5 Chicago Escape Games Tours to Build an Evening Around

1.The Escape Game Chicago: Epic 60-Minute Adventures in River North

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 332 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $47Our pick

At The Escape Game Chicago in River North, you and up to seven others get 60 minutes to solve clues and complete one themed mission. Choose Prison Break, Special Ops, The Heist, Mission: Mars, or Legend of the Yeti. Guides such as Nathan, Julie, and Izzie offer helpful hints without taking over.

“Had an absolute blast. Entire staff was pleasant and attentive. Special Ops Escape Room was amazing. Highly recommended!”

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2.Outdoor Escape Room in Chicago – Fulton Market

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You and up to five companions investigate a fictional murder around Chicago’s Fulton Market. Follow clues in the streets, solve puzzles from a physical game box, and enter answers in the app to identify the killer, motive, and location. Allow about two hours, with the game beginning and ending near Morgan and Lake.

“It was fun to explore a part of Chicago we may not have ever thought to go to. The experience also brings you into different shops and bars, which was a little odd with kids. It has you open the box and start the mystery on an intersection which made it hard to hear the video. Would be better to open the box and hear the video in the car before hand. We all finished with mixed feelings about this. The clues are challenging and the teens in our group lost interest halfway.”

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3.1-Hour Escape Room Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 1 hour · from $47

Spend 60 minutes tackling one of five Chicago escape rooms: Prison Break, Special Ops, The Heist, Mission: Mars, or Legend of the Yeti. An English-speaking Game Guide supports your team with unlimited hints. Rooms hold up to eight players, though some games have different limits.

“Really enjoyed it!! Even if we didn’t escape, it was still a very fun experience!”

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4.Chicago Murder Mystery Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $82

Follow guide Andre through River North, the Magnificent Mile, Gold Coast, and Oak Street Beach while solving a fictional murder. Your $82 ticket includes donuts, a Chicago hot dog, deep dish pizza, a surprise dessert, history, architecture, and clue-based game play for groups of up to 15.

“A super fun blend of murder mystery, Chicago architecture, and history. Would definitely recommend to adults or a family. (We have 3 kids 13, 10, and 8, and it was fun for them too!) Andre is an engaging and fun host whom made it a great day fRead more”

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5.Eastside Chicago The Heist Exploration Game and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · 1 hour 35 minutes (approx.) · from $7Best value

Use your smartphone to solve a self-guided mystery across Millennium Park and Grant Park. You will visit Cloud Gate, Crown Fountain, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute, and other Chicago landmarks while learning their stories. Plan on a brisk 1-hour-35-minute walk with no physical guide.

“At first the quest started out good until we ran into construction areas where things were being blocked. We had to use a clue/hint reveal answer which started taking the fun out of the game. We decided to continue anyways and had a problem getting into range of the water fountain. Had to use an expand radius. There were 4 of us in the group and like to get everything correct without using "points", this made the game more difficult when one person couldn't get game reconnected since she was not able to go back to last location and not be able to reach the fountain again to restart game…”

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