Design and Implementation of an Educational Escape Rooms Class

An escape room is a game in which a player or team of players is locked in a room or series of rooms. To exit the room successfully, they must solve puzzles or search for clues within a set amount of time. While commercial escape rooms are typically designed for entertainment, an escape room format can be used as an educational experience as well. A well-designed escape room can heighten engagement, provide immediate feedback, and help practice and cooperation. This paper describes the design and implementation of an educational escape rooms class at a major university in the Philippines. It describes the class's goals and objectives, and the major elements of an escape room's design. The class was offered during the second semester (January to May) of 2024 and the summer session (June to July) of 2024. The paper discusses two of the rooms that were designed by the members of the class, and some feedback from the games' alpha testers.