How to Hide a Simple Clue in an DIY Exit Game

In an escape room you need a hint every now and then.

Usually the game master gives a tip.
But isn't it nicer when you have to find a clue yourself and not ask the game master?

For this purpose, in some (unfortunately in many) escape or exit games, an encrypted message is usually simply a piece of paper that is in a box or drawer. Just boring... especially if the hint is also in plain text ...

Then it is better to design it so that you have to find several parts to get the hint.

In this example I would like to show you a simple way of implementing something like this with a few materials and a relatively simple encryption.

What do you need:
Paper (9x9cm / 3,5x3,5 Inch should be enough for a short message)
Laminating film (DinA4 / Letter)
Permanent marker with a thin tip (e.g. CD marker)
scissors
Laminating machine

The first thing we need is the message to the players.
So the clue you want to hide.

If you have your text, it must now be encrypted. For this example I use the simple Freemason encryption, also known as Pigpen Cipher, which is also mostly used in exit games. This is very suitable for hiding the message. You can also use another cipher. This is of course up to you.

The message is now written in the cipher on the piece of paper. This serves as a template for the next steps.
You also make a mark in two of the corners of the paper. e.g. a point or a small cross. These will be needed later to put the message back together correctly.

For the lazy among us: if you find it too cumbersome to translate the message in the Cipher, you can generate your message in the countless Freemason-generators on the Internet and simply print it out. But it takes just as long...

Now that we have the encrypted clue, all we have to do is hide it.

For this we now need the laminating film, the Message-Note and the Permanent Marker.

Place the note written on in the laminating film.
First transfer the markers in the corners onto the foil. The markers that we have placed in the corners are later used to correctly place the individual layers on top of each other.

Then individual parts of your message. Whether you use whole letters or words is up to you.
In this example I am only transferring parts of the individual characters.

Tip: mark the characters that you have already transferred on the template after this step.

When you are done with it, move the note to the next free space and repeat the whole thing with the characters that have not yet been transferred. Again, draw in the markings in the corners!

This is how you create multiple layers of the message that only make sense when put together.
In my experience, three layers are optimal.

When you're done, take out the template and just laminate the film. This also fixes the characters on the film.

at last cut out the individual layers.

Take the cut out layers and lay them on top of each other on a white sheet of paper.
The corner markings should be on top of each other.

Your message should be readable.
Checks whether all characters are in the right place or whether something is still missing.

If a line or point is missing in a layer, no problem.
Draw this on one of the layers and let this piece through the Laminator again to fix it.

If everything corresponds to the wishes, the whole thing is ready to use in your exit game.
I also made a Fake business card for the players with the decryption aid that will be built into the game...

The whole thing can also be used as a puzzle in the game and not just as a hidden hint.

Have fun and a successful escape ;)