Trying an escape room for the first time?
The below Escape Room Tips for Beginners: How to Escape Your First Room will help your team stay organized, communicate better, and make the most of your experience. Whether you’re playing with friends, family, or coworkers, a little strategy goes a long way. Here are our best spoiler-free tips to help you escape.
Escape Room Tip #1: Communicate Everything You Find
Escape rooms reward teamwork.
If you pick something up, notice a symbol, or solve part of a puzzle, say it out loud. Even if it doesn’t seem important, it might connect to something another teammate is working on. Silence slows teams down — communication speeds teams up.
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Escape Room Tip #2: Spread Out, Then Regroup
At the start of the game, divide and search. Cover as much ground as possible.
Once clues start appearing, regroup and share what everyone has found. Many puzzles require combining information from different parts of the room.
Think of it as:
Search → Share → Solve → Repeat
Escape Room Tip #3: Stay Organized
If something feels solved, set it aside. If you’re unsure, keep it visible.
Create a small “working area” where you place items that have already been used or checked. This prevents your team from solving the same puzzle twice. A tidy workspace saves valuable time — and is one of the most overlooked escape room tips for beginners.
Escape Room Tip #4: Focus on One Puzzle at a Time
Efficient teams balance attention instead of crowding.
Avoid having five people working on the same small lock while the rest of the room is untouched. If a puzzle already has enough hands on it, shift your focus to something else. You’ll often have multiple paths that can be worked on at once.
Escape Room Tip #5: Don’t Overthink It
Escape games are clever — but they’re fair.
If you find yourself inventing complicated theories, step back and look at the puzzle again. The solution is usually more straightforward than it first appears. When in doubt, simplify.
Escape Room Tip #6: Use Hints Strategically
Hints are part of the game — and smart teams use them.
Here at Escape Room Barrie, hints are unlimited, and they exist to keep your experience fun and moving.
How to use them to your advantage:
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If your team has been stuck on the same puzzle for more than a few minutes, ask for a hint
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If frustration is building, ask sooner rather than later
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A small nudge early can prevent losing large chunks of time
Think of hints as a strategy tool, not a last resort. The goal is to enjoy the experience and keep your momentum strong.
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Escape Room Tip #7: Focus on Fun Over Perfection
Escaping is exciting — but the real win is working together and enjoying the challenge. Celebrate small victories, keep the energy positive, and remember that every puzzle solved is progress.
Remember: if your team gets stuck, argues over a lock, or confidently tries the wrong code three times in a row — you’re doing it right. Escape rooms are meant to be a little chaotic and a lot of fun. Laugh it off, use your hints, trust your teammates, and enjoy the ride. Whether you escape or not, the real victory is walking out still friends.
Ready to Try an Escape Room in Barrie?
You don’t need special skills — just teamwork, communication, and curiosity.