Halloween Escape Room

It’s the start of the spooky season, and I love it. Halloween and Christmas are my favourite celebrations. It’s when we all meet up and have a good ole party as a family. Halloween marks the start of all the festivities. This must mean it’s time for a new Halloween escape room!

I have been working on so many fun things for Halloween, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you over the next couple of weeks. To kick things off, I have my new kids Halloween escape room kit. What a fun activity to play with the kids before or after trick or treating. The kids escape game is so easy to assemble. You really do just need to print it out and play. BUT, I would highly recommend you follow some of the ideas in the kit for adding locks and props

Halloween Escape Room Story

The escape room story finds the player in a cold, damp room. Something brushes their hand; as they spin around in fright, they discover a boy holding a rather plump looking rat. They discover a gnarly old Witch with has plans to turn them into rat pie. While the Witch is out capturing more children, it’s time to plan your escape. The Witch has locked the door with magical runes. Solve each of the rune puzzles to escape. 

What’s included in the DIY escape kit?

• There are eight puzzles
• An online checking system.
• A printable lock pack
• Photobooth posters
• And a game guide
• Plus a link to my 60 minute Halloween timer.

What age is the game suitable for?

I get asked a lot what age my games are suitable for. In truth, anyone can play! If you have young players, say five, and under, they can help find clues for older siblings to solve. But if your little one is great with lateral thinking and word problems, they might be just fine with the puzzles. I would say that most seven-year-olds will have no problem with the kit as it stands. Don’t rule out the adults either; as part of a family activity, you can be there to join in and lend a helping hand. 

The puzzle below is the most difficult in the game, and young players will probably need some help. Try to let them work through the puzzle while offering some tips. If you can see they are getting frustrated you can help them out. There is an online checking system that they can use to check their answer and get tips too.

Make a real Halloween escape at home

Adding props, music is a sure fired way to create an epic escape room.  Have a rummage around your Halloween stash for some decorations and head to youtube for some spooky music. Below are some Amazon finds I think would be a great addition to the game.

• Rat Decorations These would be a great decoration and prop. Lock one away inside a box and have the players rummage around to find the clue inside. The rat is a hidden surprise. You could also have the key to open the box attached to a piece of string around one of the rats necks.
• Glow in the Dark Spider Web What a fun idea, never seen this before and now I want some!
• Hanging Witches Cauldron This would make a fab focal piece, and you could use it to hide one of the clues inside.
• Creepy Cloth. A must-have staple Halloween decoration.
• Battery Candles You can find all shapes and sizes, and these can set a spooky atmosphere without the risk of fire.

If you have some smart cookies in your family, you can easily make the game harder by locking away part of the puzzles into boxes. Use number locks, key locks or anything you have at hand. There is a pack in the kit that will help you add locks to any puzzle you like.

Put one of the clues inside a box and lock it with a key.  Hang the key around your neck (or the gmae master neck), and have the players guess if they are warm or cold to the key. As you move around, the answer will change. I have done this a few times, but my kids have become wise to that trick now!

Hiding clues is simple and a great way to prolong the game and add difficulty. Place clues inside document pockets and tape to the underside of tables, behind doors etc. 

Buy the Kids Halloween escape Game?

As always the game is listed on both Etsy and the Lock Paper Escapes Shop. It is only available as a digital download currently so you will need a printer or a printing service. When printing any of my games try to use bright white card or paper as the printout will look so much better. Ordinary copy paper will work a charm so if that’s what you have at hand go ahead and use it. Let’s be fair the kids won’t notice! 

More Halloween games you will love!

I have lots of goodies for Halloween available in the shop, from cute bingo games, scavenger hunts and activity packs. A few more will be added in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for an updated list.

• Halloween Secret Code Treasure Hunt
• FREE Halloween Photo booth Props
• FREE Halloween Meringue Ghost Treat Template
• FREE Cute Pastel Halloween Calendar
• FREE Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt