem solving, while still being an entertaining and immersive game.

The Fun House is a topsy-turvy experience filled to the brim with laughs, mystery, magic, and excitement! You and your team must work together to find clues and solve puzzles before time runs out. The light-hearted nature of the game makes it an ideal party destination, full of puzzles that allow groups to work together or break into smaller teams.

If your team consists of young children with dreams of being magicians, have no fear! The Fun House KIDS provides the same whimsical fun and puzzle solving experience but is an alternate version designed for younger players between the ages of 8 and 13-years old. However, it is never too early to send your children off to the circus and children of all ages can play the game! We’ve added some hands-on puzzles to this version of the game so that everyone, no matter what age or height, will have something to do.

What could be better than running off to prove yourself at the circus? Why, how about a party afterwards! Cross Roads Escape Games offers a beautiful lounge that is a comfortable, private space where your group can unwind, talk about their experience, eat some cake and ice cream, and open presents. Along with the lounge rental, we can provide cups, plates, napkins, utensils, balloons, and even take care of clean-up.

Speaking of food, what could possibly go better with a birthday party than pizza? If you need catering for your party, we offer a special escape room package from Top Class Pizza that includes three Large 1-Topping Pizzas, two 10” cheesy bread sticks, two 10” cinnamon sticks, and two 2-liters of soda.

Parents love having their child’s birthday party at Cross Roads Escape Games because they know the kids will have a great time interacting and using their brains and not being distracted by phone screens. Kids love escape room birthday parties because they can be clever, solve puzzles, and win prizes in a unique experience. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary for your child’s next birthday, try the Fun House for a truly memorable party.

The Fun House and Fun House KIDS is for 4-8 players and is one-hour long. If players are 13 years or younger, they must be accompanied by an adult in the game. Both of our games are private games, meaning your group will not be paired with strangers. Our lounge is available to rent for an extra fee and comfortably fits up to 13 adults. We also do bachelor parties, proposals, baby announcements, and other celebrations! If you have any questions about parties at Cross Roads Escape Games or you would like to book your party, give us a call at (714) 572-1004.

Geoff Durham
Manager, Game Master, Party Animal
Cross Roads Escape Games

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Expecting the Unexpected- Confessions of a Game Master

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The world of escape rooms can be pretty unexpected. Try as we might, sometimes there is just no predicting the strange things people do. Since these games are interactive experiences where the players control how and when the narrative moves, it takes a special kind of guidance to ensure the train stays on its tracks even through bizarre and sudden turns. That’s where a game master comes in: A Game Master’s job is to gently guide players along the path while still allowing the players to dictate the pace.

Here at Cross Roads Escape Games, our Game Masters go through some pretty intensive training to ensure they are ready for anything that is thrown their way over the course of a game. In just a short amount of time, they are required to memorize not only codes, but the placement of props, hints, decorations, and locks, as well as detailed rules and safety. And once they have that memorized, they learn a completely new set-up, a new set of rules, and a new series of codes for our second game.

That sure is a lot to remember. One thing we can’t always predict, however, is the human element. We can have our Game-Masters-In-Training run a game over and over until even Zoltar is tired of talking (which is a feat all on its own; He loves to talk) but that human element can often throw a curveball nobody saw coming. That is why our Game Masters are skilled in improv; Being able to think on your feet is essential to making sure an escape room runs smoothly. We make sure our game masters know how to deal with and work around the unexpected, even if we can’t predict exactly what that will be.

Of course, there are other traits besides improv that make a game master great. In this episode of Confessions of a Game Master, our game masters explain some of their unexpected encounters as well as some traits that make for an effective game master.

Are you caught up with all of our Confessions videos? Catch any you may have missed (or rewatch your favorites) on our YouTube Channel. Do you have a question for our Game Masters? Leave us a comment on our blog and we may answer it in a future episode.

Happy escaping!
Geoff Durham
Game Master, Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games

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Zoltar’s Reflections Of The Fun House

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Greetings and salutations dear reader! Tis I again, Zoltar the Great, Seer of secrets, and your guide to celebrating the Fun House’s 2nd birthday! In honor of the 2nd birthday of the Fun House I figured it would be fun to take a moment to reflect on how our lives were before The Fun House opened its doors and be grateful that we no longer live in the desolate wastelands that existed during that time.

I know that many of you were sad, lost, and (dare I say) despondent in the days before the Fun House, as was I dear reader… as was I. But then, like a shining beacon of hope, the Fun House manifested and… and… well… it just seemed to lack something. It needed something big; something new and intelligent; something with well-groomed eyebrows and a chin that don’t quit; it needed, of course, me!

Yes, I remember the day that the Great Cross Roads Circus found me in an old self storage unit. I had been left for all eternity behind a slowly fading painting of Madonna. One of the Rhoades ringleaders heard my cries of help and, doing what any half decent ringleader would do, came to the rescue of the crying Madonna painting! It wasn’t until she had already taken the Madonna painting and had turned to leave that she realized that it was, in fact, MY painting that was talking. Sorry Madonna. You may have the looks, but I have the looks and the voice!

In the dust and darkness of the storage unit, I met the great ring leaders of the Cross Roads Circus for the first time. It was there that the great ringleader recognized my talent and did the only sensible thing to do … placed me right in the center of attention in the Fun House!

What has been the best part of living in The Fun House for these two years? Without a doubt, it has been acting as a mentor, muse, and supportive shoulder on which to cry (metaphorically of course, for I was not painted with shoulders) for many hopeful apprentices. Each day I help these aspiring souls to think more creatively, to believe more profoundly, to laugh, share, joke, play, and enjoy life to the fullest. I don’t want to put understate just how intensely moving a game in The Fun House can be. Each game I help people discover whether they are truly Magnificent Magicians or Clueless Clowns and each one of us is better for it.

Ah yes. It has been two great years filled with many amazing magicians and clowns of all age! Our circus has grown quite large in the last couple years and continues to grow every day. I sure do look forward to even more wonderful years of magic, mystery, and perhaps a few jokes along the way.

If you haven’t had the chance to test your wits in our topsy-turvy Fun House yet, then I suggest you come on down as soon as possible and find out if you have what it takes to be a worthy magician or if you are simply a clueless clown.

That sounds like an important bit of personal discovery if you ask me.

Zoltar The Great
The Seer of Secrets and your guide into the future.

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Tips on how to solve puzzles in an escape room!

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Being good at playing escape rooms is just like any other skill: it takes some practice. As you play more and more escape rooms, you will learn what methods work for finding solutions to puzzles and what habits just waste time. If you are a new player or are already an escape enthusiast looking to improve your gameplay, here is some advice and techniques I have found effective when solving puzzles in escape rooms!

#1) Look at the lock!

This is such an important step that I see a lot of players skip. Even if the puzzle doesn’t have an actual “lock” per say, look at what it is that you are putting your solution into. What kind of solution do you need: Does it require numbers? Letters? Directions? Colors? Look at what it is asking for even before you look at the clues that you have found. After all, once you know what you are looking for, the clues you need will stand out to you!

#2) Look at the clues!

Do not be that one person that looks at the lock and instantly starts guessing random codes. The odds are that you aren’t going to get the right combination and even if you do guess the right code… congratulations… you are still going to need to solve the puzzle to figure out which clues have been used and which clues haven’t. I can tell you from experience, if you don’t separate the clues you should have used and set them aside, your team will continue trying to use them on EVERY SINGLE PUZZLE they come across. You may have saved five minutes by hacking a lock, but you have wasted 15 minutes throughout the game just trying clues that no longer have any purpose. TRUST ME… just look at the clues.

Once you know what you are looking for, the clues will begin to make more sense. Once the clues start making sense, it becomes easier to deduce the correct answer. Remember, solving puzzles is a matter of deductive reasoning.You start with infinite ideas on how it can be solved and begin narrowing the possible solutions based on what the clues are telling you

#3) Talk it out with your team!

This is the point where your team mates become invaluable. If you are looking at the clues and aren’t coming up with a solution to the puzzle, bring everything you’ve discovered to your team mates. Tell them what the lock is looking for, tell them what clues you’ve found and what you think those clues are telling you. Once you’ve done that, tell them everything that you’ve tried so far so you don’t waste time coming to the same conclusions. Talk it out and brainstorm different solutions. Don’t worry about being 100% right on what you guess during the brainstorm. This is the point where everyone brings their ideas to the table and everyone talks about what works/doesn’t work and why. You and your team will narrow the possibilities down until you come up with a solution that uses the clues to open the lock!

#4) Try the solution twice!

Uh Oh! The lock didn’t open. You review your solution and you are POSTIVE that you have the right answer. But it didn’t work the first time! Don’t panic. If you are sure you have the right solution, try inputting the code into the lock once more. Sometimes you have the number on a lock slightly off, or you accidentally press an extra digit on a keypad. It happens. Just make sure everything is lined up perfectly and take your time inputting the code. If you want to be extra sure everything is done right, then have your teammate impute the code the second time; just in case you are doing it wrong. And don’t forget, you may need to give a lock a gentletug to open.

#6) Come back to it.

If you have tried everything to solve a puzzle but you are missing a piece or just aren’t getting it, come back to the puzzle later (if possible). Most escape rooms have multiple things that need to be done at any point in time. If you’ve given the puzzle your best shot, then perhaps you don’t have everything that you need to solve it yet. You might think you know the solution only to discover a clue later that changes EVERYTHING! So, don’t get stuck! Feel free to step away from a puzzle and come back to it!

I hope these tips can help improve your gameplay and make you more effective escape artists. Do you have some tips that should have made the list? Leave other escape enthusiasts your best advice in the comment section below! And be sure to test your escape artistry in either The Fun House or The Hex Room at Cross Roads Escape Games!

Jason Sakal
Manager and Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games

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FAQ: In Depth Answers

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If you are reading this, then you have probably already looked over our FAQ and have a few more questions that you might want some clarification on. Here are some of the questions that we get asked on a day to day basis.

Player Limits?

The two rooms have different maximum player capacities based on the size of the rooms. For the Fun House we can accommodate 4 – 8 players at once. For the Hex Room we can accommodate up to 5 – 10 players at once. Both rooms were designed for approximately six players, but we can have up to 8 in the Fun House and 10 in the Hex.

This last statement is important to note. When people see that the maximum is 8 or 10, and the minimums are 4 and 5, they always seem to ask one of two questions. Can we have more than the maximum or can we have less than the minimum?

Can we play with more?

No, the maximum player limit is very strict. We get asked a lot if we could fit “just one more” person into the game, and the maximum listed is our cut off point. With more than the maximum number of players, the game becomes cramped and chaotic. It’s a perfect example of “too many cooks in the kitchen.”

We are dedicated to bringing you the best escape room experience and our maximums are in place to make sure you get the best experience possible.

Can we play with less?

For the Hex Room, no. Five players are needed in order for the game to be playable. Because each person is split into their own separate room in the beginning, you MUST have at least 5 players; as there are clues in each room that will be important to solving puzzles and escaping.

As for the Fun House, yes! You can play with less than four players. However, since the Fun House is a private game, you must pay for the minimum number of tickets, which is 4, in order to reserve the room. In the Fun House, everyone starts in the same room and there is A LOT of puzzles to solve, which is why we suggest you bring at least 4 people to tackle this room.

How do you accommodate groups larger than 18?

Since the maximum for the Hex Room is 10 and the maximum for the Fun House is 8… what can we do to accommodate large groups of more than 18 people? Since we cannot have more than the maximum number of players in either room we can run multiple games back to back.

For large groups up to 36 players we recommend renting out our private lounge for 18 people to wait in while the other 18 people are inside the game, and switch when the first games are over.

Do you have actors in either room?

Neither of our rooms have actors in them. You will have a game master watching you the entire time, but they will not be in the room with you.

What is the difference between Fun House and Fun House for Kids?

The difficulty levels. In the Kids version, we take out some of the more complicated puzzles and replace them with a few puzzles that are a bit more straight forward and hands on. It is a great room for children that are looking to become young escape enthusiasts!

Which room is better?

I get this question at least twice a day. My answer is always this. It is a matter of taste. Both rooms are fun and immersive experiences, but they have different themes. The Hex Room is a dark and sinister experience that is intense and thrilling. Whereas the Fun House is a very light-hearted experience that is humorous and whimsical. Do you want to try and escape a crazed killer that is obsessed with horror movies or do you want to put up with the AMAZING Zoltar and all of his silly antics as you try to prove yourselves worthy magicians? The choice is yours and, honestly, as far as I’m concerned you can’t go wrong with either one!

Jason Sakal
Game Master and Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games

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Secrets of Successful Groups- Confessions Of A Game Master

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Welcome back to Confessions of a Game Master. As game masters, we have seen many groups attempt our games and have noticed some traits that the most successful groups have in common. In this month’s edition of Confessions, our game masters explain some of the things that can help make your team more successful (as well as some examples of what not to do.)

Support each other.

Under the pressure of a ticking clock, many people can fall victim to the stress. This can lead to harsh words, hurt feelings, and not escaping. The easiest way to alleviate some of the stress is to support the rest of your team. Offering help to friends who are stuck, re-explaining a puzzle, or just offering words of encouragement can make all the difference. Keeping morale high will keep everyone engaged and having fun.

Successful groups are willing to listen to everyone in their team.

In escape rooms, you cannot do everything on your own. Even the most brilliant puzzle-solvers will occasionally over-think a puzzle or find themselves stumped on something. The most successful groups are the ones that will listen to an idea from anyone in their group and give it a try. From first-timers to seasoned veterans, everyone has input on the game, which leads to more ideas, which leads to the right idea.

Successful groups pay attention.

From the very beginning to the very end of the game, it pays to pay attention. If someone mentions that they’ve noticed something that could be important, then the group will remember when it becomes important later on in the game. Listening to the instructions before the game can often times be the difference between escape and certain death.

Successful groups will accept help.

Even though it feels great to solve a room on your own, sometimes the group just cannot make heads-or-tails of a certain puzzle. The most successful groups will know when it’s time to accept that help is needed so they can move on to the next puzzle. Whether it’s asking another player for help, or using the game’s hint system, sometimes all you need is a little push to get right back on track. This is a great thing to keep in mind for The Hex Room, where players are separated into different rooms. It’s not always easy to know when someone is stuck when you are physically separated. If a player is stuck on a puzzle in their room, I find they often get to the solution after they ask other players for help. If everyone on your team is stumped, there’s no shame in asking for a hint. At Cross Roads Escape Games, we have integrated hint systems that provide a seamless and immersive way to receive help within the games.

What are some things that make a successful escape room team? Let us know your tips in the comments, or tell us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Make sure you stay up to date on our Confessions Of A Game Master by subscribing on YouTube!

Geoff Durham
Manager, Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games

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Spice Up Your Escape Room Photos

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Want to make your escape room photos EPIC? Most groups, when it comes to picture time, tend to stand in a line shoulder to shoulder. Make your pictures instantly better by creating layers and having some people couched in the front and others standing in the back. Or create some action and interesting composition by using some of these great poses below!

2 Person Group

Escape Rooms are great date night ideas! Spice up your picture with this lovely heart pose to show your Instagram followers how hip and in love you are. Or maybe try this Xtreme pose to show how in sync the two of you are.

3 Person Group

Out with the girls and decided to add a little excitement to the night with an escape room? The Charlie’s Angeles pose is perfect to show the world just how dangerous the 3 of you are together. Or maybe you and the guys went out for a night of laughs, what better pose then the classic 3 stooges!

4 Person Group

Got the core four squad together for a night out? Add some sass to your photo with these great 4 person poses.

5 Person Group

Escape with flying colors? Show the world that your team is a STAR with these great group poses! Or maybe you feel like you just saved the world? We have a few perfect super hero poses for that too!

 

6 Person Group

Is your team ready for some ’Morphin Time’? This iconic Power Ranger pose is perfect for your group of 6!

4 Or More…

Keep the train going and see how long you can make this link of squats go!

 

Was one of your players truly the star of the show? Show them your appreciation with this Lucky Cat pose!

 

Continue the spiral with this classic pose!

 

Use your bodies to create giant numbers and pose as the amazing time you escaped with!

If you are an acrobat, you might find these number poisons helpful…. we found them mostly impossible.

Last, but not least, don’t forget the classic midair jump pose! Just make sure you communicate beforehand what the ‘go’ word is.

We hope this helps inspire some great after game photos! If you need help creating a great pose with your friends, please to ask one of our game masters because they would love to help. We will be collecting some of our favorite poses our players come up with, and we will share them all with you in a later blog post. Check back soon to see if your photo makes the list and make sure to share this post with your friends to inspire some great team photos!

Madison Rhoades
CEO and Co- Owner
Cross Roads Escape Games

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Confessions of a Game Master- Return Trip Tips!

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If you’ve played The Hex Room before, you’re probably aware that it was designed to be replay-able. Due to its unique design, we are able to cast return players as a new horror movie character and place them in a different horror film to try and escape. Because each character is separated into individual rooms in the game, a player will not experience everything The Hex Room has to offer in one game.

In this episode of Confessions of a Game Master, our Game Masters offer tips on how to best approach a return trip to The Hex Room.

We have seen many return players attempt the Hex Room and, in this video, we will address a few ways to ensure your team gets the best experience.

Don’t reveal too much to your teammates. Part of the fun of a horror film is when something unexpected happens. If you tell your group what’s going to happen before it happens, you ruin some of the excitement. Let your friends have the same experience you did when you first played. If you tell people what is going to happen in their room it can feel like spoiling the end of a good horror movie. Nobody likes that person, don’t be that person.

Keep in mind that we are constantly working on The Hex Room and puzzles will change often. Assuming that everything will be the same is one of the most common mistakes return players make. This can be particularly hard for your teammates if you start telling other people how to solve puzzles in their room without actually being in their room. You may start leading your team towards a solution that no longer exists! We’ve seen many instances where return players are so insistent that they know the answer to a puzzle that they end up wasting their team mates’ valuable time! To avoid this, it is always best to approach each puzzle as if it is the first time you’ve seen it.

Don’t skip ahead. Skipping ahead to a part you remember may bypass puzzles and confuse your team. This is something I saw one time when a player came to replay The Fun House. They entered the code for a lock they remembered and skipped a handful of puzzles. They utterly confused the rest of their team and affected the experience. In the Hex Room, I’ve seen a player convince the rest of their team they needed to find something specific and waste time searching for items that were no longer in the game.

To put it simply, treat your return game as a new game. Having played before will help because you have experience with the mechanics and flow of the game but relying on what you remember about the puzzles will only hamper your game.

Don’t forget about your Hex Box! If you were unable to survive during your first play, the second time may be the best time to try for your Survivor Medallion! The Hex Box is an extra puzzle put into the game to further challenge yourself and is not necessary in order to escape. Just be sure you can escape, because the medallion only counts if you have it by the time your team opens the final door.

Have you replayed The Hex Room? Comment with some tips of your own here, on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Be sure to watch the rest of our Confessions videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Geoff Durham
Manager and Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games

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