10 Best Escape Room Game Reviews

Escape rooms seemed to have exploded out of nowhere in popularity, haven’t they? But they’ve existed in board game form for quite some time, although lately they have admittedly gotten a lot more popular. In this piece, we’ll be counting down the 10 best escape room games.

Part of the reason we love escape room board games so much is that they offer so much variety. Solving puzzles, complex strategy, and innovative gameplay are all wrapped up in a stylish package. 

If you are looking for something a little more unusual to add to your next board game night or simply want to bring that escape room experience home then you’ll love our 10 best escape room games.

Whether you are playing in a group or looking to go solo, any of these games would make a fine choice. We’ve made our choices based on a number of different factors including popularity, strategy, creativity, and uniqueness. So, without further ado let’s begin the countdown of our picks:

10 Best Escape Room Game Reviews

1. The Cursed Doll House

Did you ever think Clue would be better if it was set in a haunted house? If so then The Cursed Doll House could be the game for you! The story concerns the reclusive Mr. Garrity, his creepy house and those strange lights coming from the shed. 

To say any more would spoil the surprise but this game sure has an amazing creepy atmosphere making it a must-play for fans of old school horror movies. Don’t worry though; the game isn’t that scary and recommended for children aged 13 and over. 

The game contains a variety of puzzles and you can even download more from the website. You could easily spend 2 to 3 hours exploring and eventually escaping this creepy house making it ideal for those longer gaming sessions. 

Finally, the game itself is beautiful to look at. It features 3 floors and 5 rooms as well as 3D furniture. Suitable for 1 to 4 players this amazing game makes a great entry point to our 10 best escape room game reviews guide.

Pros 

• Fun horror atmosphere 
• Downloadable puzzles 
• Stylish and interactive

Cons

• Requires some assembly 
• Puzzle maybe to easy for some 

2. Spin Master Games – Escape Room 

You get 3 adventures in 1 with the Spin Master Games – Escape Room! So, it is certainly offering excellent value, and each of the scenarios Secret Agent, The Dentist, and Space Station offer a unique set of challenges, puzzles, and atmosphere. 

This escape room experience is a little more adult-focused being suitable for 3 – 5 players aged 16 and above. It also excellently harnesses one of the most exciting features of the escape room experience by having a set time limit of only 60 minutes. 

The game board is a little more minimalist as well with the aim being to collect keys to then use to open the Chrono Decoder. This could make Spin Master Games – Escape Room a great choice for people looking to play an exciting board game in a smaller space. 

Don’t worry though whatever scenario you choose you’ll still be exploring numerous themed rooms as you race against the clock. With exciting and challenging puzzles this game would make a great addition to anyone’s board game night. 

Pros 

• 3 adventures in 1
• Speedy gameplay 
• Requires less space to set up

Cons

• Simpler design might not be as fun for some

3. ThinkFun Escape The Room 

For the third entry in our best escape games guide we have the ThinkFun Escape The Room! ThinkFun is a highly respected name when it comes to board games and this mystery escape room is a great representation of their work. 

With a slightly more old-school, retro-inspired design this game will delight player’s young and old. It is suitable for 3 to 8 players, ages 10 plus making it ideal for bigger group board gaming sessions. 

Escape The Room starts with townsfolk (which is you the player) exploring a mysterious manner of the town’s resident Astronomer. What awaits is an ever-evolving mystery, challenging puzzles, and much more. 

The card style gameplay helps ensure every playthrough is different, making this game ideal for repeated playthroughs. To add to the fun Escape The Room also utilizes logical deduction and critical reasoning as well. So, it isn’t enough to collect the pieces you have to put them together as well. 

Pros 

• Eye-catching retro art style 
• Fun narrative and puzzles 
• Suitable for repeated playthroughs 

Cons

• Slightly more complicated gameplay 

4. Identity Games – Version 2 

The sequel to the number 2 pick in our countdown arrives at number 4. Identity Games – Version 2 might not be the most exciting name but trust us; this escape room experience offers an excellent value package for anyone. 

Designed for 3-5 players, ages 16 plus this escape room board game offers 4 unique scenarios for you to explore. So, you have 4 different “rooms” to escape with each offering excellent puzzles and race against the clock action. 

The 4 scenarios are Murder Mystery, Virus, Fun Land, and Prison Break. Once again players will need to collect keys to open the Chrono Decoder. It is again quite minimalist when it comes to the game board and pieces making it perfect for people who don’t have much room to play. 

You also once again only have 60 minutes to complete whichever scenario you choose to play. So, if you want a faster, speedier escape room board game then Identity Games – Version 2 is a great choice and the perfect companion piece to the Spin Master Games – Escape Room. 

Pros 

• 4 different scenarios is great value
• Speedy gameplay 
• Requires less space to set up

Cons

• Simpler design might not be as fun for some

5. Exit: Dead Man on The Orient Express 

Before we get properly started on Exit: Dead Man on The Orient Express let’s just introduce the Exit series. Exit is a series of escape room board games and they have numerous different titles available. 

Dead Man on The Orient Express tasks 1 to 4 players with uncovering the culprit of a grisly crime while onboard the famous train! Yes, it’s a classic murder mystery scenario but this time you need to find out what exactly is going on. 

Full of puzzles with a fast-moving plot this escape room board game is sure to provide hours of fun. Be aware, though like all games in the Exit series Dead Man on The Orient Express is only designed for a single playthrough. The puzzles in this game are also quite tricky hitting 4 out 5 on the Exit difficulty scale. 

Pros 

• Classic mystery story 
• Fun solo or in a group 
• Complex puzzles 

Cons

• Harder puzzles might put off beginners 
• Designed for only one playthrough 

6. Exciting Jungle Escape Room 

Identity Games are being showcased once again with the Exciting Jungle Escape Room! If you are looking for a more family-focused escape room board game then this could be exactly what you are looking for. 

Designed for 3 to 5 players, ages 10 and up this game is perfect for family board game nights and offers 3 distinct scenarios. The Jungle Escape Room of the title is actually the Magic Monkey scenario, you can also tackle the Snake Bite adventure and even journey into outer space with Moon Patrol. 

Players will need to collect keys to open the Chrono Decoder in every scenario so don’t worry learning the rules from one will help you in the next! This makes this game a great entry point for people new to escape room board games. 

It is also a timed experience giving you only 60 minutes to complete the puzzles and escape. One issue some people have with escape room board games is they can take a long time to complete but that won’t be an issue with the Exciting Jungle Escape Room. 

Pros 

• Designed for family play
• Speedy gameplay 
• Requires less space to set up 

Cons

• Simpler design might not be as fun for some

7. Exit: The House of Riddles 

Exit: The House of Riddles is the second game from the popular Exit series in our 10 Best Escape Room Game Reviews 2023 guide. Designed for 1 to 4 players, ages 10 plus the House of Riddles offers a simpler, easier board game experience. 

If you are new to escape room board games or simply want easier puzzles then it makes a great choice. The mysterious House of Riddles makes for a great location and while the puzzles are easier, 2 out 5 on the Exit difficulty scale, there is still a great variety on offer.

With a gripping plot and fun puzzles, this card-based escape room experience is sure to be a hit at any board game night. Thanks to its more minimalist design it is also a suitable alternative for people who don’t have room to accommodate larger escape room board games. Be aware though that like all games in the Exit series it is only designed for a single playthrough

Pros 

• Fun narrative 
• Requires less space to set up 

Cons

• Easier puzzles might put off some players 
• Designed for only one playthrough 

8. Exit: The Haunted Roller Coaster 

Continuing our exploration of the Exit series we have Exit: The Haunted Roller Coaster. Once again designed for 1 to 4 players, ages 10 plus this excellent adventure is fun for group play but just as much fun as a solo board game experience. 

While it is only designed for a single playthrough it offers plenty to keep you entertained for hours! The story puts you in a haunted amusement park and players find themselves stuck on the haunted roller coaster of the title. 

Roller coasters can be scary at the best of times but this one requires you to solve puzzles to escape! Hitting 2 out 5 on the Exit difficulty scale this game offers a challenge but isn’t overly difficult making it another great entry point to both the Exit series and for people new to escape room board games. 

Pros 

• Fun solo or in a group 
• Requires less space to set up 

Cons

• Easier puzzles might put off some players 
• Designed for only one playthrough 

9. Exit: The Secret Lab 

Designed for 1 to 4 players, ages 10 plus Exit: The Secret Lab is a fun adventure offering hours of entertainment. We particularly love the movie-style plot. After reporting to a lab for a medical study you end up getting knocked out only to wake up locked in! 

After uncovering a strange notebook and disk you need to solve various riddles left by a previous test subject to escape. The puzzles in this Exit series game offer more of a challenge, it is labeled 3.5 out 5 on the Exit difficulty scale, so if you want something a little more complex it makes a fine choice. 

The more minimalist design of the game makes it ideal for people who don’t have as much space to set up and play as well. Like the other games in the Exit series, The Secret Lab is only designed for a single playthrough. 

Pros 

• Fun narrative 
• Moderate level of puzzles offers the best of both worlds 
• Requires less space to set up 

Cons

• Designed for only one playthrough 

10. Exit: The Catacombs of Horror 

To finish off let’s look at one final game from the well-loved Exit series, shall we? Exit: The Catacombs of Horror is designed for 1 to 4 players, ages 16 and over. 

So, it offers something a little more adult-focused which isn’t surprising given its setting in the famous catacombs of Paris. A number of board games use a horror atmosphere but this game pulls it off brilliantly for a fun, creepy and unique board game experience. 

The Catacombs of Horror also introduces a fun twist to the Exit series because the game is in 2 separate parts. This makes the story more exciting and longer, speaking of the story this escape room board offers something extra-special. 

You start by exploring the catacombs to investigate the disappearance of your friends but things soon go wrong! We can’t say anymore but solving the mystery while tackling complex puzzles is great fun. 

This is one of the more difficult Exit series games as well with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to their scale. Like the other games in the Exit series, it is only designed for a single playthrough though. 

Pros 

• Fun narrative with two part story design 
• Great solo or in a group 
• Fun horror atmosphere 

Cons

• Designed for only one playthrough 

10 Best Escape Room Game Reviews

Hopefully, our 10 best escape room games countdown gave you some ideas for new games to try! But before you decide which to get let’s look at some important factors you need to consider when choosing an escape room board game. 

How Much Time Do You Have?

We all know how long games like Monopoly can be, don’t we? And some of these escape room games can make even complex, group Monopoly sessions seem fast-paced! 

If you want a shorter, speedier experience, then a game like Spin Master Games – Escape Room could be your best option. But if you want something longer why not try one of the Exit series like Exit: The Catacombs of Horror? 

How Many Players?

One of the great things about escape room board games is that they can be fun solo or in a group. If you are looking for a solo experience then once again the Exit series of games is easy to recommend, while a game like The Cursed Doll House is a better group board game. 

What’s Your Experience? 

Experience is very important when it comes to escape room board games. Games like Exciting Jungle Escape Room are better entry points for new players because of their simpler design. Whereas a game like Exit: The Catacombs of Horror would be better for experienced players due to the harder puzzles. 

What’s the Best Escape Room Game To Buy?

So, what is the best escape room board game to play? While we think all the games would make a fine choice we have to conclude that ThinkFun Escape The Room offers the best all-around package. 

It is a great entry point but also fun for more experienced players as well. It offers a fun narrative and has a great art style but best of all offers some extra versatility by having card-style gameplay. This means you can play the game again for a different experience.