“We are ten, does that work?” is the most common question on the phone. The answer is yes, with one condition: a room takes 2 to 6 people, so a large group needs several rooms starting at the same time. At Escape City in Zurich-Altstetten six rooms run in parallel, so up to 36 people play at once. Here is how to organise it.
Splitting teams: the rule of thumb
| People | Rooms | Split | Room cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7–8 | 2 | 4 + 4 or 3 + 4 | CHF 299–328 |
| 9–12 | 2–3 | e.g. 4 + 4 + 4 | CHF 380–492 |
| 13–18 | 3–4 | teams of 4 and 5 | CHF 560–760 |
| 19–24 | 4–5 | teams of 5 and 6 | CHF 780–1,000 |
| 25–36 | 5–6 | teams of 6 | CHF 1,000–1,260 |
Basis: CHF 99 for 2, 135 for 3, 164 for 4, 190 for 5, 210 for 6 players per room. Per person that is CHF 35 to 49.50; the fuller the rooms, the cheaper.
How it works
- Book the rooms online, for any group size; for events with apéro, meeting room or cake use the form on the event pages; each room at the same start time.
- Arrive 15 minutes before the start. Teams are fixed, the game master assigns the rooms.
- 60 minutes at the same time. Every room has its own game master on the radio.
- Bar & lounge. Everyone comes out at the same time and compares: who was faster, who needed more hints. Around 100 seats, apéro packages from CHF 69 per person.
Distributing rooms fairly
Mix the difficulty, otherwise the team in Titanic always wins. For six teams: Titanic (4), Star Wars (5), Resident Evil (5), Ninja Turtles (6), The Ring (7, volunteers only), Houdini (8, the ambitious). At the end compare time plus number of hints rather than time alone, that is fairer.
More than 36 people
Up to 60 people play in two rounds: the first half starts, the second half is at the bar, then they swap. With an apéro riche or flying dinner it becomes an evening of three to four hours. For companies on invoice, with a meeting room for the time in between.
Three mistakes large groups make
- Arriving late. Six rooms start together; whoever arrives 20 minutes late plays 40 minutes.
- Forming teams on site. It takes ages and ends with the one team nobody wanted.
- No plan for afterwards. The comparison round at the bar is the best part, schedule it.
Frequently asked questions
How many people can play at Escape City at the same time?
Up to 36 people in six rooms, 2 to 6 per room. Up to 60 people in two rounds.
How much does an escape room for 10 people cost?
Two rooms with 5 players cost CHF 190 each, CHF 380 in total, so CHF 38 per person. Three rooms with 3 or 4 players are slightly more.
How much does an escape room for 8 people cost?
Two rooms with 4 players each at CHF 164, so CHF 328 or CHF 41 per person.
From how many people do we need to enquire instead of booking online?
You book rooms online in any size, several rooms at the same time. The request form is for events with apéro, meeting room or cake.
Can the teams compete against each other?
Yes. Everyone starts at the same time, and at the end you compare time and number of hints at the bar.
