Valentine’s Day is coming up. Do you have a date planned? Many typical date ideas like dinner out, movies, concerts, and sporting events are either unavailable or unsafe this year. What’s a romantic to do? Don’t worry. There is a date night idea that is safe, fun, and will get you points for creativity: Escape rooms!

Escape rooms have been trendy for a while, especially for groups of friends or families wanting to do something different for game night. Right now, it might be the safest activity that you and your partner can do. Escape room businesses are renting out private rooms so you can be in the room with only your partner and other people in your bubble. Everything is sanitized between uses, and if you split the price with another couple or two, it’s affordable fun. 

Here are five other reasons why escape rooms are the perfect date idea for Valentine’s Day this year:

1. They Take the Awkwardness out of First Dates

First dates are nerve-wracking for everyone. Most people feel nervous about what to say and how they look. Sometimes eating on a first date brings out even more anxiety as people are concerned about spilling spaghetti on their shirt or having spinach in their teeth in front of their date. An activity that aims you both at a common goal and provides a conversational topic is perfect for overcoming first date nerves. Going on a first date with another couple can also make things feel more comfortable. 

Escape rooms are great for first dates because you will be busy talking about the game and get to skip the awkward small talk. It’s also a perfect test to see how well you can communicate and work together. As a bonus, if you aren’t that taken with your date, you will probably still have fun and not feel that you wasted your time. Escape rooms don’t require fancy attire either. You can show up feeling comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt and get to see the more relaxed side of your partner. 

2. Exciting Dates are Proven to be Better

That’s right, according to scientific studies, dates that involve novel activities, risk taking or an adrenaline rush cause your brain to release more dopamine and other chemicals that help you feel more bonded with your partner. Several studies have been done on the subject. In one, researchers sent several couples on different kinds of dates and asked them to fill out questionnaires afterward. The couples who went on adventurous dates like white water rafting said they felt more connected to their partner after the date versus those who did less exciting activities. Due to this evidence, experts recommend that couples looking to reconnect or spice things up choose an adventurous date. 

Escape rooms are immersive experiences that feel like a mini-adventure. You can also choose how much of an adrenaline rush you want. Some escape rooms are family-friendly, and others are like a puzzle game version of a haunted house. If you know your date can handle a fright, book a scary escape room and get your adrenaline rushing. You might find yourself reliving the feelings you had when you first fell in love, all thanks to some helpful brain chemicals. 

3. They are Great “Team-Building” Exercises

Dating is about more than having fun. It’s also about evaluating a person to see if you can work together as partners over the long haul. Escape rooms are the perfect scenario to practice real relationship skills in a fun environment. Communication is the key to both successful relationships and a successful escape. During your escape room experience, you’ll get to see how your partner behaves under pressure, how good they are at communicating, and how well they work with others. 

Companies often use escape rooms as team building activities for these same reasons. No matter what stage your relationship is at, practicing skills like communication and teamwork is always beneficial, plus you get to have fun at the same time. 

4. You’ll Have Post-Date Conversation Prompts

Escape rooms are memorable experiences, and it’s always fun to rehash your victories, frustrations, and the things that made you laugh. And, of course, to analyze how and why you won or lost. Whether you choose to go to dinner immediately after or get together the next week, you’ll have something to break the ice with. 

We see more sides of a person during a challenging situation than we see during a more tame or formal experience. You might be able to take away some talking points from your escape room date that don’t pertain directly to the game itself. Use the things you observed about your partner to dig a little deeper. Maybe you were impressed with their organizational skills or amused by their fear of fake spiders. Now you can ask some questions, give some compliments and hopefully get to know each other a little better. 

5. Escape Rooms Feel Like a Special Occasion

Since escape rooms are different from traditional date night activities, they are the perfect way to celebrate a relationship milestone. Whether that’s a first date, a tenth anniversary, or just your first time out of the house in a while. Some people have even proposed at escape rooms by arranging to have the ring or the question placed somewhere in the room for their lover to find. Valentine’s Day itself is a special occasion that can be made more memorable by doing something different and exciting. Don’t forget to take a picture after you escape to commemorate your adventure. 

For an escape room experience you and your date will always remember, check out Castle of Chaos. Overcome your fears and rise to the challenge as you escape from nightmares, ghosts, zombies, or serial killers. Get your adrenaline pumping this Valentine’s Day and discover the fine line between fear and romance.