Succeeding at an Escape Game: The 5 Tips That Make the Difference

Succeeding or winning an escape game are two different concepts that can nevertheless complement each other. Succeeding in an escape game can simply mean 'having a good time with friends or colleagues.' Success isn’t necessarily linked to performance.

But if you just typed 'How to win an escape game' into your favorite search engine and landed on this article, it’s highly likely that you’re not a fan of 'it’s the participation that counts' but rather that you want to solve all the puzzles within the allotted time—or even beat it—and maybe even break a record.

In fact, this is one of the questions we game masters are asked most often:

“What is the record in the room Jack the Ripper?”,
“What is the best time in the room Top Secret?”,
“Who got out of War of Thrones the fastest?”

And that’s perfectly normal. Let’s be honest, we escape game players prefer finishing the room in under 1 hour rather than in 70 minutes.

As both a player and a game master, I am sharing with you my 5 most effective tips to win an escape game.

1. Play with the Right Teammates

This is the first point and you can’t argue with it. To succeed in an escape game, you must play with people... who love to play. Whether you team up with your partner, your best friend, your cousins, or your best girlfriends, play escape games with people who enjoy games. Board games, puzzle games, or even video games—the key is to appreciate the act of playing (that is, understanding the rules, following them, having a goal, and trying to achieve it).

Why?

Because, as in any game, an escape game involves both fun and frustration. And players who love to challenge themselves, think, and devise strategies while playing know that often it takes patience, perseverance, and cool-headedness to win. You won’t succeed in any escape game if there is a team member who gets bored, becomes impatient, wants to be elsewhere, or complains.

In short, surround yourself with enthusiastic and motivated partners.

2. Communicate: The Key to Success in Escape Games.

In the advice a game master always gives during the pre-game briefing, the word 'communicate' is bound to appear. Because yes, an escape game is a team game. It is designed to be played by multiple players in collaboration. And there can be no collaboration without communication.

So talk to each other a lot, and without shouting ;-) . Clearly speak out loud what you discover as you go, share the information you gather throughout the game. And of course, if you speak, don’t forget to listen to your teammates as well. After all, there’s no point in sharing information if no one listens or takes it into account. One of the most common phrases heard when game mastering a session is 'I said it, but no one listens to me.'

And we can confirm: for effective communication, you need someone who talks and someone who listens. Q.E.D.

3. Stuck? Take a Break and Reorganize.

That’s the little trick when you’re in a team that doesn’t communicate effectively or forgets to do so after 5 minutes.

If at some point during the game you find yourself going in circles, not knowing what others have done or discovered, take a break—grab a Kit Kat. No, just take a break because food is not allowed in the rooms. And gather what you have found.

Often, simply taking stock allows you to start fresh on new tracks by connecting elements that were scattered throughout the game or that each person was working on individually. Gather your findings, explain what you discovered, compare your ideas, assess what is missing, and start off on the right foot.

4. Keep It Simple: Embrace a Child’s Logic.

"Why don’t you explain this to me like I’m 5," said Michael Scott in the excellent series The Office, and he was right!

Sometimes, putting yourself in the shoes of a child—who doesn’t overcomplicate things and tries things even if they seem silly to adults—is the surest way to progress in the game.

Because yes, sometimes the clue might be written in big letters right in front of your nose. Sometimes all it takes is to read a word out loud. Sometimes simply pressing a button reveals a range of possibilities you would never have imagined...

Be spontaneous, try things (without forcing the equipment!), and banish from your mind forever the thought: 'no, that can’t be it, that’s stupid.' Because often, well, it isn’t...

5. Enjoy Yourself to Succeed Better.

No one has ever won an escape game or broken a record by putting insane pressure on themselves from the start. It’s a game, there are no high stakes—you’re there to have fun. So play! Relax, let yourself be carried by the story and the moment. Forget the timer. It’s by enjoying yourself that you’ll succeed and fully enjoy your session.

Ready to put these tips to the test in real life?

Listen Carefully to the Briefing: The Bonus Tip That Can Change Everything!

During the briefing, your game master will explain some game and safety rules, but they might also provide you with valuable insights about the adventure you’re about to experience. Pay close attention! After all, if the devil is in the details, clues are hidden everywhere ;-)