Using diversion safes can add an intriguing layer of complexity and realism to an escape room experience. After all, escape rooms are all about immersing players, right? Diversion safes are everyday objects modified to hide valuables. They can serve as clever hiding spots for clues or keys in an escape room. These safes blend into the environment, making the discovery more challenging and rewarding for players.
However, you never want to rely on players discovering a diversion safe on their own. Clues are needed to help players find any diversion safe you use in your game. Diversion safes can be a fun and rewarding prop, but use them sparingly.
Types of Diversion Safes
Diversion safes can range from book safes, where a compartment is carved inside a book, to more elaborate ones like fake electrical outlets, hollowed-out furniture, or even inconspicuous-looking rocks or cans. The key is to choose safes that naturally fit into the room’s theme and decor, maintaining the illusion and enhancing the storyline.
Here are 10 examples that could be used:
Book Safe
This one’s a classic. A book safe is a real book modified with a hollowed-out space inside. It can blend seamlessly into a bookshelf, and finding the right book often requires solving a literary clue or riddle. There are also ones you can buy, that are not made from real books, but still look the part from the outside, like a Beauty and the Beast book safe.
If you’re looking to make your own and don’t need it to lock, check out this video.
Wall Outlet Safe
A fake wall outlet that can be pulled out to reveal a small hiding space is something I have seen in an escape room. This is great for modern or urban-themed rooms. However, you are “teaching” your players that messing with wall outlets is okay. This is something most escape room game masters warn players not to touch. By having a wall outlet safe you are in essence breaking a cardinal escape room rule. As they say, though, rules are meant to be broken.
Food Cans
A seemingly ordinary can of corn can be hollow with a compartment in the bottom. This one works well in a kitchen setting or a bunker with stored canned food.
Rock Safe
Perfect for outdoor or adventure-themed rooms, these are realistic-looking rocks with a cavity inside. They can be used in a faux garden or gravel path setting within the room. We have experienced this in an escape room once. The problem is that the game did not clue players in very well to find the key hidden in a rock. While I love rock safes for home use, I’m not sure about using them in escape rooms.
Soda Can Safe
A safe disguised as a common soda can. It could be placed amongst other cans, requiring players to find the right one perhaps by weight or a hidden marking. I have used one myself in an escape room backpack game. The issue here is that most players will not know how to open it. In their attempts, the soda can might be ruined as a safe.
Furniture Safe
Part of the furniture, like a chair or table, has a secret compartment. This could be under a seat cushion, within a table leg, or behind a false panel. Clear clueing will be necessary if hiding something in the leg of a table or behind a false panel.
Painting Safe
A painting hanging on the wall with a hidden compartment behind it is another option. Alternatively, you don’t even need to have a compartment. Instead, you can write something on the back or tape a note or key to the back.
Plant Pot Safe
A regular-looking plant pot with a false bottom. Players might need to move or look inside multiple pots to find the one that conceals a clue. Keep in mind, though, that if you hide something in one plant, players will look through any other plants you have.
Floating Shelf Safe
A wall-mounted shelf that appears normal but can slide open to reveal a hidden space. It could be used to store any number of small objects or clues. My preferred way of using a safe like this is to have the opening triggered by solving another puzzle so that it opens automatically.
Clock Safe
A wall or desk clock where the face or entire body of the clock swings open to reveal a compartment. Solving a time-related clue might be necessary to access the contents. I’ve used a wall clock in an escape room. We had to purchase many of them because the off-the-shelf wall clock safes are flimsy. We had to replace it every two to three months.
Integrating Diversion Safes
To effectively integrate diversion safes into an escape room keep these tips in mind. They should be obvious, but it’s always good to be reminded of the basics.
- Theme Alignment: Ensure the safe matches the room’s theme. For instance, a vintage book safe would suit a detective-themed room, while a fake rock safe might be perfect for an outdoor adventure scenario.
- Clue Placement: Place clues leading to the diversion safe in a way that challenges the players but doesn’t frustrate them. It’s about finding the balance between too obvious and too obscure.
- Instructional Balance: Provide enough instruction to prevent undue frustration, but not so much that you give the game away. Sometimes, a subtle hint is all that’s needed to steer players in the right direction.
- Multiple Uses: Consider using the safes for more than just the final key or code. They can hold pieces of a puzzle that players need to assemble or clues that provide the backstory to the escape room’s theme.
Benefits of Using Diversion Safes
- Enhanced Realism: Using objects that could realistically hide something makes the scenario more believable and immersive.
- Increased Difficulty: Finding a key in a lock is one thing; discovering a secret compartment in a seemingly mundane object is another level of challenge.
- Surprise Factor: The delight and surprise when players discover a hidden compartment contribute to a memorable experience.
Challenges and Considerations
- Difficulty Level: If the safe is too well hidden or the clues too vague, players will become frustrated. It’s essential to test the room with different groups to find a good balance.
- Safety and Accessibility: Ensure the safes are accessible to all players and don’t require excessive force or dexterity to open, which might lead to injury or damage.
- Maintenance: Regularly check the safes for wear and tear, especially if they require manipulation to open. A broken safe can ruin the game for players. I recommend keeping multiple backups in storage.
Diversion safes can really enhance the experience of an escape room by making the environment more interactive and immersive. When well integrated, they contribute to the storyline and challenge players in unexpected and satisfying ways. However, their success depends on good planning and consideration of the players’ experience from start to finish.
