You’re Not Here to “Participate”
60 minutes. 1 room. 0 excuses.
Mediocre teams escape. Great teams destroy rooms.
Here’s how to stop being “almost escaped” and start being legendary.
🧠 Before You Enter: The Prep Phase
1. Pee First
Nothing ruins a clutch escape like a full bladder at minute 52. Hydrate strategically.
2. Assign Roles (Yes, Actually)
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| The Finder | Touches everything. Checks under tables, inside books, behind frames. |
| The Organizer | Holds found objects. Creates a “used” pile. Prevents the raccoon situation. |
| The Reader | Actually reads the instructions. The MVP. |
| The Math Person | Handles numbers, sequences, patterns. |
| The Kevin | Keeps moral high. Bless him. |
Pro tip: Don’t tell Kevin he’s Kevin.
3. Phone in Locker. Brain in Game.
If you’re scrolling during briefing, you’ve already lost.
🔍 During The Game: The Execution Phase
1. First 5 Minutes: The Scatter Method
Everyone touches everything.
Not aggressively. Methodically.
- Open drawers
- Move objects
- Check magnets
- Shake suspicious items
- Look for hidden compartments
Goal: Inventory every clue, lock, and object in the room.
Result: Your organizer now has 14 items to catalog. Good.
2. Communicate Like Your Life Depends On It
❌ “I found something.”
✅ “I found a silver key with a red handle. It has the number 7 engraved. I’m trying it on the desk drawer.”
❌ “What’s the code?”
✅ *”I need a 4-digit code for a blue lock. Has anyone seen anything with 1-9-8-7 or colors?”*
Context wins games.
🧩 Puzzle Types: How to Not Overthink
Number Locks
- Try the obvious first: Room number, year on poster, 1234 (you’d be surprised)
- Look for patterns: Math problems, sequences, color-to-number conversions
- Check the back: Of paintings, clocks, mirrors
Word/Letter Locks
- Find the theme: Is this a pirate room? Use pirate words
- Count things: Books, windows, skulls = letters in the alphabet
- Look for circled letters: Someone took time to highlight this
Directional Locks (↑ ↓ ← →)
- Check floor tiles
- Look at clock hands
- Notice how objects are arranged
Hidden Objects
- Magnets are everywhere
- UV lights reveal things (wave it around like you mean it)
- Books never sit flush (pull them)
⚠️ The 10-Minute Rule
Stuck on one puzzle for 10 minutes?
Stop. Ask for a clue.
This isn’t a pride competition. The room has 6-10 puzzles. You’re losing time on one while others wait.
Good teams solve puzzles.
Great teams know when to abandon them.
🤝 Teamwork: The Difference Between Win & Whine
✅ Do:
- Over-communicate. “I’m working on the red box” prevents 3 people touching the same lock.
- Spread out. Don’t cluster. Cover ground.
- Report dead ends. “I tried 1975 on everything. It’s not that.”
- Celebrate loudly. Every solved puzzle = dopamine. Use it.
❌ Don’t:
- Solve alone in silence. This isn’t a solo mission.
- Hoard objects. If you’re not looking at it, pass it.
- Second-guess the solver. They cracked it. Move on.
- Blame Kevin. Actually, blame Kevin. But do it after.
⏱️ The Final 10 Minutes: Pressure Mode
Minute 50: Panic or Poise?
Winning teams:
- Assign one person to watch the clock
- Narrate everything (no time for silent thinking)
- Try obvious combinations you ignored earlier
- Ask for the final clue. No shame.
Losing teams:
- Blame each other
- Re-check locks they already opened
- Argue about who lost the key
🏆 Advanced Tactics (For Repeat Offenders)
The “3-Touch” Rule
Every object should be:
- Found
- Examined
- Either used or passed
Nothing sits untouched for >2 minutes.
The “Wall of Truth”
Dedicate one visible surface (whiteboard, window, phone notes) to:
- Codes you’ve tried
- Patterns you’ve spotted
- Items you can’t use yet
Visual memory > Brain memory.
The “Pair & Share” Method
Split into 2-3 pairs. Each pair solves one puzzle path.
Check in every 5 minutes.
Parallel processing wins races.
The “What Haven’t We Touched?” Reset
Every 15 minutes, stop. Scan the room.
That vase. That rug. That ceiling tile.
You haven’t checked it yet. Go check it.
🚫 What Winners NEVER Do:
❌ Force locks. If it doesn’t click, wrong key/code. Stop.
❌ Put things back where they found them. Once it’s out, it’s out.
❌ Assume it’s broken. It’s not broken. You missed something.
❌ Stand in corners. Contribute or communicate. Pick one.
❌ Say “I knew that.” No you didn’t. Kevin didn’t either.
📊 The Winner’s Checklist
Before you enter:
- Used bathroom
- Phones locked away
- Roles loosely assigned
- Kevin informed he’s “morale captain”
First 5 minutes:
- Every surface touched
- Every object inventoried
- Every lock identified
Throughout:
- Talking constantly
- Asking for clues when stuck
- Passing objects immediately
- Celebrating small wins
Final 5 minutes:
- Still trying
- Not fighting
- Not crying
- (Crying is allowed. We don’t judge.)
The “SEO Specialist Made Me Write This” Section
Escape room tips and tricks Vietnam: You’re reading them.
How to win escape rooms: Communicate, organize, don’t hoard objects.
Escape room strategies for beginners: Read the beginner guide first. Then read this.
Best escape room players HCMC: Could be you. Book a room. Practice.
Escape room teamwork tips: Share everything. Blame no one. (Except Kevin.)
One More Thing
Winning isn’t about escaping.
It’s about:
- That moment someone connects two unrelated objects
- The collective scream when the final lock clicks
- Post-game gathering where you replay every mistake
Escaping is the trophy.
But the game is the experience.
Ready to stop reading and start winning?
Find Your Winning Room
Assemble Your A-Team
Kevin, Read This Before We Play