Are Escape Rooms Scary?

When I tell people I create and operate escape rooms for a living they often ask the question: “Are the escape rooms scary?”. There are frequent misconceptions about escape rooms due to mainstream media that causes many people to assume they are scary.

Escape rooms are not actually scary unless you seek out a horror theme specifically. Most escape rooms are meant to be a fun and exciting challenge for all audiences. Assuming the escape room follows safety guidelines then you are in no danger and there is nothing to be afraid of. 

Afraid Of Being Locked Inside An Escape Room?

Despite popular belief, you’re not actually locked inside an escape room. That’s more for the illusion of the story. There are, however, safety protocols that all escape rooms must abide by to continue operations. One of those is that they’re always an immediate way out of the room in cases of an emergency, like a fire, flood, or storm. (If you are curious about if escape rooms are dangerous and the procedures they must follow then check out this article here.)

How Do You Know If An Escape Room Is Scary?

If an escape room is a horror escape room; then the escape room will inform you of that. Pay attention while booking online. If the room is called “Haunting at Wayne Manor”; then assume it’s a scary escape room. If it’s not obvious; then you can always call the escape room to verify if the room is scary or not.

You should be able to tell by the marketing. Many escape rooms will post some pictures or small videos on their website to give you a taste of what that room will be about. It will be clear if the escape room is a horror escape room or not.

If you are someone who is looking for a scare or trying to avoid a scare; then pay attention to the escape room theme you are choosing BEFORE booking.  

How Does An Escape Room Scare You?

A horror escape room could scare you in the following ways:

• Jump Scares
• Putting you in tight spaces
• Having an actor try to intimidate and scare you while in costume as a zombie, werewolf, vampire, serial killer, etc.
• By physically binding you
• By making the room dark
• Sudden loud noises
• Flashing lights
• Blood & Gore

My Favorite:

Good actors are my favorite horror trope. Anytime I have done a horror escape room with an actor inside attempting to scare and distract people. The actor is physically bound to a certain area at first. However, as the timer runs down the actor’s movement area expands. The longer time goes on the more mobile the actor can be. This can make the room more difficult since it becomes harder and harder to concentrate while someone is coming after you. 

Should You Try A Scary Escape Room?

I would not recommend you try a horror escape room if it’s your first escape room. There is a learning curve, especially at first when it comes to solving escape rooms. I would seek out a more traditional experience at first, and then once you learn what escape rooms are like. Then you can move on and try some horror themes. That is if you’re brave enough to.

Horror elements can increase the difficulty, so it’s good to have a strong foundation set before trying to solve the more difficult and scary escape rooms.