About Escape The Room | America's Original Since 2013

The Beginning

How It All Started in the Flatiron District

In October 2013, Escape The Room opened its first location in the iconic Flatiron District of Manhattan. At the time, escape rooms didn't exist in the United States. The concept was entirely new—a live, immersive game where teams would be placed in a themed room and must solve a series of interconnected puzzles to escape within 60 minutes.

That first room was packed from day one. Word spread quickly. By early 2014, we were fielding requests from other cities wanting to bring Escape The Room to their communities. What started as one team's passion project in a single Manhattan room became a movement.

Our founders believed that escape rooms could be more than just entertainment. They were designed to bring people together—to create moments where diverse groups worked as unified teams, where communication mattered, and where shared success felt genuinely earned. That philosophy hasn't changed.

Expansion Across America

The expansion was deliberate. Rather than franchising our name to third parties, we carefully grew Escape The Room with direct company presence. Each new location maintained our commitment to thoughtfully designed rooms, trained game guides, and unlimited hints for every player. Today our original NYC location still welcomes thousands of players annually.

By 2016, we had expanded to 5 cities. By 2019, we were in 15 cities. Today, Escape The Room operates in 19 major US cities, with more expansion planned. Each location is staffed by passionate people who understand that their job is to create an unforgettable experience, not just to run a game.

By The Numbers

By the Numbers

2M+

Players since 2013

70+

Unique themed rooms

Cities nationwide

4.9★

Average rating

What Drives Us

Our Mission & Values

Our Mission

To create immersive, thoughtfully designed experiences that bring people together, challenge them to think creatively, and build connections that last long after they leave the room.

What Makes Escape The Room Different

Unlimited Hints: We believe escape rooms should be fun, not frustrating. Every player gets unlimited hints. Our game guides are there to help, not to let your team struggle.

Professionally Designed Rooms: Each of our 70+ rooms is meticulously designed with story, atmosphere, and puzzle progression that makes sense. We invest in production quality because immersion matters.

Trained Game Guides: Our guides aren't just operators—they're trained facilitators who read the room, provide hints at the right moments, and celebrate your team's success.

Consistent Quality: Whether you're playing in New York, Denver, or Houston, you get the same commitment to excellence and experience quality across all our locations.

Player Safety & Inclusion: We design rooms that work for diverse groups—kids and adults, first-timers and veterans, people with different abilities and backgrounds. Everyone belongs here.

Key Milestones

2013

The Beginning

Escape The Room launches in New York City's Flatiron District. The concept of escape rooms doesn't yet exist in the US. Our first room sells out immediately.

2014

Rapid Growth

Success in NYC leads to expansion. We open locations in Houston, Chicago, and Boston, maintaining quality and vision at each new site.

2015

Escape Room Industry Boom

Escape rooms become a nationwide phenomenon. Escape The Room establishes itself as the quality leader with professional design and trained guides.

2016

Major Expansion

We expand to 5 cities while launching our corporate team building and birthday party offerings. The business diversifies beyond casual play.

2018

National Presence

Escape The Room grows to 12+ locations across major US cities. We've served over 1 million players. Recognition as America's original escape room solidifies.

2024

19 Cities & 2M+ Players

Escape The Room now operates in 19 cities with 70+ unique rooms. We've welcomed 2 million players. Our commitment to quality and experience remains unchanged.