Escape rooms have become a go-to for people looking for fun challenging experiences. These live-action games put you and your friends, family or co-workers inside a themed room where you’ll use problem-solving skills and teamwork to “escape” before time runs out. It’s like stepping into the middle of an adventure or mystery series on Netflix. But instead of just passively watching, you’re the main character.
But how long should you expect to be “locked” in one of these escape rooms? In this article, we’ll explore how long the typical escape room adventure lasts and what can affect the overall time it takes to complete one. (Psst – You are not actually locked in!)
The Importance of Understanding How Long Escape Rooms Take on Average
Knowing how long an escape room takes can help you plan your day. The most important thing to bring is a good attitude and a sense of fun.
Understanding the time frame can help you manage your expectations. You don’t want to feel rushed. Escape rooms should be a way to decompress not a source of stress. The plan is for you to be so immersed that you lose track of time completely!
Having a solid idea of how long these games last helps you gear up mentally. Escape rooms are full of problem-solving tasks that can challenge you, give you a sense of accomplishment, and hopefully make you giggle. By understanding how long you’ll be in the room, you can focus on enjoying the experience instead of worrying about the clock.
Factors That Influence How Long an Escape Room Will Take
Your escape room experience will go faster or slower based on the following factors…
Difficulty Level
One of the biggest factors is how difficult the room is. All of our rooms are designed to be challenging but some are more beginner-friendly. If the room is more difficult, it will usually take longer to complete. Monkey Slime and The Gold Rush Cabin are novice level rooms and we recommend them for small groups or for families with children. But we often have 4 adults come out of Monkey Slime with lots of laughter and just seconds to spare.
Often groups bring their children for these 2 rooms but when they return for the harder rooms, they find a sitter for the kids and other adult friends. The best strategy is to start with a novice level room your first time and as you become an experienced “Escaper”, advance to the more difficult rooms. If you have a small group, even the novice level rooms can be more challenging than you might expect.
Room Size
Another factor is how big the room is. Larger rooms take longer to explore. We promise some surprises though.
Team Dynamics
Teamwork plays a huge role in how long an escape room takes. Think in a Box is the epitome of team building. If your team operates like a well-oiled machine you will blaze through challenges much faster than a group of newbies. You will be amazed at how everyone will contribute to your success.
Group Size
Group size can affect how fast or slow you “escape.” A larger group can either help you solve puzzles faster or feel like there are too many cooks in the kitchen. It all comes back to how well your team works together. Sometimes, more people means more confusion, while smaller groups might work more efficiently, even if they have fewer hands on deck. All of our rooms have a range of recommended numbers of players. If you have less experienced players, try for the higher number but if you are highly experienced, the minimum number of players might be enough.
The Average Escape Room Takes 60 Minutes
Our escape rooms are designed to be completed in 60 minutes or less. This time frame strikes the perfect balance between keeping the game engaging and putting pressure on players to keep things moving. The ticking clock adds the perfect amount of tension.
What to Consider When Planning Your Escape Room Experience
If you’re planning your first (or next) escape room experience, there are a few things to keep in mind…
Pre-game Prep
A few minutes early is always helpful but please be sure your entire group is there by your scheduled time. You’ll need to check in, sign waivers if it is your first time with us and get an introduction from your Game Master. This is also the perfect time ask questions, and we promise to help you get in the right mindset for your escape room experience.
Your Game Master will give you a rundown of the rules and let you know why you are going in and why you want to get out. Telling the stories and interacting with customers is one of our favorite parts of the experience.
More serious competitive groups will discuss their game plan beforehand. Serious players will have an engaging challenge, but first-time groups will also have an entertaining adventure and be prepared to step up to a more challenging room next time.
Post-game
After you escape, your Game Master will be happy to explain anything that didn’t make sense and answer any questions. It is fun to talk through the experience. I once asked a returning customer from a couple months previous how long they talked about their adventure afterwards. I was expecting her to say an hour but she quickly responded, “We’re still talking about it! That’s why we’re back!”
You can get dressed with items from your room to get into character and we will take your photo with your camera. It’s a fun way to capture the moment and relive your escape room experience. We will suggest what room you might want to try next. Many customers will ask what rooms they have already done. We only track the name of the person booking but customers send their photos, and we can immediately tell which room they were in. Being part of family memories is one of our favorite parts of the experience.
Additional Factors to Consider
Teamwork is everything in an escape room. If everyone’s on the same page, you’ll likely be escaping your room with time to spare. But if there’s too much chaos or people trying to take charge without listening, it’ll slow down progress. That’s why is so important to factor in team dynamics when planning your escape room experience. Every player brings different knowledge, experience and skills to the game.
Our rooms are not linear. Having the puzzle require a single puzzle at a time and in a certain order allows a dominate person to take charge which may or may not be fun or successful. My family has too many Chiefs and not enough Indians, so we find linear rooms exasperating! We design our themes so that your group will start working on the same puzzle together. Then, there will be multiple puzzles to be solved in any order. The final puzzle will take more than one person and usually has the attention of the entire group.
Some puzzles will be riddles, some will be mathematical and other will be physical. You don’t have to be strong, but you will have to manipulate. Everything you need to solve will be in the room and we promise the math is easy enough for a 5th grader. We also promise you will have to THINK!
How Long Do Think in a Box Escape Rooms Take?
At Think in a Box, after your introduction you will have 60 minutes to solve. This is plenty of time for most groups. Some just need a little more help. After you check in, your Game Master will introduce you to the concept, give you general rules and usually, tell you a story. This is where the game and the fun begins!
The clock starts when you enter your room. You’ll have one hour to solve the puzzles and escape. Whether you finish early or need every second of the 60 minutes, the fun doesn’t stop when the game ends. You’ll have plenty of time to chat about the experience afterward.
FAQs
Here are some common questions people have about how long escape rooms take.
How long does it take to complete an escape room?
Our escape rooms all allow for 60 minutes, and a typical group gets out with less than 3 minutes to spare. Race against the time of other groups the same size. Set a record and we will post you on the big screen.
Can you finish an escape room in less than 60 minutes?
Yes! Some groups finish with time to spare, especially if they’re experienced or working well as a team. It is rare for a group to solve with in less than 45 minutes. We want you to be challenged!
What happens if we run out of time before solving the room?
We don’t know. No one has ever lived to tell us… Not really, you can step out with your body and pride intact. Most groups escape some just need a little more help. It is all part of the fun.
Are there escape rooms that give you more than 60 minutes?
Some more difficult or larger escape rooms offer 90-minute experiences to give players extra time to solve the puzzles. We do not have any rooms like this at Think in a Box. We find that an hour is the perfect amount of time for your team to become immersed and engaged but not overloaded.
How much time should we plan for the whole escape room experience?
Plan for about 90 minutes in total, including check-in, the pre-game briefing, and the time you’ll spend taking photos and talking about the game afterward.
Final Thoughts
The time it takes to complete an escape room depends on several factors: the difficulty of the puzzles, the size of the room, team dynamics, and how well everyone works together. The average escape room is designed to last 60 minutes.
But whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, the key to having a great time is to communicate, stay focused, and most importantly, enjoy the process. Often groups with multiple generations and different backgrounds are more successful.
We all bring different ideas, thought processes, and skills with us. This diversity contributes to the success of the group interaction and makes the entire experience a positive memory.
Think in a Box in San Angelo, TX. offers a great selection of rooms for all skill levels, and our staff is always ready to help. Please call or text any time with questions.
Ready to take on the challenge? Book your escape room adventure with us today and see how fast you can escape!
Check out our page for FAQs or
Call us** at 325.650.1755 or send a text.**
[email protected]
Visit us at 123 E Concho Ave
San Angelo, TX 76903
