glossary of terms

Meet the Game Host, Share your experience level, get the back story of the room and learn the does and don’ts of your game. This is the fuse that ignites your fun and gets your team into the theme of the room.

Solve one puzzle at a time before you move on to the next one. The current puzzle helps you to progress to the next one. (Our linear games have more to look at & some multi-linear sections.)

The pros of a linear game: It’s sometimes easier to make connections and recognize the next step with linear games because there’s less to look at. Multiple people can work together by contributing ideas to help tackle a puzzle. People like the idea of finding a clue that leads to the next and the next, giving them the feeling of accomplishment. Great for 2-4 players.

The cons of a linear game: Often, we see one dominant player take all the glory of unlocking locks and/or solving most of the puzzles while others are left out of this experience and the adrenaline rush. When a puzzle flow lacks the necessity of multiple players to participate, you see some folks standing around. Linear games also come to a complete standstill if progress isn’t made, causing time to tick away, which can lead to boredom/frustration.

The puzzles in the room will follow several puzzle lines at the same time with 2 or more solves each that lead to the next puzzle in that line. Sometimes each of these lines will give a piece of a larger endgame meta puzzle, or they simply may open more opportunities like another room. Cons – Too large and hard for most groups under 6 players.

To solve multiple puzzles at a single time. This could mean lots of single puzzle-solves that work towards the goal or something in between a very multi-linear format or even a meta puzzle. Non-linear escape rooms are notorious for their complexity. They require escapists to be solving multiple puzzles at once. They’re ideal for larger groups that can split into smaller teams to focus on separate challenges. Cons – Too large and hard for 2-3 players.

The main puzzle that the groups work at solving small pieces throughout the game to complete one large puzzle that must be solved or activated.

Word or number games, arranging or working with shapes, symbols, or colors. Sounds, music, lights, touch, smell and dexterity, trivia, and basic knowledge types are just some of what you may encounter in the ever-evolving world of escape games.

In order to solve a mission, you have to go through more than 1 room, usually solving clues to gain excess to the next space or room. (Multiple rooms don’t necessarily add more content & can bottleneck groups, so we use them on smaller games or to enhance a theme).

Two identical games can be played simultaneously as a competition. The first one to escape earns bragging rights.

Why do your games start at 4? In the escape room industry, none of the Breakout games would be considered easy. Why not? Because an easy game can’t be made more challenging, and sometimes in an easy room, 1 person solves all the clues before anyone else can try. Not Fun. Instead, our Game Hosts tweak the challenge level a bit to help new or smaller groups earn progress while keeping the game fun. 

Challenge Level 1-3: Usually, every linear game with 1 solve leads to the next. The puzzles can be very simple, and not much searching or thought is needed to solve them. Not enough content to challenge full groups or teams with 1 or 2 players that have done several escape rooms.

Challenge Level 4-5: More linear designed games with several puzzles to work at one time. More things to look at and go through within the environment. Puzzles may vary in difficulty but usually can be done with 1 or 2 players helping on each.

Challenge Level 6: Linear design but puzzle-heavy, with some being very challenging and made for small group sizes.

Challenge Level 7-8: Larger collaborative environments than previous levels with more content and generally higher skill of puzzles. Lots can be solved solo or in 2 person teams, but the room has enough to keep full groups of new players engaged for most of an hour. Lots to look at and search for clues

Challenge Level 9: Very large open environments with abstract and collaborative puzzles. Lots to look at and inspect. Lots of puzzles are done so well that you won’t know they are part of the game right away. Many moderate-level clue paths build to 1 large meta puzzle solve. Large minimum group size for newer players. Includes 20-25 solves.

Challenge Level 10: Over 5 simultaneous and very challenging clue paths with 30 or more solves that take abstract thinking and collaboration to discover each method of solving the puzzles. Some puzzles take several players to complete. Added random environmental and theming that stimulates the senses and stretches your focus to the max. Large minimum group sizes to do the amount of content and 75-minute game duration to push teams’ endurance.

We want teams to have exciting, challenging, and fun games. If your team is very new to escape games, bring double or more than the minimum. Not sure what to play? Call us and chat with our FUN makers, and they will help pick the perfect game just for you.

A silly way some companies rate or rank their games taking no account for group size or experience. Playing a game you can’t lose or, worse, can’t win or finish has little value. We promise a Fun and Challenging experience you can share with your entire group. Lastly, a win at Breakout is earned and deserved and should be shouted from rooftops.

 Someone that has played lots of escape games and probably travels to many different locations. These freaks of nature need only one glance at an abstract puzzle, and they know what to do to solve it. Team size minimums on all our games are set just for your kind of player.

Even the best and fastest puzzle solvers may need more help than they are used to at Breakout. Our format is mostly non-linear and very puzzle-heavy, with lots to look over in each environment. Our minimum number of players for each game is made with enthusiasts in mind. 

Each game is monitored by our themed Game Master. They help bring the room’s story to life and make sure you have safe and challenging Fun. 

A Game Host enters the room at the game’s end, sharing a bit more of the room’s story while recapping the puzzle solves. They may offer player recognition of important actions and solves or share something that made them chuckle or some fun that may have been missed by other teammates. If puzzles aren’t finished, they may help the team figure them out. Before leaving the room, players may ask questions or chat about the game with their host. At Breakout, we want you to enjoy the experience beyond the regulation time spent playing the game. Our staff loves talking about escape games!

Let us take a staged photo with your camera and ours against one of our themed walls! Feel free to grab some props or dress the part. Players are always welcome to roam the halls and take pictures at any of our selfie-worthy settings.