Frequently Asked Questions
What is an escape room?
AAn escape room is a live, interactive adventure where you and your team enter a themed room and have 60 minutes to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and complete your mission. Every clue and challenge is woven into the story, creating an immersive experience where teamwork and creative thinking are the keys to success.
What makes Novel Escape different from other escape rooms?
Novel Escape is Austin’s only literary-themed escape room! Our adventures are inspired by classic stories and novels, combining immersive environments, memorable characters, and creative challenges. All of our rooms are designed and built from scratch by our in-house team of custom puzzle makers.
Do I need to read the book before playing?
No! Our games are designed for everyone, and you can solve the room whether you’ve read the book or not. Familiarity with the story may help you appreciate certain details, but it won’t help you solve the puzzles.
Is Novel Escape suitable for first-time players?
Yes. Many of our guests are trying an escape room for the first time. Our Game Masters are available to provide hints whenever needed, and our rooms are designed to be approachable for beginners while still offering an engaging challenge for experienced players.
Who are your escape rooms best suited for?
Our rooms are popular with a wide variety of groups, including:
Families seeking a shared adventure
Friends celebrating a special occasion
Couples looking for a unique date night
Corporate teams participating in team-building activities
Will we play with strangers?
No. Every booking at Novel Escape is private! Once you reserve a game, your group will be the only players participating in that experience.
Do I need to book in advance?
We strongly recommend that you do! We can sometimes take walk-in players, but we are a small operation and we are not always able to run a game without notice. Bookings must be made at least an hour in advance.
What happens if I'm late?
Because our rooms are scheduled throughout the day to start at specific intervals, it's critical that you begin your game on time. Please arrive on time and ready to play!
Is this really scary?
No. Our rooms are exciting, not scary. You'll get pretty amped up trying to complete your mission before time runs out, but you won't ever feel afraid.
What if I already booked a room and want to add someone to our group?
Not a problem! You can email us at info@novelescape.com to let us know, or just bring them in and we'll add them to the booking when you get here.
Are we really locked in the room?
No, but pretend you are. It's more fun that way.
Can we get help if we get stuck?
Yes! Our Game Master works to ensure that you and your team have a great and challenging experience, not a frustrating one.
Are there age restrictions?
We generally recommend ages 12 and up, but if you have a younger child and would like guidance on whether this would be a good fit for them, please give us a call at 512-522-3889. Players under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or other familiar adult.
How many players can be in a single room?
We believe that smaller rooms are better experiences for the players, so we design our rooms for 2-6 people per room. Generally we recommend 4-5 depending on your experience level. However, we can accommodate up to 8 people, so if you have a larger group that wants to stay together that’s completely fine. (Simply book for 6, and pay for the others when you arrive.)
Can I book a room for a specific event (corporate, school, etc.)?
Yes! Give us a call to make it happen.
What are the rules for people under the influence?
We're all for having a good time, but to prevent accidents or damage to the room, we ask that you don't show up under the influence of any mind-altering substance. Our staff reserves the right to request that you leave, without warning or a refund, for too much tomfoolery.