The usual questions I get from people who have never played an escape room are
- “are you locked in?” and
- “will it be claustrophobic?”
The answer to both is no.
Recently I got asked a new question
- “Is it like a quiz team where you have to know answers?”
There are two parts to this answer. While both involve teams, that’s where the similarities end.
Firstly, no, you should not have to know the answer. Escape rooms do not (or should not) rely on outside knowledge. Everything you need to solve a puzzle should be found within the room somewhere. So if you need semaphore to crack a code, there will be a diagram hidden somewhere in the room showing you the alphabet using flags.
The second part of the answer is that an escape room is nothing like a quiz night at all. An escape room is an immersive, real-life adventure game where a team of people works together to solve a series of puzzles and challenges within a themed room or set of rooms. The goal is to complete a specific objective within a set time limit, usually 60 minutes. A bit long winded, so here are the key differences between an escape room and a quiz night:
1. Team vs. Individual Knowledge:
- Quiz Night: The primary focus is on individual knowledge. While you’re on a team, the game is won by correctly answering questions based on general knowledge, which is often a collection of facts stored in a person’s memory.
- Escape Room: The focus is entirely on teamwork and collaborative problem-solving. No single person is expected to know all the answers. Instead, team members must communicate, share their findings, and work together to piece together clues. The game is designed so that multiple brains are needed to tackle the diverse challenges.
2. Physical and Mental Challenges:
- Quiz Night: This is a purely mental activity. You sit at a table and write down answers to questions. There is no physical component.
- Escape Room: This involves both mental and physical challenges. While it’s not a physically demanding workout, you will need to actively search the room for clues, which might involve looking under objects, reaching for things, or even moving props. You might have to solve puzzles that involve manipulating physical objects, like opening a locked box with a key you found or deciphering a code to unlock a padlock. The mental challenges go beyond recall; they require logic, observation, and creative thinking.
3. Immersive Experience:
- Quiz Night: This is a social game played in a casual setting like a pub. There is no overarching story or theme, and the atmosphere is not designed to be immersive.
- Escape Room: This is an immersive theatrical experience. You are not just sitting at a table; you are stepping into a different world with a storyline. The room is decorated to match a specific theme, such as an ancient tomb, a mad scientist’s lab, or a detective’s office. The puzzles are integrated into this narrative, and you feel like you are part of an adventure.
Want to join us on an escape adventure? Become a member of The City Adventurers
City Adventurers Membership includes invitations to adventures and travel mainly in the UK.
