We all want to be the 'clever hero'.
Some of our most exciting adventures involve the heroes being able to accomplish a task using not their brute strength, but their wits. Cunning heroes who can outsmart totalitarian governments and figure out ancient Elven passwords have always been admired - and those are the types of people who players of escape rooms are allowed to emulate.
Sounds exciting, right? But what is an escape room, you may ask - well, at a basic level, an escape room asks a party of adventurers a simple question - "are you clever enough to escape using just your wits, and the resources in this room?" In short, escape rooms create situations that make you feel a lot like MacGyver.
Escape games were originally fairly straightforward - the game was structured as an attempt to escape from a locked room. Today's games have moved a bit beyond that, but the goal is still to complete a very specific set of tasks within a certain amount of time. You might be tasked with solving a murder-mystery, disarming a bomb, or beating all the challenges at the Winter Faire before time runs out - and this will always involve solving multiple puzzles and completing multiple tasks.
You don't need to be as prepared as Batman's utility belt, but it sure will help to know what kind of adventure you're getting into here.
The way you beat an escape room is by solving a number of lesser puzzles that will eventually give you an answer to the final puzzle. (Like these puzzles, for example)
More of a stay-at-home Hobbit than a daring wizard? We feel you!
One of the biggest changes in the world of escape games is the rise of the at-home or DIY escape room. These rooms take the same basic skills and concepts that are involved in a more traditional escape game and package them in such a way that they can be played right in your living room. What's really unique about these games, though, is that they can even be played by the person who sets up the game - the puzzles tend to have their solutions obscured or outright hidden so that those who want to host can still get a chance to play.
One of the great things about this type of escape game is that it allows those who don't live in areas with multiple available escape games to play without having to worry about travel time or the costs associated with traditional rooms. (Plus, you can play n'importe où - even on the beach!) While these games might lack some of the atmosphere that comes with a professionally-assembled room, they still include great stories and thrilling puzzles.
But don't sit here and take my word on it! See for yourself:
Put on your wizard cap and get ready to transport your family and friends into a magical escape room adventure!
You don't need a wizard! All you need is some creativity and an at-home printable escape room game kit. Feeling overwhelmed? Don't fret. We are here to help you turn your home into an escape room. Just choose a theme from our wide selection of escape room games and when it arrives, open it carefully. Our high wizards often love to cast a few scary spells to throw you off the scent. Okay! That's not really true, but still, proceed with caution.
If you feel like taking it up a notch, you can always create your own custom escape room where you can make the puzzles, decorate and set the scene yourself. Whether you are a beginner or a professional escape room master, we have everything you need.
For those of you who are new to the world of escape rooms, here is a basic guide on how to set up your at-home escape room adventure.
Alright, first things first. Like any successful quest, a successful game setup will require your organizing skills to make sure everything is in the right place. This could be a little overwhelming, especially if it's your first time, but that's why you are here!
You don't need weeks or months of preparation - just a few hours will do. And by the end of it, you will have an amazing game setup ready to amaze your friends and family.
Usually, an escape room has a time limit of one to two hours. But since you've never done this before, we recommend setting the time limit to 30 minutes. This will make it easier for you to set up and manage the game.
Unless you've got Dr Strange's Eye of Agomotto handy, you'll need to find time to design and plan your escape room. So, plan how much time you are going to give to the design process. This will help you set realistic goals for yourself - escape rooms take time to make!
If you don't have time to design, don't worry. Get in touch with our high wizards, and they'll have you covered with their magical escape room kits, which you can print out and set up in no time.
DIYing an escape room isn't that easy! It requires time, concentration, creativity, and research. You need to create a storyline and construct puzzles that will fit the theme of your game.
This may be the easiest and craziest part. Cherish it! Think about your favorite movie or book, and pick a theme that you would like your players to experience. Don't hesitate to go wild with your ideas; the sky's the limit.
And if you need any inspiration, here are some ideas: