10 Reasons You Should Play an Escape Game RIGHT NOW

1. Escape rooms are fun fun fun

Let’s just get this most obvious reason out of the way. Why play an escape game? Because it’s 45 minutes of pure fun, from the word go to the last second on the timer.

2. All the kids are doing it

Although people of all ages love a good escape game, they’re especially popular with millennials. Clearly, hitting an escape room is the hip thing to do.

3. Escape games work out your brain

Not just fun and popular, escape rooms offer a chance for you to put to work brain muscles you might not have exercised since high school. Keeping those synapse firing and your logic gears working means escape games provide great brain care.

4. You can impress your date with your bravery

Not only can you show your new beau how smart you are, you can impress him with your bravery when the zombies begin snapping their teeth at you, with only 5 minutes left on the clock …

5. Being under pressure is good for you

There’s proof that pressure makes us accomplish more, helps our brains work better, and turns us into more resilient people. Thanks, escape games!

6. Escape games make for some serious bonding

Need to make a team gel? Throw them into an escape room. Then see what a well-oiled machine they are after working together to crack all the codes and clues we throw at them.

7. A little scare never hurt anyone

Although not all escape games are scary, our favourite ones sure are! Here at Krakit Vancouver Escape Game we currently have three horror-themed rooms to get your blood pumping. Extra shot of adrenaline, coming up!

8. Belly laughter is the best medicine

What follows a jump scare or a seriously fumbled clue but serious laughter? You and your friends are guaranteed at least three giggle fits with each escape game you play.

9. You get your money’s worth

Pound for pound, a ticket to an escape room provides you with more than any movie ticket or baseball game (especially on Cheap Tuesdays at Krakit!). Why? Because immersive entertainment is more fulfilling and memory-making.

10. Escape is good for the soul

Taking some time for a little fantasist escape is necessary to staying sane in today’s hyper-paced world. It’s like Dungeons & Dragons come to life! What’s not to love.

Test your skill in one of Krakit’s four Vancouver escape games by booking here: http://bookeo.com/krakit.

Let Your Fear Guide You

A fearful encounter becomes enjoyable when we can accurately gauge the risk of harm. Our bodies are genetically disposed to a fight-or-flight protection response when confronted with fear. When we increase our emotional encounters surrounding our fears, our brains ability to access actual danger improves. We still experience the emotion of being scared, but our mind lets us enjoy the experience rather than running from it.

The science behind enjoying a fearful experience begins and ends in the brain. Emotional experiences stimulate the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes emotional learning and memory. The amygdala increases the production of a protein known as Arc. This protein strengthens the synapses in the hippocampus that store long-term memories. With stronger connections, the brain is more prone to remember an emotional event rather than a neutral one. We use these memories to gauge risk.

Young children are more susceptible to unnecessary emotional responses when confronted with fear because their brain is unable to make the distinction between reality and fiction. Their brains have a limited number of experiences to pull from, so there bodies gauge the risk as high.

This is one of the major reasons why we don't recommend our escape rooms for anyone under the age of eight. We also suggest that an adult accompany guests between the ages of eight and thirteen.

Fearful encounters can also be used for treatment. When we increase our experiences with situations that we consider fearful, our bank of emotional memories increases. Our brain remembers that the experience ended without harm and our anxiety is reduced, reducing our fear. This form of treatment is termed cognitive therapy. It can be used to treat phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder for unnecessary anxiety.

Another benefit of fear is that it focuses our attention. In a flight-or-fight situation, our minds need to be on point. Fear reduces our concern with trivial thoughts and forces our brains to make quick and effective responses to threats.

With a time limit of 45 minutes, Vancouver's Escape Game uses fear to promote success. When we increase the fear factor, we create an atmosphere that demands speedy decision-making. Put the clues together, solve the puzzle and escape to freedom.

Harness your fears and you are guaranteed to enjoy the game.

Ignore Yoda's advice. Channel your fear.