Escape Room beginner guide introduces you to Your First Escape Room: A Survival Memoir
Escape Room Beginner Guide: First, WTF Is An Escape Room?
You. Friends. Locked room. 60 minutes. Puzzles.
Find clues. Solve codes. Open locks. Escape.
Or don’t. Either way, you get a story and a photo of you looking confused next to a prop skull.
Step 1: Finding Your First Room
Don’t start on Hard Mode.
| Experience Level | What To Pick |
|---|---|
| First time ever | 60-70% escape rate, “family-friendly” difficulty |
| You’ve played before but lied on your resume | 50-60% escape rate, “moderate” difficulty |
| You watched someone play on YouTube | Congratulations, you’re still a beginner |
Look for keywords:
- “Beginner-friendly” (they’ve seen confused faces before)
- “English-friendly” (instructions you can actually read)
- “Under $200k VND” (budget-friendly failure)
Step 2: Assembling Your Team
Optimal team size: 4-6 humans
Ideal team composition:
- 1 person who reads instructions (rare)
- 1 person who tries random combinations (chaos agent)
- 1 person who finds hidden things (bless this soul)
- 1 person who does math under pressure (unemployed accountant)
- Kevin (we’ll fix Kevin)
Avoid:
- 8 people in a 2-person room (you’re not helping)
- Your competitive cousin who “already knows how to solve this”
- Anyone who says “I’m just here to watch”
Step 3: What To Expect (No Spoilers)
Before entering:
- Staff explains rules (listen. please.)
- They’ll show your “escape goal” (not always a door)
- You leave phone in locker (yes, really)
- Photo of you looking confident (future meme material)
During the game:
- First 10 minutes: “Wow this is easy”
- Minutes 10-20: “…wait”
- Minutes 20-40: Absolute chaos. Someone finds a magnet. Someone suggests trying the code on everything.
- Minutes 40-50: Huddle panic
- Minutes 50-60: Either escape euphoria or “can we have 5 more minutes?”
After:
- Photo with the “ESCAPED” or “DID NOT ESCAPE” sign
- Both are acceptable. Both get Instagram likes.
- Staff explains the puzzle you spent 15 minutes overthinking
Step 4: The Golden Rules
✅ DO:
- Share everything. “I found a key!” > “I found a key and put it in my pocket like a raccoon”
- Talk out loud. “I’m trying the code 1975 on this lock” helps your team, even if it’s wrong
- Check everything twice. That bookshelf moves. That painting is crooked for a reason.
- Ask for clues. It’s not cheating. It’s “using available resources.”
- Touch things. Gently. This isn’t a museum.
❌ DON’T:
- Force locks. If it doesn’t click, you’re missing something. Relax, Hulk.
- Hide things from your team. See raccoon comment above.
- Stand in corners. Contribute or communicate. Pick one.
- Assume it’s broken. The clue is there. You just haven’t found it yet.
- Blame Kevin. Actually, blame Kevin. Kevin knows what he did.
Step 5: Vocabulary Cheat Sheet
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| “What’s the code?” | I haven’t found anything yet |
| “I found something!” | Look at me, I’m useful |
| “Wait, put that here” | We’re about to unlock something |
| “Is this part of the game?” | Touches random object |
| “Ohhhhhhh” | We spent 10 minutes on something embarrassingly simple |
| “Kevin, no” | Classic Kevin |
Step 6: What To Wear & Bring
Wear:
- Comfortable clothes (you might crawl under tables)
- Grippy socks or clean shoes
- Glasses if you own them (reading small numbers is 40% of the game)
Don’t wear:
- Heels (crime scene investigation, not fashion week)
- White anything (dust is real)
- Backpacks (they get in the way, leave in locker)
Bring:
- Your brain (required)
- Reading glasses (optional but humbling)
- A friend who’s done this before (unfair advantage)
Step 7: How Not To Be “That Person”
Don’t be the person who:
- Solves puzzles alone in the corner (TEAM. GAME.)
- Touches every object before reading anything (chaotic neutral behavior)
- Says “I knew that” after someone else solves it (okay, Kevin)
- Uses phone flashlight on everything (there are props. just look.)
- Panics (it’s a game. the door is not actually on fire.)
Do be the person who:
- Brings snacks for after (hero)
- Takes the group photo (historian)
- Says “good try” instead of “we lost because of you” (adult)
Still Nervous?
Normal beginner thoughts:
- ❌ “Everyone will know I’m stupid”
- ✅ “Everyone is also confused. This is the experience.”
Normal beginner experiences:
- ❌ Solving every puzzle immediately
- ✅ Staring at a combination lock for 8 minutes before realizing it’s decorative
Normal beginner outcomes:
- ❌ Escaping with 20 minutes left
- ✅ Escaping with 47 seconds left, screaming, hugging strangers
So….
First time escape room Vietnam? Start HERE.
Beginner escape rooms Ho Chi Minh City: We tag them. Look for the 🟢 icon.
Easy escape rooms Hanoi: Family-friendly. No jumpscares. Actual fun.
How to play escape rooms for beginners: Read this page. Book a room. Don’t overthink it.
Escape room tips first time: Communicate. Share. Don’t be Kevin.
Your First Escape Checklist
- Pick a beginner-friendly room (we marked them for you so just type “beginner” in search bar)
- Gather 3-5 non-terrible humans
- Arrive 15 minutes early (paperwork is real)
- Listen to the briefing (not the time to check Instagram)
- Touch everything. Politely.
- Talk constantly
- Ask for clues when stuck (that’s what they’re there for)
- Celebrate small wins
- Take the stupid photo
- Book your next room immediately
Ready to stop reading and start escaping?
Find Beginner Rooms NOW
Bring Friends
Leave Kevin At Home This Time
