The 16 best escape rooms in Manhattan
From mysterious treasure hunts to futuristic missions, where to play the best escape rooms Manhattan has to offer.
Mission Escape Games
Very Positive
265 W 37th St #802a, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I really enjoyed this room! While it is not the most expansive or over the top room, the intricacy and multitude of puzzles within 60 minutes made this room a lot of fun. For a small group, this was very challenging. There were a lot of puzzles and we had to move pretty quickly to make it all the way to the end.”
PeytonWalton
159 games played
Exit Escape Room NYC
Very Positive
247 W 36th St Suite 101, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Really enjoyed this room, lots of different puzzles to solve and just when we thought we'd done it, there was more! Most of it flowed really well, although we did have to ask for a couple of hints to help guide us along.”
Jtutt5
61 games played
Exit Escape Room NYC
Very Positive
247 W 36th St Suite 101, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“We came to NYC on a trip and had to do at least one room. My friends had recommended the company and we brought one our beginner friends along. It was perfect for her because she got to learn and experience a great room but it also gave us experience players a challenge as well. Enjoyed the theme or working to a goal to win. Colors are part of the puzzles for those with color blindness!”
capnrogers7
78 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I loved the atmosphere, loved the puzzles, and there were some great surprises too. I’m curious to see how much more I would’ve liked this at a different branch, because the NYC Escape Game is very compact, but even still it was so fun!!”
tomboytunes
32 games played
The Escape Game
Overwhelmingly Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Super fun escape room that’s really immersive! While the puzzle isn’t super difficult, there are ALOT of puzzles, so it is challenging. Completed it with a group of 2 and had 6 minutes left, but I feel like 4-6 would be a sweet spot. The gamemasters are also incredible at this company. One of the best escape room companies in NYC!”
zach10003
74 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“Great game. The Escape Game continues to show why they are the best *chain* escape room company there is. Game is an excellent mix of two themes, which you’d think is hard to do, but they did it. Pretty much all clues either high tech or use the environment around you which is a huge plus. Rooms were beautiful which was to be expected. I normally don’t recommend chain companies to enthusiasts but The Escape Game has consistently high quality rooms.”
travelingescapist69
49 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.”
drayner
71 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.”
drayner
71 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
“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
91 games played
The Escape Game
Very Positive
Lefcourt Colonial Building, 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“What a fantastic room! Fun game, clever props and show related content! as a fan of the show and The Escape Game, I LOVED this room and found it to be logical, connected, and joyful (and I'm glad there wasn't another murder). only regret was that they didn't use more video of the cast, including the stars.”
siharwe
30 games played
PanIQ Escape Room
Very Positive
39 W 32nd St 4th floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“This was a fun room. Clue Chase has just rebranded the day before as Paniq, so we were a little confused by Google maps. The room itself follow a speakeasy/prohibition theme. We felt like all the puzzles were fare and logical. One of the props that is meant to light up seemed to fail us, so we got a bit stuck on the finale. The host was great at selling the story. Recommended!”
drayner
71 games played
PanIQ Escape Room
Very Positive
39 W 32nd St 4th floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I was hesitant to book this room because of some of the reviews, but I’m so glad I did. We had so much fun! There are a lot of master locks, but they thought of very unique ways to discover each code so it never felt boring or redundant. We absolutely loved our game master, Casey! He was full of energy and made our experience even more fun! We will definitely be back to try their other rooms.”
kellyespencer
37 games played
PanIQ Escape Room
Very Positive
39 W 32nd St 4th floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“A well-designed room. The puzzles were all fun and satisfying to solve - though most were on the easier side. The room wasn’t reset properly, but they were able to recognize and fix the issue within the first 5-10 minutes.”
gavinksong
39 games played
BrainXcape Escape Room NYC
Very Positive
160 Broadway, New York, NY 10038, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“possibly my favorite room ever. had great theming (which was really the standout of the room) and the puzzles were tricky and complicated without requiring too much of a leap in logic for three (fairly experienced) escape room players. i’d recommend elevator to hell over this one at this location for those who are less experienced with escape rooms but for those who are more experienced you won’t be disappointed”
calliefrmnt
48 games played
BrainXcape Escape Room NYC
Very Positive
160 Broadway, New York, NY 10038, USA
- Escape room
- IRL
“I think you’ll see how cool this escape room is as soon as you get there! The sets were movie quality and just incredible all around. It's amazing we got out JUST in time! Staff was great and made us feel welcome! I look forward to seeing the other rooms here!”
EscapeRoomDocsMASAKO
151 games played
Carbon: 3708
Mission Escape Games
- Escape room
- IRL
“I really enjoyed this room! While it is not the most expansive or over the top room, the intricacy and multitude of puzzles within 60 minutes made this room a lot of fun. For a small group, this was very challenging. There were a lot of puzzles and we had to move pretty quickly to make it all the way to the end.”
PeytonWalton
159 games played
High Speed NYC
Exit Escape Room NYC
- Escape room
- IRL
“Really enjoyed this room, lots of different puzzles to solve and just when we thought we'd done it, there was more! Most of it flowed really well, although we did have to ask for a couple of hints to help guide us along.”
Jtutt5
61 games played
Sugar Rush
Exit Escape Room NYC
- Escape room
- IRL
“We came to NYC on a trip and had to do at least one room. My friends had recommended the company and we brought one our beginner friends along. It was perfect for her because she got to learn and experience a great room but it also gave us experience players a challenge as well. Enjoyed the theme or working to a goal to win. Colors are part of the puzzles for those with color blindness!”
capnrogers7
78 games played
Gold Rush
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“I loved the atmosphere, loved the puzzles, and there were some great surprises too. I’m curious to see how much more I would’ve liked this at a different branch, because the NYC Escape Game is very compact, but even still it was so fun!!”
tomboytunes
32 games played
Playground
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Super fun escape room that’s really immersive! While the puzzle isn’t super difficult, there are ALOT of puzzles, so it is challenging. Completed it with a group of 2 and had 6 minutes left, but I feel like 4-6 would be a sweet spot. The gamemasters are also incredible at this company. One of the best escape room companies in NYC!”
zach10003
74 games played
Special Ops: Mysterious Market
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“Great game. The Escape Game continues to show why they are the best *chain* escape room company there is. Game is an excellent mix of two themes, which you’d think is hard to do, but they did it. Pretty much all clues either high tech or use the environment around you which is a huge plus. Rooms were beautiful which was to be expected. I normally don’t recommend chain companies to enthusiasts but The Escape Game has consistently high quality rooms.”
travelingescapist69
49 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.”
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
91 games played
Only Murdere in the Building
The Escape Game
- Escape room
- IRL
“What a fantastic room! Fun game, clever props and show related content! as a fan of the show and The Escape Game, I LOVED this room and found it to be logical, connected, and joyful (and I'm glad there wasn't another murder). only regret was that they didn't use more video of the cast, including the stars.”
siharwe
30 games played
Moonshine Madness
PanIQ Escape Room
- Escape room
- IRL
“This was a fun room. Clue Chase has just rebranded the day before as Paniq, so we were a little confused by Google maps. The room itself follow a speakeasy/prohibition theme. We felt like all the puzzles were fare and logical. One of the props that is meant to light up seemed to fail us, so we got a bit stuck on the finale. The host was great at selling the story. Recommended!”
drayner
71 games played
Houdini's Workshop
PanIQ Escape Room
- Escape room
- IRL
“I was hesitant to book this room because of some of the reviews, but I’m so glad I did. We had so much fun! There are a lot of master locks, but they thought of very unique ways to discover each code so it never felt boring or redundant. We absolutely loved our game master, Casey! He was full of energy and made our experience even more fun! We will definitely be back to try their other rooms.”
kellyespencer
37 games played
Pirates Of The Bermuda Triangle
PanIQ Escape Room
- Escape room
- IRL
“A well-designed room. The puzzles were all fun and satisfying to solve - though most were on the easier side. The room wasn’t reset properly, but they were able to recognize and fix the issue within the first 5-10 minutes.”
gavinksong
39 games played
The Haunted Hotel
BrainXcape Escape Room NYC
- Escape room
- IRL
“possibly my favorite room ever. had great theming (which was really the standout of the room) and the puzzles were tricky and complicated without requiring too much of a leap in logic for three (fairly experienced) escape room players. i’d recommend elevator to hell over this one at this location for those who are less experienced with escape rooms but for those who are more experienced you won’t be disappointed”
calliefrmnt
48 games played
Rikers, 1932
BrainXcape Escape Room NYC
- Escape room
- IRL
“I think you’ll see how cool this escape room is as soon as you get there! The sets were movie quality and just incredible all around. It's amazing we got out JUST in time! Staff was great and made us feel welcome! I look forward to seeing the other rooms here!”
EscapeRoomDocsMASAKO
151 games played
More Escape Rooms
About Manhattan
This is it, Manhattan, the center of the universe as far as some people are concerned. A new experience to discover around every corner, and it just keeps getting bigger and better. Manhattan is as complex as the people who call it home, and it certainly offers something for every taste. If classic tourist spots get you going, then look no further than The Empire State Building or The Statue of Liberty. Or if less traveled roads are more your style, then perhaps a ride on the Roosevelt Island Tram is for you. Oh and in case you haven’t heard, the food here is phenomenal. From Michelin-starred renowned restaurants like Eleven Madison Park to one of the best slices of pizza anywhere at John’s of Bleecker Street, it would take 10 lifetimes to experience everything Manhattan has to offer. Oh and by the way, Manhattan also happens to have some of the very best escape rooms in the world.
Learn More About Manhattan Escape Rooms
Since the first escape rooms arrived in New York City 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 Manhattan Escape Rooms with Morty
There are plenty of awesome escape rooms to choose from in Manhattan. 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 Manhattan?
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 Manhattan 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!