Do you love escape games and dream of creating one yourself? Then you’ve come to the right place! Whether it is a birthday activity, a fun afternoon or evening with friends, a Sunday with the family, a team building or a seminar animation: any reason is good to organise your own escape game. It does require some preparation to make it a fun, mysterious and, above all, successful activity.
Here is everything you need to know to make your escape game a success!
Summary
1. Choose a theme
Choosing a theme is the first step in creating an escape game. That theme can be based on a mystery story, a horror movie, a role-playing game, a space adventure, a survival story, and so on. The theme should fit logically with the scenario you will develop afterwards.
Here are some ideas for a theme for your escape game:
- Survivors lost in the jungle
- Experts at a crime scene
- Prisoners in a sunken ship
- An evening in a haunted house
2. Define the accompanying scenario
The scenario forms the thread of the story. It defines the game rules and the riddles the players have to solve to escape from the room. Make sure the scenario is clear and consistent with the previously chosen theme.
This is also where your creativity will be needed the most!
3. Choose a location
Once your theme and scenario are fixed, it is time to choose a location for your escape game. This could be a room in your house, a rented space or even a public place that you adapt to your theme.
Make sure the location is big enough and safe for the players, and that it meets the needs of your scenario and puzzles.
4. Design your riddles
Riddles are the heart of the escape game. Think of hidden clues, riddles, puzzles, tasks, etc. Make sure the puzzles match your theme and story in terms of content. They may be challenging, but should remain solvable.
A little tip: you can find a wealth of ideas for riddles, free escape games and other inspiration on the internet. Just make sure that everything remains logically connected and that there is enough variation.
5. Provide the necessary materials and decoration
Gather the accessories and materials you need to decorate the room and create a real escape game atmosphere. Think about lighting, costumes, sound effects, decoration elements and objects that allow players to find or manipulate clues.
6. Don’t forget to test your escape game
Invite friends or family to play a test round of your escape game. This way you can check that everything works as intended, and you can make adjustments where necessary. Note down any problems that occur during the game and adjust the scenario or riddles if necessary.
7. Before the game starts
Make sure all players understand the rules and instructions before the game starts. Then start the game and help the players if necessary. They may need support in solving puzzles or determining the correct order of steps. You can also act as a timekeeper and give hints when time starts to run out.
8. Set a time limit
Determine how much time players have to escape from the room. That time can vary depending on the number of participants, the difficulty of the riddles and the scenario chosen. Make sure the time limit is realistic for the players, but short enough to keep them focused and involved.
9. Work with a point system
Set up a points system to measure players’ progress and encourage them to find clues and solve puzzles faster. You can award points when they find a clue, solve a riddle or reach a specific goal. Possibly provide small rewards, such as sweet or salty snacks, gadgets or other fun gifts.
10. Provide a good balance of difficulty
The riddles should be challenging enough for the players, but not so difficult that they get discouraged or give up the game early. Match the difficulty level to the profile of the participants (age, group size, experience…). If necessary, offer different levels of difficulty so that participants can choose in advance what suits them best.
11. Ensure safety
Make sure that all participants can move around safely during the game. Avoid dangerous situations or objects that could cause injury. Establish an emergency plan in case a problem arises during the game, and always supervise.
12. Maintain the game and equipment
Make sure your game and all accessories remain in good condition for future players. Clean the room, repair broken elements and adjust the game where necessary to improve it with each round. An escape game is a living concept that can be refined all the time.
Why choose an online sign-up system for your escape game?
An online registration system is a great asset for organising your escape game smoothly and professionally. It simplifies organisation, increases comfort for participants and helps you use your resources more efficiently. Here are the advantages at a glance:
- Quick and easy: Participants can register and pay online in minutes, with no hassle.
- Real-time overview: You get instant insight into the number of bookings, so you can easily adjust time slots and avoid overcrowded groups or empty moments.
- Less administration: Your team does not have to manage paper registrations or payments on site – saving time and errors.
- Valuable data: Collect data from your participants to easily reach them afterwards, re-invite them or make targeted offers.
Better flow: Streamlined organisation of participants enhances their experience and avoids unnecessary waiting, which contributes to their satisfaction.
Would you like help organising your escape game or other cultural or sporting event? Weezevent is happy to support you with solutions for online ticket sales, access control and powerful marketing and CRM tools!
