Escape rooms have become a popular team-building tool in the work world. Engaging in a unique scenario where the group has to work together to solve a mystery or “escape” can strengthen relationships and communication skills. They are also great fun for friends, family or even groups of strangers to try. While the availability of in-person escape rooms has come to a halt, virtual escape rooms are more popular than ever. Here we’ll go over the basics of virtual escape rooms so you can learn how to integrate it into your gaming or work life.

How Does a Virtual Escape Room Work?

There are two main kinds of virtual escape room. One is an online-only scenario that functions like any other multiplayer game you can play through the internet. You can communicate with your teammates and perform all major functions with your PC, tablet or mobile device.

The other type of virtual escape room is a virtual version of an in-person escape room. Many escape room companies have gone through the effort of digitizing their escape room experiences so that people can safely enjoy them from home. Usually these escape rooms will include a live video of a room with puzzles you solve remotely.

Both types of virtual escape room have a game master to provide additional clues if needed. The game masters are an essential part of the experience because they can adjust the game to meet your needs. This way, no two escape rooms are ever the same.

What Do You Need to Play?

To play a virtual escape room game, you will need the following basics:

• Strong Internet Connection – Because virtual escape rooms depend on streaming live video, it’s essential to have a solid internet connection. A strong Wi-Fi or wired-in network connection will also make it easier to communicate with your teammates and avoid glitches or delays.

• Webcam & Microphone – Virtual escape rooms are all about communication. Ideally, everyone on the team will have a webcam and microphone so you can get as close to the in-person experience as possible. Each escape room is unique, however, and some may include alternatives like written chat rather than voice chat.

• Proprietary Apps – You might have to download and install proprietary software provided by the escape room company in order to play. It’s a good idea to do this in advance so you have ample time to troubleshoot issues that might arise. Other games run in your web browser but may still require video conferencing via Skype or Zoom in order to communicate.

Things to Consider

Whether in-person or virtual, escape rooms are not right for every group. While each fictional scenario is different, it’s very common to have a time limit or another stress-inducing element of the game in order to enliven the experience. If you don’t like the feeling of being rushed or solving puzzles under pressure, virtual escape rooms might not be for you. There is also the risk of creating or worsening existing tension or conflict between individuals because of the high-pressure situation. While it can be uncomfortable, this element of escape rooms is one thing that makes them so potentially effective as team-building tools.

Luckily, you have countless options online to choose from. If you’re interested in trying a virtual escape room with friends, family or coworkers, it’s easy to find a game to meet your needs.