With many different companies popping up all over the United States, breakout rooms are becoming a huge trend. These rooms are quickly becoming one of the go-to activities while families are on vacation, couples need a date night, or companies need a team-building exercise. Involving locked doors, mind games, and puzzles, the goal is to escape the room before time runs out!

1. Pay attention to the scenario

Before the time begins, you are usually given a certain situation with why you are locked in the room. It is important to listen carefully and understand the objective. Different rooms have different ways of saying you have won: "you're a winner" banners, the door lights up green, music starts playing. You want to assure that you know what you are looking for at the end.

2. Don't discredit anything

There are many different items in these rooms. Yes, some may just be decorations, designed to distract you, but you don't know that for sure. Don't count something out until you are sure you can't use it.

3. Don't stay focused on the same thing for too long

Some rooms are linear (meaning every clue leads directly to the next), but some are not. I like to ask beforehand if the room is linear because that changes my thought process. With a non-linear room, you don't know exactly what is going to be next, but there are definitely a lot of possibilities. If you stay stuck on one item, you might be stuck for a long time so branching out and looking at other possible clues might be a good idea.

4. Don't be timid

Everyone at the escape room wants you to figure out how to breakout. There is always a way to get out and be searching around the room like you're a burglar isn't going to help. You've got to look through EVERYTHING. Again, you don't know what is actually going to help you, and if you look timidly, you may not find what you need.

5. How many people do you actually want to be in there?

When booking online, most rooms will tell you the maximum amount of people that are allowed in that room. You do not have to have that many people. Most rooms can work with at least 2 people, and if you have too many people it can feel crowded or cramped.

6. It is okay to ask for help

Your game master is there to answer questions. Don't be too stubborn and not ask for hints. Yes, you might feel like you are "stupid" per say, but you could just be missing something and a quick nudge to the right spot might help you. The normal amount of clues is about 3-5, but hey, as long as you get out right?

7. Listen to your teammates

Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming with so many people working on the same thing, but just take a breath. Everyone has a different perspective, so everyone has something to contribute. One of the most common misconceptions is that little kids aren't helpful in contributing to solve the puzzles. This is actually completely wrong because little kids are small and can see things that grown-ups can't. They also think with a less analytic brain and therefore they just blurt things out that adults could have overlooked because of their thought process.

8. Stay organized

There are a lot of puzzles to get through and there will be lots of keys and locks used. It would be a good idea to keep a specific pile that would have all of the items you have already used. This will give you a better sense of what you have done. It can also be a good reminder of how smart you are and how much you have accomplished in your room! It might also be a good idea to write down any codes and thoughts that you have while in the room; this will help you remember things.

9. Don't use excessive force

There are some things that will not open until you unlock something and a magnet switches, or until a certain spot in the room is reached. You have a better chance at waiting, or asking your game master before you hulk-smash anything. Remember that if you break it, you buy it, and you don't want to ruin the room for future players.

10. Different places have different rules

If the company you are doing rooms at forgets to tell you, always ask questions. Certain companies have different rules than others and it is always good to know what you can and can't do before you go in the room. Some questions you should get the answers to are:

Is there anything inside the outlets?

Is anything above 6 feet/ in the ceiling?

Is there anything we shouldn't mess with (pianos, lamps, etc.)?

Can you see and hear us at all times?

Breakout rooms are designed to be an enjoyable time while giving a quick mental workout. Have fun!