GUIDE TO ESCAPE ROOM DURATION

Escape rooms come with different durations to cater to various audiences and goals, and some teams will complete each room faster than others. Our typical escape room duration is approximately 60 minutes, which provides an exhilarating challenge to solve puzzles and unravel mysteries within a set timeframe.

To ensure a seamless experience, participants are encouraged to arrive 10-15 minutes before their escape room game is scheduled to begin. This allows for a brief overview of the rules, ensuring everyone is ready to dive into the adventure. The game master will then explain the storyline of the escape game. After the escape room, plan for an additional 10 minutes to address any questions, capture memorable moments with photos, and retrieve belongings.

How Long Does an Escape Room Last?

Escape room games come in various sizes and themes—ranging from short, one-room challenges to fully-fledged multi-room adventures. The length of an escape room can vary depending on the puzzles' complexity, the space's size, and the number of people participating.

For planning purposes, you can expect an experience to last an hour. At Quest Room, we offer a variety of puzzles with different lengths—ranging from short escape rooms that last for 30 minutes for quick thrills to 100-minute adventures with challenging puzzles and multiple rooms.

By providing a variety of lengths and themes, you can find an escape room to fit your goals, schedule, and budget.

Why Do Standard Escape Games Last Only for an Hour?

It may seem counterintuitive to limit an experience to only an hour, but it’s a great length of time for a successful and enjoyable escape room experience. Why limit your escape room time to 60 minutes?

1. Shorter Times Increase the Thrills The more pressure there is to solve puzzles and escape, the more exciting it is. A time limit also helps keep players focused on their goals and prevents them from getting stuck in a difficult puzzle. The “approach motivation” that’s inherent in an escape room challenge may make you feel as though time is passing faster.
2. Time Limits Balance Fun and Challenge An hour-long adventure creates a sense of challenge without making it too difficult to complete. Experienced players can feel like they’re up for an enjoyable challenge, while beginners won’t be overwhelmed by the pressure of a long game.
3. It Fits Within a Busy Schedule An hour is a perfect length for players who may have a limit to their free time. Whether you are adding an escape room quest to your date night or fitting an experience into a working lunch, an hour gives you enough time to have a thrilling experience without sacrificing the rest of your day.

Are There Quests that Last More or Less than 60 Minutes?

At Quest Room, we create thrilling "quests" that range from 30 minutes to 100 minutes. Our shorter experiences are perfect for those who want a quick thrill or a fun activity for the whole family, while our longer multi-space rooms provide an immersive experience for more experienced players.

For example, our popular quest Polar Station is a 30-minute room. This shorter, more compact experience is perfect for a quick escape adventure that offers a fun challenge. On the other hand, our multi-room Thrill Theater experience Project Minotaur is a 100-minute, 1600 square-foot escape room that challenges players with a complex story and puzzles. By adding the right amount of fear and puzzles, you can create a thrilling memory that won’t take up too much of your day.

Virtual Escape Rooms

Online escape rooms (which became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic) often don’t have a time limit. You can continue the game until you win. However, you will usually be given an indication of each escape room’s duration so that you know how much time to set aside for the escape.

A virtual escape room experience could be designed to take:

• 40-50 minutes
• 60-90 minutes
• 90-120 minutes You can use these timeframes as a guideline to help you choose a virtual escape game that fits into your schedule.

How to Solve an Escape Room Faster

While puzzles are an integral part of escape rooms, we know that a player may need assistance to complete the challenge—especially if it’s their first escape room.

All of our rooms have multiple levels of difficulty and provide hints should you get stuck. At Quest Room, we strive to create an enjoyable escape room experience that allows players to work together as a team and come out successful in the end.

No matter what type of escape room adventure you choose, here are some tips to help you reach the glory of victory:

1. Communication Is Key Talk to your team and brainstorm solutions. Even if you have an experienced player in the group, everyone should be encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas.
2. Use Your Time Wisely Every second counts in an escape room! Prioritize tasks, delegate roles where necessary, and use a hint when needed. (We offer unlimited hints to keep you on track.)
3. Don't Waste Time Going Backward When you've reached a dead end in your escape room adventure, don't waste time trying to solve the same puzzle again. Move on and come back to a task later if time allows.
4. Try A New Perspective Get stuck? Try looking at the puzzle from a different angle—literally. A challenge can look completely different when viewed from a hidden angle. Keep notes and use your observations to help you find a new clue!

Ready to Escape?

Now that you know how long escape rooms last, it's time to start planning your escape room adventure. Whether a 30-minute challenge or a longer multi-room quest, escape rooms are the perfect way to have an interactive and thrilling experience with family and friends. So grab your group, get ready to solve puzzles, and let the adventure begin at Quest Room!

You can schedule your next quest on our escape room website, contact us by email [email protected], or call your nearest Quest Room location. Our team can answer any questions you have and help you find the perfect room for your group. We look forward to seeing you soon for a thrilling quest!