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Bad Habits of Escape Room Players

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As an escape room enthusiast, I try to take every chance I can to play an escape room. I have played good rooms, bad rooms, and rooms that have almost melted my brain with the creativity and complexity of their puzzles. I have also game mastered here at Cross Roads Escape Games for several years now and there are a quite a few habits shared by both new and advanced players alike.  

If you’re like me, you are always looking to improve your escape room game. Here is a list of four habits that I have noticed cause even the most advanced player to fail from time to time.

1. SOLVING BEFORE SEARCHING

I see this all the time. A player will begin to search their room and the moment that they come across a puzzle they immediately start trying to solve it, before finishing their room search. Often times this leads to them not giving vital clues to their team mates in a timely manner or completely missing clues that help them solve the puzzle they are stuck on.

It is much more efficient to search your room and take note of all the puzzles that you find and gather all your clues before you even attempt to solve your first puzzle. This affords you the benefit of having all your clues in front of you and gives you the ability to determine which clues probably go to which puzzle. You have to search your room fully anyways, so don’t stop half way through just because you fall to the temptation of the first puzzle you see.

2. GETTING MARRIED TO YOUR FIRST SOLUTION

Now I don’t mean to break up any warm fuzzy feelings people have with the first solution they come up with for their puzzles, but like your first love… your first guess is pretty unlikely to be “The One.”

Of course, there is nothing wrong with getting the wrong answer to a puzzle, but if your gut reaction to a lock not opening is to assume that the puzzle is broken, then you might have this bad habit.

It is pertinent to double check your work and try the solution more than once, however if the answer just doesn’t work, move on! There are so many people that get a single idea stuck in their head and are then unable to look past it to find any alternative solution. They stop trying different ways to solve the puzzle and just assume that the puzzle is malfunctioning or outright broken. Trust me, save yourself the head ache and give puzzles the benefit of the doubt; especially if the room has already been open for a while.

3. NOT SHARING YOUR RESEARCH

This one seems like it would be common sense really, but you’d be surprised how often people don’t think to tell their team mates what they have learned from their attempts at trying to solve a puzzle.

If you try multiple times to solve a puzzle only to find yourself coming back to the same solution over and over again, then it is probably time to tag someone else in. That being said, when your team mate decides to give it a shot at least tell them what methods you have already tried and what codes you got. This will save them some time and help ensure that your team mate does just keep bashing their heads against the same wall that you have been. Let them try a different approach while you give a new set of eyes to a new puzzle.

4. NEVER PASSING THE BATON

I know we touched on this a little bit in the last one, but seriously gang… it is okay to admit that you don’t understand what to do with a puzzle. It is okay to ask for help. Sometimes what you really need to do is pass off the puzzle to one of your other team mates and step away from it. A lot of times this happens when someone gets stuck in a certain way of thinking (see getting married to your first solution above).  If this starts happening, just pass the baton and see if you can help one of your other team mates with something. Just make sure you share your findings with your team mate before walking away from the puzzle.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of habits that could hinder your gameplay, but I believe these are four of the most important ones to focus on. It’s important to step aside and analyze yourself from time to time, just like you would with any other hobby or activity you want to improve on.

Do you have anything that should be added to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Cross Roads Escape Games

Which game should you choose- The Fun House or The Hex Room?

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Quite often when people call to book a game with us, they ask us which game they should choose. While both of our games provide highly-immersive and entertaining experiences, they are two completely different themes. Use this handy guide to help your team decide which adventure they should take.

Do you consider your team as ‘beginners’?

If your group is composed of mostly (or all) first-time players, I highly recommend The Fun House. With its light-hearted atmosphere, whimsical puzzles, and the fact that everyone is working as a team, The Fun house is a great way to introduce new players into the world of escape rooms. The game is packed to the brim with puzzles, meaning everyone in your group can try their hand at solving something. The integrated hint system can provide help at any time with no penalty.

Are you looking for a challenge?

If your group has played a few escape rooms before and is looking for a challenge, The Hex Room is for you. The Hex Room changes how a traditional escape room works by separating you into individual rooms within the game. Because of this, each player is responsible for solving their own puzzles as well as working together with the group. Unlike traditional escape rooms where some players can fall to the background and observe, each player must be present and active within this game. Furthermore, The Hex Room has an extra, optional puzzle within the game for players to further challenge themselves should they so choose.

Does your team enjoy being scared?

The Hex Room is a horror-themed game. Though we do not have any live actors within the game, being separated within the game as well as the set design, lighting, and audio makes for an intense horror experience. If you team is easily frightened or does not want to be separated, I highly recommend The Fun House.

Is your team over the age of 16?

No one under the age of 16 is permitted to play The Hex Room. Our age limit is very strict. However, The Fun House is a challenging game that all ages can play.

Should you play Fun House or Fun House KIDS?

We offer an alternate version of our Fun House game designed specifically for kids under the age of 13. If you are trying to decide whether to play the original or the Fun House KIDS, this should help you decide. If your group is comprised mostly of younger kids (equal to or greater than the number of adults), especially if nobody has ever played an escape room before, I recommend the KIDS version. For groups of young teens, I suggest talking with them and seeing which version they would prefer. Remember, our integrated hint system can provide help at any time during the game, so if they want to take on the challenge of the original version, they can ask for a push if they feel they are falling behind.

If you have a group of mostly adults with one or two younger kids, we can add a special puzzle into the original Fun House just for the kids with a special prize if they compete it! Just give us a call after you book and ask for the extra puzzle for kids.

The most important thing to do when deciding on a game is to talk with your group. You might find it funny to surprise your friends or family with the fact that they will be separated in a horror-themed game, but I can promise you they will not find it quite as funny. Let your team know the theme and anything that might make one hesitant before they agree to play.

Let us know if this guide helped you to pick a game, or if there are some other questions you have while deciding on a game. Let us know by commenting below!

Geoff Durham
Game Master, Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games

Escaped The Hex Room

My First Escape Room and Why I’m Still Escaping

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If you’re reading this blog, chances are you have at least a vague idea of what an escape room is. Escape rooms have become increasingly popular just over the past few years. Thinking back, it’s strange how only three years ago, I wouldn’t have any idea what an escape room is. What makes these experiences so captivating and why are they becoming a staple for friend and family gatherings?

My name is Geoff, I am a Manager at Cross Roads Escape Games, and I am an Escape Room Enthusiast. I began working here as a game master with a few escape rooms already under my belt. Now I have experienced more than a dozen rooms, but I still remember my very first escape room. The first escape room I ever played was a zombie-themed room in San Antonio, Texas. There are similar rooms across the country: you are locked in a room with a zombie that is chained to the wall. Every few minutes, the chain gets longer and you must work harder to avoid getting eaten while still trying to solve puzzles.

Needless to say, we had a blast (And, yes, we escaped… with 3 seconds remaining). The team consisted of five coworkers, two complete strangers, and myself. It was a great way to test our multitasking abilities, our communication, and our ability to keep a cool head under pressure. It even showcased our ability to interact with and include strangers, which is something I find very important when doing public games. I think we also strengthened our relationships with each other, were inspired to create memorable experiences, and just plain had a great time. Teamwork, unusual puzzles, the rush that comes when you open a lock, and the total immersion into a new world; all of it made for an addictive and thrilling experience. That experience is what began my obsession with escape rooms.

After I moved to California, I got to play more escape rooms with friends. The first room I did with my friends was Cross Roads’ own Hex Room. I was the Prom Queen. We escaped with nearly 12 minutes remaining! To date, The Hex Room has been my favorite room because of its unique design and attention to detail. It was easy to picture myself as the star of my very own horror film, determined to escape before being brutally murdered. I really enjoyed being able to work on my own puzzles but still have friends nearby if I needed any assistance.

The ability to work together with friends, family, and strangers to solve puzzles and fully engage in a story is what keeps me coming back.

I think that’s why escape rooms are so popular: they are engaging, requiring the participants to use problem-solving skills and critical thinking, while building relationships and developing teamwork. In an age where most of us, me included, spend a lot of time interacting with screens, it’s nice to unplug for a while and use your hands. Not to mention, escape rooms aren’t mindless entertainment: You need to think, engage, interact, and be present. Plus, no two escape rooms are exactly alike. You get to experience and star in new and exciting stories every time. It’s fun to enter new scenarios and imagine you are really in this world, even if it’s only for an hour.

If you haven’t done an escape room yet, I think you should. They are a great way to do something a bit out of the ordinary while hanging out with friends or family, a wonderful alternative to going to the movies because you are still able to interact with your group, to have fun, and to laugh together. It’s an inspired way to spend time with family because a wide range of ages can participate. After the game is over, you’ll be talking about it for days, meaning you’ll never be wanting for conversation.

I believe escape rooms filled a niche for people who want to go out and do something together a bit out of the ordinary, offered an experience for people who love solving puzzles, and provided a place for businesses to offer their employees a fun and innovative way to work on team building.

I think it’s safe to say we’ll be seeing escape rooms for quite some time. I know I’m excited to try my next one.

Geoff Durham
Manager, Game Master, & Most Likely To Barely Survive A Horror Film
Cross Roads Escape Games