Beetlejus: A Halloween Escape Room Game for Kids!

Looking for a fun, brain-busting Halloween activity that the whole family can enjoy? Look no further than our latest escape room game designed for kids aged 8-12. But don’t be fooled—this spooky adventure is perfect for all ages and brings the family together for some Halloween fun!

Enter the World of Beetlejus, the Mischievous Ghost

Inspired by the colorful and quirky world of *Beetlejuice*, the escape room game introduces you to Beetlejus—a playful ghost who loves puzzles and tricks. He’s hidden a series of challenges for your team to solve. Can you outwit him and break free from his fun Halloween escape room game for kids?

12 Ingenious Puzzles to Crack

Get ready to test your family’s wits with a series of 12 puzzles that will test your problem-solving skills to the limit! Each one is different and tests different skills. From deciphering cryptic codes to unraveling hidden letters, some are a little more tricky than others, just like in a real escape room!

Tombstone PigPen Cipher Puzzle

I use the Pigpen cipher a lot in my games. I love the way that it looks. At first glances it seems pretty hard to decipher but its actually really simple to solve. I’ve used it this game as a sorting puzzle.

The players need to remove all the letters that are shown on the tombstone from the pigpen grid. The letters that remain will spell out a word the players are searching for. As this puzzle has two components, it is a great option to have one half hidden or locked inside a box.

Day’O Prawn Puzzle

In the original Beetlejuice film, I LOVED the scene where the characters are sat around the dining room table dancing to “The Banana Boat Song”. The table is set with a prawn cocktail starter that comes to life.

This puzzle has two elements: lyrics from “The Banana Boat Song” and pictures of prawns with glowing numbers on them. The numbers on the prawns will help players identify letters in the lyrics.

I’ve created an additional page in the kit so you can cut out the prawns in the puzzle. With a little bit of prep, you can turn this into a really fun activity. My preferred choice would be to laminate the pieces and place in a large container filled it will slime. Place the pieces inside and then have the players take turns to fish out the prawns from the goo! Throw in a few fake bugs for added yuk factor! Not a fan of slime, opt for some bright shredded paper.

Beetle Letter Reveal

This may be my favorite puzzle in the whole kit. Possibly the trickiest for younger players but I really like this one. The trick to this puzzle is following the order of the bugs. Each row of bugs reveals a new letter.

This puzzle would be perfect for hiding half of the clue. One of my favorite escape room tools is a UV pen and a Blacklight torch; these would be a fab addition to this puzzle. Lock one half inside a locked box, bag, or container, and then, on the reverse of the other part of the puzzle, write your clue using the UV pen. Kids love discovering clues using a blacklight torch.

Ghostly Friends Puzzle

Cipher wheels are a lot of fun, they are a nice tactile element to include in your game. I wanted to give you two options of how to use this when you set up your game

1. A print-and-play version – this option will have the players cutting out a simple puzzle and the cipher disk during the game. It doesn’t require any set up on your part other than suppling the players with a pair of scissors. If you are playing the game with several groups you will need to print out one copy for each team.
2. A DIY version. This will allow you to prepare the puzzle pieces in advance. This option is ideal for playing with several groups, as you only need to print the page once. This is also a good option if you want to lock away part of the puzzle in advance (which I love to do!).

Printable Halloween Fun

This game is fully printable, making setup super easy. Just grab some bright white paper and print out the puzzles. Want to take things up a notch? Add a QR code scanner for a fun reveal at the end of the game. OR a three-digit lock and fill Halloween treats inside the box as a grand prize—your little ghosts and goblins will love it!

What’s Included in the kit?

• A detailed game guide.
• A 12 page pdf game file.
• Player certificate.
• Fun photo booth props to capture the celebrations at the end of the game.
• Gift tags for any prizes you want to give out.
• Blank note cards and envelopes to create your own puzzles and challenges.
• Themed note paper just because I could, lol. (A sheet of white paper for note-taking will do the job!

45 Minutes of Puzzle-Solving Fun (or More!)

If you lay out all the materials on a tabletop, the game will take about 35-45 minutes to complete. But if you want an even more immersive experience, try hiding clues around the house or adding locked puzzle pieces. This can stretch the game time to over an hour—perfect for a longer Halloween event!

Choosing the Right Space

First things first, choose the perfect spot for your Halloween escape room. You don’t need a lot of space a tabletop would work. I love trying to recreate a real escape room feel though. You could use a living room with dim lighting to set the mood, or even a classroom. If you want to create a whole room experience the key is to ensure there’s enough room for kids to move around and explore without bumping into things.

Materials Needed

Now that you’ve locked down your location, it’s time to gather the materials. Don’t worry; you won’t need a ghostly fortune to make this escape room a reality. Here’s your handy checklist:

• Printable Halloween escape room kit: Grab your copy of the escape room game and print out all the game materials. Cut each page in half to prepare your clues and puzzles.
• Props and decorations: Think Beetlejuice! Bright green, neon purple, and stripes are a must! I bet you’ll be able to find plenty of Halloween decorations that would be a great addition.
• A three-digit lock: Not essential but will add a fun reveal at the end of the game.
• A pair or scissors, notepaper and pen or pencil for the players to use during the game.

Perfect for Groups—The More, the Merrier!

Play solo or with up to four to six players per team; this game is a great activity for small groups. Want to include more friends or family? Simply divide into teams and let the challenge begin. Remember, the more minds working together, the quicker the puzzles are solved, which is why i like to keep teams small!

While they’re having fun solving puzzles, kids won’t even realize they’re learning. This game encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving—skills that will stick with them long after Halloween.

Great for Classrooms Too!

This game is a hit in classrooms, where puzzles can be set up in stations, allowing teams to rotate in a round-robin format. It’s a great way for kids to enjoy Halloween while sharpening their minds. All you need to do is print out an answer sheet for each team, and prepare the cipher disk clue before the start of the game.

Why Choose a Printable Escape Room?

As much as I love visiting in-person escape rooms, printable escape room game offers a more affordable and convenient option. Plus, it’s perfect for families or groups looking to create special memories at home or in the classroom. You may be someone like me who doesn’t have easy access to a physical escape room, so this is the next best thing.

So, if you’re ready to embark on an adventure with Beetlejus this Halloween, grab a copy of the printable escape room game!