How to Choose an Escape Room

Start with Your Group Size

Most rooms cap at 6 to 8 people. Some go up to 10 or 12, but those tend to feel crowded. You want enough hands to tackle puzzles without everyone standing around waiting for something to do.

Two people? You'll move fast but might miss clues. Four to six hits the sweet spot. Everyone stays busy without tripping over each other. Bigger groups work if the room's designed for it, but check the venue's recommendation first.

Cities like Toronto and Vancouver have venues built for larger corporate groups. Smaller towns usually max out around 6 players per room.

Difficulty Levels Matter More Than You Think

First-timers should skip anything labeled "expert" or "advanced." You'll spend an hour stuck on the first puzzle and leave annoyed. Beginner rooms aren't insulting. They're designed to teach you how escape rooms work.

Intermediate rooms assume you've done this before. Puzzles connect in ways that aren't obvious. You need to remember details from 20 minutes ago. Advanced rooms throw red herrings and multi-step logic chains at you.

Most venues in Calgary and Edmonton mark difficulty clearly. If they don't, ask. Game masters know which rooms crush beginners and which ones bore experienced players.

Theme Preferences Shape the Experience

Horror rooms use jump scares and dark spaces. If someone in your group hates that, pick something else. Mystery and detective themes keep things cerebral. Sci-fi and fantasy lean into tech puzzles and elaborate props.

Historical themes show up everywhere in Canada. Montreal venues love New France settings. Western Canada leans into gold rush and frontier stories. These rooms tend to be lighter on scares, heavier on narrative.

Read the theme description. "Intense" usually means actors or physical scares. "Family-friendly" means no horror elements. "Immersive" suggests heavy set design and story focus.

Check Reviews for Red Flags

Look for patterns in reviews, not individual complaints. One person saying puzzles were unclear? Maybe they missed something. Ten people saying the same thing? That's a design problem.

Good signs: reviews mention helpful game masters, logical puzzle flow, and satisfying endings. Bad signs: complaints about broken props, confusing clues, or rude staff.

Sites like TripAdvisor and Google Maps show recent reviews. Pay attention to how venues respond to criticism. Defensive responses are a red flag. Constructive replies show they care.

Time Limits and Success Rates

Most rooms give you 60 minutes. Some go 45, others stretch to 75 or 90. Longer doesn't mean harder. It just means more puzzles.

Ask about escape rates if the venue shares them. A 30% success rate means the room's tough. 70% suggests it's approachable. Under 20%? That room might be broken or poorly designed.

Don't stress about escaping. Half the fun is the attempt. Game masters usually let you finish puzzles even if time runs out.

Location and Accessibility

Downtown venues in cities like Ottawa and Halifax are easy to reach by transit. Suburban locations usually need a car but offer better parking.

Wheelchair accessibility varies. Older buildings with basement rooms often can't accommodate mobility devices. Call ahead if this matters to your group.

Some venues offer private bookings where you don't share the room with strangers. Worth it if you want to avoid awkward team dynamics with people you don't know.

Price and Value

Expect to pay $25 to $45 per person in most Canadian cities. Ontario and British Columbia tend toward the higher end. Prairie provinces usually run cheaper.

Groupon deals exist but read the fine print. Some restrict booking times to weekday afternoons when nobody wants to play anyway.

High price doesn't guarantee quality, but rock-bottom prices often mean bare-bones rooms with minimal set design. Mid-range usually delivers the best experience.

When to Book

Weekends fill up fast. Book at least a week ahead, two weeks if you're in a major city. Friday and Saturday evenings are prime slots.

Weekday afternoons offer more availability and sometimes discounts. Good option if your schedule's flexible.

Holiday periods get slammed. Christmas break, March break, and summer weekends need advance booking. Don't show up hoping for a walk-in slot.

Questions to Ask Before Booking

Call or email the venue if their website doesn't answer these:

• What's the recommended group size for this room?
• How would you rate the difficulty for first-timers?
• Are there jump scares or actors in the room?
• Is the room wheelchair accessible?
• What's your cancellation policy?
• Do you offer private bookings?

Good venues answer these quickly and clearly. Vague responses or no response at all? Try somewhere else.

Trust Your Gut

If a venue's website looks sketchy or their social media hasn't updated in two years, that tells you something. Professional operations keep their online presence current.

Photos matter too. Rooms that look cheap in photos usually feel cheap in person. Elaborate set design shows up in images.

Browse our directory of escape rooms across Canada to compare options in your area. We list details like difficulty, theme, and group size to help you decide.