The 12 best escape rooms in Irvine
From wizardy adventures to hunts for treasure, where to find the best escape rooms in Irvine.
Exodus Escape Room
Overwhelmingly Positive
1220 Village Way b, Santa Ana, CA 92705, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Immersive, challenging, very story-driven…what’s not to like? This is one of the best rooms we’ve done in terms of having a great story, atmosphere, and lots of puzzles. There was a good variety of puzzles and a good flow, with the puzzles connecting to and moving the story forward. Was told that this was their hardest room - I would say it would probably be hard for a team of beginners to escape, so better for experienced escapers.”
JenCBear
131 games played
Intrepid Escape Rooms
Overwhelmingly Positive
1622 Edinger Ave Ste C, Tustin, CA 92780, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I love this escape room! I love pirate themed escape rooms in general, and this one had a great set design, vibe, atmosphere ... the only downside was the intro for the escape room was pretty lengthy. The GM gives you the task, leaves, and then comes back with more talking ... I hope they can cut back on the lengthy introduction. But other than that, I really enjoyed this room. I even got my own Flint because he is sooo cute! 🥹🦜”
FleurDeLiz
31 games played
Hidden Donkey
Overwhelmingly Positive
17925 Sky Park Cir Ste B, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room was very well designed and thought out. All the puzzles were so much fun, the atmosphere made you feel like you were a real wizard student. If you love Harry Potter and pretending to be a wizard, this is very close to living out those dreams. My only criticism was that there was a part of the room, that bottlenecks because the puzzle was only big enough for 2 people to really do and during this puzzles there nothing else for others to do. The of the group may need to wait until the puzzle is complete, which is a perfect time for the rest of the group to admire all the detailed decorations in the rooms. It was such a fun room, I’m thinking about doing it again because the first group I went with did most of the puzzles and I don’t remember a lot of it. So I’m excited for the possibility of that, also excited the goblin’s secret room.”
Pogepi383
38 games played
Hidden Donkey
Overwhelmingly Positive
17925 Sky Park Cir Ste B, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Hidden Donkey is one of the best escape rooms in OC! They currently only have 2 escape rooms, but I love both! I do prefer the other one over this escape room just because the other room had more puzzles and the puzzles were more intricate. BUT this one is definitely more theatrical. I can't wait what they have in store for us next! #teamslytherin 🐍”
FleurDeLiz
31 games played
EscapeX Rooms
Overwhelmingly Positive
17981 Sky Park Cir H, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Wonderfully themed, full of some unique processes. The room is stated as being linear, and it is, but the puzzles didn’t necessarily directly flow one into the next each time. But overall a more unique experience with high production value.”
mahka42
27 games played
UNLOCKED: Escape Room
Very Positive
2706 Harbor Blvd # 200, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“ABSOLUTELY loved this room! Just goes to show you that low to mid budget rooms can compete with the top budget rooms when done right and with passion. This is prob the best I’ve seen such puzzles match the theme with such uniqueness. Also finally a room with nothing annoying lol- so smooth. One big thing to note is that we personally play for the wow moments in a room so if a room has one big wow moment then that’s a win, but this one had multiple that had us in the middle of the game saying - WHOA that was unexpected (and that’s playing over 50 games). this is a gen 1 game with low tech and it was amazing - this is our fav style so there’s that. Jay the GM was amazing too, felt like family and took the time. First room to give us a Polaroid on the spot, nice touch! Julie and Dom were on the phones too - great service! So yeah we’re playing their other room tomorrow lol - “game on arcade.” I was waiting to do reviews on morty till now - lol had to start with this one. This game should be rated “overwhelmingly positive” overall - go play it now!”
TeamErgoBaby
71 games played
“Pros: Fun and lighthearted, good for families (including kids), linear puzzle-solving with a logical flow, good mix of easier and more challenging puzzles; Cons: Not easy to find (give yourself extra time), overly worn game pieces and props”
jessicals
30 games played
“This is the best escape room I’ve ever done! The theming is generic, but still very well done. The real star here is the interactive nature of the puzzles. Many puzzles force you to interact with them physically, rather than just finding a code to put in a lock. This room always feels incredibly engaging! Plus, you start out separated in two adjacent cells, so you’re forced to communicate to escape. Here’s my best advice: the golden number is four people. Don’t play this game with any less or more than four. The two cells you start in are pretty small, and would easily feel overcrowded with three people in one, but being alone in a cell would be very daunting.”
ColeShalauta
90 games played
“This escape room was everything I hoped it would be! Each room is very unique, and you can’t help but smile the entire time! It just oozes charm. I would not recommend going in with less than four players. The puzzles are not very difficult, but there are a ton of them, and you will not escape unless you divide and conquer! We made it out with just three of us, but one of my friends is a spaz. You won’t be able to resist climbing on the jungle gym, but try not to waste too much time!”
ColeShalauta
90 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
655 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room is amazing. From the room it starts in to the room it finishes in you can not predict the ending. A very amazing mix of mechanical as well as technological puzzles. Love the juxtaposition of the theme. And love the setting and puzzles. Overall, extremely good set design as well as challenging, but rewarding puzzles to solve. Bring friends ! You’re in for a challenge”
ToeBeans333
25 games played
Escape Room 66
Very Positive
23621 Ridge Rte Dr c, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Great room! We usually don't like prison- themed room but this one is different. A lot of puzzles for 2 but they flowed pretty well. Plus, they were non-linear so we could spread out to do our own things. Our GMs were very attentive and mindful as they could adjust some parts that we asked for. Highly recommended!”
KeMy
82 games played
Escape Room 66
Overwhelmingly Positive
23621 Ridge Rte Dr c, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I kept smiling during the whole room since the decoration was so cute and on point. There were a lot of puzzles for just the two of us but with our GMs' help, we would be able to escape in time. Plus, puzzles flowed very well. We always enjoy talking with the "creators" of the room whenever we do an escape because we love to share our enthusiasm in this hobby. Overall, I highly recommend at least 3 people to play this room but if you only have 2 like us, that's okay but keep in mind that you have unlimited hints so use them wisely!”
KeMy
82 games played
Ink & Ashes
Exodus Escape Room
- Escape room
- IRL
“Immersive, challenging, very story-driven…what’s not to like? This is one of the best rooms we’ve done in terms of having a great story, atmosphere, and lots of puzzles. There was a good variety of puzzles and a good flow, with the puzzles connecting to and moving the story forward. Was told that this was their hardest room - I would say it would probably be hard for a team of beginners to escape, so better for experienced escapers.”
JenCBear
131 games played
Jewel of the Sea
Intrepid Escape Rooms
- Escape room
- IRL
“I love this escape room! I love pirate themed escape rooms in general, and this one had a great set design, vibe, atmosphere ... the only downside was the intro for the escape room was pretty lengthy. The GM gives you the task, leaves, and then comes back with more talking ... I hope they can cut back on the lengthy introduction. But other than that, I really enjoyed this room. I even got my own Flint because he is sooo cute! 🥹🦜”
FleurDeLiz
31 games played
Irvine School Of Wizardry And The Dragon Wand
Hidden Donkey
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room was very well designed and thought out. All the puzzles were so much fun, the atmosphere made you feel like you were a real wizard student. If you love Harry Potter and pretending to be a wizard, this is very close to living out those dreams. My only criticism was that there was a part of the room, that bottlenecks because the puzzle was only big enough for 2 people to really do and during this puzzles there nothing else for others to do. The of the group may need to wait until the puzzle is complete, which is a perfect time for the rest of the group to admire all the detailed decorations in the rooms. It was such a fun room, I’m thinking about doing it again because the first group I went with did most of the puzzles and I don’t remember a lot of it. So I’m excited for the possibility of that, also excited the goblin’s secret room.”
Pogepi383
38 games played
Irvine School of Wizardry and the Goblin's Secrets
Hidden Donkey
- Escape room
- IRL
“Hidden Donkey is one of the best escape rooms in OC! They currently only have 2 escape rooms, but I love both! I do prefer the other one over this escape room just because the other room had more puzzles and the puzzles were more intricate. BUT this one is definitely more theatrical. I can't wait what they have in store for us next! #teamslytherin 🐍”
FleurDeLiz
31 games played
The Curse Of The Black Knight
EscapeX Rooms
- Escape room
- IRL
“Wonderfully themed, full of some unique processes. The room is stated as being linear, and it is, but the puzzles didn’t necessarily directly flow one into the next each time. But overall a more unique experience with high production value.”
mahka42
27 games played
The Return Of The Magician
UNLOCKED: Escape Room
- Escape room
- IRL
“ABSOLUTELY loved this room! Just goes to show you that low to mid budget rooms can compete with the top budget rooms when done right and with passion. This is prob the best I’ve seen such puzzles match the theme with such uniqueness. Also finally a room with nothing annoying lol- so smooth. One big thing to note is that we personally play for the wow moments in a room so if a room has one big wow moment then that’s a win, but this one had multiple that had us in the middle of the game saying - WHOA that was unexpected (and that’s playing over 50 games). this is a gen 1 game with low tech and it was amazing - this is our fav style so there’s that. Jay the GM was amazing too, felt like family and took the time. First room to give us a Polaroid on the spot, nice touch! Julie and Dom were on the phones too - great service! So yeah we’re playing their other room tomorrow lol - “game on arcade.” I was waiting to do reviews on morty till now - lol had to start with this one. This game should be rated “overwhelmingly positive” overall - go play it now!”
TeamErgoBaby
71 games played
Gold Rush
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Pros: Fun and lighthearted, good for families (including kids), linear puzzle-solving with a logical flow, good mix of easier and more challenging puzzles; Cons: Not easy to find (give yourself extra time), overly worn game pieces and props”
jessicals
30 games played
Prison Break
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This is the best escape room I’ve ever done! The theming is generic, but still very well done. The real star here is the interactive nature of the puzzles. Many puzzles force you to interact with them physically, rather than just finding a code to put in a lock. This room always feels incredibly engaging! Plus, you start out separated in two adjacent cells, so you’re forced to communicate to escape. Here’s my best advice: the golden number is four people. Don’t play this game with any less or more than four. The two cells you start in are pretty small, and would easily feel overcrowded with three people in one, but being alone in a cell would be very daunting.”
ColeShalauta
90 games played
Playground
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This escape room was everything I hoped it would be! Each room is very unique, and you can’t help but smile the entire time! It just oozes charm. I would not recommend going in with less than four players. The puzzles are not very difficult, but there are a ton of them, and you will not escape unless you divide and conquer! We made it out with just three of us, but one of my friends is a spaz. You won’t be able to resist climbing on the jungle gym, but try not to waste too much time!”
ColeShalauta
90 games played
Special Ops: Mysterious Market
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“This room is amazing. From the room it starts in to the room it finishes in you can not predict the ending. A very amazing mix of mechanical as well as technological puzzles. Love the juxtaposition of the theme. And love the setting and puzzles. Overall, extremely good set design as well as challenging, but rewarding puzzles to solve. Bring friends ! You’re in for a challenge”
ToeBeans333
25 games played
Prison Break
Escape Room 66
- Escape room
- IRL
“Great room! We usually don't like prison- themed room but this one is different. A lot of puzzles for 2 but they flowed pretty well. Plus, they were non-linear so we could spread out to do our own things. Our GMs were very attentive and mindful as they could adjust some parts that we asked for. Highly recommended!”
KeMy
82 games played
Wicked Wonderland
Escape Room 66
- Escape room
- IRL
“I kept smiling during the whole room since the decoration was so cute and on point. There were a lot of puzzles for just the two of us but with our GMs' help, we would be able to escape in time. Plus, puzzles flowed very well. We always enjoy talking with the "creators" of the room whenever we do an escape because we love to share our enthusiasm in this hobby. Overall, I highly recommend at least 3 people to play this room but if you only have 2 like us, that's okay but keep in mind that you have unlimited hints so use them wisely!”
KeMy
82 games played
More Escape Rooms
About Irvine
Irvine is bursting at the seams with amazing things to do. For the more outdoorsy types, Irvine sits just a short drive from pristine beaches, and the beautiful mountains that offer stunning views of the vistas below. Irvine is also home to some of the most thrilling kid-friendly attractions any where on the west coast. Go karts, waterparks, and museums dot the landscape. And while the kids are busy, perhaps the parents can sneak away to one of the nearby vineyards for some well deserved relaxation. Of course, when the family is ready to come together for some adventurous fun, Irvine also offers some of the very best escape rooms in southern California. Whatever your desire, Irvine has what you're looking for on your next vacation.
Learn More about Irvine Escape Rooms
Although sometimes overshadowed by (relatively) nearby Los Angeles, Irvine is an incredible escape room destination minus the craziness of the big city. Since the first escape rooms arrived in the city, Irvine has crafted some of the very best immersive puzzle experiences in the southwest. In fact, the Irvine area is home to over 20 different escape room venues, and that number is sure to rise in the future. Irvine School of Wizardry and the Dragon Wand at Hidden Donkey is an award-winning room that remains a strong favorite among even the most experienced of players. Odditorium Emporium at EscapeX Rooms goes all-in on its theme, transporting players out of the world. The Return of the Magician at UNLOCKED: Escape Rooms is a deep experience that provides a thrill throughout its entire story. With nearly 100 escape games in the entire area, you’re sure to find the perfect game for you and your group.
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 Irvine Escape Rooms with Morty
There are plenty of awesome escape rooms to choose from in Irvine. 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 Irvine?
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 Irvine 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!