Escape room: Professor Buga’s Lab
A classroom escape room: finish a number pattern, crack a letter sequence and combine both into the exit code. Free to play online or print.
The story
Professor Buga left the lab locked. To get out, you have to start the clue machine and crack the final code.
3 story stations · online you can pick a level that adds more locks.
Run it at home or in class
What to prepare
- 5 paper cups with numbers
- A board or big sheet with the letter pattern
- An alphabet chart (A=1 … Z=26)
- A lock or an envelope with the code
Tips for the facilitator
- Number the cups and leave the fifth one blank with a question mark.
- Put an alphabet chart on the wall; it helps in the last stage.
- For big groups: each team solves a different stage and passes its answer on.
Difficulty level for “Professor Buga’s Lab”
The story clues stay the same on every level; harder levels add more locks in between. You can ask for a hint at every stage.
🧪 Professor Buga’s Lab
Professor Buga left the lab locked. To get out, you have to start the clue machine and crack the final code.
0 of 6 stages solved
Stage 1: The cup sequence
1/6Cups with numbers stand on the shelf: 2, 4, 8, 16, __.
Facilitator guide: 🧪 Professor Buga’s Lab
What the room practises
Number patterns, alphabet order and two-step arithmetic.
The 3 stations (without the answers)
- The cup sequence: Which number is missing?
- The missing letter: Which letter comes next?
- The exit code: What is the code?
Preparing and printing
On the easy level the printed kit has 7 pages: a facilitator sheet with the opening story, the setup list and every answer, plus an A4 card for each of the 6 stages. Besides printing, get ready: 5 paper cups with numbers and a lock or an envelope with the code.
Most important: Number the cups and leave the fifth one blank with a question mark.
Age and group size
Best with teams of 4–6 players. With more people, split into two teams racing the clock, each with its own kit.
Giving hints in this room
Online the hints open one at a time; in the printed kit they sit in the facilitator table next to each answer. Give the first hint after a couple of minutes of silence, not at the first wrong guess.
Frequently asked questions
What age is “Professor Buga’s Lab” for, and how long does it take?
It was written for ages 10 and up, at medium difficulty, and usually takes 15–20 minutes. It has 3 story stations, and online you can choose between three difficulty levels that add more locks.
What do I need to run “Professor Buga’s Lab”?
A printer and these props: 5 paper cups with numbers; A board or big sheet with the letter pattern; An alphabet chart (A=1 … Z=26); A lock or an envelope with the code. The printable kit includes a facilitator sheet with every answer and a card for each stage.
What if the players get stuck?
Every stage has graded hints. Online they open one at a time; in the printed kit they sit next to each answer on the facilitator sheet. The first hint never gives the answer away.
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