Physical escape rooms have always been a great way for people to have fun with friends and family members, however, it seems virtual escape rooms are slowly becoming the norm.
If you’re looking for the best online escape room that’ll keep everyone entertained, our list of the 16 best virtual escape rooms will have you and your friends/family addicted to this online activity.
Let’s get right into it.
Chapters
Top Tips For Solving Online Escape Rooms
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
List of Virtual Escape Rooms
From exotic, remote adventures, such as Greek Mythology, Egypt, and Harry Potter, to being lost in the Arctic and taking part in the so-called redemption games - our list has a little bit of everything.
Let’s start with the first virtual escape room.
1) Black Noir Murder
The Black Noir Murder provides groups with the chance to play Mr. Jones, a private investigator. The escape room game gives players authentic gangster vibes written all over it and happens in a few New York-based locations.
A highly mysterious letter guides players via some truly visually appealing crime scenes and a game guide helps out in the process. There are also complex puzzles, suspect interrogation, and ideas that need to be linked.
And it’s up to you and your group to solve the crime before the murderer manages to strike one more time.
To play the game, you need to buy a one-time access code per team (suitable for 3-5 players). Then, simply begin a video call by putting to use your preferred video conferencing platform (Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, to name a few), and use the screen-sharing option to display the game with the rest of the players.
The game costs $49 and you can play it multiple times afterward.
On the whole, the Black Noir Murder is a great escape room experience for groups who appreciate awesome remote adventures, know how to collaborate with team members, and are challenged by versatile clues and puzzles.
2) Modern Genius
Modern Genius is a real-time, teamwork-based, virtual escape room. You need to gather your team and rescue the billionaire Ilan Tusk from his own invention. The AI butler, Alfred, will give you the necessary clues and access to the rooms inside the mansion.
You also get hints that will reveal the right answer in case you and your group get stuck while playing.
It costs $49, like the Black Noir Murder game, and comes with the same purchasing rules and features. Just pick any video conferencing tool (or the one you already use) and you can start playing right away.
Such remote adventures are great for teams who like amusing plots and challenging puzzles that will take them out of their comfort zones.
3) Lost in the Arctic
Save the Arctic team before it’s too late.
That’s this virtual escape room’s premise.
In general, you and the rest of the players are required to locate a missing crew at the Arctic Outpost and bring them back safely. What makes the whole situation so puzzling is that the crew stopped communicating out of the blue, so you need to discover why that is and what’s happened.
This virtual experience also costs $49 and can be played using any video conferencing software. Lost in the Arctic comes with clues, hints, and a game guide to assist you in your online adventure, so just pick a platform, hit that screen-sharing button, and you’re ready to play.
This escape room experience is perfect for small teams or large groups who are willing to explore unusual settings (such as the Arctic) and know how to get to the bottom of things.
4) The Redemption Games
Welcome to the 75th annual redemption games!
You’ve been picked by The Capital to take part in the so-called Tribute Games because of your insubordination. There’s only one way to survive this punishment - by finishing the redemption games and coming out as the winner.
Do you and the rest of your team have what it takes to work through all the challenges and discover whether you’re smart enough to survive the Capital’s schemes and traps?
You can find out if you decide to try out this game.
The Redemption Games costs $49 and the same purchasing rules apply as with the previous games.
All in all, The Redemption Games invites you to stretch your imagination, be open to the unknown, and break down the power of authoritarianism.
Most teams are expected to finish the escape game within 45 to 90 minutes. In any case, this game will be one of those virtual escape rooms you’d like to go back to time and time again.
5) Grand Theft Escape
A steam-driven world. A challenge to travel the world in 80 days. And a massive wager.
This is what The Grand Theft Escape is all about.
So, if you and your escape room crew feel like “traversing through a whole new world of fiction and wonder”, this virtual escape room challenge is for you.
Apart from the unique plot, the rest of the game details are similar to the games we already discussed.
The game is suitable for groups of 3-30 players, so both small and large teams can benefit from it. It costs $49 and comes with a one-time access code, however, you can play it multiple times.
All you and your team members need is a stable Internet connection, an up-to-date browser, and a video conferencing software of your choice. Also, there are hints and clues all throughout the game to assist players, along with a detailed game guide.
To get more details, visit the game’s official website.
6) Trapped in the Web
Trapped in The Web is a series of virtual escape rooms for you and your group to play. The games were created with the purpose of helping friends, remote teams, and family members remain connected during the pandemic.
But they were such a success so here they are still.
Currently, there are nine available virtual escape rooms (priced at £8.99) you can choose from:
- Escape Feast
- The Missing
- Lockdown Breakout
- Space Race
- Cabin Fever
- A Night at the Theatre
- School’s Out
- Out of Hours
- Christmas Party Conundrum
Each room deals with a different theme and takes somewhere between 1-3 hours to complete. Once you’ve signed up and purchased a virtual escape game, just hit play and make your way through the plethora of puzzles, rooms, and challenges to escape. You can play the game as many times as you want - once you buy it, it stays in your account permanently.
The virtual escape rooms are usually text-based, however, there are a lot of videos and images supporting the puzzles. The questions range from general knowledge and trivia, to complex math equations. They also vary in difficulty, as the virtual escape games vary in difficulty too. So take a closer look at what level you’re comfortable with before making a purchase.
The best option would be to start with some of the easier virtual escape rooms, and once you figure things out, proceed to the more difficult options.
In any case, whichever remote adventures you opt for, you and your team are going to love them!
7) Alice Escapes Wonderland
Alice is ready to return home, but her magic mirror gets stolen.
Was it the Mad Hatter?
The Queen of Hearts?
Or perhaps someone else?
To help Alice find the thief and escape Wonderland, form remote teams with your family or friends and follow the white rabbit!
Alice Escapes Wonderland is one of the most technologically advanced digital escape rooms teambuilding.com offers. You and your group step into a 3D immersive space with your own avatars. You’re asked to answer riddles, solve puzzles, and engage in a Scavenger Hunt, to name a few. However, beware of the Chesire cat…
The online escape room event lasts 1.5 hours, and it can accommodate various group sizes, from 10 to 300+ participants.
To get pricing, enter the details on the website and wait for the info.
All in all, Alice Escapes Wonderland is a must for those who appreciate super easy bookings, engaging experiences, and virtual events that are simply out of this world.
8) Mystery Escape Room
Nothing brings family members and friends together as a good mystery. Especially when joint efforts are needed to solve it.
The Mystery Escape Room provides guided virtual escape room games for people who want to virtually connect with loved ones in a meaningful way.
You can use video conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. There are different codes, puzzles, and clues you need to solve to achieve the game’s objective.
Some of the virtual escape rooms include:
- The Legends of Christmas
- The Ghosts of Christmas
- Dr. Frankenstein’s Haunted Lab
- Nancy Drew
- Da Vinci’s Codex
- Morirarty’s Parlor
- Superhero Escape
- Return to Treasure Island
All games come with a different level of difficulty, so take that into account before actually making a purchase. When it comes to pricing, it’s worth noting that the mystery escape rooms are priced per event, not per person. All games cost $80, with the exception of Nancy Drew, which costs $90.
Moreover, the online escape rooms are great for small teams as they can accommodate 4-8 players. That said, if you’re interested in details regarding large groups, email the team at Mystery Escape Room and they’ll answer all your questions.
All in all, the games are great for anyone looking for a bit of family fun and excitement.
Mystery Escape Room offers a series of various detective themes, and once you see the actual titles, we can assure you that neither you nor your team will be able to resist playing them.
9) Puzzle Break
If you’re ready to take your remote adventures to the next level and have an awesome time, Puzzle Break is the way to go.
Puzzle Break provides clients with virtual events that encourage players to solve puzzles, conquer challenges, and grow as a team. These digital escape rooms last 90 minutes, although shorter options are available upon request.
Moreover, these escape experiences can accommodate any group size - no team is ever too big or too small. Also, navigating the virtual escape rooms is a breeze - you just need basic knowledge of internet browsing and video conferencing platforms. You can leave the rest to the in-game hosts.
What makes Puzzle Break stand out is the fact that each online escape room experience is crafted in such a way as to provide versatile content to test the skills of players of various personalities and backgrounds.
Here are the virtual escape room games you can play:
- School for Spies
- Hackfiltration
- The Winter Tail of Jackalope Frost
- The Grimm Escape
- Disco Detectives
- Monsterpelago
In general, PuzzleBreak is for teams who wish to boost their camaraderie, motivation, and a wide range of real life skills.
To get insights into the pricing details, visit the official website and get in touch with the company.
10) Hogwarts Digital Escape Room
If there’s an escape room experience avid Harry Potter fans can’t miss, it’s this one. The Hogwarts Digital Escape Room was crafted by Sydney Krawiec, part of the Youth Services Librarian at Peters Township Library based in McMurray, Pennsylvania.
Here’s the game’s context: you’ve just begun your education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, got into the house you were so fond of, and finished having dinner with your classmates. As you’re returning to the common room, your house prefect announces there’s an entertaining team-building activity planned for everyone. It’s about the latest muggle thing - people deciding to lock themselves in rooms and answer puzzles so that they can get out. And although this is Hogwarts, keep in mind that no magic is permitted for this team-building experience!
In general, the virtual escape game attempts to recreate the first year at Hogwarts by providing players with a plethora of references connected to the initial story. And while there are many witty puzzles and challenges, the escape game is fairly easy to solve.
It’s worth mentioning that the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room is one of those virtual escape rooms created using Google forms, so it’s not as visually mesmerizing as most of the games on our list, however, it’s certainly worth trying out.
You and your friends/family members will not only have fun, but also you’ll take a trip down the Harry Potter memory lane.
It’s also free, so there’s nothing to lose!
11) Oscar’s Stolen Oscar
There’s something fishy going on at the National Aquarium, and no, it’s not the fish!
One of the main characters from “Shark Tale”, Oscar, was the victim of a crime.
It’s up to you and your team to work together and solve the mystery. For some of the questions, you’ll be required to actually “move around” in the aquarium to find the necessary answers (follow this link, and the “view map” option will enable you to navigate easily in various parts of the aquarium). For others, you may have to watch a brief video or read a paragraph.
The Oscar’s Stolen Oscar escape experience is created in Google Forms, like the Hogwarts Digital Escape Room, and it’s free of charge.
12) Dr. Who Escape Room
Dr. Who fans would be thrilled to know there’s a Dr. Who virtual escape room experience they can get immersed in.
To guess the answers, you may need to search online and consult the online catalog provided in the above-mentioned link.
The game is in Google Forms and you can play it straight away.
13) Escape like an Egyptian
Groups fascinated with exotic locations and history are going to love this online escape room.
Escape like an Egyptian is created by Liz Strauss, Teen/Outreach Services Manager, at Dover Public Library.
Here’s the game’s context: you’re on a tour of the pyramids at Giza. You try to take a selfie, and post it online, however, you wander slightly from your group looking for a signal on your phone, without realizing you just passed a sign warning you of danger ahead. You finally find the perfect spot and just as you prepare to hit the “Post” button you feel the sand giving way under your feet.
You’re starting to fall….
So, what’s next?
The only way to find out is by playing the game.
Here are some of the most important rules you should pay attention to:
- You can use a calculator and a paper and pencil;
- All short answers should be entered using just lowercase;
- You’re allowed to use a search engine in a new tab (unless otherwise stated);
- You’re allowed to open links and keep images open in other tabs;
- Don’t cheat;
- And don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the experience.
This virtual escape game is also created in Google Forms and playing it is free.
Finally, keep in mind that some elements and pieces of information of this online adventure may not be historically accurate, although most of it is based on ancient practices and real myths.
14) Pikachu’s Rescue
Pokemon fans won’t think twice before they decide to try out this digital escape room.
Pikachu has disappeared and needs your help.
You need to solve the mystery behind the disappearance before you run out of time.
Are you and your team up for the challenge?
Pikachu’s Rescue is also created in Google Forms by Falyn Nicholl, at the High River Library with the Marigold Library System, and using it is free of charge.
15) Prison Break: Can You Escape Your Cell?
It’s 1955.
You’ve been wrongfully charged with a crime and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of getting parole. You’re placed in a cell that used to belong to an inmate who disappeared out of the blue…or did he? Some people say he escaped. Others claim he was murdered by the notorious warden.
But no one knows for sure.
Do you think you can escape in time before you suffer the same fate?
The Prison Break: Can You Escape Your Cell? virtual experience is played using Zoom, but it can be integrated with other systems upon request. The event supports 4-10 participants at once, and it costs $32 per person.
Players need to perform tasks or engage with the group.
During the game, there’s a host that provides players with detailed instructions and clues, whereas your game guide is located in the escape room with a live video feed acting as your ears, eyes, feet, and hands.
You can use the online dashboard feature to watch videos and keep up with the clues and the rest of the items you discover along the way.
The whole online adventure lasts for an hour.
On the whole, Prison Break: Can You Escape Your Cell? is for groups who are on the lookout for a highly engaging experience and always searching for the next clue or challenge.
16) The Minotaur's Labyrinth Escape Room
If you’ve heard about the Minotaur and the labyrinth story, you’re probably into Greek mythology.
And in case you haven’t, you can learn all about it, as The Minotaur’s Labyrinth Escape Room will take your Greek mythology knowledge to the next level.
This virtual escape room experience is all about deciphering codes, learning about ancient myths, and going through a wide range of riddles.
The Minotaur’s Labyrinth Escape Room was created by a teen librarian at The County Library’s Riverton Branch - Karen Liu. It’s a Google-form escape room and, as you probably assume by now, it’s free of charge.
Top Tips For Solving Online Escape Rooms
Although virtual escape rooms come with instructions and a game guide, some extra useful tips and tricks won’t hurt.
1) Be well familiarized with the video conferencing software
…well ahead of the game.
For instance, if you’re using Zoom, have it downloaded ahead of time. Take a look at the meeting ID, any passcode you need to enter, and so on. Also, pay attention to specific features you may need to use, such as a 360-degree scan of the room.
This is so because once you join the game, you shouldn’t be bothered with such technicalities and disrupt the experience for the other team players - your entire focus should be on solving the game.
2) Open communication is key
Whether you’re looking at the escape room, communicating with the game host, or analyzing clues, ongoing and clear communication is a must. Even if you think something is a bad idea, or you misunderstood something and now you’re ashamed of asking again, stating your views and opinions is worth it, so do speak up!
Communicating as a team won’t just help you escape the room, that is, win the game, but it will also make everything much more dynamic and amusing for everyone involved.
3) Have the guide search the room first thing
Game guides are much more important in escape room experiences than players initially realize. So, after you “enter” the room virtually, have the guide show you and your team any visible objects and the entire space right away (unless the game’s structured otherwise or there’s no such guide in the game you’re playing).
Also, ask them to go back to some items or parts of the room in case you’ve discovered new clues or you find it necessary for whatever reason - this may help you arrive at important conclusions.
4) Ask for Help
Escape room games are full of challenges, clues, and puzzles that they can easily become overwhelming, even for the most avid and patient of players.
That’s why - when in doubt, ask for a new clue.
Just don’t get stuck on a problem for a long time - it causes frustration for the entire group, runs the clock unnecessarily, and affects everyone’s confidence in a negative way. Plus, there’s no shame in asking for help - after all, this is meant to be a fun activity.
5) Concentrate
Playing an escape room game that takes you to another decade, an exotic setting, or provides you with breathtaking visual scenery may tempt you to focus on all these things except on actually solving the very thing you and your team are there for.
So, whenever you start feeling distracted or out of focus, remind yourself that you’re there to help your teammates escape the room, and shift your focus back on solving the game.
6) Take notes
Playing virtual escape games might lead you to believe that taking notes and using a pen and paper is unnecessary, however, once you’re faced with so many clues and puzzles, you’ll only wish you started writing things down sooner.
Note-taking helps you focus on upcoming information while sorting what you already know. It also allows you to arrange things chronically so that you understand the pattern behind things. You can compare notes with fellow players too.
7) Remain open-minded
Certain clues and information may be misleading or make you feel like you’ve figured everything out, but try to keep an open mind until you and your team have actually solved the game.
Use your reasoning, but pay attention to the not-so-obvious clues, objects, and pieces of information.
8) Don’t do everything on your own
Escape room games are played in groups for a good reason.
And it doesn’t matter how smart, resourceful, or fast you are - sharing information, collaborating with fellow players, and consulting others goes a long way. Others may provide ideas or insights into matters you may have neglected unintentionally.
9) Keep track of time
Most virtual escape rooms are time-sensitive. This means that if you run out of time, you’ll lose the game.
It’s a good idea to have at least one person on the team keep an eye on the time and how long it takes to figure out specific riddles, solve challenges, and arrange the information.
10) Watch and play escape room games
To get better at solving escape rooms, you need to be exposed to them.
And the more you get to play them, the better you get at winning them.
Slowly, you’ll start to see some patterns emerging, and your logic getting sharper and quicker. Also, you’ll see how much time you need to solve specific challenges, handle riddles, or arrive at a mutual decision with fellow players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are virtual escape rooms?
Virtual escape rooms, also known as exit games, virtual room escape, digital escape rooms, or simply escape games, are virtual game events in which a team of players is supposed to uncover various clues, solve puzzles and riddles, and complete tasks within a given amount of time in order to escape the room, that is, win the game.
Most of these games run on video conferencing platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Skype, or Zoom, however, they’re so immersive that players feel like they’re in a real room.
That said, as you already saw, there are escape games created in Google Forms as well.
Also, most of these games come with a Games Master, a field agent located in a physical room who listens to what players say and does the challenges on their behalf.
How does doing a virtual escape room online work?
What are the benefits of playing virtual escape rooms?
Playing virtual escape rooms comes with a plethora of benefits. Here are the most important ones:
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Alleviating stress: engaging in such remote adventures can help you unwind, reduce stress, put your worries aside, and take your mind off of your daily responsibilities and challenges.
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Bonding with people: such virtual events bring people closer and allows you to socialize with people you don’t communicate with so often (say your friend invites their friend to join, for instance).
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Collaboration with people: apart from bonding with fellow players, you get to collaborate with them too. Put simply, it’s not just about interacting with people - it’s about knowing how to work as a team.
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Improving problem-solving skills: you need to analyze clues, use logic, undertake challenges, and solve puzzles and riddles. Then you need to arrive at conclusions, and see whether you and your team were right all along.
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Improving organizational skills: you and your fellow players are required to complete tasks in a given time period, and escape the room within a given time frame. Also, you may need to delegate tasks within the group, as well as ensure smooth transition from one task to another, pay attention to the chronological order of information/content, and adjust everything so that things make sense.
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Promoting healthy competition: of course, escape rooms are played as teams, but there’s always someone who takes the lead, gives the most ideas, delegates tasks, comes up with awesome solutions, and so on.
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Learning new things: apart from you and your team having to use your already existing knowledge, you get to upgrade it too. This improves with time as you pick escape room games with different themes and subjects. Moreover, players learn other practical things in a non-standard way, such as how to approach solving riddles and puzzles, follow clues, and decipher information.
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Improving confidence and trust: in your fellow players, but in yourself as well. Taking pride in winning a game can have a great effect on one’s self-esteem, especially if the game came with many challenges (and most of these games do).
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Having fun: this is probably one of the main reasons why people play such games with their friends and family members, and why they love them so much.
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Being affordable: sure, you do need to pay for the more advanced escape room options out there, however, you get to play them multiple times, and you can share the expenses among all players. That said, you always have the option to try out some free virtual escape room games and then move to the paid options. In any way, playing virtual escape games is a relatively inexpensive activity, yet, the benefits as you can conclude by now are priceless.
How do I host a virtual escape room?
Hosting digital escape rooms isn’t a daunting task, yet knowing the right steps always comes in handy. Here’s what you should do to host an awesome virtual escape room experience:
- Pick the right online escape room for you and your friends/family. What type of an online adventure do you resonate with? Consider the budget as well. Can you afford to pay for such virtual events or would you like a free online experience? Also, pay attention to the group sizes - what games are suitable for smaller groups and which ones are for larger teams?
- Pick a date and time and send a reminder to everyone a few days before the event.
- Ask for help if you need assistance organizing the event. Although you’re playing with friends/family, certain matters need addressing and organizing, so it’s always good to have an extra hand.
- Test your tech. Trust us on this one.
- Record the online game event. Naturally, this is optional, but it could be fun to go back to the game and rewatch it from another perspective - who knows, you might organize another event to simply watch the recording and laugh with your fellow players. Plus, you’ll definitely notice some things you missed the first time while playing the game.
- Have fun and enjoy yourselves.
Final Words
There you have it - the 16 best virtual escape rooms out there!
Some are fairly easy, and others come with more challenges, but all of them are certainly going to make you appreciate spending time with your loved ones.
So just pick a game, get ready for an online adventure, invite your friends or family members, and enjoy the remote escape room ride!