Best Mystery/Detective Escape Rooms in New York, New York
1
The Escape Game NYC
Address: 295 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017
The Escape Game NYC, located in New York, New York, offers an immersive and challenging entertainment experience with multiple themed rooms designed to test players' problem-solving abilities. The venue features well-crafted puzzles that range in difficulty, with professionally designed rooms that incorporate both tactile and interactive elements to create an engaging atmosphere. Their knowledgeable game masters provide just the right amount of guidance while maintaining the mystery and excitement of each unique escape scenario.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Reviews mention various difficulty levels, with some finding certain rooms very challenging while others find them more manageable. The difficulty appears to vary across rooms.
Themes: The reviews mention several themes, including prison breaks, heists, playgrounds, and one based on the TV show "Only Murders in the Building".
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a mix of puzzle types, including logic-based, physical, and search-oriented puzzles.
Mystery/Detective: Several reviews refer to the "Only Murders in the Building" themed room and many puzzles require deductive reasoning, indicating the presence of mystery and detective themes in at least some of the rooms.
Prison Break: The "Prison Break" room is frequently mentioned, confirming the presence of this theme.
Heist: The "Heist" room is repeatedly mentioned, confirming the presence of heist themes.
Kid-friendly: Reviews mention rooms suitable for families with children, specifically referencing "The Playground" room and its appropriateness for younger audiences.
Party: Multiple reviews describe using the escape rooms for birthday parties, indicating that this service is offered.
Discounts: Reviews mention discounts for playing multiple games on the same day, suggesting that discounts are available for repeat customers or potentially larger groups.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: While one review mentions being "scary at first", most reviews do not describe scary or horror themes. The overall consensus suggests the escape rooms are not predominantly horror-themed.
Zombie: There is no mention of a zombie theme in the reviews.
Tomb: There is no mention of an Egyptian theme in the provided reviews.
Large Groups: Some reviews discuss experiences with large groups, both positive and negative, noting that some rooms may be better suited for smaller groups. The suitability for large groups depends on the specific room.
Price: While some find the price reasonable, others mention the cost as somewhat expensive, particularly when booking out rooms privately or for larger groups. The reviews suggest a varied perception of affordability.
Parking: One review mentions a lack of parking nearby, indicating that parking is not readily available at this location.
2
BrainXcape Escape Room NYC
Address: 160 Broadway 3rd floor, New York, NY 10038
BrainXcape Escape Room NYC in New York, New York, offers an immersive experience that begins the moment visitors step out of the elevator into their atmospherically designed spaces. The venue features multiple themed rooms including a haunted hotel, prison break, and circus scenario, each crafted with detailed set design, clever mechanisms, and thoughtfully constructed puzzles that require teamwork and critical thinking. The escape rooms strike a perfect balance between challenging gameplay and spooky ambiance, with game masters providing well-timed hints to help groups navigate through the carefully curated mysteries.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention the room's high difficulty and challenge, with some players barely escaping in time or needing hints, while others found it too difficult. One review explicitly mentions the puzzles being 'cartoonishly difficult', suggesting a wide range of difficulty.
Themes: The reviews mention several themes, including a haunted hotel, a prison (Rikers Island), and a bloody circus. This suggests the escape room center offers a variety of themed experiences.
Puzzles: The reviews describe puzzles as a mix of logic, observation, and requiring teamwork. While specific puzzle types aren't consistently detailed, it's implied they are a combination of types.
Scare Factor: Many reviews highlight the spooky and scary nature of the rooms, specifically mentioning 'creepy vibes', 'chilling background sounds', being 'scared every single second', and feeling like they're in a 'horror movie'.
Mystery/Detective: While not explicitly stated as a central theme in all rooms, the suspense and mystery elements are repeatedly praised. The descriptions create a sense of mystery and intrigue.
Prison Break: One of the prominent themes mentioned in multiple reviews is a prison break setting ('Rikers Island', 'prison escape room').
Kid-friendly: One review mentions bringing two kids, and another mentions a birthday party, suggesting that it might be suitable for kids depending on the room selected and their age/tolerance of scary themes.
Party: A review explicitly mentions attending for a birthday party, and other reviews frequently discuss group experiences, indicating this venue accommodates parties.
Large Groups: Multiple reviews refer to playing with large groups (e.g., 'big group of 7', 'group of 5', etc.), showing suitability for larger teams.
Not Noted
Heist: There is no mention of heist themes (bank robbery, museum heist, etc.) in any of the provided reviews.
Zombie: There is no mention of a zombie theme in the reviews.
Tomb: There is no mention of an Egyptian theme in the reviews.
Discounts: The reviews do not mention group discounts or special event pricing.
Price: Some reviews express concern about the pricing, indicating it might be expensive for some, while others mention it being "worth it" despite the price. This suggests a mixed opinion on affordability.
Parking: The reviews make no mention of parking availability.
3
Escape the Room NYC
Address: 24 W 25th St floor 8, New York, NY 10010
Located in the heart of New York City, Escape the Room NYC offers an exciting array of themed challenges that range from mysterious detective cases to thrilling submarine adventures. The venue features well-designed rooms with clever puzzles that require teamwork and creative thinking, while friendly game masters provide just the right amount of hints to keep the experience engaging without spoiling the solutions. The establishment caters to both beginners and experienced players, offering varying difficulty levels across multiple themed rooms that incorporate elements of mystery, adventure, and interactive storytelling.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention the challenges being fun but difficult, with some needing hints, indicating a balance between difficulty and solvability.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as Jurassic, Sherlock Holmes, Agency, Submarine, Outbreak, The Home, The Dig, Clocktower, and Prison Break, suggesting diverse themes.
Scare Factor: Some reviews mention "jump scares" and a "scariest experience," while others describe rooms as "spooky." However, many reviews focus on fun and challenge without mentioning frightening elements.
Mystery/Detective: Reviews refer to a "Sherlock Holmes mystery room," indicating the presence of a mystery or detective theme.
Prison Break: One review specifically mentions the "Prison Break" room, confirming the presence of a prison break theme.
Kid-friendly: Multiple reviews mention bringing kids or that the escape room is "great for kids," suggesting kid-friendly spaces.
Party: Several reviews mention birthday parties or recommend the place for birthday celebrations.
Large Groups: Reviews suggest that the escape room accommodates groups of up to 8, with some recommending smaller groups of 4-6.
Discounts: One review mentions a discount being offered, but details on discounts for larger groups or special events are scarce.
Not Noted
Puzzles: The reviews do not specify the exact types of puzzles, mentioning only that they are "challenging," "clever," and "well-designed." Some refer to "riddles," implying a mix of logic and search-oriented puzzles.
Heist: Reviews do not indicate heist themes like bank robbery or museum theft.
Zombie: The "Outbreak" room is mentioned in several reviews, which may or may not have a zombie theme, requiring clarification.
Tomb: No reviews explicitly mention an Egyptian theme.
Price: While some reviews mention the price as "daunting" or "crazy," most reviews do not directly comment on price affordability.
Parking: The reviews do not provide information about parking availability at the escape room.
4
Escape Room NYC - Mission Escape Games
Address: 265 W 37th St Suite 802A, New York, NY 10018
Escape Room NYC - Mission Escape Games in New York, New York offers an innovative collection of themed puzzle rooms featuring unique challenges that go beyond traditional combination locks. The venue specializes in tech-integrated rooms with varying difficulty levels, from beginner-friendly options perfect for families to more complex scenarios that will challenge even experienced escape artists. The facility's rooms incorporate immersive storytelling elements with atmospheric lighting and sound effects, while helpful game masters provide just the right amount of hints to keep groups engaged without spoiling the experience.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention varying difficulty levels, with some describing the rooms as "challenging" or "difficult", while others found them "easy" or "not too hard". The difficulty seems to depend on the specific room and the experience level of the players.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as "End of Days", "Carbon/Cyberpunk", "Mystery of Henry Jekyll", "Escape the Hydeout", and "Gold Rush", indicating a variety of themes are available.
Puzzles: The reviews indicate a mix of puzzle types, including logic-based, search-oriented, and those incorporating technology. Some reviews specifically praise the use of unique puzzles and games over traditional combination locks.
Mystery/Detective: Several reviews mention mystery or detective themes, with terms like "mystery" and "detective" appearing in the reviews.
Prison Break: One review mentions a "prison" themed room, suggesting this theme is included.
Kid-friendly: Some reviews mention families with children participating and enjoying the experience, and at least one review specifically recommends it for families with older kids.
Party: Multiple reviews explicitly state that the venue hosts birthday parties and corporate events.
Large Groups: Several reviews mention participation of large groups, some as large as 10-11 people, indicating suitability for large groups. The reviews also highlight the availability of private rooms, regardless of group size.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: While some reviews mention dimly lit rooms creating a bit of an eerie atmosphere, there is no mention of overtly scary or horror themes like haunted houses.
Heist: There is no mention of heist themes involving stealing valuable items from high-security locations in the reviews.
Zombie: There is no mention of zombie themes in the reviews provided.
Tomb: No mention of an Egyptian theme is found in the provided reviews.
Discounts: There is no explicit mention of discounts for larger groups or special events in the reviews.
Price: Several reviews express that the price is expensive or mention the price in relation to time available, suggesting affordability could be a concern for some customers.
Parking: The reviews do not mention anything about parking availability.
5
PanIQ Escape Room NYC
Address: 39 W 32nd St 4th floor, New York, NY 10001
PanIQ Escape Room NYC, nestled in the heart of New York City, New York, offers an immersive collection of well-designed themed rooms including pirates, Houdini's workshop, and moonshine adventures. The facility stands out for its attentive game masters who provide the perfect balance of hints and guidance, while the puzzles are thoughtfully crafted to challenge both newcomers and experienced escape artists alike. The rooms feature detailed set designs and interactive elements that keep groups of all sizes engaged, with each adventure offering unique challenges that can be tackled by teams as small as two or as large as eight people.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention the rooms' challenging puzzles, with some describing them as 'challenging but doable', 'very challenging', and 'the perfect level of difficulty'. Others found certain rooms harder than others.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as Houdini, pirates, moonshine madness (prohibition era), and a speakeasy. One review mentions a Gotham theme.
Puzzles: The reviews describe a variety of puzzle types, including logic-based, wordplay, lateral and critical thinking, spatial awareness, and those involving locks and codes. Some puzzles incorporate technology.
Mystery/Detective: Several reviews refer to solving mysteries and escaping rooms, indicating a mystery or detective theme is present in at least some of the rooms.
Heist: One review mentions a 'Pyramid Heist' room, suggesting at least one room has a heist theme.
Kid-friendly: Reviews mention the center being good for kids' birthday parties, and some reviews describe bringing children and receiving accommodating service.
Party: Multiple reviews mention the venue hosting birthday parties and other group events.
Large Groups: Reviews mention groups of various sizes participating, including large groups of 9 people. One review suggests that Pirates of the Bermuda Triangle is especially well-suited for larger groups.
Discounts: One review mentions a promotion for a discount on a next game if booked the same day. Another mentions that it is cheaper than other escape rooms.
Price: Reviews suggest the prices are competitive and cheaper than other escape rooms in New York City.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: No reviews mention scary or horror themes. The experiences are described as fun and challenging, but not frightening.
Prison Break: There is no mention of a prison break theme in any of the provided reviews.
Zombie: No reviews mention a zombie theme.
Tomb: One review mentions a 'Pyramid Heist' room, which could be interpreted as having an Egyptian theme depending on the specific design. However, this is not explicitly confirmed by the reviews.
Parking: The reviews do not provide information about parking availability.
6
Escape Room Madness NYC
Address: 38 W 32nd St 5th Floor, Ste 500, New York, NY 10001
Escape Room Madness NYC in New York, New York offers a variety of themed puzzle rooms ranging from spooky museum experiences to challenging detective mysteries. Located in a multi-floor building in midtown Manhattan, this escape room venue features multiple chambers equipped with traditional lock-and-key puzzles, though some rooms could benefit from more technological elements and space. While the difficulty levels vary across different themes, the friendly and supportive game masters provide unlimited hints to help groups navigate through the challenges, making it an accessible experience for both newcomers and experienced puzzle enthusiasts alike.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Reviews mention various challenge levels, with some finding rooms easy and others very challenging. Some groups easily escaped, others ran out of time.
Themes: The reviews mention themes such as nuclear annihilation, quarantine, masquerade, perfect crime, prey, and a haunted museum.
Puzzles: The reviews indicate that puzzle types include primarily lock and key puzzles, with some including logic, code breaking, and searching.
Scare Factor: Several reviews mention "scary" or "hilariously scary" themes in some rooms, and some explicitly refer to a haunted museum theme.
Mystery/Detective: A "Perfect Crime" room and mention of detective work in one review suggests a mystery or detective theme is present.
Heist: Reviews refer to a "Masquerade" room, implying a heist theme might be present in some rooms. There's no evidence of a bank robbery theme, but the possibility of a high-security location cannot be ruled out.
Kid-friendly: One review mentions the escape room being "A lot of fun for children," suggesting kid-friendly aspects.
Party: A review mentions booking tickets for a birthday celebration, indicating the place hosts parties.
Large Groups: Reviews discuss groups ranging from 2 to 12 people; however, some note that smaller groups might be preferable in some rooms due to space constraints.
Discounts: Multiple reviews mention discounts for larger groups or repeat bookings. One review specifically mentions a 50% off discount for multiple games.
Not Noted
Prison Break: No reviews mention a prison break theme.
Zombie: No reviews mention a zombie theme.
Tomb: There is no mention of an Egyptian theme in the reviews.
Price: Reviews express mixed opinions on pricing, with some finding it expensive for what is offered and others viewing it as affordable or good value, especially for larger groups.
Parking: There is no mention of parking in the reviews.
7
Escape Virtuality
Address: 130 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001
Escape Virtuality in New York, New York offers an immersive blend of virtual reality experiences and traditional escape room challenges that cater to both families and thrill-seekers. Their signature experiences include everything from VR zombie shooters and virtual plank walking to meticulously designed escape rooms like the popular Subway Challenge, where teams work together to solve intricate puzzles. The facility's friendly staff provides excellent guidance throughout each experience, ensuring both newcomers and experienced players can fully enjoy the high-tech entertainment options available.
What People Are Saying
Themes: The reviews indicate themes such as zombies, ghosts, subways, and futuristic settings are present.
Puzzles: The puzzle types mentioned are logic-based, and some reviews suggest a search-oriented component, but there is no clear information on purely physical or mathematical puzzles.
Scare Factor: Several reviews mention scary or horror elements, particularly in the ghost-themed rooms and zombie games. Jump scares are explicitly referenced in some reviews.
Mystery/Detective: While not the primary focus, some escape rooms have elements of mystery and puzzle-solving, suggesting a degree of mystery/detective theme.
Zombie: A zombie-themed game is repeatedly mentioned in positive and negative reviews.
Kid-friendly: Many reviews highlight the suitability for children, with multiple mentions of birthday parties and family fun.
Party: Numerous reviews describe the venue as excellent for birthday parties, frequently mentioning kids' birthday celebrations.
Large Groups: Several reviews mention visits by large groups, with some explicitly stating the venue is good for large groups, while others mention difficulties due to overcrowding.
Not Noted
Difficulty Level: Reviews mention varying levels of challenge, with some describing rooms as "challenging" and others as "too straightforward". There's no consensus on the overall challenge level.
Prison Break: Reviews do not mention a prison break theme.
Heist: Reviews do not indicate the presence of heist themes.
Tomb: There is no mention of an Egyptian theme in the reviews.
Discounts: One review mentions a birthday discount, but there's no consistent information on discounts for larger groups or special events.
Price: Reviews express widely varying opinions on pricing, with some finding it affordable and others considering it too expensive for the experience offered.
Parking: The reviews do not provide information about parking availability.
8
OMEscape New York Real Life Escape Room Game
Address: 325 W 38th St #2, New York, NY 10018
OMEscape New York Real Life Escape Room Game in New York, NY, offers an immersive collection of themed rooms including a challenging laboratory setup and an intense prison break experience. The venue features tech-integrated puzzles and creative challenges that require teamwork and critical thinking, with game masters providing helpful hints throughout the experience. Located near Times Square, this escape room facility stands out for its atmospheric environments and unique puzzle designs, though some visitors note that certain mechanical elements may occasionally need maintenance.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention the room's challenging nature, with some describing it as difficult and requiring teamwork and critical thinking.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as prison break, laboratory, and time travel, suggesting a variety of themes are available.
Puzzles: The reviews indicate a mix of puzzle types, including logic-based, search-oriented, and those involving technology.
Mystery/Detective: Several reviews suggest a mystery element is present, involving clues and puzzles to solve.
Prison Break: Many reviews specifically mention a "Prison Break" themed room, indicating this theme is present.
Large Groups: Several reviews mention the escape room's suitability for large groups, and some even recommend large groups for a better experience.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: While some reviews mention stressful or intense experiences, there is no indication of explicitly scary or horror themes like haunted houses.
Heist: There is no mention of heist themes in the provided reviews.
Zombie: There is no mention of zombie themes in the provided reviews.
Tomb: No Egyptian themes are mentioned in the reviews.
Kid-friendly: The reviews do not mention any kid-friendly spaces or accommodations.
Party: The reviews do not explicitly mention birthday parties or similar events, although the suitability for large groups could imply party hosting.
Discounts: There is no mention of discounts for larger groups or special events in the provided reviews.
Price: Some reviews mention a price of $50 per person, with some considering it expensive. Others find it worth the price. Therefore, affordability is subjective based on the reviewer.
Parking: The reviews make no mention of parking availability.