Puzzle Donation Drive
COVID-19 Preparedness Update
March 13, 2020
The Five Love Languages in Escape Rooms
February 8, 2021
S taying home has brought about a thirst for entertainment and ways to keep the mind sharp. Here at New Mexico Escape Room, we understand that it’s not always feasible for folks to make it out to play one of our thrilling escape rooms, so we are organizing a puzzle drive! We are working with Joy Junction and Alta Mira to distribute these gently used or new puzzles to homebound members of our community.
If you have any other questions or concerns regarding our Puzzle Drive, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at info@NMEsapeRoom.com, phone call at (505) 289-1002, social media platforms, or in person at either location.
Escape rooms and puzzles do have similar elements to each other, despite originating in the 21st and 18th centuries respectively. Putting together puzzles presents opportunities to develop strategies and get into the mindset for solving escape rooms.
Jigsaw puzzles have been around for hundreds of years dating back to the 1760s when they were first developed by cartographer John Spilsbury utilizing maps as his source material. At the time, pieces were quite hefty and made from solid wood cut by marquetry saws with the intent for teaching children geography. With advancements in technology and production, puzzle materials range from cardboard to acrylics, puzzle pieces are cut with jigsaws (hence the name), die-cutters, and lasers (allowing for more intricate designs), and puzzle artwork has expanded to a multitude of mediums. Jigsaw puzzles are common household pastimes due to mass production, but finely crafted ones are still created. For more information on the history of puzzles, check out this article.
Putting together puzzles at home does have transferable skills to solving an in-person escape room. A good approach for both jigsaw puzzles and escape rooms is to take what you have and figure out what you know. With puzzles, separating out and then placing together the edge pieces allows for you to fill in the inner pieces within the structure; with escape rooms, for example, it helps to look for types of physical locks and what they require to open them helping you narrow your search.
Sometimes, you may come across a puzzle piece that you are quite certain must fit in a specific spot, but try as you might it doesn’t work; in escape rooms, you may think you have the right solution or approach to a puzzle, but it isn’t working how you envisioned it. In both instances, taking a step back to (literally) look at the bigger picture may reveal a simpler solution that you may have been overlooking with such a narrow scope. At certain points of your puzzling endeavors, you may get frustrated and not see the end in sight, even getting overwhelmed by what looms in front of you. That’s ok. Take a moment to breathe and ask for some help, be it from another member in your household or your game master, depending on the situation. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Escape rooms consist of a variety of puzzle styles, but may have a tactile puzzle or two to physically put together, albeit not nearly as complex or arduous as a jigsaw puzzle. Typically jigsaw puzzles are accompanied with an image of the final product, making it easier to see what you are working towards; escape rooms may seem daunting in the first few minutes of your game until you get your bearings and a better idea of what you are striving for. Apart from any speed competition for jigsaw puzzles, time isn’t necessarily a pressing matter for putting together a puzzle. However, the satisfaction of completing a puzzle or an escape room whether on your own or cooperating with others is still a fulfilling experience.
While escape rooms haven’t been around anywhere near as long as jigsaw puzzles have, without the latter, the former wouldn’t exist. Puzzles are the foundation and key element to any escape room. Warm up your brain at home and then come play one of our escape rooms to test your wits!
