Escape room guides
Every lock has a way out
How escape rooms work, how to beat the clock, the puzzles and codes you will meet inside, and how to build a game of your own.
- 1Search everything
Open, lift and turn what you are allowed to. Most first teams miss one drawer.
- 2Say it out loud
Call out every number, word and symbol you find. Someone else may hold the lock.
- 3Pile used clues
Keep solved items in one place so nobody solves them twice.
- 4Ask for hints early
A hint at minute ten saves more time than a hint at minute fifty.
Latest guides
Lock decoder
What kind of answer a lock wants, and where that answer usually hides. A starting point, not a spoiler: every room plays it differently.
| Lock | Wants | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Number lock | 3 or 4 digits | Counts of objects, dates, clock times, page or room numbers |
| Word lock | 4 or 5 letters | A riddle answer, highlighted letters, a word spelled by objects |
| Directional lock | Up, down, left, right | Arrows, a map route, a maze, a compass, footprints |
| Key padlock | A hidden key | Under, inside and behind things; in a locked box you already opened |
| Color or symbol lock | An order of colors or shapes | Objects arranged in a row, a legend, a stained-glass or flag pattern |
| Hidden switch | No dial at all | Placing an object, a magnet, a pressure plate, a sequence of buttons |
Sections
- First-Timer Guides & TipsHow escape rooms work, what to expect on your first game, and the habits that get teams out before the clock runs down.
- Puzzles, Locks & CodesThe puzzle types, locks and ciphers you meet in escape rooms, and how to crack each one.
- Room ThemesHorror, zombie, mystery, heist and adventure rooms: what each theme is like, how scary it gets and who it suits.
- Teams & PartiesEscape rooms for team building, birthdays, date nights, families and kids: planning, group size and what makes it work.
- DIY Escape RoomsBuild an escape room at home, in a classroom or for a party: story, puzzles, props and printable ideas.