The 10 Most Common Mistakes When Solving Puzzles in an Escape Room and How to Avoid Them
Escape rooms are an exciting and challenging experience that requires ingenuity, collaboration, and quick thinking. However, it’s common for players, especially when their experience is limited, to make certain mistakes that can hinder their progress. Don’t worry! Below, we present the most common mistakes and some tips to avoid them, so you can increase your chances of success in your next adventure at Gaya or Baba Yaga.
1 – Not Communicating with the Team
Teamwork is crucial. A lack of communication between group members can cause important clues to be missed or have someone working on a puzzle that has already been solved.
How to avoid it: Always maintain active communication with your team. Share what you’ve discovered and listen to others. Often, the solution appears when everyone combines their ideas.
2 – Ignoring Clues That Lead to the Puzzle
In escape rooms, there’s always a logic to follow. A common mistake is not paying enough attention to the surroundings and acting without a clear purpose. Without observing your environment carefully, you might miss key clues that lead you to your next step.
How to avoid it: Take time to study your surroundings. Most puzzles are linked to visual or physical clues in the room. Make sure to observe every detail before attempting to solve a puzzle, and let the clues guide you to the next action.
3 – Ignoring Hints Provided by the Game Master
Another common mistake is ignoring the hints offered by the Game Master. Many players try to solve the puzzles on their own without taking advantage of the help provided, which can lead to a huge loss of time. Sometimes, even if we may not like it at first, a well-timed hint can make the experience much smoother and avoid unnecessary frustration.
How to avoid it: The Game Master’s hints are there to guide you when you’re stuck, so don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed. In our escape rooms, hints are part of the experience, not a simple solution, but a push to keep the game flowing.
4 – Getting Obsessed with a Single Puzzle
It’s common for players to focus too much on a single puzzle, especially if it seems difficult or intriguing, which can cost them a lot of time.
How to avoid it: Don’t hesitate to ask for your team’s help if a puzzle becomes too frustrating. Sometimes, changing focus and letting another player have a go can unlock a fresh perspective. Don’t get stuck—keep moving and come back to it later if necessary.
5 – Overcomplicating Solutions
In many cases, players overanalyze the clues and try to find more complicated solutions than necessary.
How to avoid it: Keep things within the logic provided by the environment. The puzzles are designed to be solved based on the available clues, without overthinking solutions that don’t match what the game suggests. If you feel you’re straying too far, review the clues and return to the logic of the scenario.
6 – Not Revisiting Already Checked Areas
Sometimes, players check an area superficially and miss something crucial, thinking they’ve already seen everything.
How to avoid it: If someone has checked an area and found nothing, don’t hesitate to take another look. Another person might spot something that was overlooked. A second opinion never hurts!
7 – Not Letting Another Player Attempt to Solve a Puzzle
Sometimes, a player becomes obsessed with solving a puzzle, especially if it’s one that requires skill, which can lead to frustration.
How to avoid it: If someone is stuck, it’s a good idea for another team member to take over. Skills vary between players, and what one person can’t do, another might solve easily. Don’t get frustrated—cooperate!
8 – Disorganized Teamwork
A disorganized team can easily lose important objects or clues, which delays progress.
How to avoid it: Keep the objects found in one place and make sure everyone knows where things are. Having an organization system is crucial to avoid wasting time looking for something you’ve already found.
9 – Not Managing Time Well
It’s easy to lose track of time when immersed in the puzzles, but forgetting about the time can be a fatal mistake. Many escape rooms, including ours, do not constantly show the remaining time, which can make players lose their time reference.
How to avoid it: Even if you don’t have a visible clock, it’s essential to remember that time is limited. Plan your moves well, coordinate with your team, and don’t get too distracted. Every second counts, and managing time efficiently can make the difference between success and failure.
10 – Forgetting the Storyline and Plot of the Game
Escape room games are often designed around a specific narrative. Ignoring the story can lead to missing important clues linked to the game’s lore.
How to avoid it: Pay attention to the storyline and narrative. Often, the puzzles and setting are connected to the escape room’s story. Understanding the context can give you valuable clues on how to solve the puzzles.
Avoiding these common mistakes can make the difference between escaping successfully or getting stuck in the room. In our games, such as the hall escape Gaya and the escape room Baba Yaga, every second counts. We’re sure that by following these tips, you’ll be more than prepared to fully enjoy our experiences in Sabadell (Barcelona), where we offer a unique combination of mystery, adventure, and terror. We’re looking forward to your next great adventure in our escape room games!