Frequently Asked Questions
The Escape Room Experience
An escape room is a puzzle-based live-action activity where players work in a team to complete a series of themed challenges in order to complete a mission before the timer runs out. Think of it as ‘gym for the mind’. Escape rooms require pattern recognition, communication, teamwork, an eye for detail and excellent search and find skills, which make them perfect for friends, family, corporates and schools.
An escape room experience at Paniq Room will cost between $45-$60 per person, depending on group size. Please see our booking pages for our current pricing. For groups of 15+, please email us for discounted group pricing. Children 7 and under play free (one per paying adult / minimum booking fee applies).Â
Nope. When you make a booking at Paniq Room, you are making a private booking for that room, and the room is for the use of your group of friends only!
You have 60 minutes inside the room to escape! Please allow 75 minutes for the whole experience, as your friendly gamemaster will need to explain the rules and give you your mission before the game. After you’ve escape, we’ll need a few minutes take your team photo!Â
Wear whatever you are comfortable in! None of our rooms require lots of climbing or strenuous physical activity. Skirts are fine. Heels are fine. If you are going to dinner afterwards, rest assured, your outfit is suitable for play!
We definitely recommend you bring your glasses if you use them! You might even be the one who finds the light switch!
Unfortunately we don’t allow mobiles inside our escape rooms. Enjoy the hour to disconnect, distraction-free!Â
Choosing and Booking Your Escape Room At Paniq Room
Excellent! We can’t wait to host your team! All escape room bookings must be made online using our booking system (unfortunately we cannot accept bookings over the phone or via email). At time of booking, you will be asked to pay a $120 deposit to secure your room.Â
Each of our escape rooms is thematically designed to immerse you in the room’s puzzles and each are different in their atmosphere and puzzles. Take a look at the descriptions of each of our escape rooms and see which theme most appeals. Or why not come back and try them all?
All six of PaniQ Room’s escape rooms are rated 4/5 difficulty. Game difficulty can be adjusted by asking for more or less hints, depending on how experienced your group is. Our gamemasters have been trained to assess your ability level and offer just the right amount of help to give your group the best chance of success (and leave you alone if you’re doing well!) At PaniQ Room, we offer unlimited hints.Â
A good understanding of the English language is necessary to play our escape rooms. The games operate in English and all tasks are written in EnglishÂ
Absolutely! Here at Paniq Room we cater to all skill levels – from first-timers to experienced players. All players have a dedicated gamemaster on hand to offer clues and hints along the way to make sure you have a wonderful first escape!
Our rooms are designed for a maximum of 8 players (The Hotel Lift max 9). This is to ensure there is enough space, puzzles and air for all players in the room. Therefore, we cannot allow more players than the maximum.
We highly recommend booking ahead. Our opening hours are dependent on bookings – if you do not have a booking you may find our premise closed, or we may not have a gamemaster available to run your game. That being said, we do accept walk-ins if you’re in The Rocks and want to try your luck!
Can I play an Escape Room?
At Paniq Room, we are puzzle-centric! None of our rooms are horror-based, our doors are always easily unlocked, and nothing is intended to terrify you. We also do not have any rooms that require heavy physical exertion, long sections of crawling, ladder-climbing or carrying heavy objects. We do ask if you have any health conditions or concerns to please let your friendly gamemaster know so they can ensure you are accommodated.Â
At Paniq Room, we pride ourselves on being disability friendly! Our main store is street level with ramp access from Argyle St and lift access from both Harrington and Gloucester Sts. We have disabled bathrooms in our building. Wheelchairs can be accommodated in: House of Jumanji, Supercell 117 and Godfather. We have successfully accommodated guests with low vision / sensory issues / PTSD / Deaf / crutches and slings – and more! If you have a disability, please send an email to info@paniqroom.com.au and let us know how we can help. Whether you require an extra torch or chair, the music turned down, or some furniture moved –Â Â we’ll do our very best to accomodate you!Â
While our puzzles are adult-level difficulty, all our rooms are family friendly, as they feature no jump scares or horror themes. Some of our rooms feature dark sections which may be too much for younger players (you are welcome to call or send an email if you wish to get more information on particular rooms). For children 12 and under, an adult must be present in the room. [This is to ensure primary-aged children are safe and have a parent within arm’s reach at all times – it also ensures an adult can accompany children if required as our bathroom facilities are external to our premises] Children 7 and under are free of charge.
We value carers and the contribution you make, and we are happy to recognise a carers card, so long as the minimum booking is paid ($120 Mon-Fri, $180 Sat-Sun). Unfortunately, due to staff wages and other costs, we cannot run a room for less than the minimum.Â
Cancellations and Booking Changes
There will be no refund for cancellations made less than 2 days in advance or in the case of a no-show. $25 cancellation fee still applies if the cancellation is made 2 or more days in advance. You are allowed 2 changes of your booking time/date if you make the changes more than 2 days in advance at no additional fee. You can change or cancel your reservation using the orange box/link on your confirmation email. If you are running late and will not make your session, this is considered a ‘no-show’ as your private booking ensures a gamemaster is in-store and ready to run your game!
That’s okay. We understand plans change.
So long as it is MORE THAN 48hrs prior to your game you can:Â
a) Change the date or time of your reservation using the orange box/link on your confirmation email at no additional cost.
b) Cancel your reservation using the orange box/link on your confirmation email for a cost of $25 per room cancellation fee.
c) Reschedule to a future date (even if you do not have a date confirmed). We can hold your deposits and rebook you at a later date at no cost (just send an email)Â
However, if you wish to change or cancel your booking within 48hrs of your reservation or in the case of a no-show unfortunately you will forfeit your room deposits.Â
This is no trouble at all so long as your numbers are within the room capacity limits 🙂 For small changes in player numbers (ie 1-2 difference) you can just show up on the day – we’ll adjust your booking on the spot and you will just pay for the people who arrive on game day. If you have substantial changes in player numbers, you can either change the player numbers yourself via the orange link in your confirmation email or email us and we can adjust it at our end. For substantial changes in player numbers, please be sure to let us know at least 48hrs prior to your game, so we can ensure you have the right amount of staff available.Â
On The Day
Aim to arrive 5-10 minutes before your game. If you arrive earlier, you may find the door locked as gamemasters need time to reset the rooms between sessions. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, your game time may be shortened as we run to a strict schedule.Â
A small change in player numbers is not a problem at all! We will do a head-count when you arrive, and adjust your player numbers and outstanding balance (if any) accordingly. Please ensure you do not exceed the maximum number of players for the room you have booked. For corporate bookings, we appreciate you confirming your final player numbers at least 24 hours prior to game time, otherwise a $25 per person fee will be charged for players who do not show up.Â
Unfortunately we run to a strict schedule to ensure the best experience for all customers and to allow time for our game masters to reset between sessions. If you are more than 15 minutes late, we will have to start your timer. If you are more than 30 minutes late, we will need to cancel your game and you will forfeit your deposit. As your reservation ensures a private booking and a gamemaster waiting for you in-store, we cannot move your booking back to another session. We may be able to rebook you to a later session at a discounted rate, at management’s discretion.Â
How to get here and what to do in The Rocks
PaniQ Room is located in The Rocks, centrally located and very accessible by public transport. Closest train and tram stops are Circular Quay (7 minutes walk). We are also 8 minutes walk from the major bus terminal of Wynyard station. If you would prefer to drive, there is metered street parking on Argyle, Gloucester and surrounding Sts. Closest parking stations are Clocktower and Quay West.Â
PaniQ Room is located in heart of The Rocks, surrounded by a plethora of amazing places to eat and drink at all price points. Most venues are within a few hundred meters of our store, or if you’d prefer fast-food, take a scenic stroll (5 mins) around to Circular Quay. Don’t forget to check out The Rocks markets on the weekend!
Special Events and Team Building
We love hosting corporate events here at Paniq Room. We have 6 rooms with a maximum capacity of 49 players at one time. We will split your group into smaller teams so that you can play with us (maximum 8 players per room / 9 players for Time Hotel Lift).
Please use our regular booking system to book each of the rooms you would like to play ($120/room deposit will be required at booking, the rest is payable on game day). Please don’t hesitate to contact us for a special corporate rate for 15+ people.
To book multiple rooms: Head over to our ‘Book’ page, choose your first room, select your date/time and number of players. On the following screen enter your details (name, email, phone) and select ‘next’. Use the large plus to ‘add another booking’. Add as many room as you require! When done, confirm and pay.Â
You can check our CORPORATE booking page for more information.
We love celebrating birthdays here in The Rocks, and would love to have your children join us for their special day. For children 12 and under (primary-school aged) we request a parent to supervise the group inside the room. This is to ensure children are at arm’s reach and in case any children need to use the bathroom, which is outside our facility. From 13 years, children do not require adult supervision inside the room! Drop them off, sign them in, and go and enjoy a coffee nearby – they’ll be occupied for an hour! Please note: we unfortunately cannot allow any extra time after the event in the reception – please plan to have cake / lunch at one of our beautiful parks or nearby restaurants.Â