Escape rooms have become a popular activity in Germany. You may see them called Live Escape Games, Room Escape Games, Exit the Room, Escape the Room, Exit Games or Real Escape Games. Whatever the name, the idea is the same: puzzles, fun and adventure!

Whether you play in Essen, Bochum, Dortmund or Gelsenkirchen, the classic game starts with a group of friends, colleagues or family members entering a room they must work their way out of. To complete the challenge, you need to solve a series of puzzles and follow clues hidden around the room within 60 minutes.

• Escape Room Tip 1: Divide and Conquer
  It sounds obvious, but anyone who has tried an escape room will recognise this scene: a mysterious sound plays, someone finds a scrap of paper or a drawer opens, and the whole team rushes over to inspect the clue. Too many cooks really can spoil the broth: you end up spending more time talking over one another than solving anything. Split into smaller teams instead. While one pair follows the latest clue, another can keep searching. You have just doubled your productivity!
• Escape Room Tip 2: Stay Organised
  What do Live Escape Games and a workshop have in common? It is not just the locks: in both, you can quickly get lost if you do not keep things organised. The picture, number or container you put aside five minutes ago might be exactly what you need now. Keep solved puzzles together in one place and lay out unused clues and objects where everyone can see them. That gives you a clear overview and helps you focus on the pieces still needed to solve the challenge.
• Escape Room Tip 3: Think Beyond What You See
  There is a big difference between thinking you understand a sentence and interpreting it correctly. A phrase such as “At night, the truth cannot be seen in the dark” might leave you scratching your head. Of course it is dark at night. Surely that cannot be a clue—or can it? Ask yourself whether the word “night” is really essential. Remove it and you are left with “the truth cannot be seen in the dark”. Instead of putting the note down again, perhaps you should start looking for a light switch.
• Escape Room Tip 4: Do Not Get Sidetracked
  Not everything that looks like a clue is one. Team dynamics and the ticking clock can already make the room feel confusing; story details and outside instructions may add to the distraction. All that glitters is not gold. Empty boxes, numbers and codes may mean something, but they may also lead nowhere. Keep the bigger picture in mind, take one step at a time and avoid getting drawn into every possible distraction.
• Escape Room Tip 5: Know What Helps
  Every Live Escape Game is a race against the clock. Time is never exactly on your side, but it does not have to be your enemy either. Staring at the clock will not help you solve a puzzle faster. Focus instead on the hints your game master sends through the available channels. You still need to think carefully, as a hint may not be immediately obvious. Above all, avoid everyone talking at once: that is when useful details get lost. And honestly, your team hardly needs any hints anyway, does it?
• Escape Room Tip 6: Safety
  You remain in control throughout the game. No third party will touch you or jump out to frighten you. You can leave the game at any time through the marked emergency exit.