Getting started
Escape rooms for first-timers: how it works, what it costs and how to choose a room
You are locked in a room, you have 60 minutes and a game master who follows you on camera. Everything you need to know before booking: group size, age, price, difficulty and what happens if you get stuck.
- Written by
- Escape House
- Published
What happens when you arrive?
You arrive 10 minutes before your slot, get a short briefing from the game master and enter the room. The clock starts when the door closes. The game master follows you on camera and microphone and gives hints if you get stuck, so nobody stands still for 20 minutes. After 60 minutes the game ends, whether you made it out or not.
How many should you be?
Most rooms are built for 2–6 people, some for up to 8. The number is shown on each room. Three to five is ideal: enough hands to search the room, few enough for everyone to take part. Larger groups book several rooms and race for the best time. Pick the same start time in the rooms when the calendar has that time free.
Age
The age is set per room and shown on each room’s page. Rooms with scary elements have a higher age, often 13 or 15, and Hotel Shakespeare is 18+. Wondering what applies to younger children and accompanying adults in a particular room? Ask the venue before you book.
What does it cost?
Prices are per person and typically SEK 250–400 in Sweden. At Escape House it is SEK 325 for adults, SEK 250 for students (with a valid student card) and seniors (65+) and SEK 185 for children under 15, per person and game including VAT. The price is the same every day in all six cities. You pay on site by card or Swish; we do not accept cash. Companies that cannot pay by card can be invoiced.
How to choose a room
- First time? Pick a room with a lower difficulty. The difficulty is shown on every room. Difficulty and scariness are two different things.
- Want horror? Pick a room marked with scary elements. Wondering what that means in a particular room, for example whether there are actors? Ask the venue.
- Competition? Some cities have twin rooms: two identical rooms where two teams can start at the same time when both rooms are free at the same time.
- Bringing children? Choose rooms that suit children: no scary rooms and no rooms with adult themes. Just as tricky.
Common misconceptions
- You are never really locked in. The door can always be opened from the inside.
- You do not need to be good at puzzles. The rooms are about searching, combining and talking to each other.
- Questions about accessibility or physical moments? What we have checked is shown on the room’s page. Otherwise the venue is happy to answer before you book.