Solve an Escape Room IN RECORD TIME

 BY NORA HESTON TARTE

Whether it’s your first escape room or your fifteenth, that leaderboard in the lobby feels like a challenge. Instead of simply making your goal to escape the room before your time runs out, why not challenge yourself—and the rest of your team—to becoming a room master and taking over the top spot for a room of your choice.

Solving escape rooms is competitive. Not only are you working against the clock, you’re also working against other team’s times. So, how can you dethrone the current leaders and get your name front and center?

Michael Hill, owner of Limitless Escape Games in Stockton and Livermore, has some tips.

DO:

Do communicate effectively with your team.

Do assign roles and make sure everyone knows what they are working on and stays on task.

Do look for patterns, codes, and clues in everything. They can be hidden in plain sight.

Do pay attention to details and don’t overlook anything.

Do be observant and take note of any items or information that could be useful later on.

Do be open to different perspectives and ways of thinking.

DON'T:

Don't waste time on puzzles that you can't solve. Move on and come back to them later.

Don't be afraid to ask for help or hints if you are stuck. Most escape rooms allow for a few hunts while still competing for top time. Don't ignore or overlook anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Don't rush. Take your time and think through each step.

Don't get too focused on one thing, keep an open mind and be flexible.

“It's also important to keep in mind that the main goal of an escape room is to have fun,” Michael says. “So, don't get too caught up in trying to solve everything quickly, and enjoy the experience.” While solving the room the fastest may be your goal, if it makes the experience less enjoyable for others, then it needn’t be your top priority. TRY