Puzzles are known to have health benefits, with the Baylor College of Medicine claiming they're ideal for neurological stimulation. But what about larger-scale puzzles like escape rooms? Do these have the same benefits?

Health benefits or not, an escape room party has one definite benefit: fun! But how do you know what escape room themes can create unforgettable escape events for you and your whole party?

If you're looking for party planning tips, we're here to help. Here are some of our favorite escape room themes to help you plan your next escape room party.

• Young or Adult?
• Treasure Hunting
• Pirates
• Horror and Fantasy

Young or Adult?

The first thing you should consider is what the age range of your group is. That can determine what sort of challenges your group is ready to take on.

Difficulty

The most obvious thing to think of for ages is the difficulty your group can handle. If your escape room party has a large number of young children, you'll want something easier.

That's doubly important if you're planning a party for your kids or their classmates. You wouldn't want to give an escape room that's challenging for adults to a group of elementary or middle school students. Think of the average age and aim for something you believe all participants can handle

Themes

Another important factor here is escape room themes. Some escape rooms may have more mature or "intense" themes.

That's especially the case for escape rooms that have a horror theme to them. Some may even have age requirements on them to ensure children aren't dropped into an adult scenario.

A good example of this is our Chloe escape room. Here, we'll put you into a dark and somber home as you investigate the vanishing of a young girl while also avoiding her spirit's wrath. There are some adult themes at play and some intense imagery, so we don't recommend it for escapists under the age of 16.

Numbers

Finally, consider how large your escape room party is. Are you going to have enough people to solve any challenge? What if you have too many people?

Many escape rooms are built with a set number of people in mind, though private parties can bend this. If your escape room is made to test four people, then having ten may end up with some people on the sideline.

Likewise, planning unforgettable escape events shouldn't be done if you only have half the number of people you'd need. In that situation, most escape rooms will pair you with other escapists that you can meet and befriend while you work together. But if you're aiming for a private party or team-building escape rooms, make sure you aren't "understaffed."

Good Escape Room Themes

Now that we've covered some guidelines on how to pick an escape room, let's look into some common themes. Here are some of the most common escape room themes you'll find.

Treasure Hunting

One of the most natural fits for the escape room is the treasure-hunting room. These have a sort of "Indiana Jones" feel to them, usually pitting you in some sort of treasure room.

There, you'll have the task of finding out how to get the treasure without setting off too many traps. Most of these rooms work under a time limit, but some will have mistakes set off "traps" that detract from your timer. Naturally, these are much more difficult.

Some of these also blend in pirate themes, as pirates and treasure are two perfectly fitting themes. Tomb raiding or crypt crawling are also common themes, especially when it's around Halloween time.

If you're interested, our Raiders Revenge escape room is a great treasure hunt. Your team of up to eight escapists will have an hour to retrieve the Idol of Cosmos from its temple, protected by traps and clever puzzles. About 50% of participants successfully complete this escape room.

Piracy!

Pirates and piracy are a great theme for a family-friendly escape room. As the name suggests, these are escape rooms that put a pirate theme toward the puzzles. Most often, you're working to retrieve treasure, making these a good blend for treasure hunting.

Others will focus on the spirit of adventure and the fantasy of pirates. These are great for team-building escape rooms, as the theme is lighthearted without feeling humorous or inappropriate.

Our Scallywag escape room sets a crew of five pirates on the high seas, sailing to an abandoned vessel. You'll have 30 minutes to uncover the ship's secrets, defeat the puzzles, and work together to find the treasure. It's a great adventure for people looking for a quick thrill and for pirate enthusiasts.

If you want something a bit longer - or that fits more people - then our Mutiny escape room is a wonderful choice. Here, up to eight players will have an hour to raid your captain's quarters and retrieve your share of treasure from their claim. There's no age restrictions, which makes this great for a family night out.

Horror and Fantasy

If you're looking for something a bit more intense, then horror and fantasy escape rooms are great. The fantasy themes can vary, so make sure you're looking into what the escape room entails. Some dark fantasy escape rooms can be upsetting for younger escapists or inappropriate for team-building escape rooms.

Our Wizard Hysteria escape room is a great fantasy room that's fit for all ages. Your party is working to find six hidden enchants to stop a dark wizard from wreaking havoc across the magical and non-magical realms. Fitting up to 10 participants, this is great for large, unforgettable escape events.

Planning an Escape Room Party

An escape room party is made all the better by a strong and engaging theme. Whether you're looking for team-building escape rooms or family fun, making sure you have the right theme will only enhance the experience.

At Alcatraz Escape Games, we're Utah's top escape room supplier. Our escape rooms in Draper & Lindon are certain to challenge you and provide an unforgettable experience. Contact us to get started on your next adventure.