The best escape rooms in Singapore

Escape rooms are meant to fully immerse players into completely different, often dangerous, worlds. However, to avoid any injuries they can only do so much. Fortunately, it’s the age of technology – when Virtual Reality (VR) meets Escape Room, the possibilities are endless. Now, you and a buddy can experience being stranded during a world flood with the multiplayer puzzle game, Sam & Dan: Floaty Flatmates. Together, survive the apocalypse, escape the chasing hungry shark, and get onto the boat for safety. Alternatively, try out the multiplayer shooter game, Arizona Sunshine, where you handle weapons with real-life movements to escape the zombie horde. Prices are $12 per hour on weekdays, and $15 on weekends – after a compulsory lifetime membership entry of $5.

Have you ever watched a horror movie and said, “If I were in that situation, I’d totally find a way to get out of it”? Well, here’s your chance to prove it. At Trapped Escape Room, you and up to nine other friends can experience a night of the Purge. Together, tackle and solve puzzles set by your captors to earn your freedom. Quick, you only have 60 minutes before they lose their patience – think fast and on your feet, it could make the difference between life and death. If the Purge isn’t to your liking, try out Tekong Army Bunk where the ghost stories you’ve heard come to life, or the Mental Ward – where perhaps it is you that is a little crazy. Booking fees for an escape room are from $28.90 per person.

As its name suggests, Virtual Room is another VR-focused escape room providing you and your mates an immersive 3D cinematic experience when you play its games. Currently, it has two options on offer – Time Travel Chapter I and Time Travel Chapter II – both requiring you to go on missions that travel back into historical periods of time, like ancient Egypt and the medieval ages, to help save the world. Pick the former and you’ll have to piece puzzles to recover vital information that went missing when Alpha team disappeared during its last mission. Or try the latter and find the sources of energy capable of combating a plague that’s threatening Earth. Each player gets to move around, search for items, and manipulate objects in their own room that’s equipped with the latest VR gear. Together with your team members, you will fight for Earth’s survival. Prices start from $44 per person.

Ambient lighting and gripping sound effects take centre stage at Lost, guaranteeing that participants have an immersive experience. We’ve heard that the doors of this escape room are fitted with voice-activated sensors so if you scream loud enough, they might just open up. So when all else fails, you know what to do – or you could press on by phoning in for clues. Try out The Exodus – a room loosely based on the biblical journey across the Sea of Reeds. As you finally break free from years of torment and enslavement, soak in the Egyptian-inspired artefacts that contribute to a ridiculously convincing atmosphere that’ll have you believe you’ve been transported back in time to a mystical era. Prices start from $21.90 per person.

Once you've entered this Victorian era-themed escape room, there's only one way out. Channel your inner Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew as you tackle a murder mystery of your own. A mystery solved is its own reward, but amateur detectives are also served hot tea and biscuits as a treat. Document your endeavor by striking a pose with chic detective outfits and quirky props. If you're up for it, try out The Whitechapel Murderer case, where you have to identify the notorious serial killer – Jack the Ripper – within the stipulated time or become his next victim. There’s nothing like a century-old murder mystery to get your adrenaline pumping. Prices start from $38 per person.

Drawing on the expertise of professional puzzle designers, Captivate has refined each of its rooms to confound and confuse – ensuring that only the sharpest of daring participants make it through. Fortunately, each session at Captivate lasts a good 75 minutes, which is considerably longer than the usual hour afforded to patrons of other escape rooms. Put those extra minutes to good use as you race against the clock. Labyrinth has an intriguing local spin to it – making it chillingly relatable. Corpses of death row inmates are disappearing from the Changi prison morgue and it’s your job to unravel the truth behind the unsettling news. If that doesn’t get your attention, we don’t know what will. Prices start from $22 per person.

This is currently the only facility in Singapore that houses two-storey escape rooms – for twice the fun. Ever wanted to save a city from a dirty bomb or rally a band of survivors during a plague outbreak? At The Escape Artist, you can do just that. Embrace the hero within you by choosing from a range of special powers that’ll prove instrumental in helping you save the day. Prices start from $20 per person.

From the brains behind large-scale escape games in heritage precincts like Chinatown and Haw Par Villa, Lockdown has no doubt made its mark on Singapore's escape room scene. Scenarios range from eerily realistic murder investigations – think Cluedo on steroids – to uncovering lost treasures. If you hit a dead end, appeal to the wise gamemasters for a hint or two. Did we mention that their Jurong East outlet even houses virtual reality escape rooms. A must-try is the VR Escape game – Abandoned Mine. Following an unfortunate landslide, you're trapped inside an abandoned mine and getting an old elevator to work is your best chance at survival. To make things worse, the oxygen supply depletes by the second. Prices start from $22 per person.

Challenge yourself at Singapore’s biggest escape room with over 52 game chambers and 13 exciting video game or movie themes to choose from. There are fantasy options like Kungfu Panda X and Mission X – The Love Confession, thrilling horror mysteries such as The Morgue and Annabelle and adventure quests such as Tomb Raider and Resident Evil – boredom is the last thing you’ll experience at Xcape Singapore. Prices start from $22 per person.

Known all over the world across ten countries, jump into your favourite video games and web-games such as Jurassic Park, Poseidon and Old Changi Hospital, as you solve puzzles, challenges and mysteries with your friends at Freeing SG. Less than 30 percent of attempts are successful, so be prepared to crack your brains, combining both logic and creativity to escape. Prices are from $32 per person.

Not exactly an escape room, The Fragment Room lets you escape from the stress of reality by smashing and breaking things to your heart’s content. The perfect anger therapy for busy individuals, the rage room allows you to release any suppressed frustrations through throwing around plates, glasses, electronic appliances and more from $38. Instant gratification is guaranteed.