It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the moment when you’re playing an escape room. Friends often disagree, argue, or even yell at each other to try to get their point across. But what good is an escape room if it’s dividing a friendship? We don’t build our games to cause drama, we want your group to work together towards a common goal! Here are a few tips to help your team successfully beat an escape room without destroying your friendship.
The first thing people forget when they’re playing an escape room is their manners. As soon as they have to solve puzzles, people talk over each other, they become short-tempered, and even boss each other around. Not only does this create an unpleasant atmosphere while you’re playing your game, but it also hinders your ability to work as a team. Calm, clear communication where everyone takes turns listening and then sharing their point of view will not only keep the peace, but also help your group communicate the important information you need to solve the game.
An escape room is not a competition. Too many groups compete to see who can solve puzzles the fastest, but the point is that you’re supposed to solve them together. Every member of the team has value; even if the only thing they do is help to remember a sequence, they contributed to helping you through more efficiently. Don’t overlook the contributions of your friends, no matter how small they seem; each little bit of help gets you to the finish line that much faster. When you remember just how much your friends can contribute to your group’s success, you’re much more likely to have a smooth and friendly game.
The point of a game is to try and win, but is winning really worth breaking up a friendship over? Maybe you’ll solve that escape room, or maybe you won’t, either way it’s best to avoid bad blood. Arguments over how to solve puzzles or bossing people around just leads to animosity. Instead of focusing on winning, just try your best! If your group is making their best effort and having a good time along the way, then you’re bound to walk away with some great memories and all your friendships in tact.