Imagine you are locked in a dark room. You only have one hour to escape. You have no idea how to get out, but you know that if you don’t, there will be consequences in 60 minutes. You have entered one of the Escape Rooms!
While this may sound like a horrible scene from the movie Hostel or Saw, this game is far from frightening or scary. In fact, it is quite the contrary. It’s a fun, humorous hour with a few friends.
Escape Rooms
In a world where everything is technology based and everything we do is connected to a smartphone, tablet or computer, it seems like we are losing the ability to problem solve the good, old-fashioned way; with our own brains, not a computer.
This just may be why the “Escape Room” concept is starting to blow up around the world. There are many different companies, all calling the game something different, but the concept is still the same; use clues to unlock the door in 60 minutes. It’s like you jumped into a board game, except, unlike the movie, Jumangi, there is no actual threat or danger to your life!
While on a recent trip to Prague, my in-laws and myself did a one hour Escape Rooms game with the company, Mind Maze. We chose the room called Enigma. In this particular game, they set the scene.
The “Scenario”: Our team was a group of military members during WWII. We had been arrested and only have one hour until interrogation from the enemies begin! We must find the blueprints to a submarine that will give us a code to unlock the door to freedom!!
The game started with all of us locked in a “jail.” We must first escape our jail cell in order to even begin looking for clues for our escape. The timer begins as soon as the worker locks us in. Immediately, we all start tipping benches, looking inside shoes on the ground and climbing the cell in search for the key. It took a little longer for us to find the key than it did for us to start laughing and having fun.
Working together, we were able to escape the cell, but not the room. Now, a series of codes and locks must be figured out; each leading to another clue which will eventually and hopefully give us the code to unlock the door. However, it seemed that each clue sent us on another chase of another clue.
Andy and I working on a Morse Code clue
As stated previously, you only have one hour to “escape” but that didn’t stop my sister-in-law and myself from taking a break from clue-hunting to really get into character. I’m not sure if we were helping our hindering our fellow teammates.
It was so much fun to put our skills together though. I would discover something that I knew was part of a clue but then not know how to de-code or actually USE it. However, someone else could use their previous knowledge, math skills or analyze it and break the code. (I am being very vague here so that I don’t give away anything!)
Luckily, a worker is watching from cameras and at any given time, a hint may be requested to keep the game moving along. I am proud to say we only needed a few tips and we were already on the right path before asking. However, some clues are purposefully planted as decoys, so be careful not to get too wrapped up in ONE thing!
Every fifteen minutes, ominous music or air raid sirens would sound, letting us know the “guards” were on their way to “interrogate” us! This helped keep the anticipation up and each time we heard a new sound, we all moved a little quicker. With just TWO minutes left, the final code was cracked and we were able to escape! Talk about getting it in the nick of time!
We escaped!!!
Why I loved this concept:
While I foresee this trend starting to catch like wild fire, right now, it is a relatively new concept. It is fun, light-hearted and different from all of the computer, IPad and xbox games that we seem to be obsessed with today.
Who can play this game:
- Anyone!!! I personally hate puzzles, soduku games, and anything similar. Give me something creative and I excel, but give me a puzzle that I have to work out and I flounder. However, this game was a blast! As stated previously, somehow a skill you have will be needed and used in conjunction with your teammates’ abilities.
- While young children may not find this as enjoyable as adults, kids and teens can play this game and help the adults with some of the simpler tasks, such as unlocking a lock, reading a clue, etc.
How many people can play:
To play the game, you must have between two and five people. Unless you and a partner are geniuses, I think having more people is best and would be more fun.
Where are the locations?
There are many different franchises to the “Escape Room” concept and unfortunatetly, they are all called a little something different. Even just a search for “Escape Room” won’t find all the different companies.
- Claustrophilia is one of the first escape rooms and can be found in Budapest, Hungary. http://claustrophilia.hu/en/ Budapest seems to be a hot place for these games with several other companies popping up everywhere. Find a list here https://intervirals.wordpress.com/europe/list-of-room-escapes-in-hungary/
- MindMaze (the brand that we played with) has many locations in Europe, such as Prague http://www.mindmaze.cz/en/home-en and Ljubliana
- In the US, there is not one dominating company but you can find escape rooms in most larger cities now. Just Google “Name of City + Escape Room” and you’ll be sure to find something
How much does it cost:
Yet again, this will depend on the location and company, but about $30 per person is the going rate. This seems pretty pricey (especially for us penny pinchers) but it is one of those activities that you do that you just keep looking back on, remembering and are so glad you did because of the uniqueness to it all and how much fun you had.
What kinds of rooms are there?
This also will depend on the company and the specific location. Usually, there is some historical aspect to the theme and while playing in a themed room that may be interesting to you, the theme itself doesn’t make or break the game; they are all fun!
Have you heard of the Escape Room trend? Have you done one? Surely, there was a funny moment you’ll be laughing about with your friends for years to come…tell us about it in the comments below!
LeAnna Brown
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These are absolutely brilliant experiences! Did a similar one in London called Hint Hunt with some work friends and it’s such a super group bonding experience. Would love to try this one in Prague.
I love this!! I have read about these types of ‘games’ but always thought they sounded a little sinister (!), this sounds like you had a lot of fun. And the fact that you did it with your in-laws has me thinking I need to arrange something similar for my parents. Great review!
We did an escape room in Budapest and loved it. This one looks like fun too- great way to bond with other people and get to see how everyone performs under pressure!
I think they are all pretty similar in how they are set up, regardless of the company/location. But I agree, it was really fun to see different personalities and skills come out as we worked together
These escape rooms are totally becoming the next big thing! I have yet to try one, but have a team building event at work next month where we’re going to one. Wish me luck! lol
Yes they are! You will have a blast!
How cool! I hope I visit somewhere that has these Escape Rooms. I’m a gamer at heart and would love to do this!
Not just in Europe! They are all over. Some have different kinds of names, but they are all over now. Worth seeking out for sure
This is awesome activity for team building! Though I don’t think our company will allow us to go travel Europe but I would be excited to try this. Thanks for sharing!
They are popping up ALL over. If they have some in my hometown of Omaha, NE then they’ll have one in a city nearby you!
I heard about these escape rooms games while recently in Prague and Budapest. Posts like this help to convince me I should give it a try because of the fun in working together. I’m not at all into horror and these experiences have the faint smell of a horror-themed experience, which is why I’m reluctant. What are the recommendations about who should or should not participate? Glad you were able to break the code in time!
Not scary in the slightest! I thought the same but it is seriously just a puzzle/ clue game. So fun
How awesome! I have heard of Escape Rooms — actually a friend of mine runs the ones in Switzerland — however, as I haven’t lived in the country for over ten years and rarely visit, I haven’t tried it out myself. Would be such an amazing thing to do as a big group of friends. Looked like you had a really good time 🙂
Love this…have never heard of this concept before and I think it is brilliant. The only thing that I’ve done that is similar is a scavenger hunt, where you unlock clues to find “hidden treasure.” Loads of fun. What a nice change from technology!
We have been wanting to do this for a while now. It looks like so much fun. These are always my favorite part of reality tv shows that do these puzzles so well. Looks like you all had a great time.
I tried Mindmaze in the czech republic, it was good fun