April TurnerThat rush of adrenaline, the thrill of cracking a code, the satisfaction of unlocking a hidden door—that’s the magic of a great escape room.
But my first foray into the world of locked-room puzzles was… anticlimactic, to say the least. We zipped through the clues like pros on decaf and escaped with a yawn and a solid twenty minutes to spare.
That underwhelming experience left me wondering if all escape rooms in San Antonio were the same—and thankfully, the answer is no.
Since that first escape room, my friends and I have done a few others around. And after all that testing, I’ve made a list of my top escape rooms in Alamo City.
1. The Escape Game San Antonio
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Website
Address: 5822 Worth Pkwy Suite 101
Hours: Monday to Friday – 8 AM to 12 AM
Phone: +1 726-227-3834
Price: $$
The Escape Game San Antonio’s rooms clock in at a solid 60 minutes and can handle up to 8 players, except for their Playground room (literally escaping a playground), which can handle up to 12.
They have everything from submarine to gold rush escape room themes. And if you’re feeling like a secret agent, “Special Ops: Mysterious Market” throws you into a global conspiracy, trying to stop a worldwide crisis.
But our experience with their “Prison Break” room was a solid 9 out of 10 difficulty. You actually start separated in two different prison cells, which immediately throws a wrench in your usual escape room strategy.
I actually really liked this split start; it forced us to be strategic with our information sharing and felt very authentic to the theme.
And those prison toilets? Let’s just say they added a certain…authenticity to the experience.
Pro Tip: If you can’t make it to their physical location or just want to keep the puzzle-solving going, they also have online escape rooms and at-home games, from board games to virtual experiences played over Zoom.
2. Escape Room San Antonio
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Website
Address: 10350 Bandera Rd Suite #302
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 5 PM to 12 AM
- Friday – 12 PM to 12 AM
Phone: +1 210-201-4868
Price: $$
Escape Room San Antonio offers private rooms for no extra charge. That’s a win in my book—no awkward pairings with strangers!
Now, let me tell you about the “Tomb of the Red Queen.” This one was a solid 5 out of 5 on their scale, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
This room can actually handle a bigger group, from 2 to 12 players. The premise is super cool: you’re part of an archaeological expedition in Mayan ruins and get trapped in an ancient tomb.
Then, the soul of King Pakal pops up and tasks you with completing the Red Queen’s burial ritual within an hour to escape. I really appreciated the variety of puzzles; there were logic problems, riddles, physical challenges, and some really clever uses of the environment.
Pro Tip: They also offer corporate team-building escape room events, so if you’re looking for a unique way to bond with your colleagues, this could be a fun option.
3. Escape the Room San Antonio
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Website
Address: 315 E Commerce St #100
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 1 PM to 8:30 PM
- Friday – 1 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 12 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 8:30 PM
Phone: +1 210-942-2550
Price: $$
All of Escape the Room San Antonio’s games are a solid 60 minutes long.
If you’re feeling like a bit of an outlaw, there’s “Western Bank Heist,” where you and your crew get to channel your inner Black Bart and try to pull off the biggest score in history.
Then there’s “The Dig,” which they describe as a multi-layered game with hidden twists—a room that keeps you on your toes with unexpected turns!
But the one I actually tackled was “The Agency,” and it had a really cool vibe. The whole premise is that you’ve been selected for a top-secret mission, and it starts off feeling almost like a suave spy movie.
I really enjoyed the way this room unfolded. The initial setup with the drinks and poker felt like a clever way to ease you into the story and make you feel like you were actually part of this secret organization.
Pro Tip: They offer the option to upgrade from a public game to a private game. If you want to ensure it’s just your group tackling the mission together, that’s definitely something to consider.
4. Extreme Escape – Stone Oak
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Website
Address: 434 N Loop 1604 W
Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 2:30 PM to 8 PM
- Thursday – 2 PM to 8 PM
- Friday – 1 PM to 11 PM
- Saturday – 12 PM to 11:45 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 8:30 PM
Phone: +1 210-402-3722
Price: $$
Extreme Escape has 10 different escape rooms, so you’re bound to find something that you like, whether you’re into escaping ancient tombs or running for your life from zombies.
One of my absolute favorites at Extreme Escape has to be “Carnevil.” The tagline alone—”It’s all fun and games till the clowns come out to play”—should give you a good idea of what you’re in for.
This room is a solid 5 out of 5 difficulty, and they nailed the creepy carnival atmosphere. You step inside, and it really does feel like you’ve wandered into a twisted sideshow.
The premise is that you’re surrounded by maniacal clowns who want to make you one of their own, and you have to complete a series of “horrific games” to escape.
The set design was fantastic—think creepy lighting, unsettling props, and just an overall sense of unease. The puzzles were challenging and often incorporated elements of the carnival theme in really clever ways.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to celebrate a birthday, Extreme Escape seems to specialize in it! They create experiences that are fun for all ages, where everyone works together to solve puzzles and escape.
5. Great Room Escape
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Website
Address: 1203 E Commerce St
Hours:
- Monday & Tuesday 12 PM to 8:30 PM
- Wednesday & Thursday 12 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 12 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday 12 PM to 7:30 PM
Phone: +12105044698
Price: $
Great Room Escape gets a big thumbs up from them right off the bat for having all their experiences in private rooms! They have five immersive themes, so there’s definitely something for everyone.
In their intense Bomb Squad escape room, the premise is classic high-stakes: a maniac has planted a bomb, and you and your team must work through their puzzles to defuse it before time runs out.
They also have an “Orient Express” theme, which immediately caught my eye. You’re tasked with solving a murder on the famous train in just 60 minutes before it reaches its next stop, and the killer gets away.
The puzzles were well thought out, requiring us to really work together and communicate effectively.
Pro Tip: After you’re all done flexing your mental muscles in the escape room, definitely give their axe-throwing a try! It’s the perfect way to blow off any lingering tension and keep the adrenaline pumping.
6. Escapology Escape Rooms San Antonio
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Website
Address: 602 Northwest Loop 410 Suite 142
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 3 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 3 PM to 11 PM
- Saturday – 9:40 AM to 11 PM
- Sunday – 9:40 AM to 10 PM
Phone: +17262452469
Price: $$
If you’re a Batman fan, you absolutely HAVE to try Escapology’s immersive “Batman: The Dark Knight Challenge.” It’s hands down one of the best escape rooms I’ve ever done, and it’s a beast of a challenge with a 9/10 difficulty.
The whole goal is simple, yet epic: save Gotham City. Need I say more?
From the moment you step in, you feel like you’ve been transported straight to Gotham. The level of detail in the set design was insane, and the puzzles were so cleverly integrated into the storyline.
They also have “Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure,” which is a total blast for anyone who grew up watching the gang solve mysteries. It has a slightly lower difficulty rating of 7.5/10, and you have 60 minutes to figure out what’s terrorizing Crystal Cove.
Pro Tip: Escapology also has escape rooms tailored specifically to kids! Their “TH3 COD3: Cyber Heist – Kids Mode” lets kids learn and grow through teamwork and problem-solving, all while trying to prove their innocence in a digital hacking case.
7. San Antonio Panic Room
Website
Address: 12770 Cimarron Path #104
Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 12 PM to 8 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 9 PM
- Sunday – 2 PM to 8 PM
Phone: +12108028958
Price: $$
San Antonio Panic Room leans into the more intense side of things with their themes. Take “Cabin Fever,” for example—getting trapped in a secluded ski resort during a blizzard sounds like the start of a thriller movie!
Then there’s “Phase III: Human Trials,” which, let’s be honest, sounds downright terrifying. Being kidnapped by a mad surgeon and injected with a lethal drug? No, thanks! But for the adrenaline junkies out there, that might be right up your alley.
The room that really caught my eye, and the one my group decided to brave, was “Prison Break.” The premise is pretty straightforward: you’re handcuffed in a prison and have 60 minutes to prove your innocence and escape before the sheriff returns.
We really had to rely on each other to manipulate objects and solve clues.
Pro Tip: If you’re set on having a private game experience with just your group, San Antonio Panic Room requires you to purchase all the available spots in the room.
8. The Exit Game Escape Room
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Website
Address: 5720 Bandera Rd #23
Hours:
- Sunday – 1:30 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday – 10:30 AM to 12 AM
- Monday to Thursday – 2:30 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 2 PM to 12 AM
Phone: +12105687777
Price: $$
The Exit Game Escape Room’s “Sherlock Holmes: Parliament Games” room is an absolute standout—definitely one of my top picks in the city.
The premise alone is enough to get you hooked: Sherlock Holmes is on the trail of a rogue Member of Parliament trying to finish what Guy Fawkes started, and you (his trusted associates) are his last hope to save the Queen and prevent the destruction of Parliament.
From the moment we stepped in, it felt like we had been transported to Victorian London. The set design was incredibly detailed, with lots of authentic-looking props and hidden clues scattered throughout.
The puzzles were challenging but also incredibly clever, really making you think like a detective. I loved how they wove the Sherlock Holmes narrative into the gameplay—it felt like we were actually following in his footsteps, piecing together the mystery he had started.
Pro Tip: If you’re a business looking for a team-building activity, The Exit Game Escape Room does cater to corporate clients. Just a heads-up, though: they’re only available Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.
