A virtual escape room, everyone in their own home
Friends in Chicago, your sister in Seattle, coworkers working from home? The same case shows up on every screen, and the only way out is to talk it through.
The challenge of a virtual escape room
With a virtual escape room the risk is always the same: one person shares their screen, everyone else watches, and the game turns into a spectator sport. Formats with a host bring the session to life, but you have to book a slot.
We do it differently: every player has their own screen, their own documents and their own tools. Nobody can sit back and watch, because the solution is spread across everyone.
How to play a virtual escape room
- One person sets up the game by choosing “Play remotely” and shares the link or the code.
- Everyone opens the link on a laptop, tablet or phone, and joins the group call on their usual app.
- The video starts at the same moment for everybody. Marcel, the night guard, locks the team inside the museum.
- Everyone searches the room on their own screen, with their own flashlight and tool, and receives their documents.
- You share what you find out loud, or with a tap: a document shown to the group appears on every screen and stays pinned to the case board.
Why roles change everything
In After Hours at the Museum, four roles share the clues: the Archivist, the Egyptologist, the Technician and the Musician. One holds half of a decoding table, another holds the second half. One reads the camera timestamps, another knows which ones are running ahead. In a remote game, that split forces you to describe, ask questions and rephrase. It is exactly what keeps the game lively, even when you are not in the same room.
An online escape room to play remotely, with family or with a team
The format suits grandparents who want to play with their grandkids over the holidays just as well as a team looking for something to do on a video call. There is no host to book: you play when you want, in about an hour and a half. For a company, the team building page explains how to run several teams, and the family escape room page shows how to play across generations.
What you need
- One screen per player, ideally a laptop for the video, plus the phone as flashlight and notebook.
- A group call open for the whole game.
- A regular internet connection on each side.
The first room is free for everyone, and only the organizer buys the game if they want to keep going. Details are on the pricing page. For gear and tips, read our guide to playing remotely with friends. Everyone in the same living room? See escape room at home instead.
Frequently asked questions
Which calling app should we use?
Whichever one you already use: WhatsApp, Discord, Teams, Meet, FaceTime or a plain group call. The game doesn't handle voice, it focuses on the screen and the clues.
Does everyone see the same thing at the same time?
Yes. The videos and the room you explore are synced on every screen. When someone shows a document to the group, it shows up for everybody.
Does everyone have to pay?
No. Only the person who hosts the game buys it. The others join with the link or the code, with no account and nothing to pay. The first room is free for everyone.
Does it work for colleagues?
Yes, for groups of 1 to 4 players per game, with no host and at whatever time suits you. For several teams at once or a company invoice, see the team building page.
Do I need a laptop as well as my phone?
It's more comfortable that way: the laptop shows the video and the room, the phone works as a flashlight and notebook. On a big-screen phone or a tablet, the game is still playable on a single device.
Can two of us play a virtual escape room?
Yes. Each of you stays home with a screen and a phone, and a simple call between the two of you is all you need.