Ah,
group size. The incessantly debated topic within every friend group since the
beginning of time (don’t fact check us on that one). How does one decide the perfect
number of people to invite, while balancing not offending someone with ensuring
the least amount of stress for everyone involved?
Then
you throw an escape room into the mix, and you want to make sure you have a
shot at winning. It can be absolutely maddening. The good news for you is
escape room activities are just as fun with large groups as they are in small
groups. And the even better news? We’ve laid out the pros and cons of each end group
size for you so you can pick the best number of people to fit your objective.
Activities in Large Groups
You
may be thinking, “Okay, large is great, but how large are we talking?” Great
question. We’re not saying you should bring a huge family reunion or crowd of people
everywhere you go. That wouldn’t be fun for anyone. For the sake of
plausibility, we’re talking the escape room maximum-number-of-participants
size, which is usually eight to twelve people. And for those who balked at the
number being above seven, take a deep breath. Here are a few factors to
consider.
Pros
The
classic “let’s split up to cover more ground” tactic may not always work well
in scary movies, but it’s an excellent strategy for an escape room. More sets
of eyes over the room will ensure you don’t miss anything, and when you have
more people analyzing the clues and information, you’ll be able to find the
solutions more quickly. Plus, the whole point of an escape room is to spend
time quality time with your group and enjoy yourselves. When you’re with more
people you love, the whole experience is more fun and you make happy memories
for everyone to look back on.
Trying
an escape room in large groups can also be the best way for you and your squad
to feel the full effects of this mental “workout.” Escape rooms put soft skills
to the test. That’s why so many offices and teams use them as a bonding experience
to improve communication, problem-solving, and creativity. When you bring a larger group into the room,
it may be more challenging to implement and master these skills at the moment,
but you leave with a great deal of improvement.
Cons
The
problem with doing activities in large groups is message interference, a term
coined by professionals and professors in the communications realm.
Interference is any noise or activity distracting two parties from the
information being passed back and forth between them (their conversation). This
can especially be a problem for large groups. Having more people in a confined
space means more information coming at you from every direction, which causes a
great deal of chaos. This makes for more stress, and stress means tension,
which is a perfect recipe for disaster in terms of a successful escape room
experience.
If
you want to try escape room activities in large groups, the previously
discussed “cons” are easily avoided with a bit of preparation. Take time as a
group to focus, assign roles, or whatever it takes to ensure everyone’s on
their game and ready for the challenge.
Activities in Small Groups
While
some people might prefer an escape room stint on their own, it’s not typically encouraged
by escape facilities (usually there’s a requirement of two people at a time)
and it’s not nearly as fun. A small group for an escape room would constitute
two to four people, and if those numbers seem like they’d be nice and simple,
it’s because they are.
Pros
When
you have smaller, more concentrated numbers, you’re able to streamline the
escape room experience and enter the room with more focus. Naturally, with
fewer people, there will be less of the interference we previously discussed
because there are fewer sources of activity in the confined space. Because of
this, you’ll be able to process the situation more thoroughly and you’ll feel
less stressed by the amount of inevitable chaos caused by larger numbers of
people.
Cons
On
the other hand, fewer people may mean more peace, but it also means less
perspective and ideas. In smaller groups, it’s easier to find yourself stuck on
one small portion of the room or one clue because you don’t have as diverse of
a skill set and outlook in regard to problem-solving. It’ll take more time for
you to move past that mental block, which will tank your statistical
probability of escaping. And, honestly, smaller groups are often less fun.
You’re with fewer people, and while those people may be fun and exciting, it’s
hard to replicate the whimsical, exciting atmosphere of doing activities in
large groups.
People
who attempt escape rooms in small groups are often the more intense and
competitive types. If that’s your speed, more power to you. For those who are more
serious
about their escape endeavors, there are resources to help you strategize your
record-breaking escape time with a perfectly formulated group.
Choosing the Best Group Size for Your Next Escape Room
What’s
the verdict on this deeply philosophical and definitely science-based debate? There’s
isn’t one. It’s completely up to you and what you’re looking to accomplish by
attempting an escape room. Escape room activities in large groups offer a more
laid-back and fun experience, while escape rooms in smaller groups offer a more
streamlined and competitive approach. Again, it’s highly dependent on the group
and the personalities within it.
If
you’d like to further postulate the psychology of
escape activities
in large or small groups, you’re invited to learn more. Or, if you want to put
these theories and hypotheses to the test, visit EscapeWorks Denver and reserve an escape room for
your group to experience it all firsthand. Purely in the name of science, of
course.
