What To Look For In A Good Escape Game
We play games too you know!
That's right! In fact, recently we've played a few.
And some of them are better than others, which led us to thinking, why don't we share our perspective on what makes a good escape game?!
An experienced opinion
Of course there are no right and wrong answers here, but from years of building experiential designs, we can say there are a few key ingredients to look for.
1. Hints - Players love being able to access hints, and when they're not available, frustration sets in. Not only do games need to have hints, but as we've learned, they need to have really good ones! Ideally, players don't use them, but this is a great fallback option. Tiered hints are really appreciated so players don't get the answer all at once. This is one thing we love about Society of Curiosities' games... lots of slowly progressing hints!
2. Layers - Players love combining different layers of information to feel smart; ourselves included! This is where the puzzling comes in. If you step back and think of it, it's kind of mean that the puzzle designer wouldn't just give it to you straight, but that's kind of the point! Can you "connect the dots" so to speak. And a good puzzle design will connect the dots in just the right way, leaving you feeling accomplished. We really like Hinks Gazette by Bluefish Games for this reason.
3. Use of the design - A great escape game makes use of its environment. The design of each item is both beautiful and functional! A great design will incorporate puzzle elements into throughout. I can remember one escape room I did that stumped me, they had a design in the stonework (it was Mayan themed) along the top of the room. It was subtle and high up so you didn't think to look there, but it was revealing a message as well as contributing to the theme. For this reason, we like Curious Correspondence Club.
4. Use of the body - it's one thing to crack a code in 2-D, but it's quite another to get your hands involved: cutting, folding, taping, etc. We love escape rooms for this reason because they are whole-body experience. It makes me think of DaVinci who talked about "corporalita" or the process of learning when the whole body is engaged. We believe there's a lot of good that comes from working with your hands and moving your body! But don't take our word for it... play an episode of Escape Mail (especially Episode 3!) and find out for yourself.
WE ARE GENUINE
We do our absolute best to be 100% totally honest and truthful in our business. No fake reviews, no artificial scarcity, no phony countdown timers. What you see here is completely real. If we get something wrong, let us know and we will fix it.
REAL CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND REVIEWS
Every review posted to a product is a real customer who has purchased, tested and shared their experience with an Escape Mail product. If you want to know what a product is like in real life, take a look at what real people have to say about it.
WE ARE GENUINE
We do our absolute best to be 100% totally honest and truthful in our business. No fake reviews, no artificial scarcity, no phony countdown timers. What you see here is completely real. If we get something wrong, let us know and we will fix it.
REAL CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND REVIEWS
Every review posted to a product is a real customer who has purchased, tested and shared their experience with an Escape Mail product. If you want to know what a product is like in real life, take a look at what real people have to say about it.
WE ARE GENUINE
We do our absolute best to be 100% totally honest and truthful in our business. No fake reviews, no artificial scarcity, no phony countdown timers. What you see here is completely real. If we get something wrong, let us know and we will fix it.
REAL CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND REVIEWS
Every review posted to a product is a real customer who has purchased, tested and shared their experience with an Escape Mail product. If you want to know what a product is like in real life, take a look at what real people have to say about it.
HELPFUL CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Our support team is available for your questions 24/7 and will do everything they can to answer your queries or resolve your issue quickly. Feel free to get in touch! And if you call us during business hours, you will speak to a real person!
FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY FOR QUALIFYING ORDERS
Every order over the free shipping limit gets automatically upgraded to FREE worldwide shipping! How great is that? The free shipping limit is different for domestic and international customers – make sure to check the shipping information for all the details.
HELPFUL CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Our support team is available for your questions 24/7 and will do everything they can to answer your queries or resolve your issue quickly. Feel free to get in touch! And if you call us during business hours, you will speak to a real person!
FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY FOR QUALIFYING ORDERS
Every order over the free shipping limit gets automatically upgraded to FREE worldwide shipping! How great is that? The free shipping limit is different for domestic and international customers – make sure to check the shipping information for all the details.
HELPFUL CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Our support team is available for your questions 24/7 and will do everything they can to answer your queries or resolve your issue quickly. Feel free to get in touch! And if you call us during business hours, you will speak to a real person!
FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY FOR QUALIFYING ORDERS
Every order over the free shipping limit gets automatically upgraded to FREE worldwide shipping! How great is that? The free shipping limit is different for domestic and international customers – make sure to check the shipping information for all the details.
SIMPLE REFUND POLICY
If your product arrives damaged or it doesn’t show up at all, then we will happily either refund your purchase or send you the same replacement product free of charge – simple!
REAL-TIME ORDER TRACKING
You can track the status and location of your order in real time as it travels from our warehouse to your door with our handy order tracking tool.
SIMPLE REFUND POLICY
If your product arrives damaged or it doesn’t show up at all, then we will happily either refund your purchase or send you the same replacement product free of charge – simple!
REAL-TIME ORDER TRACKING
You can track the status and location of your order in real time as it travels from our warehouse to your door with our handy order tracking tool.
SIMPLE REFUND POLICY
If your product arrives damaged or it doesn’t show up at all, then we will happily either refund your purchase or send you the same replacement product free of charge – simple!
REAL-TIME ORDER TRACKING
You can track the status and location of your order in real time as it travels from our warehouse to your door with our handy order tracking tool.
FAST AND EFFICIENT SHIPPING OPTIONS
Thanks to our network warehouses and strategic logistics partners, we are able to offer fast and affordable delivery across the world. Most products are shipped out within 2 business days, and we offer free worldwide delivery on orders over the free shipping limit.
BEST VALUE GUARANTEED
As our customer, your satisfaction is our number 1 priority, and we will do everyone we can to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
FAST AND EFFICIENT SHIPPING OPTIONS
Thanks to our network warehouses and strategic logistics partners, we are able to offer fast and affordable delivery across the world. Most products are shipped out within 2 business days, and we offer free worldwide delivery on orders over the free shipping limit.
BEST VALUE GUARANTEED
As our customer, your satisfaction is our number 1 priority, and we will do everyone we can to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
FAST AND EFFICIENT SHIPPING OPTIONS
Thanks to our network warehouses and strategic logistics partners, we are able to offer fast and affordable delivery across the world. Most products are shipped out within 2 business days, and we offer free worldwide delivery on orders over the free shipping limit.
BEST VALUE GUARANTEED
As our customer, your satisfaction is our number 1 priority, and we will do everyone we can to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
See what people are saying!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
When I first opened this newspaper, I was a little overwhelmed with the information and confused about what to do with it that I almost looked up some hints. But when I got that "ah-ha" moment where I understood what I was supposed to do I realized just how brilliant this episode really is. This envelope was so well written and conceptually thought out, I felt like it was just speaking my language. Seriously, these just keep getting better and better. Whatever the electronic version of a standing ovation is- that's what I'm sending to you guys!
- Colin, Escape Mail Customer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Chapter 9 was by far the most challenging episode for me.... It's worth it, though, because the story is pretty awesome! What a cliffhanger! Please mail the next episode ASAP! I'm on the edge of my seat!
- Donna, Escape Mail Customer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We LOVED this experience! A perfect variety of puzzles for a fun afternoon - it's amazing how much content is put into a regular envelope :) These escapes are so well done. I'm blown away every time.
- Noemi, Escape Mail Customer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This was awesome! Such a great thing to do with the roommates while we are all stuck at home. Challenging yet very satisfying when we figured something out.
- Gregory, Escape Mail Customer
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