Escape room etiquette comes down to three things: share what you find, don't break what you touch, and treat the people in the room, including your game master, like teammates. Follow those and the rest of the unwritten rules fall into place. Here are ten we'd paint on the lobby wall if the landlord let us.
Quick answer
- Say every discovery out loud; a clue nobody hears is a clue nobody uses.
- Never force a lock, pull on a prop or climb anything. If it needs muscle, it isn't the solution.
- Ask for hints as a team, arrive early, and keep phones put away.
- Celebrate the near-miss. Losing with ten seconds left is a great story.
Before the game starts
1. Arrive early, not "on time"
Your 60 minutes start when the door closes, but the briefing and the bathroom run happen before that. Show up about fifteen minutes ahead and your whole slot goes to the game. Show up late and you're eating into your own hour. At Fox in a Box we're on the lower level of the Dearborn Galleria at 47 W Polk Street, steps from the Harrison Red Line, so there's no excuse to be hunting for parking at the last second.
2. Phones away, really away
Photos of the puzzles spoil the game for the next group, and a buzzing pocket pulls you out of the story. Put the phone away for the hour. You'll get a group photo at the end; that's the one worth keeping.
3. Listen to the briefing like it matters, because it does
The game master's intro tells you what's in play, what's off limits and how hints work. Half the questions people ask twenty minutes in were answered before the door closed.
Inside the room
4. Say it out loud
Found a key? Say "key." Found a number scratched on the back of a frame? Say the number. The single biggest reason teams stall is that one person solved a piece of the puzzle and never told anyone. Narrate everything, even things that seem obvious.
5. Don't hog the puzzle
If you've been staring at the same cipher for five minutes, hand it off. A fresh pair of eyes solves it faster than your pride does. Good escape room etiquette means rotating: the person who cracked the last lock steps back and lets someone else take the next one.
6. Never force a lock
Locks open when the combination is right. They do not open faster if you yank them, and they definitely don't open after you've bent the shackle. The same goes for drawers, panels and anything that looks nailed down. If it takes strength, it's not the answer. Game masters can see you, and a broken prop can end the puzzle for everyone who plays after you.
7. Ask for hints as a team
There's always one player who'd rather lose than ask, and one who wants a hint every ninety seconds. Agree on a rule before you start: for example, if the whole room is stuck for three minutes, you ask. Hints aren't cheating. Finishing with a few hints is far more fun than running out the clock with none.
8. Don't put things back wrong, and don't put things in your pocket
Once a key has opened its lock, leave it in the lock. Used clues go in one pile. Nothing goes home with you; a small prop that walks out the door can shut down a room for the next group.
When the clock runs out
9. Respect the game master
They watched you for an hour, nudged you when you needed it, and reset the room before and after. Say thanks. Ask how you did compared to other groups. Don't argue that the last puzzle was "unfair"; it wasn't, you just ran out of time, and that's part of the deal.
10. Celebrate the near-miss
Escaping with eight seconds left is a great story. Not escaping with one lock to go is also a great story. Either way, you spent an hour completely focused on one problem with people you like. The teams that have the most fun are the ones that laugh on the way out regardless of the result. Then they book the next room.
Why escape room etiquette makes you a better player, not just a nicer one
None of this is about being polite for its own sake. Every rule above is also a strategy. Saying things out loud gets information to the person who can use it. Rotating puzzles keeps everyone's brain fresh. Agreeing on hints in advance stops the mid-game argument that costs three minutes. Arriving early means your full hour is in the room. Teams that play well together escape more; it's that simple.
If you're new to this, our post on four top tips for first-timers covers the basics, and the team building benefits of escape rooms explain why companies bring whole departments through our doors. The FAQ page handles the practical questions about age, group size and what to wear.
Ready to put good manners to the test? Every booking at Fox in a Box is private, so it's only your team in the room. Pick your challenge: crack a vault in The Bank, stop a Cold War launch in The Bunker, break out of The Prison, or, if your group is brave, escape the lair in Zodiac, our most intense room.
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to ask for hints in an escape room?
No. Hints exist so you keep moving. Agree as a team on when you'll ask, then ask without guilt; finishing with help beats running out the clock.
Can I take photos inside the escape room?
Keep phones away during the game. Photos of puzzles spoil the experience for the next group, and you'll get a group photo after you finish.
What happens if I break something in an escape room?
Tell your game master right away. Most issues can be fixed, but forcing locks or props can take a puzzle out of play for later groups, so if it needs strength, it isn't the solution.
Bring the rules, bring your team, and bring the phone only for the photo at the end. Book your private room and show us how it's done.
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