5 Common Escape Room Mistakes To Avoid As A Newbie

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t just enter an escape room without having a strategy in mind and thinking that you can breeze your way through the game. Escape rooms are deliberately designed to be challenging, not just with how tricky the riddles can be, but also with how well-hidden some of the clues are. Remember, even pro escape room players can make rookie mistakes that result in a loss of time or, worst-case scenario, the team losing the game. Therefore, if you plan to take part in an escape room experience for the first time, keep an eye out for these common mistakes to avoid.

1. Poor and ineffective communication

Poor communication is arguably the number one reason preventing players from making functional decisions and being productive. As many tasks and puzzles need to be solved in a short timeframe, players need to be synergised with one another, which means that clear, concise, and respectful communication should be paid attention to throughout the game. We recommend being decisive and expressive with your team members, especially in letting them know your ideas and the task you have on hand to avoid a situation where a player is attempting to solve a puzzle that has already been completed. By communicating consistently and exchanging relevant information, you and your team will find yourselves working more efficiently together.

2. Overbearing teammates

It’s important to note that escape rooms are not an Olympic sport, in which only one participant is the winner. Escape rooms are a team effort, and if the team manages to defeat the escape room game, everyone in the team is a winner. Unfortunately, some people may unconsciously disregard this fact or possess an overbearing personality that causes them to feel the need to hog all the attention and believe they can complete the puzzles alone. If these traits remind you of a certain someone, you might want to consider voicing your concerns and reminding them to take a step back before starting the escape game.

3. Ignoring instructions from the game guide

One of the most common escape room mistakes takes place even before the game officially starts. In every escape room, a game guide is tasked with introducing the team to the game and providing instructions on its dos and don’ts. As some teammates can get pumped up and chat among themselves during this process, they may miss out on some valuable information. These instructions are relayed for a reason, so they can likely help you later in your quest. Furthermore, the introduction stage of the escape room sets the overall tone and atmosphere of the game, allowing you and your team to be more immersed in the experience.

4. Not asking for hints

No, asking for hints is not a form of “cheating”. Players often hold the belief that any assistance from the game guide makes the win less deserved, and they should be unworthy of it. This perspective should absolutely be thrown out the window as it not only decreases the team morale, but also prevents players from receiving necessary help to progress along the game. Depending on the escape room provider, there may be a limit as to how many hints are offered, so it would be best to discuss with your teammates how to utilise them effectively. At The Escape Artist, we differ from other escape room operators as we provide unlimited hints to our players. As long as your team feels the need to have some advice on proceeding with the game, you can let our game guides know by communicating through a simple phone call.

5. Poor time management

Most escape rooms come with time limits, as you already know by now. When your team is unable to solve the puzzles on time, you all automatically lose the game. Once the clock starts to click, your team has no time to waste and should immediately locate clues right away. While accomplished teams can strive to complete each puzzle in a consistent manner, not all puzzles are as straightforward and easy to decipher. If you and your team find yourselves spending too much time on one single puzzle, it’s a good sign to move on to the next and come back to this puzzle later on. Likewise, you and your teammates can also strategise at the start of the game to delegate a certain time for one task. For example, you all should not spend more than 10 minutes on a riddle. Splitting up the team is another option to cover more ground and focus on various tasks at once.

Conclusion

As one of the top-rated escape room providers, The Escape Artist boasts a wide range of escape rooms in Singapore, from traditional escape rooms to virtual escape rooms in Singapore and even web-based escape games. Our escape rooms can also be taken to special locations around the country, as seen with our Mass Escape Game, Museum Escape Experience, and Mass Escape Event. Our Mass Escape Event is held once a month and at unique locations, such as National Gallery Singapore, Fort Siloso, and Haw Par Villa. Check out our website to find out the date, time, and location of the upcoming event.