Best Escape Room Board Games 2026: Top 6 Reviewed
Discover the thrill of escape room board games with our top picks. Grab your friends and see if you can escape together!
6 Escape Room Board Games That Will Make You Sweat (and Maybe Cry a Little)
Nothing beats the thrill of an escape room—except maybe bringing that wild ride to your own table! We put together a list of the 6 best escape room board games for new players, picking only games that are easy to set up, offer clever puzzles, and don’t take all night to finish. We focused on games with strong themes, clear instructions, and plenty of twists to keep your group guessing. If you want to feel smart (or hilariously lost), these escape room games are our top picks!
On this list:
6 EXIT: The Game – The Abandoned Cabin
We picked EXIT: The Game – The Abandoned Cabin because it’s the classic “escape room” in a box. We sat down with some friends, got out our thinking hats, and ended up shouting at riddles like detectives who forgot their notepads. The puzzles are clever, and, yes, we almost broke the decoder wheel in half when we thought the game was trolling us. This series is a great intro to escape room games, but know that you need to mark, fold, and sometimes destroy the materials. It’s a good one-and-done experience, so don’t expect to play it more than once. Still, it’s a thrilling hour or two and will make you want to try more in the EXIT line.
5 Unlock! Escape Adventures
Unlock! Escape Adventures deserves a spot because it’s engaging, portable, and each box comes packed with several escape room stories. When we played, the app timer sent our group into a panic, and our ‘aha!’ moments got louder with every correct code. Plus, there’s no need to rip up any cards, so you can hand it off to a friend after. The app’s sound effects add to the suspense (or comedy, depending on who’s at the table). It’s forgiving for beginners but still has some sneaky puzzles to stump even the proudest puzzle fans. This is the escape room series we grab if we want to play again and again.
4 Deckscape: Test Time
Deckscape: Test Time grabbed us because it’s pocket-sized and easy to set up. We played this escape room game in a cramped kitchen during a party, and review time: it was pure chaos, but in a good way. The puzzles are clever and make great use of just a deck of cards, so there’s no fiddly pieces or app nonsense. Plus, you can play it solo or with a group, and it adapts to any sized table (or floor, as we found out). The resettable deck means you can pass it on to a friend after, though you might want to watch them squirm first. Deckscape is a solid choice for new escape room fans.
3 Escape Room: The Game
Escape Room: The Game made the list for its physical Chrono Decoder—a plastic box that clicks and buzzes like something from a 90s sci-fi show. We tried this with a group and, honestly, the ticking timer made us sweat more than we’d like to admit. There are plenty of adventures in the base box, and expansions keep things fresh. You plug real keys into the decoder, and if you get it wrong, it yells at you (not literally, but that beep sticks with you). This escape room board game is great for families or friends wanting that tactile, real-life feel.
2 Escape Tales: The Awakening
Escape Tales: The Awakening is for the story lovers out there. When we played, it took us hours and we barely noticed the time go by. The game feels like an escape room and a choose-your-own-adventure had a brainy baby. You get some tough puzzles, and real choices that impact the ending. The mood is a bit heavier (think more ‘creepy basement’ than ‘birthday party’), but if you like a story you can talk about for days, this is it. The cards and app work together nicely, and there are no time limits, so you can play at your own pace. This is a top pick for deep thinkers.
1 UNLOCK! Mystery Adventures
We picked UNLOCK! Mystery Adventures because it gives you that escape room thrill, but with all new stories and puzzles. It’s a great next step if you’ve enjoyed other Unlock! games but want something fresh. We had a blast with The Nautilus’ Traps scenario—lots of laughs, even more head scratches.
