Beat Any Escape Room- 10 proven tricks and tips

Summary

In this video, Mark Rober interviews Scott Nicholson, a game designer and professor, to uncover 10 proven tips to excel at escape rooms. Nicholson, known for designing the Red Bull Escape Room World Championships, shares strategies like thinking simply, effective searching, organizing clues, focusing on immediate obstacles, assigning team roles, and understanding common locks and codes. He also advises on deciphering written clues, recognizing patterns, utilizing guides, and the benefits of fewer team members for better communication and higher success rates.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Think Simple**: Keep solutions straightforward and avoid overcomplicating puzzles.
• 🔍 **Effective Searching**: Begin by splitting up to search for clues, focusing on typical hiding spots.
• 📚 **Organize Clues**: Group similar items together to discern patterns and avoid holding onto unrelated items.
• 🚀 **Focus on Progress**: Work backwards from obstacles to identify needed inputs and avoid red herrings.
• 🗣️ **Clear Communication**: Assign roles, particularly a project manager, to facilitate clear communication and task allocation.
• 🔐 **Master Common Locks**: Familiarize with standard locks to quickly address them when encountered.
• 🔠 **Decode Messages**: Recognize and decode common ciphers like Morse code, pigpen, and braille to reveal hidden clues.
• 👀 **Spot Hidden Text Clues**: Look for patterns in written text, such as bold letters, missing letters, or capitalized words.
• 🔄 **Seek Patterns**: Identify numerical or color patterns in the room to solve puzzles.
• 🤝 **Utilize Your Guide**: Pay attention to initial instructions and don't hesitate to ask for guidance or hints.

Q & A

What is the main objective of an escape room?

The main objective of an escape room is to solve a series of puzzles and locks within one hour to escape the room.

How long did Mark Rober and his friends take to complete the escape room after using the tips?

Mark Rober and his friends completed the escape room in 38 minutes with no clues, breaking the longstanding record.

What is the role of a project manager in an escape room team according to Dr. Nicholson?

The project manager in an escape room team is responsible for coordinating the team's efforts, assigning tasks, and keeping track of what needs to be done without getting overly involved in individual puzzles.

Why is it important to think simple and general when solving puzzles in an escape room?

It's important to think simple and general because a well-designed escape room should be solvable by an average person within one hour without requiring any extra knowledge outside of what is provided in the room.

What is the significance of organizing your clues and items in an escape room?

Organizing clues and items helps to prevent duplication of efforts, ensures that all team members are aware of what has been found, and makes it easier to identify what is missing or needed to progress.

How can focusing on immediate inputs help in solving an escape room?

Focusing on immediate inputs helps in avoiding getting distracted by irrelevant clues or red herrings and ensures that the team is working towards solving the current obstacle efficiently.

What is the purpose of having a discard pile for used clues and items in an escape room?

Having a discard pile prevents the team from wasting time on clues or items that have already been used, ensuring that everyone is aware of what has been tried and can focus on new leads.

Why is it beneficial to be familiar with common lock types and their inputs in an escape room?

Being familiar with common lock types helps the team to quickly identify what is needed to open a lock, allowing them to focus their search and puzzle-solving efforts more effectively.

What are some common codes that Dr. Nicholson suggests players should be aware of in escape rooms?

Some common codes to be aware of include Morse code, pigpen cipher, braille keys, and numerical codes where numbers correspond to letters in the alphabet.

How can looking for patterns in written clues help in an escape room?

Looking for patterns in written clues can reveal hidden messages or codes. Examples include bold letters, missing letters in words, capitalized words, or specific words at the start of lines.

What is the advice given by Dr. Nicholson regarding the number of people in an escape room?

Dr. Nicholson suggests that fewer people are almost always better in an escape room, as it leads to higher success rates due to improved communication and ensures that there are enough fun tasks for everyone.