The 9 best escape rooms in San Fernando Valley (2026)

Ah, Appleseed Avenue. That beautiful place where humans and puppets coexist. You’ve always wanted to visit, but never quite had the time. And then you see the job posting: Appleseed Avenue detectives and medical examiners wanted, humans or puppets apply. Are you a detective? No. Do you have medical experience? Well, it doesn’t really matter because these are puppets and not humans. You apply, and to your surprise, you get the job. It turns out that the day you are scheduled to work is Election Day. You don’t really follow puppet politics, but you know this one’s a biggie. Five candidates are still in the running for the mayor of Puppet Town in an increasingly tense race. Either way, it probably won’t affect your time on Appleseed Avenue. Right?

“Saved this for #200 and it was worth the wait, the drive, and every penny. My cheeks are still tired from all the smiling. Kip was our host and was also the puppeteer who brought the characters of Appleseed Avenue to life. During the game, you split into two teams: the detectives, and the medical examiners. At first it feels like you’re battling head to head but you’re also working together. With some techy equipment, the tasks were explained really well. It’s like playing Clue. Don’t miss out, check it out. Election Day is ranked high and now I could see why.”

Darktan

205 escape rooms

A brand new waking nightmare presented by The Basement: A Live Escape Room Experience, Dead & Breakfast is a private escape adventure designed to test you in ways you never thought possible! You and your friends have been kidnapped by Edward Tandy -- a cannibalistic serial killer with a hunger for taxidermy, strange mechanisms, and of course human flesh. He has created a twisted game in his deceased mother's home, designed to weed out those who are unworthy of escaping with their lives. Beginning at 10am, Mondays-Thursdays only, guests are invited into the Tandy household for a day they’ll never forget. Featuring ALL FOUR of our escape room experiences: play them back-to-back in a private, VIP setting. Ever felt like you needed MORE TIME during your game? During Dead & Breakfast, you and your team will play until you complete each experience!

You finally make it outside but are surrounded by a 12-foot fence: a police officer in a cage, an old camper, and rabid dogs snarl nearby. The Courtyard is one of our most impressive experiences for its sheer scale. Many guests are shocked to learn they are not actually outside, and it features a uniquely memorable live-performer interaction unlike anything else in our lineup. What makes The Courtyard special? You have made it outside the Tandy house, then hit a 14-foot fence, the home’s façade, and a full camper to explore. Non-linear puzzle tracks let big groups split up, search, and reconnect before time runs out. EXPLORE & SPLIT UP Multiple areas, physical moments, and clues that only make sense once your team compares notes. A captive in a cage is central to the story, and affected by what you do. This experience's live performer: Meet "Officer Quinn" Quinn loved Lilly, and Lilly loved her back. But the things Lilly shared about her father began to paint an eerie picture. Strange behavior. Dark gaps in the story. As an officer of the law, she couldn't just ignore these signs... her hunches. So Quinn came to the Tandy property looking for clues, and found more than she bargained for. Now she lingers in The Courtyard, caged, broken, and hooked to some sort of medical machinery. She came for answers in the pursuit of justice, but now she's just another character in your nightmare.

You're trapped in a serial killer's study. There's an upright coffin sitting against the wall. An old rotary phone sitting on the desk rings loudly. In this linear escape room set in a regal 20th century study, you will traverse hidden passage ways and come in contact with a presence lurking in the darkness. What makes The Study special? An elegant upstairs escape with survival-horror tension and a fully linear puzzle path. Your whole group works the same sequence together while a live performer becomes part of the puzzles, not random scares. EVERYONE STAYS ENGAGED One step at a time, one team, one story. Logic-heavy moments and unforgettable performer interaction, including a separation beat, without the grime of The Basement. This experience's live performer: Meet "The Maid" They say she never left the house. Not after Mrs. Tandy died. Not after the doors were locked. Edward gave her a single command: keep everything exactly the same. And she obeyed. In the darkness, time dissolved. Her eyes turned pale and useless, her hearing taken by something no one can explain. Still, she remains, endlessly tending to rooms frozen in a moment that should have passed. She cannot see you. She cannot hear you. But she will know you are there. And when she does, her anger is immediate. Absolute.

“The study was my first room at the basement. It was amazing in every way. Perfect amount of scary and challenging. The actor made the room so immersive and was so kind after the game. I love this location and cannot wait to do more rooms here”

probablywontescape

60 escape rooms

You're trapped at the bottom of an old elevator shaft with the elevator descending above you. Water starts to fill the room from a drain in the floor. Using water, electricity, and large scale moving parts, this experience rivals attractions at major theme parks, The Elevator Shaft has been deemed one of the most technically advanced escape rooms in the country. CLOSE-QUARTERS INTENSITY What makes The Elevator Shaft special? Trapped in an 8×8 elevator shaft while the car descends from above. Water, motion, and mechanical set pieces drive a mostly linear escape built for small groups, with no live actor, but the room itself is the threat. BEST FOR SMALL GROUPS Tight space, clear puzzle track, constant pressure. Climb, crawl, and coordinate as the environment changes around you.

“The set is incredible. Running water, moving ceiling, smoke and electrical effects, sound effects and the sliding trolley were all amazing. The puzzles, however, were just okay and you didn’t always know if you’d completed a puzzle correctly and what it may have triggered. I have such conflicting opinions on this place. I wish that the puzzles and sign posting matched the level of the set. I still have it a heart as it does stand out and have some great qualities. This is a small space so I would recommend 3-4 players.”

RenoTahoeEscape

274 escape rooms

Plato, a prodigy of philosophy and wisdom, once wrote, “there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune the great city of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea. For the people of Atlantis housed the greatest exponents of concrete wisdom & technology the world had ever known.” In 2019, Oceanic Inc, an oceanography company based from Los Angeles, pinpointed the exact location of the city of Atlantis with the use of a newly redeveloped electron radar known as Magnetic Anomaly Detection. With its location submerged under the icy-cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Oceanic scientists deployed a magnitude of technological developments and barriers that provided researchers & engineers direct access to the entrance gates of Atlantis. Unsuccessful in manipulating the secrets to enter the city gates, Oceanic Inc, is now hiring a team of scientists, historians, and archeologists that may possess the intelligence required to enter the ancient city and ultimately unveil the anticipated phenomena of Atlantis: The Forgotten City.

“Really great escape room! There was a lot to explore and discover and tons of well thought out puzzles. The space was surprisingly large. The decorations were very immersive and the high tech mechanisms were really impressive. Our game master was awesome. He was super friendly and you could tell he was genuinely passionate about escape rooms. We arrived late and he was very accommodating and made it work for us. Overall it was an awesome experience and definitely one of the best escape rooms I’ve done. Highly recommend!”

Gizmosapien

46 escape rooms

Between the years 1870 and 1900, Mentryville, a small oil drilling town of 200 residents was an ideal community of modest homes and puritan ideals. A seemingly perfect, quiet town to raise a family... but few know of Mentryville's darkest secret.

“Celebrating my 200s with the Ghost of Mentryville (Sam) and we had a blast. And what a unique experience! You’re with the Ghost the whole time helping them remember what happened. What you uncover will shock you and some choices will be made! There’s some really cool locks, maybe some belong in a museum cause they’re that old! The craftsmanship is amazing! We all left feeling “WOOOWW!!” Don’t miss out check it out!”

Darktan

205 escape rooms

Expanded Facility, New Walk-Through Flow Configuration, New Additions, New 12th Attraction: "The Hotel" and Backwoods Feature Changes, New Special Effects, Additional Characters.. Completely redone and expanded Funhouse and expanded section with the Bayou. 12 connected haunts, 145 rooms of terror. Each targets your deepest fears as you're trapped in an unescapable nightmare. Each attraction is designed to target -and maximize – a different part of your deepest fears in the most FUN way you can imagine! Attractions: Forest of Fear The Possesion Unhallowed Ground The Haunted House Haunted Mine: Miner’s Revenge Casa Blood Also Known as House of Blood. Quarantine Haunted House Forest of Fear Containment The Asylum Infected Fun House Backwoods You experience ALL with ONE TICKET! Reign of Terror is a very intense, frightful, horror themed experience delivered by walking through 142 rooms. It’s best enjoyed by older teens and adults who desire to be scared or emotionally shocked for entertainment purposes.

“It had been years since I’ve done ROT and DAMN has it improved. It’s awesome. Very scary. The actors know the right place to hide and the perfect time to come out. Some of them talked to you and those were the best. The sets were great. Decor detailed. I wanted to spend time in some rooms admiring it. It was tight with some tight corners/hallways but would eventually lead to a bigger room. It verges on too long. At some point, I was sweating from being scared and tired from the up down adrenaline that I felt finished, but it was right around the time that the maze came to an end. My voice is hoarse from laughing and screaming for 45 mins straight. So much fun.”

Acoalfang218

24 haunts

Long ago, the Egyptian god Set gifted a powerful charm - the golden Key of Destiny - to a Nubian queen, which brought her riches, fame, and power. However, she had the Key buried with her in the belief it would make her equal to the gods in the afterlife. Due to the powerful charms that protect the queen’s tomb, the gods cannot retrieve the Key. Only mortals can solve the puzzles in her antechamber and tomb and return the Key to the gods before the sands of time run out and Set unleashes his wrath upon the world. Good Luck, Explorers!

“Gameplay was SO much fun! The room wasn’t linear, which normally isn’t our favorite, but there were so many puzzles to solve that we were having a blast going through everything. Perfect mix of puzzles too; some were deep-thinking and some were right in front of your face. We set the record for two people solving the room, not to mention we didn’t use any hints. Come beat our time!!! The room was totally immersive in design. It was a gen 1 escape room, so all the hand painting and hands-on equipment was beautiful. No tech at all, but still so much fun. Maggie was SO sweet! We walked in and she was waiting for us in the lobby, even greeted us by name which was kind. Game masters aren’t always the friendliest, but Maggie was awesome!! We felt very welcomed and it felt like she was passionate about the game and appreciative of our booking.”

Minkow

64 escape rooms