Team building in Chicago
Why escape rooms are good for teams
An escape room gives a team 60 minutes, one locked room and a goal nobody can reach alone: people have to talk, split the work and put the clues together. That makes it a fast, low-stakes way to practise communication, problem solving and leadership, and a fun one.
At Fox in a Box Chicago (inside Dearborn Station, 47 W Polk St, Suite L5, Chicago, IL 60605) every room is private to your team: 2 to 7 players per room, and an option for any team size.
- Private rooms, your team only
- 2–7 per room, any team size
- 60-minute game, 80–90 minutes in all
- Hosting Chicago teams since 2015
The benefitsWhat an hour in an escape room does for a team
- CommunicationClues are spread around the room, so the team only wins if people say what they see. Quiet colleagues get heard, and everyone hears how the others think.
- Problem solvingPuzzles take logic, pattern spotting and creative leaps. Teams learn to test ideas fast, drop dead ends and build on each other’s hunches.
- LeadershipSomeone has to keep track of the clock and the open puzzles. Leaders emerge naturally, and often not the people you’d expect.
- OnboardingPut new hires and interns in mixed teams on day one. A shared mission breaks the ice faster than any round of introductions.
- MoraleSixty minutes of focus, a story and a win (or a near miss) to laugh about. It’s a reward that gets the whole team talking on Monday.
How a session worksFrom briefing to debrief
Your team splits into private rooms that start at the same time. A game master briefs each team, watches the game and gives hints when you’re stuck, so nobody leaves frustrated.
Plan 80 to 90 minutes in all. Add food and drinks at our partner Half Sour, a relaxed bar & American kitchen, to debrief together.
- Check inA few minutes to arrive, settle in and split into teams.
- Briefing5 minutes on your mission and the rules.
- The gameUp to 60 minutes against the clock, with hints from your game master.
- Team photoAnd a chat about how it went.
- DebriefOver food and drinks at Half Sour, if you add the package.
Make it stickFour questions for the debrief
The game is fun on its own. Ten minutes of talking about it afterwards turns it into team building.
- Who found the breakthrough?And how did the rest of the team hear about it? Shared information is what solves a room.
- When did we get stuck?What got us moving again: a hint, a fresh pair of eyes, or someone saying “let’s try something else”?
- Who took the lead?Was it planned or did it just happen? Did the roles look like the ones we have at work?
- What would we do differently?One habit from the room the team can try at work this week.
Team sizesSmall teams to whole departments
Every room is private to one team. Bigger groups split into teams of 3 to 5, play side by side and compare times afterwards.
Zodiac is 18+ for every player; the other rooms suit any team.
- 2–7One roomThe ideal team is 3 to 5 players.
- All fourRooms at onceTeams race each other with the same start time.
- Any sizeStaggered starts & off-site gamesRooms run back to back, or we build custom team games for you.
- Up to 15The Final ExamOne head-to-head game at our location.
From teams who playedWhat teams tell us
We hosted 20 employees at Fox in the Box and had a great time! It was well organized and was a perfect way to get employees together for a fun event…
I went to Fox in a Box with a few coworkers, and we had such a spectacular time! Our Game Master Anna was funny, helpful, and just a joy to work with. We played the Bank Heist room where we were breaking in instead of escaping out, and it was a fun spin on a typical escape room. I can’t wait to try their other rooms and would highly recommend this business!
PEAK6 had another blast at Fox In A Box. I think this is the team’s new favorite intern activity!
This is the absolute definition of “team building”…
See the 50+ Chicago companies and schools that played with us.
QuestionsEscape rooms for teams: FAQ
Ready to plan? Everything about packages and booking is on team building. Read more:
Are escape rooms good for team building?
Yes. An escape room gives a team one shared goal, a 60-minute clock and puzzles nobody can solve alone, so people have to talk, split the work and combine what they find. It’s a quick, low-stakes way to practise communication, problem solving and leadership, and it’s fun.
What size team works best?
3 to 5 players per room is the sweet spot; each room takes 2 to 7 (The Bank 2–6, The Bunker 2–7, The Prison 2–6, Zodiac 2–5). Bigger teams split across rooms: all four rooms run at once, The Final Exam can run alongside them, and staggered start times and custom team games (off site or outdoors) take a group of any size.
Will we play with strangers?
Never. Every booking is private to your group.
How long does it take?
The game is 60 minutes. With check-in, a 5-minute briefing and a team photo, plan on 80 to 90 minutes in total. Open daily from 10 am to 11 pm.
Can you come to our office?
No. All our games run at our location inside Dearborn Station, 47 W Polk St, Suite L5, Chicago, IL 60605. That includes The Final Exam, a head-to-head game for up to 15 players that runs on site only.
Can we add food and drinks?
Yes. We bundle rooms with food and drinks at our partner Half Sour, a relaxed bar & American kitchen, so your team can debrief over a meal. See the packages on team building.
How do we book a team event?
Send the or call or text (312) 291-1127. We reply within one business day with rooms, start times and options. Packages and the brochure are on team building.
Please wait
