Around Town: Escape Rooms

An Escape Room is basically an hour-long real-life adventure game in which you and a team of your choice will assemble in a themed room and then have one hour to complete the mission and “escape” the room. In order to be successful, you’ll have to find hidden clues and solve challenging puzzles throughout the room.

A successful escape will require you to find hidden clues and solve challenging puzzles throughout the room. You may find a string of numbers you need for a combination lock or a good old-fashioned key. Take a good look underneath the rug or search through the books on the shelves. Everything in the room could be a potential clue to get out of an escape room or a riddle waiting to be solved.

These clues can be quite challenging, especially if you haven’t played before. “It’s usually rigged in order for you to never make it out,” says Eastside junior Karen Medina.

While the game might feel rigged during a particularly challenging puzzle, the reality is that players have access to a Game Guide, who will be monitoring your game through cameras and microphones in the room. If you need help, you can ask your Game Guide to give you a clue. You can ask for up to three clues during your time in the room.

“I was able to make it out of the first room,” says Eastside junior Michael Lemus. “But I got disqualified in the second room because I asked for too many clues. You can only ask for three. Keep that in mind!”

Eastside students wishing to experience an escape room for themselves have two options out here in Lancaster. The Twisted Exit is located on Valley Central Way, and Greatest Escape is located on 10th Street West. These local options feature such themes as a pirate room, a horror room, a war room, and a fantasy room. At only $25 per person, Escape Rooms make for a fun and reasonably-priced outing for your friends and family.