If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, why not consider an escape room adventure. But what are escape rooms? Click here to get the lowdown.
Picture this: you and your friends are stuck in a room with a ticking bomb and have exactly one hour to detonate it. Or you’re in a sunken submarine and must locate oxygen tanks to survive. Or maybe you’re an FBI agent tasked with stopping a serial killer.
Don’t panic; you’re not having a nightmare. You’re actually in an escape room. What are escape rooms?
Escape rooms are one of the hottest and fastest growing trends sweeping the country. We have the lowdown on everything you need to know about this new form of fun entertainment that you need to check out!
What are Escape Rooms?
An escape room is a room with some kind of theme that players must “escape” from by solving a mystery, cracking a code, or finding a solution to a problem. They originated in Japan and slowly started spreading across the globe in the past few years. There are now approximately 2,000 escape rooms in the U.S. and they offer something for everyone.
The one thing all escape rooms have in common is that they require a group of players (usually between four and eight people) to work together to escape their fantasy plight. Each escape room usually provides clues to help players succeed and unlocking one piece of the puzzle will lead to more hints being revealed.
Escape Rooms Bring People Together
In today’s technology-addicted world, escape rooms are helping people bond with family and friends without mobile devices. In fact, escape rooms require that people escape the room organically, without the assistance of a smartphone.
If you’re looking for an activity that will require loved ones to put down their devices for just an hour, escape rooms will accomplish that!
They also require players to exercise their brains and use their smarts to decipher clues and potentially unlock the room’s door. If you were the type of kid who enjoyed solving riddles and puzzles, you’ll love escape rooms.
Escape rooms are also the perfect fun activity when the weather is bad.
A Theme for Everyone
Most escape room companies offer several themes ranging from those that are family and child appropriate to adults only. For parents, kid-friendly escape rooms may have families trying to escape from a pirate’s boat or looking for lost treasure. Adult escape rooms are usually scarier and more sinister and involve a theme revolving around murder, violence, or the supernatural.
They also range in difficulty as well, from intermediate level escape rooms to expert. Think you’re up to the task? Keep in mind the average success rate of escape rooms are only 41%.
What to Know Before You Go
If you’d like to try your hand at breaking free from an escape room using your wits, just know that reservations are required. You’ll want to book your spot at least weeks in advance.
Show up early! Escape room companies must stick to a strict schedule so that everyone has a chance at having fun. Show up at least 15 minutes early so everyone can be checked in and briefed for their game.
Most companies also won’t allow you to take photos or videos of the escape room interior. This is to prevent helping others from using your footage to escape.
Most of all, remember to have fun when visiting an escape room!
We Have the Scoop on Fun Adult Activities
Now you know the answer to the question “What are escape rooms?” They are just one way you can do something different with your adult friends or significant other this weekend.
We have plenty more ideas for weekend activities that you’ll love. Check out our lifestyle blog posts for the latest fun ideas!
