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
“A really strong room that does well with the sometimes questionable concept of a sub game. Every type of puzzle you can imagine is represented, and all puzzles flow quickly but also have strong aha! moments of synergy and a finale that was incredibly fun. Nay was an awesome game host as well and gave perfect clues that alleviated the enthusiast blind eye. Absolutely recommended.”
JackTheFlop
57 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Impeccably designed room! Clearly very well thought through and very fun overall. Would be great for a mid-sized group. I'm a sucker for atmosphere and this room delivers well on that. Puzzles were certainly manageable and good for a group of varying experience levels.”
stephie
60 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Love the immersion of starting in separate rooms. Did this as a birthday escape and it was so fun for the whole group even those who don’t normally do escape rooms with us! 10 out of 10 would recommend.”
nst3v3ns11
128 games played
The Escape Game
Overwhelmingly Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I love the theme. Great sense of childhood whimsy. A few really fun physical elements to the gameplay. One physical puzzle was a joy with two people and really made me feel like a kid again. Lots of things to do in parallel, so a pretty good challenge for small teams. 5/5”
oddball
137 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Having done a number of reputable space-themed rooms, this one actually surprised us with the amount of tech integration and its usage within novel puzzles. The premise sets the objective almost like a "break everything" room, each with flashy visuals, only a few traditional locks and a ton of sci-fi themed components. A lot of the tools given to the players make you question whether you're even allowed to use them in an escape room, which adds to the immersion of the spaceship environment. As a group of two, we completed this one without any real struggles, though some of the puzzles would be less tedious with at least four players. These puzzles did not take away from the fun though, and given the high-quality setting and puzzles (assumedly as a newer room for the franchise), we definitely recommend this one.”
Buddy0816
28 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room was totally amazing! I can see why we've been told it's a staple at many locations of this company!!! The theming was really well done, I appreciated the fact that it was a multi-level room where you go up and down. It really felt like we were moving from scenario to scenario as opposed to just going from one closet to another. I thought that there were a lot of really unique puzzles, some that require more interaction than you normally get in rooms corporate locations. This is a big plus for anybody who has played more than a couple of games anywhere and is looking for something slightly more challenging. I know that it's touted as a lower difficulty level, but I'd argue that it was more challenging than several of the other games we've played at The Escape Game. Or at least the puzzles were better, so it felt more difficult than games that reuse the same sort of puzzles over and over. 10/10 would recommend!!!”
B
Bubbas
44 games played
The Escape Game
Overwhelmingly Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“8.2/10 Sometimes, an escape room doesn’t need to be intense or deeply mysterious to deliver a great time. It just needs to be fun, and that’s exactly what Playground accomplishes. What stood out the most was just how genuinely fun it was from start to finish. The puzzles were clever, varied, and encouraged both mental and physical engagement. From interactive challenges to tactile surprises, there was a childlike joy in progressing through each “subject,” and we couldn’t help but smile the whole time. Even though we were paired with two random teammates, the experience still flowed really well. The room is non-linear, so there’s plenty to work on at once, which helped keep everyone involved and active. The report-card-style progress tracker was a great touch, helping us stay organized while adding to the classroom immersion. Playground might not be the most complex or atmospheric room out there, but it delivers exactly what it promises, a good time!”
LockedandLoaded
111 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 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.”
d
drayner
71 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Enjoyed the overall production quality of each room. Even if the puzzles weren’t too hard, I really enjoyed the look and feel of each room. Did feel technologically futuristic as it should be in a Time Machine!”
LexiconPenguino
102 games played
Beat the Bomb
Very Positive
255 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
- Other
“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.”
d
drayner
71 games played
“I really loved this escape room for the nostalgia, interactiveness, and storyline. Compared to other escape rooms I’ve done, this one feels more immersive, and has a child like feel. Since I’ve done 70 escape rooms at this point, every puzzle felt similar to previous puzzles that I’ve done in the past, but for more novice players it will likely feel more unique/challenging. This room is also nice if you want to do it with a larger group. There’s a lot of room to move and it’s non-linear.”
blochros
100 games played
“Loved this room!! Just as good as all other escape game rooms. However there is one particular puzzle in this room that technically can be done with 2 ppl but it’s MUCH harder and will take a lot longer than if playing with 3-4 ppl - I would recommend playing this room with at least 3 ppl because of this.”
nina713
293 games played
“Fun room inspired off of the stranger things franchise. Probably the best room of that particular kind in the north east USA. Fans of the hit tv show will love this room. Puzzles were all solid, no logical leaps. Great story telling and production within the experience. Our group finished the room with no direct hints (one little nudge) in about 49 mins. Wasn’t too difficult for a group of 5. Would be a good challenge for a group of 2. Of all the rooms at Mysstic rooms this would be my 2nd favorite, my favorite being, “The Bird”.”
s2escape
90 games played
“Of all the 3 rooms, found this to be the easiest (and shortest) by far. We finished the room in 34 minutes with our group of 5, no hints, and we were told by our GM that it was a top 5 performance for Mysstic rooms, for which we felt honored. I did remember saying out loud after finishing the room, “That’s it?” which betrayed a sense of disappointment in myself wishing there was more I guess. With that said, lest I sound like I’m complaining, some really creative and beautiful set design that added to an immersive and fairly satisfying experience. This one is a decent heart rating for me. Surprised however to see this above The Bird for finalist in TERPECA 2025. 🤷♂️”
s2escape
90 games played
“My favorite room here at Mysstic rooms and perhaps one of my top 10 all time. Read the other reviews, it truly lives up to the hype. For starters it delivers in that it is very creative, beautifully designed, and has an intuitive puzzle flow- as many others mention, even in such a tight space. But it also has that element which separates the good rooms from the great ones; it touches your heart and somehow through the process you find yourself enjoying an experience that transcends the genre. Needless to say, this is a must play…and I’ll even go so far to say that perhaps this is the best small business produced escape room in the 5 boroughs of NYC. Our group of 5 finished the room with no hints in about 51 mins, puzzles moderate difficulty.”
s2escape
90 games played
Unreal Escapes
Overwhelmingly Positive
2571 Arthur Kill Rd, Staten Island, NY 10309, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room is AMAZING. the story, special effects, production value, set design, prop design, puzzle creativity, story, and pretty much everything is seriously top notch. This room is definitely my 2nd fav room I've ever done. Also, the staff are amazing. I got engaged here and the owners were absolute amazing humans with helping me make it a super special moment . Do this room, you won't regret it.”
D
Danielfiorica
45 games played
Unreal Escapes
Very Positive
2571 Arthur Kill Rd, Staten Island, NY 10309, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“We had a blast at DISCO 54! The whole experience was a vibe, set in a disco ball room and fun disco music playing the whole time. Never had an escape room experience quite like this in that aspect, it felt like doing an escape room during a party! In regards to difficulty I felt it was slightly challenging, we were given 2 unsolicited nudges and we asked for one hint but our group of 4 ended up finishing in about 49 mins. The puzzles were fairly logical and satisfying to complete. I attached a photo so people can get an idea of the decor, as the website doesnt leave much to the imagination. All in all, this venue may a bit out of the way but more than worth the visit!”
s2escape
90 games played
The Depths
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“A really strong room that does well with the sometimes questionable concept of a sub game. Every type of puzzle you can imagine is represented, and all puzzles flow quickly but also have strong aha! moments of synergy and a finale that was incredibly fun. Nay was an awesome game host as well and gave perfect clues that alleviated the enthusiast blind eye. Absolutely recommended.”
JackTheFlop
57 games played
Gold Rush
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Impeccably designed room! Clearly very well thought through and very fun overall. Would be great for a mid-sized group. I'm a sucker for atmosphere and this room delivers well on that. Puzzles were certainly manageable and good for a group of varying experience levels.”
stephie
60 games played
Prison Break
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Love the immersion of starting in separate rooms. Did this as a birthday escape and it was so fun for the whole group even those who don’t normally do escape rooms with us! 10 out of 10 would recommend.”
nst3v3ns11
128 games played
Playground
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“I love the theme. Great sense of childhood whimsy. A few really fun physical elements to the gameplay. One physical puzzle was a joy with two people and really made me feel like a kid again. Lots of things to do in parallel, so a pretty good challenge for small teams. 5/5”
oddball
137 games played
Cosmic Crisis
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Having done a number of reputable space-themed rooms, this one actually surprised us with the amount of tech integration and its usage within novel puzzles. The premise sets the objective almost like a "break everything" room, each with flashy visuals, only a few traditional locks and a ton of sci-fi themed components. A lot of the tools given to the players make you question whether you're even allowed to use them in an escape room, which adds to the immersion of the spaceship environment. As a group of two, we completed this one without any real struggles, though some of the puzzles would be less tedious with at least four players. These puzzles did not take away from the fun though, and given the high-quality setting and puzzles (assumedly as a newer room for the franchise), we definitely recommend this one.”
Buddy0816
28 games played
Gold Rush
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room was totally amazing! I can see why we've been told it's a staple at many locations of this company!!! The theming was really well done, I appreciated the fact that it was a multi-level room where you go up and down. It really felt like we were moving from scenario to scenario as opposed to just going from one closet to another. I thought that there were a lot of really unique puzzles, some that require more interaction than you normally get in rooms corporate locations. This is a big plus for anybody who has played more than a couple of games anywhere and is looking for something slightly more challenging. I know that it's touted as a lower difficulty level, but I'd argue that it was more challenging than several of the other games we've played at The Escape Game. Or at least the puzzles were better, so it felt more difficult than games that reuse the same sort of puzzles over and over. 10/10 would recommend!!!”
B
Bubbas
44 games played
Playground
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“8.2/10 Sometimes, an escape room doesn’t need to be intense or deeply mysterious to deliver a great time. It just needs to be fun, and that’s exactly what Playground accomplishes. What stood out the most was just how genuinely fun it was from start to finish. The puzzles were clever, varied, and encouraged both mental and physical engagement. From interactive challenges to tactile surprises, there was a childlike joy in progressing through each “subject,” and we couldn’t help but smile the whole time. Even though we were paired with two random teammates, the experience still flowed really well. The room is non-linear, so there’s plenty to work on at once, which helped keep everyone involved and active. The report-card-style progress tracker was a great touch, helping us stay organized while adding to the classroom immersion. Playground might not be the most complex or atmospheric room out there, but it delivers exactly what it promises, a good time!”
LockedandLoaded
111 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.”
d
drayner
71 games played
The Depths
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
Timeliner: Train Through Time
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Enjoyed the overall production quality of each room. Even if the puzzles weren’t too hard, I really enjoyed the look and feel of each room. Did feel technologically futuristic as it should be in a Time Machine!”
LexiconPenguino
102 games played
Paint Bomb Mission
Beat the Bomb
- Escape room
- IRL
- Other
“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.”
d
drayner
71 games played
Playground
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“I really loved this escape room for the nostalgia, interactiveness, and storyline. Compared to other escape rooms I’ve done, this one feels more immersive, and has a child like feel. Since I’ve done 70 escape rooms at this point, every puzzle felt similar to previous puzzles that I’ve done in the past, but for more novice players it will likely feel more unique/challenging. This room is also nice if you want to do it with a larger group. There’s a lot of room to move and it’s non-linear.”
blochros
100 games played
Cosmic Crisis
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Loved this room!! Just as good as all other escape game rooms. However there is one particular puzzle in this room that technically can be done with 2 ppl but it’s MUCH harder and will take a lot longer than if playing with 3-4 ppl - I would recommend playing this room with at least 3 ppl because of this.”
nina713
293 games played
Montauk Project
MyssTic Rooms
- Escape room
- IRL
“Fun room inspired off of the stranger things franchise. Probably the best room of that particular kind in the north east USA. Fans of the hit tv show will love this room. Puzzles were all solid, no logical leaps. Great story telling and production within the experience. Our group finished the room with no direct hints (one little nudge) in about 49 mins. Wasn’t too difficult for a group of 5. Would be a good challenge for a group of 2. Of all the rooms at Mysstic rooms this would be my 2nd favorite, my favorite being, “The Bird”.”
s2escape
90 games played
Ghost Light
MyssTic Rooms
- Escape room
- IRL
“Of all the 3 rooms, found this to be the easiest (and shortest) by far. We finished the room in 34 minutes with our group of 5, no hints, and we were told by our GM that it was a top 5 performance for Mysstic rooms, for which we felt honored. I did remember saying out loud after finishing the room, “That’s it?” which betrayed a sense of disappointment in myself wishing there was more I guess. With that said, lest I sound like I’m complaining, some really creative and beautiful set design that added to an immersive and fairly satisfying experience. This one is a decent heart rating for me. Surprised however to see this above The Bird for finalist in TERPECA 2025. 🤷♂️”
s2escape
90 games played
The Bird
MyssTic Rooms
- Escape room
- IRL
“My favorite room here at Mysstic rooms and perhaps one of my top 10 all time. Read the other reviews, it truly lives up to the hype. For starters it delivers in that it is very creative, beautifully designed, and has an intuitive puzzle flow- as many others mention, even in such a tight space. But it also has that element which separates the good rooms from the great ones; it touches your heart and somehow through the process you find yourself enjoying an experience that transcends the genre. Needless to say, this is a must play…and I’ll even go so far to say that perhaps this is the best small business produced escape room in the 5 boroughs of NYC. Our group of 5 finished the room with no hints in about 51 mins, puzzles moderate difficulty.”
s2escape
90 games played
Battleship
Unreal Escapes
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room is AMAZING. the story, special effects, production value, set design, prop design, puzzle creativity, story, and pretty much everything is seriously top notch. This room is definitely my 2nd fav room I've ever done. Also, the staff are amazing. I got engaged here and the owners were absolute amazing humans with helping me make it a super special moment . Do this room, you won't regret it.”
D
Danielfiorica
45 games played
Disco 54 NYC
Unreal Escapes
- Escape room
- IRL
“We had a blast at DISCO 54! The whole experience was a vibe, set in a disco ball room and fun disco music playing the whole time. Never had an escape room experience quite like this in that aspect, it felt like doing an escape room during a party! In regards to difficulty I felt it was slightly challenging, we were given 2 unsolicited nudges and we asked for one hint but our group of 4 ended up finishing in about 49 mins. The puzzles were fairly logical and satisfying to complete. I attached a photo so people can get an idea of the decor, as the website doesnt leave much to the imagination. All in all, this venue may a bit out of the way but more than worth the visit!”
s2escape
90 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!