Beginner Guide
First session: Free Roam, controls, bank keys at the exit, then branch into Mines or Play Place.
By Bloxron Editorial Team · Last updated
First session in Scream And Run: learn Shift / C / F in Free Roam, find the school exit door, then switch to Escape and bank each colored key at its padlock before the Cat runs you out of lives. Mines and Play Place use different map chains — clear school Escape once before you chase those badges.
Finish one school Escape (or a clean Free Roam map pass) so you know controls, backpack Search, and the exit loop. Codes are not redeemable yet — play the maps instead of waiting on promo strings.
First session steps
Open Free Roam first
From the lobby pick Free Roam on the school. Practice run, crouch, slide, and flashlight with no Escape timer. Walk classrooms, the library or cafeteria, and locate the exit door so you can reverse the path later.
Learn the PC controls
Shift to run, C to crouch or crawl (hold C for a full crawl), Shift + C to slide, F for flashlight, E when a Search prompt appears on a backpack. Test each once in open space at spawn.
Switch to Escape when you know two landmarks
Keep a spawn-side anchor and an exit-side anchor. Empty backpacks are normal — move on. Do not camp the exit with zero keys.
Bank every key at the door
School Escape usually shows five colored padlocks. When a backpack pays out, take that key to the matching padlock and wait for the open confirmation before you keep looting. Follow the live door UI, not an old count.
Leave when locks and the counter agree
When the door is clear, take the shortest route you can name and finish the exit prompt. Lives matter — Infinite Lives is optional, not required for the Escape badge.
Then try Mines or Play Place
Mines Escape is a pickaxe → coal → furnace → TNT → lighter chain with Thomas as the usual hunter. Play Place needs a screwdriver, gate power, then the same color locks with Ronald hunting. Full map detail lives on the Escape guide.
Common beginner mistakes
- Starting Escape before you know where the exit door is
- Holding a key while looting more backpacks instead of banking it
- Trusting a static “five keys” count when the door panel shows something else
- Leaving the flashlight on in open halls when the beam gives you away
- Treating announced code strings (Endless, Backrooms, 20kMembers) as redeemable before a Codes field exists
Beginner FAQ
What should I do first in Scream And Run?
Load Free Roam on the school, practice controls, and find the exit door. Then play Escape and bank each key as you find it. Full map chains for Mines and Play Place are on the How to Escape page.
Do I need gamepasses to finish Escape?
No. Infinite Lives and VIP help with retries, but badges work without them. Grab And Throw / hunter odds passes are optional.
How many keys does school Escape need?
Follow the live padlocks and key counter on the exit door. School and Play Place Escape often use five colored locks (pink, green, white, yellow/gold, red). Bank each key before you keep searching.
What is No Power?
A separate badge for escaping with power off via a lobby toggle or a mid-round outage that matches the badge rules. A short blackout in a normal round is not enough by itself. Details are in the Escape guide.
Are there codes for beginners?
No redeemable codes as of September 20, 2026. Announced strings are listed on the codes page but the redeem field is not live yet.
Which hunter is on each map?
Cat in the Hat on school, Thomas (often Dark Thomas) on Mines, Ronald on Play Place. Confirm the hunter your round actually loaded.
Need map detail next? Open How to Escape for keys, Mines, Play Place, and No Power.