The 22 best escape rooms in New York City
The vibrant tapestry of New York offers some of the very best escape rooms anywhere in the US. Here are the best in the city.
The Escape Game
Very Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This was our first public room. I loved the set design and the mission behind it. A great room for teamwork because some puzzles required information to be communicated across the room. It was so fun and interactive. A cute surprise at the end 🙂”
raychristine
90 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This was super fun. Our first game at this facility and had me booking another room soon after. The room had physical elements that made it amusing and it totally fit the theme! Hidden clues that required you to scan every inch and even had a puzzle involving water which was neat. Fully enjoyed this room.”
raychristine
90 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
The Escape Game
Very Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“this game really makes you feel like you’re back in elementary school during recess. this game is a little physical but definitely in a good way! slides, balls, toys and all that good stuff that brings the nostalgia!”
brenda66
31 games played
Mission Escape Games
Very Positive
265 W 37th St #802a, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I’m not a huge fan of sci-fi rooms, but this one managed to keep my interest due to the high number of challenging yet fair puzzles. We were definitely rushing with two of us to get through them all but it was a blast overall. I think this is a must play if you are in NYC if you are more experienced. Otherwise stick with Hydeout or End of Days which are both good as well.”
sherisilva
203 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“By far one of my favorite escape rooms I have done. Extremely well realized and conceived, with a fantastic flow. This room is also very puzzle and lock focused for those who really vibe with that. The room is also multi-tiered which makes it feel very dynamic, and little things like a scent diffuser in the entry room make it not just immersive but pleasant! My trio is very expended in escape rooms, so this was not particularly difficult for us, but the flow is excellent, and sometimes it feels really awesome to finish in less than 40 minutes feeling smart as heck “The Escape Game” overall is a super strong brand, and I recommend all their rooms as some of the best ever. Love this brand.”
travis34
49 games played
The Escape Game
Overwhelmingly Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This rooooom, the most fun I ever had in an escape room. Go with a group of friends, it really makes you feel like a kid again. The set decoration is superb. The room wasn’t easy, you need eyes everywhere, make sure you don’t only have 2 people in your group.”
yvang
33 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Certainly one of the best escape rooms I’ve played. Great atmosphere, puzzles, and just overall gameplay. Only damper on my experience was that we may have had too many people. I’d say try to play with 4-5 people.”
bridget95
27 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“While this is probably the most basic of The Escape Game rooms, it executed its concept well and was a blast to complete. Puzzles were reasonably challenging, and we there was a mad rush at the end to finish the room.”
chaneysandra
45 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This is the best implementation of a Prison Break style room I’ve seen. Like every The Escape Game room, the theming, narrative and puzzle design is absolutely top notch. It can reasonably be beaten by two people as long as you are comfortable yelling to communicate.”
chaneysandra
45 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Overall, this is a fantastic addition to the Escape Game catalog. Great puzzles paired with a lovely set makes for a fun time! The story flowed great, and the design elements worked out very well. While the room was a little on the smaller end, it made great use of the space it had. Would recommend this room as a good introduction and beginner room! Great work Escape Game! :)”
jessica10
69 games played
PanIQ Escape Room
Very Positive
39 W 32nd St 4th floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I love this place so much! From the moment you walk out of the elevator, you’re in a spooky yet incredibly cozy lounge and greated by some of the nice people I’ve ever met. Now, I’ve played a few Houdini-Themed rooms and this one blows the other ones out of the water! Puzzles were super clever and had unique props that made the room special. Huge kudos to Gus and Monica for making our experience so great that we decided to book another 2 for the next day right before we leave NYC.”
kimberly44
61 games played
![Heresy: 1897 [Immersive Theatre, Real Life Escape Room]](https://res.cloudinary.com/mortyapp/image/upload/c_limit,w_654/f_auto/v1/store/s/12a8c350-6745-455a-86ec-2e70133579ed.jpg)
Doors Of Divergence
Overwhelmingly Positive
32 Meadow St, Brooklyn, NY 11206, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room is next level. You can easily play it over and over again. The puzzles are great. The set is great. The actors are NEXT LEVEL. The thoughtfulness that’s gone into every little detail is very obvious. Just from the intro to the wildly clever way they go over the rules to the MYRIAD OF CHOICES. What you do in the first room dictates what happens in the second room. I’m absolutely blown away with the attention to every detail. What makes it even more wild is that there is so much of this game that many people will never see (because they choose a different option) Stop what you’re doing, book both rooms back to back. Then book them again.”
fpacheco
27 games played
“Just as incredible as the first chapter! The spookiness is raised up a little in this one but it’s still not too bad if you’re worried like I was. It was awesome to see how our actions in Heresy played out in this game. It’s a split game, but a first for me in that we were split for the entire game, although could still hear and talk to each other. Like the first game, the basic escape room rules are delivered in a way that I’ve never seen done before that fits perfectly with the story. There are opportunities for one on one moments with the actors and I will surely not forget mine any time soon!”
sherisilva
203 games played
“I’ve played Beat the Bomb twice, and ended up covered in paint twice. It’s more frantic than a regular escape room, and I definitely recommend stretching beforehand, particularly if you are like me and your limbo game is weak.”
chaneysandra
45 games played
Myss Tic Rooms
Overwhelmingly Positive
794 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I'll be honest, we didn't really even know what the theme of this one was when we booked it. We ended up having a ton of fun with this room - the set is great, the puzzles are really well themed, and there's some intentional storytelling going on to make you feel like you're going through the story. Definitely worth doing - heck, do both at this location.”
pchan
137 games played
“Fun, unique room, perfect for pairing with a theatre weekend. Worth the travel out to Brooklyn, and allows for a way to experience non-touristy parts of the city as well! Several unique puzzles, lots to keep my group occupied without feeling overwhelmed (in a group including several very experienced players, a minimally experienced player, and a newbie.) Definitely recommend!”
scott49
40 games played
The Depths
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This was our first public room. I loved the set design and the mission behind it. A great room for teamwork because some puzzles required information to be communicated across the room. It was so fun and interactive. A cute surprise at the end 🙂”
raychristine
90 games played
Gold Rush
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This was super fun. Our first game at this facility and had me booking another room soon after. The room had physical elements that made it amusing and it totally fit the theme! Hidden clues that required you to scan every inch and even had a puzzle involving water which was neat. Fully enjoyed this room.”
raychristine
90 games played
Prison Break
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
Playground
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“this game really makes you feel like you’re back in elementary school during recess. this game is a little physical but definitely in a good way! slides, balls, toys and all that good stuff that brings the nostalgia!”
brenda66
31 games played
Carbon: 3708
Mission Escape Games
- Escape room
- IRL
“I’m not a huge fan of sci-fi rooms, but this one managed to keep my interest due to the high number of challenging yet fair puzzles. We were definitely rushing with two of us to get through them all but it was a blast overall. I think this is a must play if you are in NYC if you are more experienced. Otherwise stick with Hydeout or End of Days which are both good as well.”
sherisilva
203 games played
Gold Rush
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“By far one of my favorite escape rooms I have done. Extremely well realized and conceived, with a fantastic flow. This room is also very puzzle and lock focused for those who really vibe with that. The room is also multi-tiered which makes it feel very dynamic, and little things like a scent diffuser in the entry room make it not just immersive but pleasant! My trio is very expended in escape rooms, so this was not particularly difficult for us, but the flow is excellent, and sometimes it feels really awesome to finish in less than 40 minutes feeling smart as heck “The Escape Game” overall is a super strong brand, and I recommend all their rooms as some of the best ever. Love this brand.”
travis34
49 games played
Playground
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This rooooom, the most fun I ever had in an escape room. Go with a group of friends, it really makes you feel like a kid again. The set decoration is superb. The room wasn’t easy, you need eyes everywhere, make sure you don’t only have 2 people in your group.”
yvang
33 games played
Special Ops: Mysterious Market
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Certainly one of the best escape rooms I’ve played. Great atmosphere, puzzles, and just overall gameplay. Only damper on my experience was that we may have had too many people. I’d say try to play with 4-5 people.”
bridget95
27 games played
The Heist
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“While this is probably the most basic of The Escape Game rooms, it executed its concept well and was a blast to complete. Puzzles were reasonably challenging, and we there was a mad rush at the end to finish the room.”
chaneysandra
45 games played
Prison Break
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This is the best implementation of a Prison Break style room I’ve seen. Like every The Escape Game room, the theming, narrative and puzzle design is absolutely top notch. It can reasonably be beaten by two people as long as you are comfortable yelling to communicate.”
chaneysandra
45 games played
The Depths
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
Timeliner: Train Through Time
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Overall, this is a fantastic addition to the Escape Game catalog. Great puzzles paired with a lovely set makes for a fun time! The story flowed great, and the design elements worked out very well. While the room was a little on the smaller end, it made great use of the space it had. Would recommend this room as a good introduction and beginner room! Great work Escape Game! :)”
jessica10
69 games played
Houdini's Workshop
PanIQ Escape Room
- Escape room
- IRL
“I love this place so much! From the moment you walk out of the elevator, you’re in a spooky yet incredibly cozy lounge and greated by some of the nice people I’ve ever met. Now, I’ve played a few Houdini-Themed rooms and this one blows the other ones out of the water! Puzzles were super clever and had unique props that made the room special. Huge kudos to Gus and Monica for making our experience so great that we decided to book another 2 for the next day right before we leave NYC.”
kimberly44
61 games played
Heresy: 1897 [Immersive Theatre, Real Life Escape Room]
Doors Of Divergence
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room is next level. You can easily play it over and over again. The puzzles are great. The set is great. The actors are NEXT LEVEL. The thoughtfulness that’s gone into every little detail is very obvious. Just from the intro to the wildly clever way they go over the rules to the MYRIAD OF CHOICES. What you do in the first room dictates what happens in the second room. I’m absolutely blown away with the attention to every detail. What makes it even more wild is that there is so much of this game that many people will never see (because they choose a different option) Stop what you’re doing, book both rooms back to back. Then book them again.”
fpacheco
27 games played
Madness: 1917
Doors Of Divergence
- Escape room
- IRL
“Just as incredible as the first chapter! The spookiness is raised up a little in this one but it’s still not too bad if you’re worried like I was. It was awesome to see how our actions in Heresy played out in this game. It’s a split game, but a first for me in that we were split for the entire game, although could still hear and talk to each other. Like the first game, the basic escape room rules are delivered in a way that I’ve never seen done before that fits perfectly with the story. There are opportunities for one on one moments with the actors and I will surely not forget mine any time soon!”
sherisilva
203 games played
Mission 01: Cyberbot
Beat the Bomb
- Escape room
- IRL
“I’ve played Beat the Bomb twice, and ended up covered in paint twice. It’s more frantic than a regular escape room, and I definitely recommend stretching beforehand, particularly if you are like me and your limbo game is weak.”
chaneysandra
45 games played
Montauk Project
Myss Tic Rooms
- Escape room
- IRL
“I'll be honest, we didn't really even know what the theme of this one was when we booked it. We ended up having a ton of fun with this room - the set is great, the puzzles are really well themed, and there's some intentional storytelling going on to make you feel like you're going through the story. Definitely worth doing - heck, do both at this location.”
pchan
137 games played
Ghost Light
Myss Tic Rooms
- Escape room
- IRL
“Fun, unique room, perfect for pairing with a theatre weekend. Worth the travel out to Brooklyn, and allows for a way to experience non-touristy parts of the city as well! Several unique puzzles, lots to keep my group occupied without feeling overwhelmed (in a group including several very experienced players, a minimally experienced player, and a newbie.) Definitely recommend!”
scott49
40 games played
More Escape Rooms
Learn More About New York City Escape Rooms
Just like with almost everything, the capital of escape rooms is probably New York City. Since the first escape rooms arrived in here in 2016, the culture capital of the World hasn’t stopped crafting these immersive puzzle experiences. In fact, New York City is home to nearly 50 different escape room venues and Manhattan offers a particularly exciting array of escape room experiences that are suitable for all tastes. 60 Out’s Gold Rush has been a fan favorite for years, and was voted the 4th best escape room in Manhattan. Clue Chases’s Houdini’s Workshop is another hit that is known for its beautiful set and immersive story. With over 100 escape games in the entire area, the possibilities are nearly endless — you’ll find games with themes of horror, adventure, crime, espionage, and plenty you may not expect.
How Do Escape Rooms Work?
Remember those point-and-click adventure games where you’re locked in a room and have to solve puzzles to find the key and escape? Those online games were the original inspiration for the live escape rooms you’ll find all across the world today. An escape room is an immersive experience where you (and your team of 2 or more people) are locked in a room with a series of puzzles for 60 minutes. To escape and win the game, you have to look for clues, solve the puzzles, and find the key. While most escape rooms only give you 60 minutes to complete the challenge, others may have shorter or longer time limits. Many venues are private rooms where you and your team are the only players. However, some places may pair you with other groups who booked a slot at the same time. And don’t worry about getting stuck, asking for hints on a difficult puzzle is totally normal. While the original escape room (created by SCRAP in 2007) had a fairly simple aesthetic, today’s escape games often take you into a different world. Artistic set designs, secret doors, and unique interactive elements are all part of the fun. It’s like an adventure game that you can interact with in real life. But if you’re hoping to preview any rooms before you book a game somewhere, detailed images and videos can be hard to find. To keep the puzzles a secret and preserve the experience of seeing the room for the first time, most venues only offer a few photos or a short trailer about the room’s theme or narrative. The only way to know what it’s like is to go and try it for yourself!
Find the Best New York City Escape Rooms with Morty
There are plenty of awesome escape rooms to choose from in New York City. The goal of Morty is to make escape rooms more accessible for everyone to find and play. With Morty, you can: - Browse escape rooms anywhere in the country - Read reviews and ratings from other community members - Book a room together with your friends Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned escape room enthusiast, our aim is to help you play more escape rooms and visit more immersive attractions.
Frequently asked questions
How Do I Book an Escape Room in New York City?
Most escape room venues don’t accept walk-ins, and time slots for popular games may fill up fast. Besides that, not every escape room is the same — some have varying difficulties, and you don’t want to get stuck playing a room that’s beyond your experience level. That’s why the best way to book an escape room in New York City is through the Morty app. You can get updates on new games, read reviews, compare details (including difficulty, theme, runtime) and plan an outing with friends, all on the same platform. You can even coordinate games with your friends collaboratively. Download the Morty app and book your adventure today!