Terms of UseHow to Win Escape Rooms Explore this Article methods 1 Using Effective Strategies 2 Unlocking Clues 3 Organizing a Winning Team Other Sections Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: January 21, 2026
X
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 20,592 times.
Escape rooms are quickly becoming a very popular activity enjoyed by people of all ages. The concept originates from escape video games, but escape rooms are now a physical game in which a group of people are “locked” in a room with only some clues, puzzles, and a time limit to escape. To have fun winning an escape room game, you’ll want to develop some strategies, unlock the clues in your room, and go with a team that’s dedicated to winning.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Using Effective Strategies
1 Follow the basic rules to avoid getting disqualified. For instance, you should use the restroom before getting sent into the room. The only way you can leave a room is if you call for a staff to come get you, and then you usually cannot go back in. Also, do not try to take pictures or video during the game; this is usually explicitly against the rules and can get your team disqualified.[1]XResearch source
Listen carefully to your guide about game rules and what can get you disqualified.
For people who are uncomfortable about being physically trapped in a room, the reality is that you aren’t. The doors do not actually physically lock you in, and you can leave at any time. However, to avoid getting your team disqualified, you have to call for a staff to escort you out instead of just walking out of your room.
2 Listen carefully to your guide. Your team will most likely be allowed to ask for 3 clues from the guide throughout the game. Try to wait 10 minutes to ask for your first clue, but if you are all completely lost before then, you can ask for it sooner. When you ask for a clue, the answer you’re given will help you at the specific point you are at in the game, so listen carefully.[2]XResearch source
Escape rooms generally work in steps, with a first puzzle to solve that leads to a new puzzle, etc. Clues from the guide will help you solve whatever step it is that you’re currently stuck on.
Advertisement
3 Communicate everything with your team as you play. A good rule of thumb is to yell out what you find as soon as you find it. This can seem chaotic at first, but as you get to know the room, knowing what everyone has found will help each of you start to make sense of what puzzles you need to solve and the clues to solve them.[3]XResearch source
Listen to a teammate if they think they have started solving a puzzle. Think about what you have found, or have heard other teammates find, that can help solve that puzzle.
4 Don’t panic or rush. Try to keep your eyes off the ticking clock as you play. Rushing and wanting to get done quickly can cause you to miss a clue and become stuck on a step. Stay focused on the room, the clues, and working together with your team.
Remember that this is a game and the goal, besides escaping the room, is to have fun. Relax and have fun while you make observations and guesses to help your team reach the common goal.
Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Unlocking Clues
1 Observe everything in the room when you get there. Take a good look around the room to see the layout and different objects. Begin walking around and looking at signs, decorations on the walls, and take note of where furniture is placed.
Take a mental note of or jot down anything that strikes you as unusual, such as a letter missing from a word or a decoration that seems out of place.
2 Leave nothing untouched. Look underneath vases, tablecloths, tables, and chairs. Look inside of drawers and cabinets. If you find something that’s locked, there’s probably a key somewhere that will unlock it and most likely it is part of the puzzle series.[4]XResearch source
You won’t have to climb anything or remove things from walls; your guide will tell you this, but it’s good to keep in mind so you don’t waste time trying those things.
3 Spread out to different clues and puzzles. Resist the urge to watch and “help” someone else as they work on a puzzle, unless they ask specifically for your help. You’ll make better use of your time by going to a different puzzle or clue and focusing on solving that.[5]XResearch source
Spreading out is especially helpful in the beginning of the game. Later, if there’s only one puzzle left open, then of course your group can gather around it and try to solve it together.
4 Pass clues that you can’t solve onto someone else. Don’t spend more than 5 minutes alone on one particular puzzle. If you can’t think of any more ideas for solving it, ask for help or for a teammate to take it over entirely. If a few different people can’t figure it out, that may be a sign that you need more information to solve it, or a hint from your guide.[6]XResearch source
Passing around items you can’t solve ensures that puzzles don’t get forgotten about; forgetting about a puzzle until the last minute can make your team think they are farther ahead than they really are.
5 Organize all clues and information. While it’s important to remember the original location of an object, it can also be helpful to put related things together. For instance, books or pictures that seem related, keys, or other similar loose objects should be placed together in a central location of the room.
It is helpful to keep a running list of objects and where they were originally located. Choose a person on your team who enjoys making lists to keep track of where each object was when you found and moved it.
6 Create “used” and “unused” piles of objects. Creating a pile of things you’ve already used and pile of things you haven’t used yet helps people to not look at an object over and over again. Keep in mind that in some rooms, objects can be used more than once, but organizing objects in this way will still help you to stay focused on what still needs to be done.[7]XResearch source
Some objects may be “red herrings,” or objects particularly designed to make you think they are a clue, when they actually are not. Don’t spend a lot of time obsessing over 1 particular object if you can’t find a useful purpose for it.
7 Leave used keys in their locks. Once you’ve found a key that unlocks a certain lock, you most likely will not need it again. Leave it in the lock and try other keys for new locks first. If you end up short on keys, at least you will know where all of your used keys are and it will be easier to go get them if you need them.[8]XResearch source Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Organizing a Winning Team
1 Go with enthusiastic players. This may sound obvious, but if your ultimate goal is to win an escape room, you should choose your team wisely. Send out an email or group message to people you know who have talked about escape rooms, enjoy games and puzzles, have a sense of humor, or generally work well with others.[9]XResearch source
Keep in mind that it’s better to go with acquaintances or coworkers who are excited about the idea and want to win than with your best friend who thinks the idea is sort of stupid or won’t play along well with the team.
If you can’t organize a group to go, many escape room locations offer public bookings, where your teammates will be other individuals or pairs who are strangers. This can work well for a last-minute date idea or if you’re traveling.
2 Resist the urge to play with the maximum number of people allowed. Each escape room has a limit for the number of people who can play the room. Call ahead of time to find out what the maximum capacities are for the escape room you’re going to, and plan to book your group at around 70-80% of that number.[10]XResearch source
Filling the room to maximum capacity can cause you to run into a couple of problems, like physical crowdedness, not having enough things for everyone to work on, and trouble keeping everyone up to speed on progress.
3 Discuss the personal strengths of your teammates ahead of time if you can. Some people are great at math puzzles, some enjoy visual puzzles or word games, and others are good at noticing small details or staying organized. It helps to know who can contribute what to the game ahead of time, so try to spend even just 10 minutes discussing what you think each of you will be best at during the game.[11]XResearch source
When you get to the room, you can have a loose plan of what types of clues each person will try to focus on while you play.
4 Choose a room that fits the interests of your teammates. There are 2 main styles of escape rooms: Japanese style, which uses more observational clues in a large space with many objects, and Norwegian style, which is a mostly plain room centered on the puzzles themselves. If you have an option for room style, discuss with your team which they prefer and choose one that most team members will be happy with.
Both styles are challenging, just in different ways. In Japanese style rooms, part of the challenge is finding clues in objects, and determining how they fit together. In Norwegian style rooms, the puzzles themselves tend to be more challenging.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
Sometimes an escape room actually consists of more than one room! Don’t be surprised if one of your keys leads you into an entirely different room with more clues. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you are claustrophobic, you may not enjoy an escape room game. Sometimes rooms can be small, and even though you are not physically locked in, your team may not be happy if you panic and need to leave suddenly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Some escape rooms are not suitable for kids. Look up their age recommendations before going with children. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Advertisement
You Might Also Like
How toPass As a Guy and Still Be Scene or Emo (for FTM Teens)How toBe a Creepy GirlHow toAct Like FluttershyHow toAct Like a Mermaid at SchoolHow toMake a Waldorf DollHow toPlay Minecraft in Real LifeHow toDrill Small Holes in Glass for Jewelry or Wind ChimesHow toAct Like a Baby AgainHow toBe a Scene GirlHow to Play wikiHow to Meme (wikiHow's Limited Edition Card Game)How toChoose a Guitar Amplifier for Rock MusicHow toDraw Donald DuckHow toClean AluminumHow toDo Crafts With Your Child Advertisement
Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 20,592 times. 23 votes - 75% Co-authors: 4Updated: January 21, 2026 Views: 20,592
Print
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 20,592 times.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer 23 votes - 75% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4Updated: January 21, 2026 Views: 20,592
You Might Also Like
How toPass As a Guy and Still Be Scene or Emo (for FTM Teens)How toBe a Creepy GirlHow toAct Like FluttershyHow toAct Like a Mermaid at School wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 20,592 times. 23 votes - 75% Co-authors: 4 Updated: January 21, 2026 Views: 20,592 
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 
535 
1 Follow the basic rules to avoid getting disqualified. For instance, you should use the restroom before getting sent into the room. The only way you can leave a room is if you call for a staff to come get you, and then you usually cannot go back in. Also, do not try to take pictures or video during the game; this is usually explicitly against the rules and can get your team disqualified.[1] 
2 Listen carefully to your guide. Your team will most likely be allowed to ask for 3 clues from the guide throughout the game. Try to wait 10 minutes to ask for your first clue, but if you are all completely lost before then, you can ask for it sooner. When you ask for a clue, the answer you’re given will help you at the specific point you are at in the game, so listen carefully.[2] 
3 Communicate everything with your team as you play. A good rule of thumb is to yell out what you find as soon as you find it. This can seem chaotic at first, but as you get to know the room, knowing what everyone has found will help each of you start to make sense of what puzzles you need to solve and the clues to solve them.[3] 
4 Don’t panic or rush. Try to keep your eyes off the ticking clock as you play. Rushing and wanting to get done quickly can cause you to miss a clue and become stuck on a step. Stay focused on the room, the clues, and working together with your team. 
1 Observe everything in the room when you get there. Take a good look around the room to see the layout and different objects. Begin walking around and looking at signs, decorations on the walls, and take note of where furniture is placed. 
2 Leave nothing untouched. Look underneath vases, tablecloths, tables, and chairs. Look inside of drawers and cabinets. If you find something that’s locked, there’s probably a key somewhere that will unlock it and most likely it is part of the puzzle series.[4] 
3 Spread out to different clues and puzzles. Resist the urge to watch and “help” someone else as they work on a puzzle, unless they ask specifically for your help. You’ll make better use of your time by going to a different puzzle or clue and focusing on solving that.[5] 
4 Pass clues that you can’t solve onto someone else. Don’t spend more than 5 minutes alone on one particular puzzle. If you can’t think of any more ideas for solving it, ask for help or for a teammate to take it over entirely. If a few different people can’t figure it out, that may be a sign that you need more information to solve it, or a hint from your guide.[6] 
5 Organize all clues and information. While it’s important to remember the original location of an object, it can also be helpful to put related things together. For instance, books or pictures that seem related, keys, or other similar loose objects should be placed together in a central location of the room. 
6 Create “used” and “unused” piles of objects. Creating a pile of things you’ve already used and pile of things you haven’t used yet helps people to not look at an object over and over again. Keep in mind that in some rooms, objects can be used more than once, but organizing objects in this way will still help you to stay focused on what still needs to be done.[7] 
7 Leave used keys in their locks. Once you’ve found a key that unlocks a certain lock, you most likely will not need it again. Leave it in the lock and try other keys for new locks first. If you end up short on keys, at least you will know where all of your used keys are and it will be easier to go get them if you need them.[8] Advertisement 
1 Go with enthusiastic players. This may sound obvious, but if your ultimate goal is to win an escape room, you should choose your team wisely. Send out an email or group message to people you know who have talked about escape rooms, enjoy games and puzzles, have a sense of humor, or generally work well with others.[9] 
2 Resist the urge to play with the maximum number of people allowed. Each escape room has a limit for the number of people who can play the room. Call ahead of time to find out what the maximum capacities are for the escape room you’re going to, and plan to book your group at around 70-80% of that number.[10] 
3 Discuss the personal strengths of your teammates ahead of time if you can. Some people are great at math puzzles, some enjoy visual puzzles or word games, and others are good at noticing small details or staying organized. It helps to know who can contribute what to the game ahead of time, so try to spend even just 10 minutes discussing what you think each of you will be best at during the game.[11] 
4 Choose a room that fits the interests of your teammates. There are 2 main styles of escape rooms: Japanese style, which uses more observational clues in a large space with many objects, and Norwegian style, which is a mostly plain room centered on the puzzles themselves. If you have an option for room style, discuss with your team which they prefer and choose one that most team members will be happy with. 
Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.