How to prepare for an Escape Room?

Preparation to Escape Room - PlanBEveryday life may offer some opportunities to prepare yourself for an escape room. Learning how to solve puzzles in your free time can be great for preparing your brain and training your problem-solving skills. If you have a job where you have to work in teams, or you play a team sport, you might already have the important communicative skills it takes to work together efficiently. All this is great and will help you during the game, but it certainly won’t cover all bases.

Therefore, another great way to prepare yourself for this sort of game is to inform yourself about how it works, for instance by reading this blog!

Things to consider before visiting an escape room:

  • getting a good start is important if you want to finish the game successfully before time runs out;
  • working as a team is the most important thing when it comes to playing an escape room. Don’t think about it as a competition for first place;
  • there is no one winner, you either all win or you all fail. Of course, a little competition between teammates to see who can solve a riddle faster is fine and can actually help speed up the game;
  • however, you should not be hiding any clues or keep any important info from your teammates in order to get ahead of them. This will be harmful to the entire team and could slow down the game unnecessarily or even lead to losing the game;
  • winning is still the goal of this game, as is with most games, but everybody is on the same side.

At the escape room

It’s getting serious. You have gathered together and you are ready to give it your best.
Depending on whether you are going to be paired up with another group or not, you might want to get to know your teammates a little bit before you start playing. Knowing people’s names will be very helpful, especially if the escape room is dark and has many corners, or perhaps even more than one room. As it is with all team efforts, communication is the way to success.

Selecting a leader

Escape Room Leader - PlanBWhile this may not work for all teams, it can be advisable to select a leader. If, for instance, you have somebody in your team who has already built up a lot of experience playing escape rooms, they might be your best choice because they will have developed a sort of instinct for finding hints and solving puzzles. If all of you have the same amount of experience, may that be a lot or none at all, perhaps you could choose a person that has good motivational and organizational skills, who can divide the group according to the different tasks and challenges that need to be worked through inside the escape room and who can give directions which everyone can follow.
If somebody is a natural leader and takes the initiative, the rest of the group can follow them, provided they all agree and the person in charge is a worthy candidate.

Skills and strengths

Once you are inside the escape room and the countdown is running, the brain switches into performance mode, and under the pressure, it can be difficult to keep in mind this simple concept – Know Your Strengths.

Every member of the team has their own strength, whether it’s logical thinking, a knack for puzzle solving, or out-of-the-box thinking to find those impossibly hidden clues.
Find out what your strengths and those of our teammates are and put them to good use.
If there is a leader, they must decide how to divide up the team and which tasks should be tackled by which members.

Opening your mind to unconventional ideas and possibilities is essential if you want to be able to find solutions for the more complicated or confusing riddles you will come across during the game. Sometimes you need to think outside the box, so however crazy your idea might seem, try it! You might be surprised at the results.

Another important skill is logical thinking. Whatever objects you may find, consider their usefulness for the game and think about how you can combine them with other things, or which other items you might need to find in order to use them properly. A classical example of this is lock and key. You find an ornate, old looking key, you want to start looking for a similar lock.

Apart from these important attributes, some historical knowledge, some basic maths, a healthy amount of general knowledge and of course, some good old common sense will always be helpful for these types of games.

Find a partner

Find a partner - PlanBAnother thing that will give you an advantage is to find a partner. Sharing your ideas with the entire group can often be difficult, as everyone will be talking over each other and whatever you say might get lost in the noise. If you are working with a partner, you can exchange ideas and information on a more intimate level and work towards solving a problem together. Even if one of you is doing most of the work, it can still be helpful to have somebody to share ideas with or to simply motivate you during the game.

Of course, you still have to share important discoveries or ideas with the group, so the team leader should make sure to call everyone together at certain points during the game to report on the progress they are making and to help each other out.

Sometimes the entire team has to work together in order to solve a puzzle.

Getting scared

If the escape room you chose to play has a horror theme, you might find out you are not as brave as you thought you were. The most important thing is this case is to stay calm. Find a partner who can stay by your side and make you feel safer and remember that it is just a game and nothing bad can actually happen to you. As far as preparation goes, you can, of course, try to build up some resistance by watching horror movies or tv shows. Visiting a ‘Haunted House’ at an amusement park could also be helpful, but you might not always have the opportunity.
Of course, there are many different themes for escape room games so if it’s all too much for you, you could try to convince your teammates to pick a different option. There will always be some excellent alternatives that will be fun for everyone.

Conclusion

Being prepared before playing an escape room is a great way of making sure that you have a fun experience, but even if it’s a spontaneous visit and you are an absolute beginner, the most important thing is to remain calm and to trust in your abilities. Work well with your teammates and don’t be afraid to contribute your own ideas and you will have a great adventure.

How to create a digital escape room

What is an interactive Escape Room?

There are different types of online Escape Rooms, all of which have different features, advantages, and disadvantages. The most widespread online escape rooms so far are so-called point and click adventures in various forms. From small online browser games, in which you puzzle your way through a few rooms in a typical escape room style, to classics like Monkey Island or Day of the Tentacle, which are full-blown adventure games in which you walk through different environments and interact with NPC characters to continue the story, there are no limits.

Apart from these online Escape Room variations by now, there are also Virtual Reality Escape Rooms, which are much closer to normal Escape Rooms than other variations.

Last but not least, there are also so-called interactive Escape Rooms or live Escape Rooms, which consist of an employee of an Escape Room provider standing in one of the rooms with a camera and being connected to the customers via live video feed. The customers can now give orders to the employee to solve all the puzzles with his help.

What is the difference between a normal and an online escape room?

The obvious biggest difference is of course that the players are not directly in the room and cannot react with the objects and tasks in the room themselves. As a result, many players prefer “real” Escape Rooms and find them far more interactive. But that’s not all, while the classic point and clicks come up with a good story and different characters, free online browser games often have a negligible story and a mere string of puzzles.

The VR Escape Rooms are already taking a better step in this direction, as the direct proximity of the virtual space makes it possible to make the game intuitively more interactive and realistic.

Of course, the closest match is a Live Escape Room, because finally a real Escape Room is streamed live. This directly combines the comfort of an online escape game with the usual high level of story and puzzles of a normal escape game.

Another fundamental difference between many online escape rooms and real rooms is that many online games can only be played alone and not as a team, which makes many positive effects that an escape game usually has on a group sufficient.

What are the difficulties of an online escape room?

As mentioned before, a big negative point of online Escape Rooms is that they are often only playable in single-player mode, which many players dislike. But even here live Escape Rooms are a remedy because they can be played with up to eight players at the same time.

But often it is a little bit problematic to transfer the atmosphere of a room via the camera in a way that the player also gets something out of it. Many Escape Rooms are generally too dark, in order to come across properly in the live stream, or are equipped with further light sources, in order to be brighter, which takes some atmosphere away with a dark topic like a nuclear shelter. For this reason, it is very important that the game master takes an active part and leads the player along with the story without interfering too much with the puzzles.

Summary

In summary, there are big differences between the different online variants, but when you realize what you enjoy most and what exactly you want to experience, the decision is much easier.
So someone who puts a lot of emphasis on a polished story and different plots, but would rather play alone, should stay in the point and click genre. Someone who mainly wants to solve different puzzles is well off with browser games and someone who wants to have an experience like in a real Escape Room with friends, without traveling far or playing directly from home, should have a look at a live Escape Room.

What are the Skills for Ideal Team Player?

1. Why is it so important to be a great team player?

Being a great team player is a universally desirable skill. Whether in a sports team, at work or even in a private group, be it friends or family, a great team player always improves the group dynamic.

The ability to work with other people in order to achieve a common goal has always been very important. It increases productivity, goals can be achieved much faster and it’s a healthier approach to life in a society where people can become isolated very easily.

But what are the skills required to become a successful team player?

2.0. The most important team player skills

2.1. Humility:

Remaining humble while sharing your ideas with the people you’re working with isn’t always easy, but it’s a very important skill. It means you have to be able to take constructive criticism about your work, but to also praise the work of others, if so deserved.

2.2. Confidence:

Likewise, you should not shy away from speaking your mind and criticising others when it is appropriate to do so. Have confidence in your ideas and share them with the team, accept praise but don’t brag about it.

2.3. Drive:

Perseverance is very important, if you want to get the job done in time and as efficiently as possible. Dedication to the task, project or goal you are trying to accomplish is absolutely essential.

2.4. Adaptability:

More often than not, things don’t go completely according to plan. Being flexible and adapting quickly to the changes that might occur will ensure that the goal is still reached in time and the quality of the work doesn’t suffer.

2.5. Reliability:

Every single team player has to make sure they pull their weight. This means performing consistently, being able to manage time in order to meet deadlines and never letting the other team members down.

2.6. Positivity:

A positive attitude will not only help you keep things friendly, it will also help you avoid unnecessary stress caused by arguments, or unexpected setbacks.

3. How can team player skills help you win an escape game?

An escape game can be viewed as a playful way to test the aforementioned skills and to further improve them. While there is obviously less pressure than there would be in a performance oriented environment, those skills will still come in very handy.

As you enter the room with your team and start searching for riddles and clues, confidently sharing information and ideas for possible solutions with the other players is important to advance the game. Working towards a common goal can be a challenge, because everyone has an individual approach. The ability to figure out a solution that works for everyone and that respects and includes everyone’s contributions is what defines a great team.

We all know there is no ‘I’ in ‘team’, but there is also no ‘I’ in ‘escape room’, which means that you have to make sure you don’t go off on your own and leave the others behind. Come together once in a while and share the information you gathered, so that everyone knows what’s up.

Getting stuck on a riddle during the game is bound to happen, and here is where your perseverance and dedication will come in very handy. Confer with your team and soon you will find a solution!

Escape Rooms come in a wide variety of themes and sometimes you don’t know what to expect to find when you first enter. Being adaptable and flexible will help you find your way in any scenario.

Don’t forget that your team is counting on you, so do your best and support the others in order to win the game.

This casual ‘team sport’ is a fun and exciting way to test and improve your team skills and it provides an excellent opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level. It will give each team member the chance to show their personal qualities and abilities and help to build confidence, overcome insecurities and bring the team closer together.

What to wear to an escape room?

First of all – dress casual. You are not going to a gala, you are going to have an adventure!
If you are coming from or going to a special event that requires more fancy clothing, at least make sure you have comfortable shoes and clothes that can take a little action and perhaps pick an escape room that is a little more easygoing.

Comfortable shoes

Comfortable Shoes - PlanBSince you will likely be on your feet for most of the game, picking the right footwear is crucial to ensure a pleasant experience. Wear closed-toe shoes, preferably sneakers or trainers. Hiking shoes or comfortable boots are fine as well.
Avoid high heels, any kind of open-toed shoe and stay away from flip-flops! You will likely be in a group of people and you don’t want anybody to step on your toes.

Flexible pants

While escape rooms are generally designed to accommodate most people, regardless of fitness level or flexibility, there will be some small challenges and obstacles you might have to face during the game. Whether it is crawling through a narrow space or climbing up steps or over a barrier, you will be thankful for having chosen the right pants for the game.
Choose a pair of comfortable pants or shorts. Jeans, sweatpants or athletic shorts are your best bet. Nothing too tight or you won’t be able to face all the obstacles in the game, but too baggy either, or it might get in your way.

Breathable shirts

Breathable Shirts - PlanBWhile most escape rooms have air conditioning, you can’t always rely on that to be enough. Make sure your shirt or sweater is light and loose-fitting and made of a breathable and flexible fabric.

Avoid dressing too heavily, as you might get quite warm during the game, depending on how many players are in your group and how much action is involved.

If you want to wear a dress, make sure it’s not too short and that it has some flexibility.

Accessories

Avoid wearing too many accessories, especially things that might get damaged, drop off, or get in the way. Expensive watches, jangly necklaces, and big earrings are not recommendable.

If you have long hair, tie it up in a ponytail or a bun so it doesn’t distract you or get caught on anything.

Costumes

Sometimes, people come to an escape room to celebrate a special occasion, or perhaps they just want to make it a fun and memorable experience. Whether it’s a hen or stag party, a birthday, a graduation party or just some crazy dudes, matching shirts or even full-fledged costumes are a fun way to celebrate. Just make sure they fit the dress code and you are good to go!

Conclusion

Always be prepared! Choosing the right clothes before visiting an escape room is essential if you want to have a good time. Feeling comfortable and unrestricted during the game will allow you to focus on what’s important: jumping into the adventure and completing the mission!

How to set up an Escape Room?

Step 1: How much space is needed?

Escape Room - PlanBBefore you begin to set up the escape room, you need to know its dimensions. You need to know exactly what kind of setting your escape room will have before you start building anything.

The room needs to be large enough to fit in all props and still provide enough space for players to move around freely, depending as well on the size of the group. Sometimes it is advisable to use more than one room to prolong the game and raise the difficulty level, as well as adding excitement to the game.

Step 2: Setting

To create an exciting and memorable experience for your customers, picking a historically and/or geographically interesting setting is key. Apart from that, you can work with interesting props, colors, lighting techniques, or other special effects to enhance the experience.

Step 3: Theme

There are virtually no limitations when it comes to picking a theme for your escape room.
Of course, popular themes like horror, mystery, and adventure are the most attractive, but there is always room for creativity and individuality, and it’s important to put some personal elements into the creative process as well, to make your establishment stand out from the masses. Of course, a classical escape theme is always nice, but adding a little twist here and there will make sure your customers don’t get bored.

Step 4: Finding premises

Before you can begin to set up your escape room, you are going to need suitable accommodation. Make sure you know exactly how much space you need for the escape rooms themselves, keeping in mind that you need additional space for washroom facilities, storage, and a reception area for the visitors.

Possibly, you should also have a separate room for the gamemasters to monitor and run the games.
Another important factor is of course location. Pick an area where you can be sure your visitors will be able to find you without any difficulties, preferably not too far from public transportation. Another thing to consider is whether you want to provide parking for your customers. This is going to require a higher budget but will prevent unnecessary delays, as customers do not need to search for a parking space in the area.

Step 5: Duration of the game

Generally speaking, one hour is the ideal time for an escape game. It allows for simpler guidelines and facilitates organization. Other variations can be suitable for certain escape rooms, but this is by far the most popular format.
Naturally, the entire game has to be designed in a way that is is possible for the players to finish it within the set time limit. This needs to be tested thoroughly before you can create the exact storyline of the game. The number of riddles that need to be solved in the set time limit has to be determined, as well as the number of clues that help facilitate the solving process. Once all of these factors have been coordinated, you can start writing the story.

Step 6: The story

Escape Room 2- PlanBWhen the players enter the room, they receive a short introduction, which tells them what the story behind the escape room is. This is important not only to clarify the mission but also to set the right mood and atmosphere for the game in order to ensure an immersive experience.

While the base of the story should always be consistent, each gamemaster should be allowed to tell it in their own words, in order to allow for a more natural delivery.

The story can determine how players move through the game, in which order they approach the riddles and how their thought process evolves during the game.

For instance, if your objective is to escape from a prison cell, you immediately start thinking about finding keys and other means of escape. No matter which theme, the story needs to be logical, so that the players have no difficulties. All props, riddles, and clues have to relate to the story.

Once the players start the game, the story needs to work on its own. Gamemasters can occasionally intervene by giving hints or suggestions, but ultimately, the players are left to their one devices and it should be possible for them to finish all the riddles by themselves.

This means that the story has to be easy to follow. Writing the story down step by step is important, not just to support the gamemasters but also to make sure you maintain an overview and it doesn’t get too complicated.

Step 7: The storyline

A story, no matter how long or short, requires structure. There are helpful devices that can support you during this process. For instance, creating a flowchart to illustrate the detailed process of the game will help giving a logical order to your storyline. Line up what exactly the players need to do to finish their mission.

  1. Which puzzle needs to be solved to achieve which goal in the game?
  2. How many parts or stations will the game have?
  3. How many puzzles for each part of the game?
  4. In which order do the puzzles need to be solved?

Mapping out the entire process of the game will help determine how exactly the game needs to be structured to meet all requirements and to come to a logical conclusion.

To give the game even more direction, you can separate the riddles into different challenges.
Depending on the size of the room, the duration of the game, and the number of players, there can be several challenges that will need to be mastered before the ultimate mission can be fulfilled.

For instance, if the theme of the game is a zombie apocalypse, the challenges could be to find ‘patient zero’ (the first person to be infected), determine what the cure for the virus is, and find the place where it is hidden. That way, the players have a series of small victories within the game, which will keep them motivated and even more focussed on the goal.

The puzzles and riddles can then be created to fit these challenges so that the players know in which order to solve them. For additional support, different challenges could have differently colored riddles and hints.

Conclusion

Bevor an escape room can be built, several important factors need to be considered.
A lot of planning and preparation is required and creativity and logical thinking are essential to ensure a perfect experience.

Why escape rooms are good for team-bulding?

Escape Games in Stuttgart Every corporate boss knows that the secret to a successful business enterprise lies in the cooperation between its employees. Because of this, companies strive to hold regular team-building activities. These activities do not only provide a break from work but also supply the perfect opportunity to develop camaraderie and teamwork among colleagues. But let’s face it: doing the same activity every year tends to lead to boredom and decreased productively. And what’s worse is that most company retreats only let employees relax, but does not necessarily improve their ability to work as a team. This is why it is important to try new and innovative ways to pique employees’ interests. Fortunately, an alternative option comes in the form of Escape Rooms.

Why Escape Rooms Are Good for Team Building?

Escape Rooms are immersive games that require you to work together to win. As its title suggests, the ultimate goal of the game is to escape. This is done by accomplishing a series of tasks consisting of solving puzzles, finding hidden clues, and other activities that require both mental and physical prowess. But the key to winning the game lies in its most important aspect: teamwork. For this reason, Escape Rooms are a great team-building activity that reap a number of benefits, some of which are listed below.

1. Escape Rooms Improve Productivity

From a corporate standpoint, this is the main goal of any team building activity. Successfully completing the game challenges will give your employees a sense of achievement. This is a feeling that they share together, knowing that they completed the tasks by working together as a team. Such a feeling of accomplishment will provide the moving power to do better at work and ultimately to produce better overall results.

2. Escape Rooms Increase Motivation

Oftentimes, poor work ethic arises from a lack of motivation. The solution? Boost your team’s spirit through the fun and innovative quests of Escape Rooms. Because of the mutual desire to escape and win the game, employees share a common goal and work hard towards reaching said goal. Completing a complicated task together increases their confidence in both their own and their team’s ability. This will ultimately be carried on to the workplace after the game ends.

3. Escape Rooms Enhance Communication Skills

The key to any successful team is its ability to communicate with each other. In Escape Rooms, teammates are placed in high-pressure situations where they have no choice but to focus on the game and on each other’s cooperation. The quests involved will encourage even the meekest of employees to reach out and speak his mind. Because of the complicated puzzles involved, teammates will be encouraged to listen to each other. Once the team realizes that it is this shared communication that will propel them to victory, they will apply the same to their jobs as well.

4. Escape Rooms Improve Team Cohesion

In Escape Rooms, teammates have no one else to rely on but each other. Players are forced into a situation wherein in order to win, they have to encourage and motivate each other towards their common goal. It reinforces their spirit of togetherness and teaches them to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

5. Escape Rooms Encourage Friendliness and Camaraderie Among Employees

One of the main reasons why employees continue to remain in a particular job is the existence of a healthy work environment. Escape Rooms give ample opportunities to employees to get to know each other on a more personal level. The informal and cooperative nature of the game allows them to talk to each other without restrictions and to better recognize each other’s interests. This cultivates in each employee a sense of respect and appreciation.

Conclusion

Escape Rooms are not just fun games but are also excellent team building activities. They provide employees with a rich, unique, and exciting experience that they will never forget. The memories of how well they worked together to solve the intricate puzzles and win the complicated quests will stay with them long after the Escape Room closes. Moving forward, such shared experience will foster a culture of friendliness and cooperation in the workplace as they recall the fun times they had while bonding over the Escape Room. This effectively boosts morale and camaraderie while creating lifelong friendships that ultimately create a healthy and productive work environment for you and your employees.

Ready To Start the Fun?

Escape Games in Stuttgart -2Give your employees the chance to experience an Escape Room like none other. Here at PlanB Escape Germany, we cater to all ages and tastes. As one of Germany’s premier Escape Rooms, we have several adventures to choose from here in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.

The Magic University

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Then you’ll love this immersive adventure. Get to explore an ancient room full of magical artifacts. Armed with only your wand and your wits, you and your teammates will work together to defeat the evil sorcerer Baracus. Will your magic and smarts be enough to escape from his evil plan?

Bunker 71

Imagine yourself trapped in an underground bunker surrounded by old and new technology. The danger of a chemical poison looms in the air. There’s just one catch: the fate of the world is in your hands. Do you and your teammates have what it takes to beat the clock before a nuclear Armageddon strikes?

The War Over Space

The force is strong with this one. This adventure will appeal to any Star Wars fan, engaging you in a battle of the galaxies. You and your teammates will decrypt alien technology and solve the world’s greatest mysteries of space. You are humanity’s last hope. Will you fight to save the universe?

The Secret Jungle

It’s a game of life and death as you bring out your inner Indiana Jones and traverse through the thick jungle full of dangerous animals, ancient artifacts, and hidden secrets. Do you have what it takes to survive?

These are only some of the many fun and exciting choices to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Book your next adventure here with us at PlanB Escape Germany. The clock is ticking!

For more information about us and our escape rooms, check us out on our website.

How escape rooms work

Escape Games in KarlsruheSlumped on what to do on your next family vacation? Bored with the same routine night out with friends? Or are you just one of those people who seek the thrill of trying something new? Whatever your reasons, you definitely will not want to miss out on one of the hottest trends today: the Escape Room. Never heard of it? Here are the basics.

What is an Escape Room?

To put it simply, an Escape Room is a game. But this isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill play. While these are relatively new forms of entertainment, the concept itself dates back centuries. One of the greatest Greek myths revolved around the labyrinth – a maze where the Greek hero Theseus kills the Minotaur in order to escape. This idea of escape games was later incorporated into several video games which led to the first actual Escape Room being created by a Takao Kato in 2007 in Japan. Escape Rooms are part of the so-called “reality entertainment” which rose to popularity in recent years because of its immersive nature. These kinds of games are better known today under the umbrella term “virtual reality.” It’s an appeal to players lies in the fact that it places them in a situation that mimics true-to-life experiences. But what makes it so popular? Imagine being placed in the middle of your favorite video game. Instead of just sitting in front of a computer screen, you get to experience the action first-hand. The fun, the fear, the thrill of defeat – you experience all of it in real life.

How Escape Rooms Work

As its title suggests, the ultimate goal of the game is to escape. This is done by accomplishing a series of tasks consisting of solving puzzles, finding hidden clues, and other activities that require both mental and physical prowess. Before the game starts, you are asked to form a team, usually consisting of two or more members. Everything begins with a locked location which may consist of one or more rooms. These rooms are set-up to replicate fictional locations with different themes: a dungeon, a bunker, a jungle, or even a magic castle. Some are even scarier by simulating your favorite horror movies. With all these options, you and your teammates can choose your own adventure before entering the room. Once inside the room, a timer will start and your race against the clock will begin.

Game Play Overview

Escape Games in Karlsruhe-1Once inside, you and your teammates will be given a set of instructions, usually with the help of an instructional video or through the personal directions of your Guide Master. While your ultimate purpose is to get out of the room, you also go through a number of side quests before actually getting the final key to escape. These side quests lead you on a real-life treasure hunt. It requires you to solve puzzles, find clues, and work together to solve the room’s mystery. But what kind of puzzles? Picture this: like a magician’s assistant, you sort through an old bookcase to find a hidden key. The painting near the fireplace contains a secret message, an anagram, that you and your friends need to rearrange to find its meaning. Behind the table, there’s a mechanical device similar to a Rubik’s cube that you must solve to get to the next room. All the while, the clock continues to tick. These are just a number of ways by which an escape room may be set up. The themes may range from whimsical fantasy stories to the horror genre. If players get stuck on a quest, they are given the option to ask for hints. But be aware that these hints are limited in number and should be used with caution. When the timer ends, the team is informed whether they win or lose.

Advantages of Escape Rooms

Because of its immersive nature, the experience of an Escape Room is unlike any other game you have played. But it’s not just all fun and games. Studies have shown that there is a direct connection between puzzle-solving games like Escape Rooms and a person’s overall health. Here is a list of 12 benefits of taking part in Escape Rooms.

1. Escape Rooms Provide your Daily Dose of Physical Exercise

If you’re the kind of person who has been struggling to stay fit but finds it hard to exercise, then consider Escape Rooms your best option. The physical tasks involved are not as strenuous as sports nor as laid back as ordinary board games. Don’t worry, there’s no jumping jacks or push-ups involved. The experience itself is similar to taking a brisk walk in the park. And the best part? Because of the fun and excitement of beating the time limit, you won’t even notice you’ve been exercising. The American Heart Association requires at least 30 minutes of daily physical exercise. And since a typical Escape Room game ranges from 45 minutes to an hour, you are getting even more than your required minimum.

2. Escape Rooms Encourages You to Explore the Use of All Your Senses

Escape Rooms heighten the players’ imaginations and stimulate the senses. Sight, smell, touch, hear, taste — all your senses have to work together to solve the puzzles in the game.

3. Escape Rooms Greatly Improve Your Memory and Decision-Making Skills

Do you pride yourself on having the ability to memorize all your friends’ phone numbers? Well in Escape Rooms, your memory and retention are put to the ultimate test. The tasks involved range from memorizing a mere number sequence to an arrangement of different shapes and pictures. Even your surroundings will require mental action, since the placement of the room may itself be a clue that you need to remember. Escape Rooms also place you in a pressured situation where your decision-making skills are put to practice, requiring you to make certain choices in a mere matter of minutes.

4. Escape Rooms Help Enhance Your Problem-Solving Abilities

The unique quests involved require you to step out of your comfort zone and put you in a situation where you have to think of the best option available for your teammates. As a result, you leave the Escape Room not only with a sense of accomplishment for being able to complete the complicated puzzles of the game, but also the comfort that you are now better equipped to solve your own real-life problems.

5. Escape Rooms are a Great Exercise for the Brain

While a bit of physical activity is involved, Escape Rooms rely more heavily on a person’s mental prowess. The game provides you with a good opportunity to keep your mind sharp and your senses alert. This is particularly true for older team players, to keep away the risks of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other age-related illnesses. Studies have shown that solving puzzles also decreases the chances of brain damages and keeps the cells healthy. This is one of the reasons why Escape Rooms are one of the best activities for family bonding: it benefits both younger and older members of the family alike.

6. Escape Rooms Keep You Happy

Nowadays, depression is one of our society’s most silent killers. For this reason, mental health should be one of our top priorities. And a surefire way to take care of ourselves mentally is to keep ourselves happy and fulfilled. The fun and thrill brought by Escape Rooms help you battle the risks of depression because the activities involved facilitate the release of dopamines and endorphins in your body. Both are known as our “happy hormones” because they keep you in a positive mood throughout the day and help alleviate anxiety and depression.

7. Escape Rooms Keep Your Heart Healthy

Studies have shown that most heart attacks result from an inactive lifestyle. Escape Rooms help keep you active without the unnecessary stress that ordinary exercise carries with it. As the clock ticks, while you’re playing the game, your heart rate decreases during concentration while also lowering your blood pressure.

8. Escape Rooms Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Feeling stressed at work lately? Escape Rooms are a good way to help you relax while having fun. The mental aspect of the game helps you redirect your stress into the puzzles so that you come out of the game feeling more accomplished and relaxed.

9. Escape Rooms Develop Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve good hand and eye coordination that is essential to our everyday tasks. The physical and mental activities of Escape Rooms help you practice these skills in a fun and fast-paced manner.

10. Escape Rooms Improve Your Survival Instincts

Because Escape Rooms are designed to test your physical and mental responses to certain situations all while trying to beat the timer, they provide you with the optimal opportunity to practice how you would react to real-life situations. It increases your sense of awareness of your surroundings and helps amplify your sense of self-preservation. Remember that the ultimate goal is to escape. So the next time you find yourself in a dangerous situation, finding your way out will not be as difficult.

11. Escape Rooms Help You Socialize And Communicate With Others

Let’s face it: many of us are introverts by nature. We find it hard to talk to people, especially ones we have never met before. Escape Rooms offer the perfect situation to help you socialize with others. In the game, you are brought together by the singular goal of trying to escape. Chances are, the people you are with share the same interests of puzzles and problem-solving. And because the mechanics of the game rely highly on team cooperation, communication is essential. It also gives you a chance to meet new people in a fun and unconventional way.

12. Escape Rooms Are a Great Way To Bond With Friends And Family

Perhaps the most common reason why people engage in new activities is to spend time with friends and family. Escape Rooms give you the perfect excuse to bond and to know more about each other through the interactive games involved.

Ready To Start the Fun?

Escape Games in Karlsruhe-2Here at PlanB Escape Germany, we cater to all ages and tastes. As one of Germany’s premier Escape Rooms, we have several adventures to choose from here in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.

The Magic University

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Then you’ll love this immersive adventure. Get to explore an ancient room full of magical artifacts. Armed with only your wand and your wits, you and your teammates will work together to defeat the evil sorcerer Baracus. Will your magic and smarts be enough to escape from his evil plan?

Bunker 71

Imagine yourself trapped in an underground bunker surrounded by old and new technology. The danger of a chemical poison looms in the air. There’s just one catch: the fate of the world is in your hands. Do you and your teammates have what it takes to beat the clock before a nuclear Armageddon strikes?

The War Over Space

The force is strong with this one. This adventure will appeal to any Star Wars fan, engaging you in a battle of the galaxies. You and your teammates will decrypt alien technology and solve the world’s greatest mysteries of space. You are humanity’s last hope. Will you fight to save the universe?

The Secret Jungle

It’s a game of life and death as you bring out your inner Indiana Jones and traverse through the thick jungle full of dangerous animals, ancient artifacts, and hidden secrets. Do you have what it takes to survive?

These are only some of the many fun and exciting choices to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Book your next adventure here with us at PlanB Escape Germany. The clock is ticking!

How to Build Escape Room Challenges?

Escape rooms are the perfect way to bring a group of people together. The combination of a shared tasks, suspenses, time limits, cooperation and problem-solving mirrors real life – this makes it an especially popular activity for colleagues. Here is the Plan B blog guide to building an Escape Room challenge in Germany that will have people coming back again and again!

Escape Room challenges are the most interesting part of setting up an escape room building

Why should the players have all the fun? Building an escape room is equally if not even more exciting than participating in one.

A good escape room balances the difficulty factor with the thrill of discovery. It can be a challenge to find this ideal balance but it is a thrilling process that will improve your own deduction and reasoning skills.

As an Escape Room designer, you have complete control over what will happen during the challenge, including the pacing and even the characters. The experience is somewhat similar to writing and directing a movie and will appeal to your creative side. Don’t hold back!

How to create good ideas and scenarios for escape rooms?

Before you can create something, you have to understand it and the best way to do this is to experience it yourself. Before you design your first Escape Room, participate in a few. Going through the process as a participant will give you the perfect introduction.

Apply the parts that you and the other contestants enjoy the most about the adventure into your own designs. If there are parts of the experience that you and others did not like, perhaps it will be better to leave them out of your own version.

Another great source of ideas are films and books that you have enjoyed. Murder mysteries and thrillers are full of intriguing plot twists that will capture a participant’s imagination.

How to find the materials and accessories for escape rooms?

Starting anything from scratch can be a huge task… and also very expensive. Instead of creating an entire Escape Room from nothing, scout for locations where the environment and structures already tell part of the story.

Old school buildings, hospitals and warehouses are an amazing place to start. Many of them also have a spooky character, which can be very helpful if your plot has an element of fear or horror.

Using the right accessories adds a touch of realism that will help players immerse themselves in the story. Unused props from theatres or even schools can be very useful and will usually cost you nothing. Opt for second-hand furniture (even from your own home) to cut down on expenses. Garage sales, online platforms and furniture clearance sales can also be helpful. If you love DIY, you can even build some yourself.

How to place props and accessories in the right way inside an escape room&

Escape rooms are all about mystery, finding clues, solving them and performing tasks together. Place your props in such a way that the players move around the room and discover clues in the right sequence. Balance the difficulty with the amount of time available. Offers additional tips when necessary.

Conclusion

Designing an Escape Room challenge is fun and watching others enjoy your creation is even better. Why not try out Plan B Escape Rooms in Germany to see if you have what it takes?

What You Should Know about Escape Rooms?

Escape room adventures are definitely not the usual kind of thing that most people get up to in their free time. There is really no other activity like it for the way it completely pulls participants into another world. Few other experiences can generate real tension the way an escape room can as the clock runs down. This uniquely realistic and immersive nature of an Escape Room is perhaps the main reason that they have become so popular.

Before you step into an escape room and hear the door lock behind you, ask yourself:

  • Can I handle the pressure?
  • Am I a good team player?
  • How good are my problem-solving skills?
  • Will I be able to visit the washroom?

The answers in question order are:

  • the pressure is exciting so don’t feel too anxious;
  • this is the perfect place to learn cooperation;
  • this is the perfect place to develop problem-solving abilities;
  • yes, you will have lots of chances!

TOP facts that you should know about escape rooms

The Escape Room phenomenon is relatively new, with the first one being set up in 2003. However, the concept took the world by storm and today, there are already over 8,000 escape room facilities around the planet.

Most people assume that escape rooms are all about solving puzzles but there is so much variety that it is impossible to list them all down. The common features are searching for hidden objects, noticing clues hidden in plain sight, solving riddles and assembling a physical object (like a jigsaw puzzle). Some of the more innovative rooms use mathematics, mirrors, target shooting, mazes and interaction with actors.

The types of clues in an escape room may be diverse but one other factor varies even more widely: setting. Escape rooms may be set up as an ordinary office, school or clinic but more exotic scenarios like airplanes, carnivals, military bases, prisons, space stations and tombs are also popular.

Another variety factor is the period of the setting. While most escape rooms are set in the present, others choose a specific period from the past like prehistoric times, the Ice Age, the Greek era, the Wild West or the golden age of the buccaneers. The future is also a recurring theme.

For a completely different experience, there are theme-based escape rooms too. These often align with the genre of TV shows and films that are popular at the moment. For example, the Harry Potter series inspired a slew of magic-inspired rooms. The same occurred with the vampire theme following the release of the Twilight franchise and the zombie apocalypse scenario following The Walking Dead.

What are you waiting for?

The PlanB Escape blog is our team’s way of sharing with you the exciting, mysterious, fascinating and challenging world that awaits you at our base in Germany. We hope that the interesting tips and tricks we have revealed will help you have a great experience with us.

If there is anything else you believe you should know before you visit, contact us and we will be glad to help!

21 WAYS MORE ESCAPE ROOM GAMES FOR SALE

Selling something that people already know is not easy.

Selling something people haven’t heard much about is even harder.

Selling something that people have never heard of and that they find difficult to imagine is the difficult task of an Escape Room operator.

Escape room providers have to overcome different marketing challenges that do not exist in other industries.

The Escape Room sales and marketing tips described here are designed to help increase the visibility of your Escape Room in the marketplace and – ultimately – sell more Escape Room games.

ESCAPE ROOM MARKETING CHALLENGES

Escape rooms face two different challenges.

Challenge 1: You can’t describe what’s inside – because that’s a secret.

Marketing an Escape Room is like trying to sell something invisible. You can’t show it to the customer until he pays for it!

People book Escape Games based on your promise. How do you convince someone to pay for something they can’t see before?

Challenge 2: An Escape Game is a one-time sale.

Once you have spent all your time, energy and money to convince customers, and they have booked an Escape Room, they can still only experience it once!

Even if your customers are thrilled with the service, set design, puzzles and storytelling, they will most likely only play this specific Escape Room once.

Multi-room operators are betting that a great first experience will delight customers so much that they’ll come back to try out the other Escape Rooms.

The following 21 marketing strategies will help you attract new customers to your Escape Room offering.

ENCLOSE YOUR COMMUNITY.

1. offer a free mini-game.

 

People love to try things for free.

This is how it could look like:

1. set up a mini version of the Escape game (10-15 minutes).

Tip: If you have the budget and the materials, create a mobile version that you can take to local festivals, fairs and other events.

2. bring the free Escape Room game to the public. Distribute flyers or business cards with a voucher for the mini-game on the back.

3. give people a taste of an entire Escape Game without giving it all away.

4. ask the participants about the mini escape game:

Did you enjoy it?

Was it fun?

Do you want to have more fun?

When would you like to try our complete game?

Sold to potential customers!

Offering potential customers a free, shortened version of the game immediately solves challenge 1. Now people know what to expect!

And if they have enjoyed it, the probability that they will come back again is very high!

If you book a complete Escape Game, you’ll also probably bring more friends with you. More friends means more word-of-mouth, more attention to your Escape Game location.

 

2. offer a money back guarantee.

“You didn’t like the game?

Tell us why, and we’ll give you your money back! ”

Given that you offer excellent service and a great escape game, few people will ever take advantage of it. But it allows you to show your customers that you have no doubt that they will enjoy the Escape Room experience.

What does it cost?

The amount of potential refunds. But again, if your escape game and service are good, you will rarely – if ever – have customers who will make use of the money back guarantee.

3. sell gift cards

If people like your Escape Room, they can share their experiences with friends or family members. Selling gift cards is a great way to help them do that.

Escape Room Gift Certificates are also the perfect gift for those who are part of today’s “Simplicity Movement” – people who are looking for smaller, simpler houses and give away their surplus possessions value gifts that give them an experience rather than objects they need to keep and maintain.

What does it cost?

Depending on how costly it is to ship or produce your vouchers / gift cards, this strategy can cost more or less money. Digital gift cards have the advantage that they only cost the time and effort to program them.

4. use of local media.

Local editors are always looking for fresh and interesting topics to share with their viewers or readers. And you run a fresh and interesting business.

Contact local journalists and ask them if they want to make a story about you and your Escape Room.

There are different perspectives for an interesting story. Here are a few possibilities:

First Escape Room in the area

Moving to a larger location or expanding the number of escape rooms you offer

Visit of youth groups

events for a charitable purpose in which you and your company are involved

Opening of the Escape Room under particularly difficult circumstances

Offers something unique that other Escape Game providers in the area don’t have

How much does it cost?

The time to contact the various media.

5. promote your competitors.

I know it sounds crazy, but let me explain.

If you only have one Escape Room, your customers won’t come back until you open another room. But that’s no reason to fob them off with a “thank you” and put the hope in it that they will remember you when that time comes.

Do you know what they will remember?

Exactly.

Tell your customers about another Escape Room in the area. This will show you that you are more than just about money!

When you open your next Escape Room, people will remember that you were the one who recommended another great experience to them.

They will remember that you were generous and attentive.

And they will come back.

If you establish a cross-selling strategy with your competitors, everyone will win.

What does it cost?

This strategy costs you absolutely nothing.

OPTIMIZE YOUR WEB PRESENCE.

First, of course, you should say that you need a website.

Secondly, your website should be easy to use and present your offer in the best possible way.

Third, you should use digital marketing strategies to attract visitors to your website.

 

6. paid online advertising

If you have no online advertising experience, then here are some tips:

There are countless ways to spend money online, but very few ways to spend money efficiently.

Unless you know exactly what to do – hire a professional to take care of the paid online advertising.

What does it cost?

Advertising online can be expensive, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Trust someone who handles your money responsibly and efficiently.

7. SEO

Everyone who uses the Internet has heard of SEO before.

However, not many people really understand what it means.

With a simple Google search, you’ll find countless SEO tips and tricks from reputable – and less reputable – experts.

The advice you’ll find in almost all articles:

Publish good content and you’ll be rewarded.

That’s all.

But what is “good” content?

Good content is everything that is useful and valuable to your target audience (your potential customers).

So instead of thinking long and hard about long tail keywords, canonical URLs and referrer strings, just sit down and think about the people who are interesting for your business.

What are their interests?

What are they likely to look for online?

If you have “couples” as your target group, post unique date ideas on your blog (make sure one of these ideas is an escape dream!).

What does it cost?

Your own online research and the writing of blogs and other content is basically free of charge. If you hire a marketing professional to help you with SEO, pay an hourly or monthly fee. These costs vary depending on your geographic location, the person or company you are hiring, and the amount of work the person is supposed to do.

8. remarketing

Have you ever noticed that after visiting some websites you start to see the ads everywhere?

This is remarketing and it is very effective.

If you plan to use part of your budget only for online marketing, remarketing is the option you should choose.

Remarketing guarantees that your offer (in this case “Escape Games”) will be remembered by potential customers even after they have left your website.

What does it cost?

Remarketing is cheaper than standard pay-per-click online advertising, but it’s not for free.

Tip: Remarketing only works if you already have visitors on your website.
9th TripAdvisor

Go to TripAdvisor and create a free list of exciting destinations. Write a catchy description of your business and upload a photo.

Sign up for Review Express to collect as many reviews as possible.

Of course, you should make sure that your Escape Rooms, Escape Games and Service also deserve to receive great reviews!

Tip: Remember that no matter how hard you work, you occasionally meet someone who has a negative attitude and puts that energy into a bad rating. Offering a money back guarantee can help, but don’t be discouraged if you’ve got a negative rating in the middle of mostly great reviews.

What does it cost?

TripAdvisor and Review Express are both free.

10. blogger reviews

Search the internet for blogs or websites that report about escape games, exit rooms, live escape games, etc.

If your Escape Room has a well-known theme like Sherlock Holmes or the Titanic, you can search for bloggers who also write about these things.

Contact bloggers who are aimed at your target audience and offer them a free game in return for their feedback.

Or even better – invite them to play a paid game so that their ratings are not biased.

Here are some websites that publish Escape Room Reviews:

Nowescape

Escape Reviewer

Escape Room Tips

Escape Room Addict

How much does it cost?

Inviting bloggers for reviews doesn’t cost you anything.

 

11. escape room directories

Some people already know Escape Games and are looking from home or when they are on the road for a suitable provider. Make sure they can find you!

Visit the Escape Room directories that cover your geographic area and contact the administrators if your company is not listed.

Here are some Escape Room directories:

Escape Reviewer Database

Escape Room Hub

Nowescape

Play Exit Games

What does it cost?

Most Escape Room directories will list your Escape Game offerings for free.

12. avoid discount coupon websites.

This is the only item on my list that tells you what not to do.

Don’t rely on Groupon and similar discount services if you want to develop a sustainable long-term marketing strategy.

Often the people who buy discount coupons for restaurants, services and entertainment are much more interested in discounts than in the venues.

This leads to several problems that have a negative impact on both your success and the industry as a whole:

The discount sites attract people who are basically not your target audience. So there is a danger that the Escape Game will be less appealing to them and that you will get a bad rating afterwards.

 

BE OPEN.

Today it is difficult to market an Escape Room without social media, especially Twitter and Facebook.

Use the popularity to your advantage. People react to companies that deal with them as people, so develop a friendly and authentic marketing strategy.

13. post regularly relevant content.

Share articles and pictures for your target group – they will share the content with friends because it is relevant to their interests.

Tip: There is a free tool that automatically makes your Facebook posts for you, so you only have to post in one place.

Customize your posts to your audience on any platform (e.g. posts on LinkedIn tend to be more professional, while you can use a more casual tone on Twitter and Facebook).

What does it cost?

Setting up profiles on the most popular social media platforms is free, as is publishing and sharing content.

 

In your social media activity, you get the most leverage from the team photos you take of your customers after they finish an escape game. Post the photos on your news feed and let the customers tag themselves.

Your customers’ friends will see the pictures with your logo and a group of happy, excited people.

Efficient, cheap advertising!

What does it cost?

Apart from the cost of the camera, taking digital photos and posting on social media, it won’t cost anything.

15. buy an ad in the local travel guides and maps.

Google your city or geographical region as if you’re coming to visit for the first time.

Visit hotels and see what types of brochures and maps they offer.

Talk to other entertainment providers near you and find out where they advertise.

Think about whether a poster campaign might be worthwhile.

How much does it cost?

The purchase of advertising space costs some money.

16. cooperate with local tour operators.

If your company is in an area served by tour buses and guides, find out if there is a way to negotiate a cross-promotion commission contract with these companies.

How much does it cost?

In general, a commission is paid for this type of contract.

 

REWARD YOUR CUSTOMERS

The best advertising is positive word-of-mouth propaganda from those who have played and enjoyed your Escape Game.

17. distribute merchandise for your Escape Game.

Give your customers small, inexpensive merchandise items like bunch of keys as a gift after they have played the Escape Game.

Try to choose something closely related to the theme of Escape Space.

If they liked the game and the item is cool, they will show it to their friends.

This is exactly what you need

How much does it cost?

Many companies sell merchandise for low prices. The more you order, the lower the price.

18. sell T-shirts and other items with your logo.

Some people like to collect T-shirts, shot glasses and other branded items as souvenirs from places they have visited, especially on holiday.

Every time someone wears a T-shirt with your logo, you get free advertising!

How much does it cost?

See point 17.

 

19. give customers discounts on future bookings.

This technique is similar to “upselling”, which you can often see in fast food chains, for example.

If you have more than one Escape Room, you can make players book another game immediately after the end of their Escape Game (while they are still full of adrenaline and emotion)!

Give a discount on the next Escape Game if you book directly.

Tip: If you have an Escape Room that is empty at this time, offer an even bigger discount to play this room immediately.

How much does it cost?

The financial losses are limited because you can fill an empty room. And of course there is positive word of mouth.

20. use the birthday call.

I must warn you now I will share a really strong sales tip with you.

Something your competitors don’t do.

How many emails do you usually get on your birthday?

Do you remember any of the companies that sent those emails?

If you’re like me, you don’t remember any of those emails, and they all end up in the spam folder.

Would you remember if someone you didn’t know called you on your birthday and said, “Hey, this is Max, from XYZ. I just wanted to wish you all the best for your birthday. Enjoy your day!”

Think about it.

Birthdays are usually happy days for your customers.

Use that!

Here is what you do:

Call your customers on their birthdays and wish them all the best for their birthday.

Nothing more.

Don’t sell anything.

They will remember you.

They will like you.

Next time they think of an Escape Room – who will they think of?

Sold!

Tip: You can get the phone numbers and birth dates of the players during the booking process.

How much does it cost?

One call is free, only takes 20 seconds.

21. loyalty and referrals.

Be the best you can be.

Create puzzles that are fun, challenging and unique.

Spend your time and money on quality, design and props.

Create a story that is fascinating and entertaining.

Give your customers a special day.

Make sure everyone who plays your Escape Game wants to come back for more.

People will tell their friends about the great experience in the Escape Room. They will write positive reviews. They will do the marketing for you.

Give your customers an extraordinary Escape Room experience and you’ll be rewarded for it.