[schoen]

There are lots of different things.

I've done some where you have to physically search for hidden objects in the room, some where you sit down and do puzzles on paper, some where you have to recognize clues that refer to other things in the room, some where you have to figure out specific unexpected actions to take in a particular room or physical situation, and some where there were physical puzzle artifacts scattered around the room and it was quite recognizable what the puzzles were, but not necessarily obvious what to do with them.

So there really isn't just one style. (Also, some rooms give hints proactively, some give hints on request, while others are quite happy for you to lose if the hour runs out and you haven't figured it out yet.)