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19 Most Exhilarating Escape Rooms in NYC in 2024

Published on Dec 5th 2024
escape rooms in nyc

Visiting escape rooms in NYC is a fun way to get a group together, find clues, solve puzzles and have a great time while using all your talents and skills. They’re collaborative and allow everyone to put their skills to the test and have their moments to shine. Escape rooms are immersive and fantastical, yet also help to build real-world skills such as collaboration and problem-solving. These rooms offer different settings and plenty of fast-paced action. You must think quickly, act fast and escape in 60 minutes or less to conquer the room.

According to Yale, being able to work in a team is one of the most valuable traits of an employee. Trust and teamwork within peer groups, friendships, family units or workplaces are crucial; escape rooms are a great way to build that trust. Escape rooms force groups to work together and collaborate to achieve a common goal. They’re great opportunities to build communication and collaboration in a way everyone will enjoy.

Each escape room offers a different experience that is individually suited to various types of players. Do you like puzzles? Hidden codes? Virtual reality or tests of physical strength? No matter which type of player you are, there’s an escape room for you. What are the best escape rooms in New York City? What is the largest escape room in NYC? In this article, you’ll find answers to these questions and more. 

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Best Escape Rooms in NYC for Adults

1. The Escape Room NYC

The Escape Room NYC
Escape from a submarine (via The Escape Room NYC)

What is the number one escape room in the United States? The Escape Game NYC is often considered one of the best escape rooms in NYC and escape experiences across the United States. Known for high-quality and technologically challenging rooms, immersive storytelling and intricate puzzles, The Escape Game encourages cooperation as you work with your friends while the clock ticks and try to get out in an hour or less. This venue consistently ranks as a favorite for date ideas in NYC, team building activities in NYC and experience gifts in NYC. 

2. Mission Escape Games

Mission Escape Games are challenging team-building opportunities for families, friends or corporations. They offer some of the most immersive escape rooms in NYC. Their games contain a variety of engaging themes, ranging anywhere from a cyberpunk sci-fi world to an abandoned hideout. Pitch this room to the office manager on your next business trip for a ton of fun and a great way to collaborate better with coworkers, or enjoy it with friends and family as a fun vacation activity on your trip to New York!

3. The Escape Game NYC

The Escape Room NYC Times Square
Escape, Special Ops style (via The Escape Room NYC Times Square)

The Escape Game NYC in Times Square is an iconic chain of escape rooms that exist nationwide. Their games are challenging and vary in themes and difficulty levels. Each game offers multiple rooms to search through as you find your way out. The games are challenging, but guests are given unlimited clues if they need assistance. This makes it a great option for anyone from the newest to the most experienced players. From prison breaks to deep-sea adventures, this is one of the escape rooms in NYC that has it all, and it's constantly coming out with new rooms. Visit for an adventurous date night or fun with friends or family!

4. Komnata Quest

Komnata Quest offers an immersive experience that will transport you to another world. Everything from the sound effects to the decor is perfectly designed and meticulously planned to pull you into the game. You don’t just solve puzzles; instead, you uncover a story where you become the protagonist. This is one of the most immersive and enticing escape rooms in NYC, making it a fun pick for a get-together with friends or family. It is a great indoor activity in NYC that you and your loved ones will surely enjoy.

5. PANIQ NYC (Formerly Clue Chase)

PANIQ NYC
Escape from zombies (via PANIQ NYC)

PANIQ NYC won the acclaimed Bullseye Award for best puzzle design against competing escape rooms in the region. It's safe to say that their puzzles are rated top-notch and one of the best features of their games. They have rave reviews from critics and fans and are highly recommended, credited as one of the best escape rooms in NYC. Become a pirate or a guardian of Gotham City. PANIQ NYC offers a unique and immersive experience you and your friends will love.

6. Bane Escape

Bane Escape is one of the largest escape rooms in NYC. This place is truly a puzzle in and of itself. Each of its rooms is composed of multiple smaller rooms that guests have to navigate their way through, giving you plenty to explore. The rooms are filled with secret passages and trap doors, making the entire experience incredibly immersive. Teamwork is mandatory if you want to find your way out, and you will use your brain power to unscramble clues and find secret locks. Escape a maritime grave or a murderous collector. Bane Escape is a thrilling experience that horror fans are sure to love. Jump scares are guaranteed here! 

Cheap Escape Rooms in NYC

7. BrainXCape

BrainXCape
Escape from hell (via BrainXCape)

Do you think you could survive a horror film? Do you criticize the horror protagonist’s choices and insist you could do better? Now, you can finally put those skills to the test. BrainXCape is known for its heart-thumping, thriller-themed escape rooms that make you feel trapped inside a horror film. They are intense, scary and tons of fun. These games are not for the faint of heart, but they are the perfect fit if you enjoy some serious scares. This is one of the top escape rooms in NYC for horror fanatics who want to test their survival skills and spook their family and friends.

8. Escape Virtuality

Escape Virtuality offers many exhilarating escape rooms and virtual reality games that transport players to entirely new worlds. Fight against spirits, race against a moving train or embark on a galactic journey. This is one of the great escape rooms in NYC offering a unique experience for those who love digital storytelling. It's perfect for video game lovers who want a more immersive experience. 

9. Lock And Key Escape

Lock And Key Escape
Escape as a team (via Lock And Key Escape)

Lock and Key Escape is one of the most immersive, puzzle-filled escape rooms in NYC. Its rooms have a variety of themes, ensuring there is something for everyone. Explore an ancient Egyptian pyramid, a cursed and colorful carnival or a mysterious utopia. Throughout your journey, you will use the power of collaborative thinking to solve puzzles and unlock clues that lead you through the room and on to your next adventure or escape. Lock and Key is known as one of the most immersive escape rooms in New York City and has earned excellent reviews from previous guests.

10. Mystery Room NYC

Mystery Room NYC is a small yet incredibly immersive company that allows players to feel like movie protagonists. They specialize in storytelling, allowing every player to feel like they are one with the story told throughout the game. It's one of the most creative and immersive escape rooms in NYC and worth booking for a night. 

Escape Rooms in NYC for Couples

11. Escape Room Madness NYC

Escape Room Madness NYC
Escape in a unique way (Escape Room Madness NYC)

Escape Room Madness offers six thrilling escape room adventures for you to try. It provides a variety of themes ranging from the barren nuclear apocalypse to a mysterious masquerade ball. To escape, your group has to work together, solve puzzles and crack codes with varying degrees of difficulty. These rooms offer a challenge and are great for those seeking the thrill of the game. Immerse yourself in these worlds and all it has to offer in one of the most unique escape rooms in NYC. 

12. Escape the Room NYC

Escape the Room NYC is a great way to escape the concrete jungle of New York and invest yourself in an immersive world of intricate puzzles and thought-provoking strategy. Each game is 60 minutes and can be played with as few as two and up to eight people. Escape the Room is one of the most immersive and challenging escape rooms in NYC. It's great for couples and an exciting and unique bachelor party idea in NYC.

13. Exit Escape Room NYC

Exit Escape Room NYC is rated among the best escape rooms in the city. Find clues, solve puzzles and unlock secrets to escape. Their rooms are uniquely customized to create a perfectly tailored player experience for everyone. Step onto a high-speed train or a fairytale world. Exit Escape Room NYC offers a diverse collection of games and is one of the most remarkable escape rooms in NYC.

14. Spygames NYC

Spygames NYC
Get your 007 on (via Spygames NYC)

Spygames NYC offers a variety of games that test not only your mind but also your physical abilities. Train like a spy and compete with other players to climb the leaderboard. Each game has a mental and physical difficulty rating, so you’re sure to find a game suited to your needs. Test yourself and your friends' limits in one of the most exhilarating escape rooms in NYC! 

Escape Rooms in Brooklyn

15. Brooklyn Escape Room

Brooklyn Escape Room
Get sweaty while you escape (via Brooklyn Escape Room)

The Brooklyn Escape Room includes one of the most extensive and immersive escape rooms in NYC. The Dungeon is a massive 1,100-square-foot escape room. This room is ideal for large parties and can accommodate up to 20 players. Many of the rooms are great for corporate events, gathering with a group of friends, birthday parties or a guys' night out. They are immersive, exciting, and tons of fun!

16. Escape Zone NYC

Escape Zone is Long Island’s number one rated escape room opportunity. It has many games based on iconic fantasy film franchises such as It (Pennywise the Clown), Harry Potter or Jumanji. Their games are filled with exciting storylines and challenging puzzles. Jump into your favorite fictional universes and become the protagonist in one of the most exciting escape rooms in NYC! 

17. MyssTic

MyssTic
Go back in time to escape (via MyssTic)

MyssTic blends theater and mystery into an immersive and interactive experience. Their games are more theatrical than most, making them an incredibly unique experience. They currently have two rooms and are adding a third. Both of the current two have a haunted ghost theme. Choose your theater-based adventure in one of the most immersive escape rooms in NYC.

18. Clue Chase Pop-Up

Clue Chase Pop-Up brings the escape room to you! Rent their services, and they will set up in a location of your choice. Their escape rooms are customizable with fun themes and for different skill levels. They can last anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour and are suitable for adults and older children. They are available for short- or long-term arrangements. This is one of the top escape rooms in NYC that offers a variety of themes and is perfect for birthday parties and corporate or special events!

19. Beat the Bomb

Beat the Bomb
Escape in an arrya of colors (via Beat the Bomb)

Put down the controller and step into a real-life video game at Beat the Bomb. This immersive escape room experience forces players to move quickly, dodge lasers and crack codes to disarm a giant slime bomb. If you cannot complete all of your tasks in time, your whole group will get blasted with oozing, gooey slime. This is one of the most unique escape rooms in NYC and is outstanding for a group that doesn't mind facing the risk of getting messy. Guests are given protective suits beforehand, so you can arrive dressed for dinner and do not have to worry about your clothes getting ruined.

Escape rooms are fun and immersive experiences that keep you on your toes as you try to beat the clock. A visit to one is a great social activity. They pull from individual skills, help build collaborative thinking and grow trust between your friends and family or within corporate circles. They are perfect for special events, team strategy sessions or a fun way to spend a rainy day indoors. As you just saw, there are so many themes and options to pick from, so multiple visits are welcome.

You can find escape rooms in NYC for a variety of skill levels or interests. Whether you prefer digital or traditional, mental or physical challenges, there is an escape room for you and your friend group or coworkers. Escape rooms in NYC have a lot to offer, and you can find them in all of your favorite neighborhoods across the city. Which of these escape rooms do you plan to try first?

For even more fun experience gift ideas, check out immersive lessons on Classpop!