Winter is a great time to enjoy fresh air and a snowy walk. However, it’s also a wonderful time to get cozy inside with a cup of hot chocolate. Fill a winter afternoon, or evening together with a free winter escape room game for kid and families. Set up virtually anywhere and turn any space into a room filled with adventure.

I love creating escape rooms. They’re a great opportunity for kids to learn through play and build teamwork and critical thinking skills. This game can be played at home or it also works well as a classroom center.

The game is a great introduction to escape rooms because although the puzzles must each be solved, they are not tricky as most escape room puzzles are. This makes it a great game for kids to experience the fun of an escape room style game without the tricks within the puzzles.

If you love this game, check out another printable Winter Escape Room Game from Hands-On Teaching Ideas. Fill your winter with these themed activities that turn your home into a place filled with adventure. Add some more hands-on fun to your plans with a huge collection of Winter STEM Activities.

Printable escape room games are fun and easy to set up, but hands-on puzzles are also a blast to try. Plan something special by choosing puzzles from this collection of Escape Room Ideas using materials from home or make unique puzzles.

Winter Escape Room Game Materials

Please note that this escape room is based on the Winter Outdoor Learning Activity and the puzzles are almost the same. This game has been adapted to be played inside, instead of outside in the snow. If you’d rather play outside, make sure to click the link for the original game above.

Almost everything you need to play the game is included in the free file. The game works best printed in color, but black and white pages are also included. Print the pages and follow the steps below to set up.

The only additional materials required are a pencil for players to write out their answers and twenty envelopes. If you don’t have envelopes you can use paper folded to create a pocket. You simply need something to hide a small printed circle/answer.

Start by cutting out each of the number circles, numbered one to twenty and the six circles with words on them. You will also cut out the six puzzle cards. There is also an escape room completion certificate. You can print as many copies of the certificate you need for players.

Winter Puzzle Game Set Up

Tape one of the number circle on each of the envelopes. Fourteen of the envelopes will be empty and the other six contain one of the circles with a word on it, which are listed below:

• Number 3 – and
• Number 4 – You
• Number 5 – hot
• Number 12 – chocolate
• Number 17 – win
• Number 20 – get

These are the numbers players will open if they solve the puzzle correctly. If they answer incorrectly, they will open an empty envelope.

Place the twenty envelopes on the table with a number on each.

There are six puzzles that players will use an alphabet code sheet to solve. After decoding, players will be left with a number that they match to find a word clue.

Cut out the puzzle cards and place them on the table with the envelopes. These cards are numbered 1-6, players will start with the first puzzle and solve them in order.

The puzzles each open one of the number envelopes and players will find six words that go together to win the game. The solution is, “You win and get hot chocolate”. It is a fun way to end the game, and perfect for a winter activity.

However, six blank circles are also included so that you can fill them out with any words you want to make the prize something different. If you want to use the circle with the words already printed, then you do not need the six blank circles and you can throw them out.

Free Winter Escape Room Game

Puzzle #1

Once you have all of your pages ready, you’re ready to start. A great idea with any escape room game is to add some themed decorations and items to the room, such as winter music or a wintery table cloth.

For each of the puzzles, players start by looking at the images on the smaller code card. There is a series of images on each page that players match each image to the corresponding alphabet letter on the alphabet page.

Once all of the pictures on the first card are matched, players find the clue, “Start at four”. Player open the envelope with the number 4 on the front and discover the word, “YOU”

Puzzle #2

Players will then move onto their next puzzle, numbered 2. When each of the pictures are matched, the letters form the words six + eleven. Players will then do the math and get the number seventeen.

The envelope with the number 17 on the front is the next one to be opened.

Winter Escape Room Game Puzzle #3

As players match each of the pictures on the third puzzle card, they find the clue: “Count the icicles on” and then the letter Z is on the page. Players then find the letter Z on the alphabet code page and count that there are 3 in total. So they open the envelope with the number 3 and find the word AND.

Puzzle #4

On the fourth puzzle card, players find the solution, “Check biggest number” players may wonder at first what this clue means. They may search around the room or on the pages for the biggest numbers. Avoid jumping in and helping players right away. Part of an escape room is trying different strategies and continuing when something isn’t right on the first try.

Once players realize that the code is telling them to check the envelope with the number 20 on the front (the biggest number on the envelopes) they will get their next code word – GET.

Puzzle #5

The fifth puzzle is another simple math problem. The puzzle is decoded to tell players, “Ten minus five”. Players will quickly open the envelope with the number 5 on the front and find the word HOT.

Puzzle #6

The final puzzle can be decoded to read, “Open Twelve”. This clue is very straight forward and players can quickly open the twelfth envelope. The final word in the envelop is CHOCOLATE.

Keep in mind there are blank circles that you can print your own word onto. This can lead players to any prize you want! Once all of the puzzles have been solved, players know that they have completed their escape room – and now get hot chocolate to celebrate.

Escape Room Certificate

You can print as many copies of the certificate you need. The certificates are a great way to celebrate the game and it creates a great conversation about the activity for parents or others if you send a copy home with each player.

When I used the escape room in my classroom, I printed a certificate for each child, but I also printed a full page one to fill out, and display for the whole class.

Download the Free Winter Escape Room Here

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