Top 10 Craziest Escape Rooms Around the World

Hamburg, Germany
When an establishment has over 750 reviews on TripAdvisor and a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars, you know that they’re delivering a phenomenal experience. At TeamEscape Hamburg there are 8 rooms spread across two locations where you and your friends can put your problem-solving skills to the test, and really… you can’t go wrong whichever one you choose. That being said, The Gallery and The Hofman Formula appear to be fan favorites. TeamEscape Hamburg prides themselves on their compelling narratives and immersive experience. But don’t lose yourself appreciating the theming, the clock is ticking

Various Locations, United States
Founded in 2004, 5 Wits has built up such a reputation for themselves that they’ve been contracted to design and construct walk-through adventures for museums and theme parks. Thankfully, they’ve also got their own locations in Massachusetts, New York State, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Technically, 5 Wits doesn’t consider the experiences they offer to be Escape Games but rather goal-oriented team missions in an interactive setting; we think it’s close enough. And considering how incredible these experiences are, we couldn’t leave them off the list. These challenges are high-tech, painstakingly themed and incredibly satisfying. You really need to try one for yourself to understand.

Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden is a bit of a mecca for escape game enthusiasts, boasting a number of high quality establishments, each with their own unique offerings. But if you had a stopover in Sweden and only time to visit one, RoomEscape Stockholm would have to be it. Seven different escape games are spread across two neighboring addresses, and while they change regularly, 2018 saw such notable narratives as Zodiac Killer and Tesla’s Mystery. One of the most interesting experiences offered by RoomEscape Stockholm is Prison Break: Head to Head, which pits two teams against one another in identical prison settings.

Various Locations
Any zombie fans in the audience today? Great! We’ve got an escape room with your name on it. This narrative adds an actor into the mix to make the experience extra immersive (and in this particular case) terrifying. The aptly named “Trapped In A Room With A Zombie” locks players into a room with a zombie. The good news is that the zombie is chained to the wall. The bad news? Every five minutes, the chain gets one foot longer. This hugely popular escape room, originally created by Room Escape Adventures, has since been licensed across the United States, and has even popped up in the UK and Spain.

Various Locations
With a name like that, you know that this chain of escape rooms means business. Based out of Russia, Claustrophobia has over 100 escape rooms throughout Europe. Their conquest of the market is the result of more than just good marketing though, Claustrophobia is constantly pushing the boundaries of this entertainment medium. The theming of their escape rooms is always excellent, and they’ve expanded the concept of escape rooms to involve more actors, with the “Performance” format encouraging players to take on specific roles that push the narrative forward. True to its name, Claustrophobia always delivers a pulse-pounding, emotional experience.

Various Locations, United States
Not all escape rooms are created equal, and sometimes the theming or puzzles can be a little redundant; find the numbers, unlock a combo lock, repeat. This company earns a spot on our list today by going the extra mile both in terms of theming and puzzle variety. Ever dreamed of saving the world? Try “Contagion”. Fancy yourself a detective? Solve the mystery of Mad King Ludwig’s death by exploring his bedroom in Neuschwanstein Castle. Ever thought to yourself: “I would’ve survived the Titanic!” Well, here’s your chance to prove it.

Paris, France
Escape Hunt offers trips back in time to the era of great detectives to unravel plots worthy of Sherlock Holmes himself. Leaning heavily into the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic character, Escape Hunt offers up richly decorated escape rooms in a Victorian Style. They only seem to have two narratives at any given time, but considering how detail-oriented they are, and how sumptuously they’ve decorated the rooms, Escape Hunt makes a strong argument for quality over quantity. Whether you’re chasing a pickpocket in the underground network or solving the case of the missing cabaret star, you’re sure to lose yourself in the experience.

Shanghai, China
Housed in an ominous and imposing building where things only get stranger inside, Mr. X Puzzle House sets itself apart from other escape rooms. Weird, Gothic artifacts and props await; it’s like you’ve stepped into one giant cabinet of curiosities. There are multiple rooms to choose from, and each one is like a trip down the rabbit hole - or to a different dimension. Whereas western escape rooms tend to make your path relatively clear, Mr. X Puzzle House provides little in terms of guidance. This is not for the inexperienced, but even if you fail, the incredible theming is worth every penny.

Amsterdam, Netherlands
It's known as the best escape room in Amsterdam, but some would argue it's the best in the Netherlands, if not the world. Located in the basement of a historic building, two escape experiences await - the Architect and the Vault. Both are rich in narrative and theming, likely to be among the best escape rooms you’ve ever tried, but The Vault is arguably the better of the two. Critically acclaimed, it was called the “best escape room in the world” in 2018 when it took home the Golden lock-In Award. It’s also considered one of the most challenging escape rooms ever created.

Los Angeles, United States
As we've seen, a basement setting can add something to the overall experience. While The Vault at Sherlocked more than earned the Golden Lock-In Award, our vote for the greatest escape room in the world goes to the Basement in California. Named for its flagship room, The Basement offers four incredibly immersive, movie set quality escape rooms against which you and your friends can test your problem-solving skills and courage. The Basement sees you kidnapped by a cannibalistic serial killer who’s assembled some sick tests to see if you deserve to live. The other 3 rooms? They continue this immersive horror story.