Your first escape room, without the overthinking.
A good game night needs a clear table, a few curious people, and permission to get things wrong. Here is how to make the rest easy.
Choose a game for your group
Start with the youngest or least experienced player. A game everyone can contribute to will be more satisfying than a difficult one solved by a single person. Check the suggested age and difficulty, and treat play times as guidance rather than a deadline.
Print only what the players need
Download the player booklet and host guide separately. Use the paper size that matches your printer, print at Fit to page, and check the first page before printing everything. You can use black and white: our clues do not depend on color perception.
Decide whether you want to play
If you want to solve along with everyone, keep the host guide closed and use the online companion. If you enjoy setting a scene, read the host guide and become the game master. Both approaches work.
Make the first five minutes easy
Read the opening story together. Explain that clues are solved in order, answers should be written down, and hints are there to help. Give everyone a pen and make room for the pages in the middle of the table.
Help a stuck team move forward
Ask what they have already tried. Offer the first hint before the second. If a puzzle stops being fun, reveal its solution and keep the evening moving. Finishing with a laugh is a better outcome than getting stuck on principle.