How to Make Your Own Escape Room

How to Plan Your Own Escape Room Adventure

I’ve done some great escape rooms lately, at professional Escape Rooms AND at home! With a little imagination and prep time, you can host a fantastic Escape Room all on your own. I sent my friend Mike on an elaborate scavenger hunt in Dallas using some of these same products, and they definitely hold up. (I’ll post about that later.) You can absolutely throw your own Escape Room event, and your friends will thank you for the epic experience!

You can click on the images or links below to be directed to that product page on Amazon. Most of these items are Prime. 🙂

This post may contain affiliate links which help support this blog. All opinions expressed are my own.

Every Escape Room needs at least one puzzle…

Puzzles

Here are some fantastic puzzle box options. What will be inside? A clue? A map on Antique Paper? A key?

The Magic Box Puzzle Brain Teaser Box

Money Maze Puzzle Box For Kids and Adults Keep in mind some of the smaller puzzle boxes (like this one) will only be able to hold very thin things – like a map, clue on paper or possibly a key.

NEWS Hanayama Cast Metal Brain Teaser Puzzle (Level 6)

Koyosegi Puzzle Box 2 sun – 7 step

…What will be inside your puzzle box? Perhaps a key or the combination to a lock?

Locks and lock boxes

Lock Set with 15pcs (Real Lock Included) I actually do NOT recommend a lock picking kit in your Escape Room for people who have never picked locks. It can take hours and hours of practice to learn the skill. If you wish to give the lock picking kit to your guests days before the party, you could make it work. But tell them to practice, practice, practice! And have the key as a backup, just in case.

Master Lock 1535DWD Vertical Resettable Word Combo Lock, Assorted Colors A combination lock can be very handy. No practice required.

I bought this SentrySafe money box for Mike’s scavenger hunt in Dallas. It was perfect. He was able to pick the lock fairly quickly (probably after a couple hours of practicing with the kit). Again, I would not recommend a lock picking kit for a time-sensitive party. If you only have an hour long party, you don’t want everyone stuck trying to pick their first lock. Safe cracking (lock picking) is definitely an art.  Once Mike cracked the safe, he found a garden shovel and map inside…

AmazonBasics Security Safe – 0.5-Cubic Feet This is a nice safe that’s easy to use. It’s a great size for holding bigger items…like the gift or big reveal at the end of your Escape Room.

 

What’s in the locked box? Instructions for shining UV light on a wall??

 UV Glow in the Dark

Nothing will dazzle your guests like the surprise of a secret message written in glow-in-the-dark paint, revealed only by the UV Blacklight Detector.

Escolite UV Flashlight Black Light (Bonus: Also good for detecting pet stains.)

neon nights Invisible Ultraviolet | UV | Black Light | Fluorescent Glow Paint – Set of 8 by neon nights
Spell it out in glow in the dark paint. What will your message say? Instructions for where to go next?

Ultraviolet Lighting – Perhaps the instructions said to plug in this UV rope light that illuminates the entire room.

Other Super Secret Accessories

When your guests began their quest, they were given this mysterious Antique Paper with random numbers written on it. They couldn’t crack the code right away, so they’ve been holding onto it.
(Use more of this paper for map making or signage.)

Your guests opened the lockbox and found this Project Secret Message Decoder Ring.  Now that they’ve found the ring they can decode the puzzle! What is the secret message? A clue leading to another lock or puzzle??

FiveJoy Military Folding Shovel Multitool (C1) – Tactical Entrenching Tool w/ Case for Camping Backpacking Hiking Car Snow – Portable, Multifunctional, Compact Emergency Kit, Heavy Duty Survival Gear

Because sometimes the only way to hide something is to bury it. This sweet, sweet grandaddy of shovels is tactical, multifunctional and disassembles to fit inside of a large lockbox or safe. Bonus points because it comes with cool bags and accessories you can use elsewhere in your Escape.

Board Games

If you don’t want to build your Escape Room adventure from scratch, consider using a Board Game. You can incorporate locks, puzzles and other mysterious accessories into any of these games.

Escape The Room Secret Of Dr Gravely’S Retreat Game

Thames & Kosmos Exit: The Pharaoh’s Tomb Game

Escape The Curse of the Temple

Thames & Kosmos Exit: The Abandoned Cabin Game

Bonus

Codenames This is NOT an Escape Room Game. But I love this game so much I have to include it. If the group fails to escape, they can gain back some of their self confidence playing this fun game.

Final Thoughts

Professional In-Store Escape Room adventures are often pricey. They only last one hour, then you’re done. When you plan your own Escape room, your guests can take their time and enjoy. And you decide who keeps what items from the experience! You know they’ll never forget your Escape Room DIY adventure.

I hope you have a FANTASTIC Escape! Enjoy every moment of the experience.

Have you planned an Escape Room? What were your favorite tools or tips?

-MJ

P.S. For other ideas, check our latest here.

P.P.S. Many of the items above are Prime. If you don’t have an Amazon Prime account you can get a free 30 day trial using this link: Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

For other party ideas, visit our party theme page here!