Escaping Together: Different player types, Which one are you?

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In a previous post, we talked about different strategies for completing an escape room, and how no single approach is guaranteed to be successful. But what about the people we tackle these challenges with?

In any escape room team, you're likely to encounter a variety of player types, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. So, to help you better understand your teammates and achieve peak escaping success, we compiled for you some of the most common player archetypes we've encountered.

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P.s. If you're planning on doing an escape room in Amsterdam, our Ultimate Escape Room guide can help!

Escape room player types

The Pack Leader: 

This person is the team's de facto leader, usually stepping up to take charge from the get-go. They're great at directing people, gathering everyone around to control the focus, and assigning tasks where necessary. They're like Hannibal from the A-Team, revelling in the moment a plan comes together, leading their team to victory!

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However, be wary of too much control! Power corrupts and can quash the team's creativity, leading to missed opportunities and untimely defeats.

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The Rebel:

This player is the polar opposite of the pack leader. They quickly come out as lone wolves, often striking out in their own direction when everyone else is gathering in one place. They come up with interesting suggestions that are very much out of left field, and can thus provide a valuable outside perspective.

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Think of them as the "wild card" of the team, who may just come up with the perfect solution when you least expect it.

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The Nutty One:

This player isn't taking the game too seriously and is mostly there to have fun. They may occasionally disrupt the group process with their antics, but ultimately they provide a much-needed dose of levity to a potentially stressful situation.

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Embrace their goofy energy and try not to get too frustrated when they knock over a prop or two! Who knows, it might just be the one you needed to finish the last puzzle…

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The Brainy One: 

This player is all about using their intellect to solve puzzles and challenges, and can often excel in individual tasks. They're great at focusing on singular brainteasers  and finding intricate solutions, but the downside is that they're easily lured into a rabbit hole and may lose sight of the bigger picture. 

To balance out their analytical approach, it's important to make sure they stay engaged with the rest of the team. But we all know time would run much faster without their brain power!

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The Zen Master: 

This player is the team's calming influence, providing a sense of balance and grounding to the group dynamic. They're especially useful when the pack leader is getting carried away with ordering everyone around and can help keep nerves calm during tense moments. That’s particularly true for those dexterity-based puzzles, thank god for their stable hands! 

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However, too much of this player type and not much gets done, as they may lack the assertiveness needed to make tough decisions.

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Unlocking Success: Balancing Player Types and Roles in Escape Room Team

Now that you're familiar with some of the most common player types you're likely to encounter in an escape room team, it's up to you to strike the right balance between them. If you’re looking to apply your learnings immediately, take a look at our ultimate escape room guide in Amsterdam for Sherlocked-certified local escape games.

Whether you're a pack leader, a nutty one, or something in between, the key to success is understanding your own strengths and weaknesses, and learning to work with the strengths and weaknesses of others. Of course, that’s one more reason to join an escape game as an infant team looking for better cohesion, but before you do, check out our article on why you should(n't) use escape rooms as a team-building activity for your group!

So, next time you gather your team for an escape room challenge -we recommend our room The Vault for a true personality reveal-, consider challenging yourselves to try out different roles and approaches. Who knows? You might just unlock a new level of success!

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