What is a Virtual Escape Room?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n How Do Virtual Escape Rooms Work?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n How Much Do Virtual Escape Rooms Cost?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Best Virtual Escape Rooms<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A virtual escape room is an online augmented reality game that challenges your team to work together, solve puzzles, and complete a mission before time runs out! Participants can play virtual escape rooms right from each player\u2019s respective computer, rather than in person. This activity is a great way to get your team together for some fun and friendly competition, and the best part is that everyone can participate right from their desk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online escape rooms are perfect team building activities for students<\/a>, work teams, and friend groups. They can help determine who has leadership potential, which are creative thinkers, which have amazing problem-solving skills and give everyone a chance to have some fun together for an hour or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online escape rooms give you a certain amount of time to work through the room and put clues together. Generally, a virtual escape room event will last for about 75 minutes. Everyone gets signed into the meeting and introduced to the host and game guide in the first 15 minutes. From there, everyone will work to find clues, solve riddles, and break free in the 60 minutes that follow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That being said, some escape game companies might skip the introductory 15 minutes while others might have 75-minute timers for the action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual escape rooms for groups and in-person escape games are played very similarly. The biggest difference is that your group will be working together and solving the puzzle through virtual communication instead of hands-on. If your game has an in-person game guide, you will use your excellent communication and teamwork skills to direct your game guide through the room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You absolutely can do an escape room virtually! Many people think that escape rooms are only playable in person because the games involve moving around to solve problems hands-on. However, in today\u2019s day and age, practically anything<\/em> can be done virtually, even an escape room. All you need is an enthusiastic team ready to hop onto a Zoom call and the event host handles the rest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between the right video platform, an engaging virtual host, and an awesome escape room theme, your team will definitely be able to enjoy a virtual reality escape room without a problem (so long as everyone has a good WiFi connection, that is!). The experience is surprisingly realistic. You might forget you\u2019re playing with team members in different locations!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual escape rooms work by using the strengths of your teammates to complete tasks, solve riddles, and accomplish a common goal \u2014 which is escaping! Every person in your team has unique abilities<\/a> that make them perfect for a certain role. For example, the creative problem-solver on your team will be able to look at issues from a different perspective than most people might; the leader on your team will rally everyone together and keep everyone headed in the same direction; the person with the best communication skills will be the one to communicate with your game guide, so they can execute the actions your team wants to take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your game host meets your team when the event begins. They\u2019ll introduce themselves, the game guide, and the type of escape room your team is about to enter. They\u2019ll also go over the rules, offer basic tips for a successful game, and let your team know what to do if they get stuck!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online escape rooms<\/a>\u00a0from The Escape Game have both a Game Host and Game Guide, while some event hosts only have one. Typically, there\u2019s a live camera feed in the escape room and your group directs a Game Guide through the experience. You\u2019ll collaborate to solve each puzzle, overcome every challenge, and complete your mission!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before your team can dive into playing the game, an event organizer takes the time to plan the best virtual escape room for team building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are three steps to getting a virtual escape game to work well for your team:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many online video chat platforms to choose from. If your team already has a platform that you love, let your host know! Most virtual escape rooms are run through Zoom, but can typically function just as well on any video conferencing software! Popular platforms include Zoom<\/a>, Google Meet<\/a>, Microsoft Teams<\/a>, and Skype<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve decided on a video conferencing platform for your remote escape room event, it\u2019s time to start planning! Planning well in advance will allow everyone enough time to work their schedule around the event. Send everyone an email invite that they can add to their calendar and get them excited for what\u2019s to come! Send them a link to the escape room company website and let them know which escape room they\u2019ll play on the day of the event. You might consider sending them links to helpful articles about tips and tricks for solving escape room puzzles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Giving team members Friday afternoon off for the event is a great way to foster excitement about the event and help employees feel cared for by their company. \u201cNo matter how much they may love their job, nobody wants to put in extra time on evenings or weekends to attend a mandatory work event\u201d (Biz Journal<\/a>). People are much more likely to participate and enjoy the experience if it happens during work hours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Send out a reminder email in the weeks and days leading up to the event to make sure no one forgets about it! You should also receive an invitation link for your virtual escape room that you can share with the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the day of your event, everyone will get together 15-minutes before the event starts. This time can act as a buffer so everyone has time to sign in to the meeting and get mentally prepared for the event! It can be difficult to end a work task and immediately switch gears. You want your team to decompress a bit so they can shake off the workday before having some fun together! Many escape room companies will build this buffer time into the event. Double-check with your game host to see if this is true for you or if you\u2019ll have to plan your own buffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your virtual escape room host joins at the start of your event. They\u2019ll greet the team, often ask for introductions, and get everyone ready for a great time! During their introduction, they\u2019ll explain the rules of the game, give a little bit of background information about the escape room you\u2019ll be playing in, and tell you how to interact with your virtual surroundings. Your host might stick with the team throughout the duration of the game to offer hints and answer questions if you find yourself stumped on a clue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some online escape rooms will have a game guide on location (inside a real escape room) to act as your team\u2019s eyes, ears, hands, and feet. The guide will have a live-streaming camera attached to their body that gives you a first-person point of view of the escape room. They will look left, right, up, and down as you direct them to, pick objects up, turn dials, pull books off of shelves, and complete other directives that (hopefully) get you closer to escaping the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can read our complete guide on how to use Zoom<\/a>, but here we\u2019ll just give a quick overview! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Zoom has free backgrounds that allow users to hide what\u2019s going on behind them. This is a great feature for anyone who forgot to clean up before the event!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you open the Zoom app, you can join a meeting in one of two ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants can chat with one another or with the entire group through Zoom\u2019s messenger. This feature is great for larger teams that play escape games together because it prevents everyone from talking over each other!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zoom has the option to record the call, which is great if you\u2019d like to look back on the event, see what worked, and evaluate what could go better next time. Everyone will get a notification when the button is pressed, so there aren\u2019t any surprises!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual escape room prices vary from company to company, but you can expect to spend anywhere between $25-$100 per person, plus tax. The cost of a virtual escape room should be thought of as an investment in your team\u2019s happiness and success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to former Forbes contributor Brian Scudamore<\/a>, \u201cteam building is the most important investment you can make for your people. It builds trust, mitigates conflict, encourages communication, and increases collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a real-life example from Brian:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA few years ago, we took our top-performing franchise partners NASCAR racing. It wasn\u2019t a fortune at $350 per person, but it was still a sizable chunk of change for a growing company. At the end of the day, it was a totally worthwhile investment. The team felt appreciated. The experience \u2013 screeching around a track at more than 145 miles per hour \u2013 was absolutely unforgettable and we all felt like champions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many different virtual escape room ideas, and the best one will depend on your organization. You might want to take the following suggestions, put them into a survey, and distribute the survey to everyone who will participate in the event. This will give you an idea of what everyone is genuinely interested in, so you don\u2019t have to assume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a list of the best escape rooms:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n School\u2019s out! But, unfortunately, not for you just yet. If you and your teammates want to enjoy your summer vacation, you have to finish your homework! When you sit down to complete the assignments, you realize that these problems are unlike anything you saw all year long. Can everyone put their heads together to pass this group project? It\u2019s the only thing that stands between you and freedom! Learn more about the\u00a0Playground<\/a>\u00a0escape room here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In\u00a0Gold Rush<\/a>, the hoarder of a massive gold fortune has passed on from this life. What will happen to his fortune? As the distant relative of Clyde Hamilton, you and your team have to figure out where he\u2019s stashed all that gold. Together, you\u2019ll examine his last will and testament, play Clyde\u2019s little game, and claim for inheritance. Quick! If you don\u2019t hurry, everyone in town will find out and start their own search!<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most classic escape games of all time \u2014\u00a0Prison Break<\/a>. It\u2019s 1955, you\u2019re in prison, and you\u2019re innocent! What\u2019s worse, you\u2019ve been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. There are rumors swirling that the last inmate who occupied your cell escaped\u2026 is it true? Can you find his escape route?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve got another classic theme\u00a0The Heist<\/a>! A priceless painting has gone missing from a prestigious art museum, and the museum\u2019s curator is the prime suspect. Can your team break into his office and recover the painting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are tons of mysteries in the ocean, and it turns out some of them are born in an underwater research lab. Your team will have to dive to\u00a0The Depths<\/a>\u00a0in a submarine to uncover exactly what kind of experiments are happening in this lab! Be careful and move quickly. You never know what is going to swim up behind you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your team comes across ancient temple\u00a0Ruins<\/a>\u00a0after your leisurely aero cruise over the jungle turns into a devastating plane crash. Thankfully, everyone survived the crash! But can you navigate through the ruins and get back to civilizations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You and your team have all been turned into wizards and transported to the land of Seradel. In The Dark Tower<\/a>, you will have to learn new spells, tame magical creatures, and defeat a dark sorcerer before he completes his ritual that will doom your beloved homeland. Can you take him down before it\u2019s too late?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boo! Your family of ghosts lives in the abandoned Craven Manor<\/a>. You have fun scaring the locals, making things disappear, and messing with teenagers who try to mess with your home. The neighbors have finally had enough of your antics and decide to call in an exorcist! Can you banish the exorcist before he banishes you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your job is to protect the universe at all costs. There is a threat on the horizon, and you have to stop them from destroying the planets where trillions of creatures \u2013 human and alien \u2013 live! You and your team of\u00a0Space Defenders<\/a>\u00a0will travel to different planets, meet other players, stop the evil force, and save the galaxy.\u00a0Note:<\/strong>\u00a0Multiple teams play this game at the same time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This escape room is loosely based on the true story of Shackleton\u2019s legendary expedition<\/a> around Antarctica. The trip is filled with danger, surprise, and heroism. Can your team navigate through the treacherous waters, the below-freezing temperatures, and the barren tundra to get back to safety?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Catch Meme If You Can<\/a>, an online hacker is turning embarrassing private photos into memes! Can you figure out who it is and put an end to the madness before he ruins any more reputations? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world is full of mysterious ancient places, and your team has found yourself stuck inside one of them! You\u2019re in the sunken city of Atlantis and you only have 60-minutes to make your way through the city, find the Lost Tomb<\/a>, and save Atlantis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Mad Hatter has been accused of stealing the Queen of Hearts\u2019 tarts! No one knows where Alice in Puzzleland<\/a> has gone, but, thankfully, your team has dropped into Wonderland just in time. Can you prove that the Hatter is innocent before it\u2019s \u201coff with his head\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jet off to the future in Escape to Alpha Centauri<\/a> where space travel is the norm. It\u2019s 2097 and we have made incredible advances in space exploration technology! In this virtual escape game, you and your team have to get to Pluto as fast as you can while solving puzzles and riddles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple rooms inside the Black Noir Murder Escape game. Each room has a different theme that focuses on different problem-solving skills! If your team loves intense mysteries that keep you on the edge of your seat, this \u201cwhodunnit\u201d style virtual escape game is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern Genius<\/a> is a fun play off of real-world inventor Elon Musk. In the game, mad scientist and billionaire Ilan Tusk invented a teleportation device and then disappeared. Can your team, guided by his butler, search through Ilan\u2019s mansion and find clues to his whereabouts? There\u2019s a reward if you can bring him back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Grand Theft Escape<\/a>, Mr. Gautheri has put your team up to solve a mystery. If you succeed, you\u2019ll be handsomely rewarded! You\u2019ll have to act quickly, though \u2013 there\u2019s another inventor with a high-speed contraption that is also gunning for the prize! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hopefully, you don\u2019t have a fear of the open water because in Cabin Fever<\/a> you\u2019ve just discovered that your team is trapped on a cruise ship\u2026 and everyone else has disappeared. Make your way through the ship, solve riddles, and get back to dry land!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Virtual Escape Room?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"virtual](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/virtual-escape-room-1024x624.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCan You Do an Escape Room Virtually?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do Virtual Escape Rooms Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"escape-room-vector\"](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/escape-room-vector-1024x538.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. Choose a Platform<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Host<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"coworkers-playing-computer-game\"](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/coworkers-playing-computer-game-1024x538.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Do a Virtual Escape Room on Zoom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Download the Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Experiment with Backgrounds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Join a Meeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Utilize the Chat Feature<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Record the Meeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"happy-woman-using-laptop\"](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/happy-woman-using-laptop-1024x576.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Much Do Virtual Escape Rooms Cost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Are the Best Virtual Escape Rooms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"playground](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/playground-cropped.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. Playground<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Gold Rush<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"prison-break-cropped\"](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/prison-break-cropped.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Prison Break<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Heist<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. The Depths<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"ruins-cropped\"](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/ruins-cropped.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Ruins: Forbidden Treasure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. The Dark Tower<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Ghosts of Craven Manor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Space Defenders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Shackleton\u2019s Great Escape<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. Catch Meme If You Can<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12. Race for the Lost Tomb<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"laughing](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/laughing-man-in-button-up-on-computer-1024x597.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n13. Alice in Puzzleland<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
14. Escape to Alpha Centauri<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
15. Black Noir Murder Escape<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
16. Modern Genius<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
17. Grand Theft Escape<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
18. Cabin Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n