The 15 Best New York City Escape Games Tours

1.The Escape Game NYC: 60-Minute Adventures in Midtown Manhattan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 280 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $51Our pick

At The Escape Game NYC on Madison Avenue, you and your team get 60 minutes to solve puzzles and complete a mission. Choose from seven story-driven games, including Only Murders in the Building, Gold Rush, Prison Break, and Timeliner. A game guide briefs you, offers hints, and leads the post-game debrief.

“We were fortunate to have the room to ourselves - a great rainy evening activity! It was challenging, our hosts were great and the check in process was simple. We completed The Heist room - great fun!”

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2.An Epic Scavenger Hunt: New York City Central Park Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 244 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $14

Use the Let’s Roam app to explore Central Park from 72 E 72nd Street, solving questions and completing photo challenges at eight stops, including Alice in Wonderland, Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Fountain, and Strawberry Fields. Plan on 90 minutes to two hours of walking with your own group.

“Could not find the pick up point and no communication what so ever, we missed the scavenger hunt all together”

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3.Outdoor Escape Room in New York City – Central Park

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

Start at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and use a physical puzzle box, real-world clues, and an app to chase the Queen of Hearts’ counterspell through Central Park. You set the pace and challenge level, then return to the museum after about two hours.

“Leaving a review isn’t enough to describe how amazing this escape room adventure was! You have to experience it for yourself and if you like adventure and solving puzzles! Believe me, you will enjoy this! The persons/person that created this game did an amazing job. My first time in NY so it was my first time in Central Park. The game made it 3x better”

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4.The Escape Game: 60-Minute Adventures in Midtown Manhattan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 1 hour · from $51

At The Escape Game NYC, your dedicated English-speaking game guide sets up a 60-minute mission in one of seven themed rooms. Choose from Prison Break, Gold Rush, The Heist, Special Ops, Timeliner, Playground, or The Depths. Expect multiple rooms, unlimited hints, and shared play that may include other players.

“The room was fun and full of challenging puzzles.”

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5.New York Midtown Scavenger Hunt Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Use your smartphone to solve location-based clues across Midtown Manhattan. This roughly two-mile, three-hour quest links Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Park Avenue, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Grand Central Terminal. You set the pace, take breaks, and compete for a place on the city leaderboard.

“Fantastic experience - loved by natives and tourists alike! In our experience everyone learned something new, even those of us that lived here for years, although it is a more touristy experience. The questions are fun and challenging and the route really highlights the interconnected nature of Manhattan! We were a group ranging from 17-23 yo people. Although a perfect way to get to know Manhattan for families, the Quest might be more challenging for small children since the questions are of medium difficulty and require literacy. It was so fun we didn’t even notice all the walking! You can take two breaks during the challenge (which we did once…”

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6.Manhattan’s Famous Artists: Exploration Game and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $5Best value

This self-guided Questo game leads you from the White Horse Tavern to The Bitter End, with eight Greenwich Village stops tied to Jimi Hendrix, Edgar Allan Poe, folk singers, comedians, and legendary clubs. Play in English, pause anytime, and continue without internet access.

“I loved exploring at my own pace and learning about all these stories that I would've otherwise missed. A bargain for this price!”

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7.Immersive Murder Mystery in Manhattan – Scavenger Hunt Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $25

Use your phone to follow a private murder mystery through Manhattan, starting at Washington Square Park and ending at Hudson Yards. This three-and-a-half-hour hybrid of scavenger hunt and walking tour suits solo explorers, families, and groups who want city sights with a puzzle to solve.

“Great activity for a solo traveler (and I’m sure a group) to see unique parts of NYC! Had fun and recommend the experience for others - particularly those traveling alone that might not want to join a group of strangers on a tour.”

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8.Lower Manhattan Self-Guided Walking Tour and Scavenger Hunt

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 4 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Start at Bowling Green and use your smartphone to guide a private group of up to six through Lower Manhattan. Solve more than 30 clues while seeing the Charging Bull, 9/11 Memorial, City Hall, Federal Hall, and 16 film locations. Plan for about three hours, internet access, and a moderate amount of walking.

“Great historical scavenger hunt! My family enjoyed it! We highly recommend it for families with upper elementary kids and older. My boys are twenty somethings and they enjoyed it.”

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9.Time Warp in Flatiron: NYC Self-Guided Puzzle Quest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 1 hour 51 minutes to 2 hours 21 minutes (approx.) · from $5

Use the Questo app to follow a self-guided story from Union Square through Gramercy Park, the Flatiron Building, Madison Square Garden, and 5th Avenue. You solve location-based clues at your own pace, with no guide or attraction tickets required. Allow about two hours for the full route.

“Fantastic tour, well organized and a fun way to explore the city. Enjoyed walking the streets and learning so much about the rich history of this great city.”

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10.The Escape Game Brooklyn: 60-Minute Adventures at City Point

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3 reviews · 1 hour · from $48

At City Point BKLYN, choose one of six 60-minute escape games, from Gold Rush to Cosmic Crisis. A game guide explains the mission, offers unlimited hints, and helps your team as needed. Games are family-friendly, wheelchair accessible with advance confirmation, and may include shared players.

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11.New York Lower Central Park Scavenger Hunt Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Use your smartphone to guide a team of two to five through southern Central Park. Solve ciphers, complete challenges, and visit the zoo, Mall, Bethesda Fountain, Shakespeare Garden, Belvedere Castle, and Wollman Rink at your own pace.

“It was a fun way to explore the city. Some of the hints are a little dated, but we were able to make the most of it.”

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12.Mob Hits of Midtown: NYC Self-Guided Crime Mystery Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · 1 hour 35 minutes to 2 hours 5 minutes (approx.) · from $7

Use the Questo app to follow a private, self-guided crime story from Columbus Circle through Midtown landmarks including Radio City Music Hall and Grand Central. Allow about two hours, solve clues with your own group, and pause whenever you like. The game is in English and costs $7.20 per person.

“Fun way to explore a bit of the city’s cultural history. The fictitious story line was weak and some directions were a bit dodgy, but overall a good time.”

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13.Movie Magic in Central Park: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 2 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 40 minutes (approx.) · from $7

Follow an English-language phone game through Central Park, solving movie-themed clues at eight landmarks from Tavern On the Green to Loeb Boathouse. Allow about two to two hours 40 minutes, pause as you please, and explore without a guide. Group discounts and 24/7 support are included.

“Not great unfortunately, the starting place was not open, the maps ( link through Apple Maps) sent you all over the place, clue and movie info a bit weak and then finished at a locked up boat house. I could have done a better job . Good , nice sunny enjoyable walk but not because of app! Need money back really.”

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14.Self Guided Central Park Scavenger Hunt

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $9

Use the World City Trail app to explore Central Park at your own pace, solving location-based riddles at major sights such as Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace, and Strawberry Fields. The private route lasts about two hours, works in six languages, and remains valid for 365 days.

“A little hesitant at the time of purchase, there were virtually no reviews. I can say instead that the experience was really nice, the app worked very well and we really enjoyed it. We've learned a few things, too.Auto-translated”

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15.Treasure hunt in Midtown with New York in French

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews

Pick up your game book at OCabanon and explore Midtown at your own pace. You will solve 21 stages, gather clues to identify a mystery celebrity, and finish back at the restaurant. The game is self-guided, available in French, and works for families, couples, or teams of up to 12.

“Perfect! This activity allowed us to focus our attention on Midtown in a different way and to discover many interesting anecdotes!”

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