Ever NowCo - Escape Room Rules: How To Create An Amazing Game

Copyright 2016 by EverNowCo

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Table of Contents

I ntroduction

Frequently Asked Questions

History of Real-life Escape Games

5 Things Your Escape Room Must Include

Following the Path - Game Flow

Keeping People Interested Games and Puzzles

10 Ways to Grab the Attention of Escape Enthusiasts

4 Key Escape Room Rules

Want Some Help?

H ave you been sucked into the newest exciting group craze? Loving the idea of locking people in a small space and charging them money for the experience? Want to build something fun and incredibly unique?

This guide will tell you how to create an escape room and how to make it fun for any audience! It can be a physical escape room game for paying guests, or it could be something you create just for fun.

Caution: The guide may make you escape game crazy!

Escape games, also known as exit rooms, real life escape adventures, and many other names, are spreading across the world with speed. They are the new teambuilding activity that is perfect for everyone, corporate to friend groups alike.

Companies are flocking to escape room companies to give their employees a fun time while still promoting teambuilding. Co-workers learn more about each other when they are forced to work together to solve puzzles.

Friends spend late evenings trapped with each other, finding out if they work well together or should simply stick to board games and beer. Youll really learn who your friends are when youre stuck in a small room with them and the clock is ticking.

This industry is spreading like wildfire, with thousands of companies opening up across the globe in the past few years. Toronto, Canada is becoming a booming area for escape rooms, with over 70 different companies in operation as of 2015.

And yet, many people still do not know of escape games, and even less know how to create them.

After creating, designing and implementing many successful escape games, Were ready to share some valuable knowledge.

If you are eager to learn, keep reading.

If you want the magical secrets of escape rooms kept just that a secret well then youre in the wrong place.

• What is an escape room?

A traditional escape room has a group of people put inside an enclosed space, where they must find and solve puzzles in order to escape, under a set time limit. They are typically themed and can involve scavenging, puzzle-solving, logic-testing, role-playing, and more. They are live-action team games that can test the limits of teamwork and communication.

• How long do you have?

It varies by company. A standard escape room is between 45 minutes to 1 hour. Some escape rooms are shorter, and some are longer.

• What if I get scared/want to leave?

Again, this depends on the company. Some companies do not lock their guests in the game. Some companies ensure that guests cannot leave the space until their time is up. Be sure to check with fire safety standards in your area before making such a decision.

• What if I cant get out?

When the time runs out, players are escorted out of the space. Some companies choose to explain the remainder of the game to the players. Some companies do not. Others give the option to the players, asking them if they want to know how the remainder of the game is played or if they want to return to play again.

• What if I dont like my group members?

An unusual situation that. Some companies book the rooms by spots, allowing people to book as many spots as they wish but not necessarily the whole game. This can mean that strangers may be playing together. Other companies book the games, and it is up to the group to bring a certain number of players. If you dont like your friends, well thats not something game design can help with.

• How many people can I play with?

Depends on the company. Group size varies on the game, but is often between 4-8 people. Each game will have a preferred amount of players but you will need to consider group size when you are designing.

• What do I get if I win?

The pride of winning! Some companies provide prizes for escaping the game within the time limit but typically there is no prize for escapers.

• Can I bring my phone inside?

Another one that depends on the company! Most games will not allow cell phones, to prevent guests from taking pictures of the interior and spreading the word. Secrets are important!

• Who created this escape game?

Well you did! At least thats what your answer will be!

History of Real-life Escape Games

T he origin of escape room games as real-life action adventures is a little shaky. Some argue that the industry began in Silicon Valley where bored technologically savvy millionaires decided to blow off some steam with new creative experiences. Others believe the adventures started in Japan where over-worked businessmen and exhausted students needed an outlet for stress. In Asia, the rooms started as office spaces that players needed to escape from. In the process they got to destroy the room, tossing over desks and pulling out all the files and folders.

These real-life escape games spread across East Asia quickly, before slowly spreading to North America and Europe. They can now be found in nearly every major city on those continents, and are quickly opening across the rest of the globe.

Escape games take inspiration from a variety of different leisure activities and entertainment industries. LARP-ing, haunted houses, board and strategy games, online point-and-click games, geo-caching, themed attractions, and more. Elements of all of these entertaining activities can be found in escape games.

Keep these things in mind while you design a game! They may provide some useful points to start off with.

G ive a reason for players to be inside this space. Give them a reason to escape, or at least a reason to achieve a task.

A story will help immerse the players in the adventure, making them more dedicated to completing the experience on time.

E xplain to your players what they are about to do. Provide details on the story and make sure they understand the rules.

Get them excited! Make sure they are prepared and pumped for their experience.