We have played a handful of 80s-themed escape rooms, and we usually find them lacking, either in story, set design puzzles, or a combination of the three. Sure, there are a couple we enjoyed, but as a theme, we find it has a lot of potential but designers struggle to pull it off well.
The 1980s were known for their distinctive pop culture, technology, and fashion, making it a rich period to draw from for creating an engaging and immersive experience. We’d like to try our hand with this theme and that means deciding on 80s props to use. I’m not talking puzzles, per se. I’m thinking of decorations, though they may end up as part of puzzles.
I believe the key is to make it an exaggerated set of the 80s. Lean into the theme. Disneyfy it, if you will. Here is a general list of props to consider. If you are thinking about designing an 80s game, this may be of help.
Cassette Tapes and Players: Nothing screams ’80s like a collection of cassette tapes featuring popular bands and artists from the era. A cassette player, preferably a boombox, can be a central piece.
Puzzle Idea: Participants could be required to find a specific tape and play it to reveal a clue hidden in the song or its lyrics.
Retro Computers and Video Games: Vintage computers like the Commodore 64 or an Atari gaming system can serve as great interactive props.
Puzzle Idea: Use a simple program or game with a hidden message or code that players need to decipher.
Rubik’s Cube and Puzzles: Iconic toys like the Rubik’s Cube can be both decorative and functional puzzle elements.
Puzzle Idea: Completing the cube or a similar puzzle could reveal the next clue or key.
Neon Signs and Posters: Bright neon lights and posters of popular ’80s movies, bands, or products can set the mood and provide coded messages.
Puzzle Idea: Turning off certain neon letters or interpreting a poster’s hidden message might be the key to moving forward.
Rotary Phones and Phonebooks: A classic rotary phone, along with a phonebook, can be a great throwback communication device.
Puzzle Idea: Players might need to dial a specific number or find a hidden message in a phonebook entry. Don’t have them dial 867-5309; that’s too easy.
80s Fashion Accessories: Leg warmers, headbands, neon bracelets, and sunglasses can not only serve as costumes but also as part of the game.
Puzzle Idea: Assembling a specific outfit or matching accessories to a character could unlock a clue.
Film and Music Memorabilia: Items like movie scripts, vinyl records, concert tickets, or backstage passes from famous ’80s films and concerts.
Puzzle Idea: Clues could be hidden within the lyrics of a hit song or the lines of a classic movie script.
Old Magazines and Newspapers: Periodicals from the time can provide an authentic touch and a treasure trove of information.
Puzzle Idea: Players might have to check earmarked or tabbed pages to find dates, names, or events that relate to the escape room’s storyline.
Arcade Machines: If space and budget allow, a functioning arcade machine with classic games like Pac-Man or Space Invaders can be a major draw.
Puzzle Idea: Achieving a certain score or reaching a particular level might reveal the next clue.
Spy Gear: Spy kits, with items like invisible ink, magnifying glasses, and secret decoders, reflect the era’s fascination with espionage and detective stories.
Puzzle Idea: A message written in invisible ink on a seemingly blank paper could be a crucial clue.
But what if you are designing an 80s-high-school-themed escape room?
Creating an 80s-themed high school escape room is a unique way to capture the essence of the decade with a fun, nostalgic setting. The 1980s were a defining period for teen culture, movies, music, and fashion, making a high school backdrop the perfect stage for an engaging escape room experience. Here are various props and ideas you could incorporate to bring an ’80s high school to life:
Locker with Combination Lock: An old-school metal locker, complete with a combination lock, can serve as a central puzzle piece.
Puzzle Idea: Players need to find the combination hidden in yearbook messages or on graffiti-laden bathroom walls to unlock it and retrieve a clue or essential item.
Yearbooks and Class Photos: Authentic or re-created yearbooks and class photos from the 80s, featuring typical hairstyles and fashion of the era.
Puzzle Idea: Players might need to identify a particular student or teacher, or decipher a message hidden in the notes.
Jukebox or Boombox with Mixed Tapes: A classic 80s boombox or a mini jukebox that plays hit songs from the decade.
Puzzle Idea: Solving a musical puzzle, like playing the correct sequence of songs or deciphering lyrics that point to the next clue.
Textbooks and Notebooks with Doodles: Vintage textbooks on subjects like biology or algebra, and notebooks with notes and doodles.
Puzzle Idea: Deciphering a student’s notes or solving a problem that reveals a numeric code.
Posters: Posters of popular 80s movies, bands, or public service announcements typically found in a high school setting.
Puzzle Idea: Interpreting a hidden message or code from the poster images or taglines.
Retro Computer Lab: Old Apple II or Commodore 64 computers set up in a mock computer lab.
Puzzle Idea: Players must use the computers to solve a programming puzzle or retrieve data from a floppy disk.
Fashion and Accessories Corner: A rack of 80s high school fashion items like letterman jackets, neon leggings, scrunchies, and Ray-Bans.
Puzzle Idea: Matching a clothing item to a character described in a yearbook or finding a hidden message in a jacket pocket.
Gym Equipment and Trophies: Vintage gym equipment, dodgeballs, and a case of sports trophies.
Puzzle Idea: A clue hidden inside a trophy or a combination lock on a gym locker that needs to be opened.
AV Cart and VHS Tapes: An AV cart with a tube TV and VCR, along with a collection of classic 80s movies and educational tapes.
Puzzle Idea: Players need to play the correct VHS tape to reveal a visual clue or watch a specific scene to answer a question.
Science Lab Setup: Beakers, test tubes, and periodic tables that mimic an 80s high school science lab.
Puzzle Idea: Mixing the correct “chemicals” (colored water) or completing an electrical circuit to reveal the next step.
Bulletin Board with Announcements: A bulletin board filled with school announcements, club flyers, and cafeteria menus.
Puzzle Idea: Deciphering a code hidden in the daily announcements or piecing together torn flyer pieces to form a message.
Detention Slips and Hall Passes: Customized detention slips and hall passes that might have been used by teachers in the 80s.
Puzzle Idea: Collecting specific passes or arranging detention slips in chronological order to reveal a pattern or code.
Incorporating these props into your 80s high school-themed escape room can create an immersive experience. To enhance the ambiance, add a soundtrack of 80s hits and decorate with era-specific colors and patterns. Think Saved by the Bell.
