Basically, an Escape Room always takes place in three steps:
The briefing
The Game Master (the one who organises and manages the game) invites the participants and explains the context of the game: the time, the situation and the objective. In most cases, the objective is to get out of an enclosed space in less than 60 minutes. The Game Master should also explain how to start the game: what challenge or puzzle to solve to get started. The Game Master then lets the participants into the playroom, and the countdown begins!
The game
Once locked in the playroom, participants, young and old, must work together to explore the area, find clues, solve puzzles and take part in challenges which will allow them, step by step, to progress in the game and escape before the end of the countdown.
The celebration
Whether the objective was reached or not, whether you escaped before the end of the countdown or not, whether the alarm went off just right before you reach your goal, the Escape Room always ends with a debriefing between the players and the Game Master and, usually, with a drink or even a slice of birthday cake. We really had a good time, didn’t we?