Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi: Which is Best for Escape Rooms?

• Start or stop games
• Trigger hints
• Monitor puzzle states
• Log how players interact with the room

A Raspberry Pi can run this as a small server or dashboard:

• Web interface for staff with buttons for manual overrides
• Network communication to props and Arduinos
• Logging of puzzle timestamps and states to a file or database

You can do some of this on Arduino, but it quickly becomes painful. Networking is harder, storage is limited, and building a nice UI is almost impossible without extra layers.

Networked and multi-room experiences

Picture a venue with four rooms and some shared narrative across them. Maybe solving a puzzle in Room A changes the environment in Room B. Or a puzzle in one room “hacks” a security feed in another.

Raspberry Pi is well suited to coordinate those things, because it can speak over TCP, WebSockets, MQTT, or plain HTTP. It can listen to inputs, trigger responses, and even send messages to the staff computer.

More complex game logic

If your story has branching paths, optional puzzles, or unusual reset rules, you might want Python, Node, or another higher level language to keep track of state.

For example:

• Players can solve puzzles in any of three orders, and you want hints to adapt to what they already did.
• You want to support “easy” and “hard” modes from the controller PC.
• Some puzzles can be skipped by the game master if time is running out.

Writing that kind of logic in Arduino code is possible, but it can feel cramped and awkward, especially as the room changes over time. A Pi is more forgiving and has better tools for complex software.

Example: Interactive AI “guardian” puzzle

Here is a more advanced concept that I like. Imagine a sci-fi room featuring a station AI named “IRIS”.

• Players talk to IRIS at a console screen.
• The screen shows animated eyes and text prompts.
• Audio comes from ceiling speakers: IRIS speaks certain lines.
• IRIS controls doors and lights across the room.

A Raspberry Pi can handle:

• Video animation of IRIS on the monitor
• Sound playback synced with events
• Keyboard or touch input from players
• Network messages to Arduinos controlling locks and lights

The Pi runs the “personality” and story logic. Arduinos sit near doors and props, just listening for signals like “unlock door 2” or “flash red lights” from IRIS.

Key differences that matter in real escape rooms

On paper, you will see lots of specs: clock speeds, memory, GPIO pin counts. In the field, what really matters is how the boards behave under real-world escape room conditions.

Boot time and restart behavior

• Arduino: Powers on and runs code almost instantly. If power flickers, it comes back fast.
• Raspberry Pi: Needs to boot the OS. That can take tens of seconds. If power is unstable, you risk SD card problems.

If the board controls something safety-related, or anything that can trap players, favor hardware that recovers quickly and predictably after power glitches.

Stability during long days

Escape rooms can run a dozen games in a row, maybe more on weekends. Boards sit in closed cabinets, often warm, sometimes dusty.

• Arduino: Very stable. Limited features, but fewer things to go wrong.
• Pi: Powerful, but more sensitive to power quality, heat, and improper shutdowns.

That does not mean Pi is bad. It just needs more care: good power supplies, cooling, clean shut down scripts, and maybe a UPS for the central control Pi.

Physical I/O vs “soft” features

If your puzzle needs lots of direct inputs and outputs, Arduino feels natural. If your puzzle needs rich software features, Raspberry Pi feels natural.

Cost, support, and maintenance over time

I sometimes see people obsess over the sticker price of the board and ignore everything else. That is backwards.

Hardware cost vs full puzzle cost

Say you spend 30 dollars on Arduino hardware vs 60 on Pi hardware for a given puzzle. That is a 30 dollar difference. How many player tickets is that? Two? Three?

Meanwhile, if the cheaper board makes wiring much harder or fails in the middle of busy hours, that might cost you:

• Refunds
• Bad reviews
• Staff debugging time

So yes, price matters, but reliability and simplicity usually matter more in the long term.

Availability and replacements

Arduinos and clones are everywhere. Raspberry Pis are sometimes harder to find in large quantities, depending on supply cycles.

If you standardize your props on a few models, you can keep spares on hand:

• For Arduino-based props, maybe keep a few pre-flashed boards in a drawer.
• For Pi-based systems, keep spare SD cards imaged and labeled, plus at least one backup Pi per room.

Skill and staff training

This part is often ignored, and I think that is a mistake.

The best board for your room is the one your team can actually troubleshoot at 9 pm on a Saturday when something goes wrong.

If your tech person loves Python, Raspberry Pi will feel more comfortable. If your builder likes wiring LEDs and hates software setup, Arduino may be more natural.

Also think about who will be around later. People leave. If your setup requires a specific wizard to understand it, you are building a problem for your future self.

Common mistakes when choosing between Arduino and Raspberry Pi

I see some patterns repeat over and over in escape rooms. Some are harmless. Some cost money.

Using Raspberry Pi for everything, “just because”

Someone learns that Raspberry Pi can do almost anything and then tries to run an entire room on one board. Technically possible, but not always wise.

• Locks, sensors, and props all wired directly to the Pi
• Media, networking, and puzzle logic running on the same OS
• No separation between critical triggers and “nice to have” features

When that Pi needs a reboot, your whole room goes dark. Or when you update software for one puzzle, everything else breaks. It is like hanging every prop in the room from one nail in the wall.

Underestimating power, heat, and physical space

Pi boards need more power and produce more heat than small Arduinos. If you stuff a Pi, a relay board, a power converter, and a hard drive into a tiny sealed box, do not be surprised when it misbehaves on hot days.

Arduinos are more forgiving in tight spaces, but you still need to plan:

• Airflow or at least some breathing room
• Separate power circuits for locks and logic where useful
• Clean grounding and cable management

Overcomplicating simple props

One of the fastest ways to delay an opening date is to add too much tech where it is not needed. A secret flap that opens once could be solved with:

• A simple magnetic latch and a mechanical trigger
• Or a bare Arduino with two inputs and one relay

Some owners add a Pi, a full UI, networking, remote override, detailed logging, animated hints, and so on, before the room even runs its first game. That can slow build time and add more failure points than real value.

Combining Arduino and Raspberry Pi: the real sweet spot

This is where the magic happens for most escape room setups. You do not have to pick a “team.” You can use each board for what it is good at.

A simple pattern: Pi as conductor, Arduinos as players

Think of it like this:

• One Raspberry Pi per room, acting as the room controller.
• Several Arduinos throughout the room, each controlling one or more props.
• Simple communication between them, using serial, USB, or a small network protocol.

The Pi:

• Runs the room timer and hint interface for staff.
• Plays audio and video at key moments.
• Logs puzzle events and supports remote overrides.

The Arduinos:

• Watch sensors with tight timing.
• Control locks, motors, and lighting without lag.
• Report “puzzle solved” or “state changed” messages back to the Pi.

This keeps the physical layer simple and rugged, while leaving your narrative and UX power on the Pi.

Communication options

A few common ways to connect them:

• USB serial: Pi talks to an Arduino over USB like a normal serial port.
• RS-485 or similar: for longer runs or more noise tolerance in large rooms.
• Networked microcontrollers: if you use Wi-Fi capable boards, they can talk to a Pi server.

For many rooms, a basic USB or short serial connection is enough. No need to overcomplicate this unless you are building a very large venue or multi-room story.

Example: A treasure ship room with layered tech

Imagine a pirate ship room. You want something more polished than wood and padlocks, but still reliable.

• Pi in the captain’s cabin:
  • Controls ambient sound and storm intensity.
  • Plays cutscenes on a wall screen when milestones are hit.
  • Provides a simple dashboard for staff to see puzzle progress.
• Arduino in the cargo hold:
  • Monitors pressure plates under barrels that must be moved in the right pattern.
  • Fires a fog machine and opens a crate when solved.
• Arduino near the mast:
  • Reads a set of nautical dials and levers.
  • When players tune them to “safe harbor,” sends a signal back to Pi.

The Pi collects the “solved” messages from both Arduinos, then:

• Changes the music from tense to triumphant.
• Triggers a video of the ship reaching the island.
• Signals a final Arduino in the captain’s desk to open a hidden drawer.

Each board is doing what it is best at. Nothing is doing everything, and that is the point.

How to decide board-by-board for each puzzle

Instead of starting from “I want to use Raspberry Pi” or “I want to use Arduino,” start from the puzzle itself. That is usually easier and more honest.

Step 1: Describe the puzzle in plain language

Try writing one sentence like this:

“When players do X, Y should happen, and maybe Z too.”

For example:

• “When players place the three crystal skulls correctly, a hidden compartment should open and the room lights should flicker once.”
• “When players arrange the constellations correctly on the wall, a star map should appear on the screen and a voice should speak the next clue.”

Step 2: List inputs and outputs

Inputs:

• Sensors, buttons, switches, codes, RFID tags, etc.

Outputs:

• Locks, motors, lights, audio, video, text on screen, messages to staff.

Step 3: Ask three key questions

1. Does this puzzle need video or complex audio?
2. Does it need network access or data logging?
3. Are there many physical inputs or outputs with tight timing?

Then use this rough guide:

• If yes to 1 or 2, lean toward Raspberry Pi (maybe with Arduino support).
• If no to 1 and 2, but yes to 3, lean toward Arduino.
• If all are “kind of,” consider a mixed setup but keep it as simple as possible.

Step 4: Match to your team’s skills

Here is the part people skip: if your team does not feel confident with Linux and networking, do not build a room that relies completely on networked Raspberry Pis for basic functioning. Start simpler.

Likewise, if your team is very software-savvy but not as comfortable with raw electronics, you may prefer more Pi use, combined with ready-made I/O boards that make hardware easier, instead of bare Arduinos.

Security, cheating, and robustness

Players are more clever than many owners expect. If a system presses keys, displays text, or uses visible connectors, someone will try to poke at it.

Locking down Raspberry Pi interfaces

If a Pi is driving a customer-facing screen:

• Hide the Pi itself, with only the monitor visible.
• Disable unnecessary keyboard or mouse input if possible.
• Run your software in full screen with no way for players to exit to the desktop.

Otherwise, someone will try to hit “escape” and open a settings menu. It happens more than you might think.

Protecting Arduino wiring

Arduinos sit closer to the hardware world, so they suffer more from:

• Short circuits from loose wires
• Overvoltage from motors and inductive loads
• Noise from long unshielded cables

Use:

• Relay boards rated for your loads
• Diodes across solenoids and motors to deal with back EMF
• Terminal blocks instead of loose jumper wires wherever players might bump things

Resets and manual overrides

Both Pi-based and Arduino-based puzzles need:

• A clear reset procedure
• A way for staff to override a puzzle quickly

If staff need more than 30 seconds to reset or override a puzzle, you will feel that pain every busy weekend.

For Arduino props:

• Add a hidden reset button or switch that forces the board to its starting state.
• Consider an input for “force solved” so staff can unlock things without hacking the wiring.

For Raspberry Pi systems:

• Add a clear “reset puzzle” button in the software dashboard.
• Document when to use a safe software restart instead of killing power.

Where each board might go in a full escape room build

To pull this together, here is an example of a mixed-tech escape room and how you might assign boards.

Could you run the whole thing on a Raspberry Pi with some I/O expanders? Probably. Could you build everything from Arduinos and some MP3 modules? Also possible. But the mix keeps each piece within a comfortable scope and tends to reduce headaches over time.

So which is “best” for escape rooms?

If you are expecting a single winner, I am going to disappoint you a bit. They solve different problems.

• Arduino:
  • Best for physical, repeatable, hardware-heavy puzzles.
  • Less fragile, lower cost, fast boot, good with sensors and locks.
• Raspberry Pi:
  • Best for media, complex logic, networking, and control dashboards.
  • Closer to a computer, more flexible, but needs more care.

If you are just starting to add tech to your escape room, I would probably:

• Use Arduino for your first generation of props.
• Add a single Raspberry Pi as a room controller when you are ready for better media and monitoring.
• Grow from there, based on where your puzzles and staff skills naturally go.

Try to avoid falling in love with one board too much. Let each puzzle tell you what it needs, then pick the simplest hardware combination that can do that job reliably, day after day, with real players pushing things you did not expect.