Escape Room Tips for Beginners

What Actually Happens

You show up, check in, and wait in a lobby with your group. A game master walks you through the rules. Then you enter a themed room where you have 60 minutes to solve puzzles and "escape."

The door isn't really locked. Fire codes won't allow that. You can leave anytime. But the goal is to solve everything before time runs out.

Cameras watch the room. The game master sees everything and can give hints through a screen or speaker if you're stuck. Some venues let you ask for help. Others make you wait until they offer it.

Arrive Early

Get there 10 to 15 minutes before your slot. You'll sign waivers, store your stuff in lockers, and listen to the briefing. Show up late and you lose game time.

Venues in busy cities like Toronto and Montreal run tight schedules. They won't wait. Miss your window and you might forfeit your booking.

What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind)

Bring your booking confirmation and a payment card if you haven't prepaid. That's it.

Leave phones, bags, and coats in the lockers. Most rooms ban phones anyway. You won't need them. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You might crouch, reach, or move furniture.

Skip the heavy perfume or cologne. You're in a small room with other people for an hour. Nobody wants to choke on your fragrance.

Search Everything Right Away

When the timer starts, don't stand around. Split up and search. Look under furniture, inside books, behind pictures. Check drawers, shelves, and anything that opens.

Call out what you find. "There's a locked box here." "I found a key." "This painting has numbers on it." Communication keeps everyone on the same page.

Don't tear the room apart. If something doesn't move easily, it's probably not meant to. Venues will tell you if you need to use force, which is rare.

Organize Your Clues

Put used keys in one spot. Solved puzzles in another. Unsolved clues somewhere visible. This stops you from wasting time on things you've already finished.

Some groups designate one person as the organizer. They track what's been used and what's still open. Works well if someone in your group likes that role.

Communicate Constantly

Say everything out loud. "I think this code goes here." "Has anyone tried this key?" "What if we combine these two clues?"

Quiet groups struggle. Someone finds a clue, forgets to mention it, and everyone wastes 10 minutes looking for something that's already been discovered.

Listen when others talk. Don't tune out because you're focused on your own puzzle. The answer to your problem might come from someone else's discovery.

Don't Overthink It

First-timers love to overcomplicate puzzles. A four-digit lock needs four digits. That's it. You don't need to convert letters to numbers using a cipher you invented.

If a solution feels too complicated, it probably is. Escape rooms use logic, not mind reading. The answer is in the room somewhere.

Red herrings exist but they're rare in beginner rooms. Most clues lead somewhere. If something seems random, you might be missing a connection.

Ask for Hints

Stuck for five minutes? Ask for a hint. You paid for an experience, not an exercise in frustration.

Game masters know when to step in. They've watched hundreds of groups. They can tell when you're productively working versus when you're spinning your wheels.

Some venues limit hints. Others give unlimited help. Check the rules during the briefing so you know what to expect.

Divide and Conquer

Don't crowd around one puzzle. If three people are working on a lock, the other three should be searching for new clues or tackling a different challenge.

Rotate if someone's stuck. Fresh eyes catch things you missed. Staring at the same puzzle for 15 minutes rarely helps.

Bigger groups need this more. Six people hovering over one clue is a waste. Split into pairs and cover more ground.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forcing locks or props breaks them. If it's not opening, you're missing something. Don't yank or pry.

Ignoring the game master's hints is dumb. They're trying to help. Pride doesn't get you out of the room.

Hoarding clues without sharing them slows everyone down. You're a team. Act like it.

Panicking when the timer hits 10 minutes makes you sloppy. Stay calm. You might not escape, and that's fine. Most groups don't on their first try.

Team Dynamics Matter

Loud personalities can dominate. Make space for quieter people to contribute. They might see things others miss.

Don't argue about solutions. Try it. If it doesn't work, move on. Debating wastes time.

Celebrate small wins. Solved a puzzle? Great. Now move to the next one. Momentum keeps energy up.

Physical Challenges

Some rooms need you to crawl, climb, or reach high places. The briefing usually mentions this. Speak up if someone in your group can't do those things.

Venues in Calgary and Vancouver often list physical requirements on their websites. Check before booking if mobility is a concern.

After the Room

Win or lose, the game master usually walks you through what you missed. Pay attention. It's interesting to see how puzzles connected.

Take the group photo if they offer it. You'll want proof you did this.

Ask about their other rooms. If you liked the experience, book another one. Each room teaches you something new about how these games work.

Picking Your First Room

Start with a beginner or intermediate difficulty. Advanced rooms will crush you. Save those for after you've done a few.

Avoid horror themes if anyone in your group hates being scared. Mystery and adventure themes are safer bets for first-timers.

Read our guide on choosing an escape room for more details on picking the right experience.

Regional Differences

Escape rooms in Ontario and Quebec tend to have more elaborate set designs. Prairie provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan focus more on puzzle quality than flashy props.

Maritime venues often incorporate local history into themes. Expect shipwrecks, lighthouses, and fishing culture in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick rooms.

Prices vary by region. Expect to pay more in major cities. Smaller towns offer better deals but fewer options.

Resources for Learning More

Online communities like r/escaperooms on Reddit share tips and reviews. Worth browsing if you're curious about specific venues or strategies.

YouTube channels document escape room experiences. Watching others play gives you a sense of pacing and puzzle types, though it spoils specific rooms.

Our directory lists escape rooms across Canada with details on difficulty, themes, and group sizes. Browse by province or search for venues near you.