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Escape Rooms in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matthew Buchko Matthew Buchko New York, United States Last Updated: January 2024 NAICS OD6213 Spotlight Report

Revenue

$654.5m

2024

$654.5m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

55,980

Businesses

3,590

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Escape Rooms in the US industry analysis

Escape rooms involve a group of friends, family or coworkers working together to play a game and solve puzzles in a specific amount of time. Escape rooms first emerged in the US in 2012 when Scrap Entertainment created the first escape room experience in San Francisco. Since then, consumer demand has surged, as there are now more than 3,000 escape rooms across the US. As a result of social distancing guidelines and concerns about disease transmission related to the outbreak of COVID-19, sharp declines in revenue were observed in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Closures, coupled with volatility in the broader economy, have led to revenue falling at an expected CAGR of 5.8% to $654.5 million through the end of 2024, despite growth of 0.9% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Escape rooms gained global popularity in the early 2010s, with the first US location opening in 2012. Revenue has been on the decline in recent years, as a result of the pandemic and restrictions on social gatherings.
  • Storytelling games are the most popular type of escape rooms. Consumers tend to prefer rooms with strong theming for an immersive experience.
  • The escape room industry endures a high level of competition in major cities. High demand has prevented market saturation, so many new escape room operators have entered the industry in the last few years.

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  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $654.5m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Waning enthusiasm from consumers

  • Escape rooms gained global popularity in the early 2010s, first gaining traction in Asia before being brought to the US in 2012. Consumer demand initially surged. Within five years of the first one opening, the number of escape rooms in the US shot up to more than 1,000.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Escape Rooms in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The number of establishments will continue to rise

  • As the economy recovers from the pandemic and operations continue to return to normal, the number of escape rooms will continue to shoot up. Consumer demand is anticipated to remain strong, encouraging new entrants to open rooms attracting untapped and niche markets.

Biggest companies in the Escape Rooms in the US

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Escape Rooms in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Escape Rooms in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Storytelling games through puzzles, Games with a theme but no narrative and Games with a narrative-only. Storytelling games through puzzles is the largest segment of the Escape Rooms in the US.

Trends and Insights

Storytelling through puzzles encourages deeper immersion

  • Storytelling games are escape room experiences where a narrative unfolds as players solve puzzles, with each challenge revealing a new element of the overall story.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes operators that primarily operate escape room facilities and offer puzzle games to be played with a group of people. Industry establishments also typically sell food and beverages. The industry comprises companies that have a physical escape room facility.

What's included in this industry?

Operating escape room facilities and related gamesOffering food and beverages, including alcoholic beveragesProviding party planning services for large groups and events

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COMMUNICATION PUZZLEESCAPE RATEGAMEMASTER

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 713990 - Escape Rooms in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Escape rooms gained global popularity in the early 2010s, with the first US location opening in 2012. Revenue has been on the decline in recent years, as a result of the pand...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Storytelling games are the most popular type of escape rooms. Consumers tend to prefer rooms with strong theming for an immersive experience.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The escape room industry endures a high level of competition in major cities. High demand has prevented market saturation, so many new escape room operators have entered the ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

COVID-19 regulations significantly impacted escape rooms in the US. Lockdowns, capacity restrictions and health concerns led to closures that forced escape rooms to adapt wit...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The cost structure depends on a variety of factors. These include the size and location of the escape room, brand name recognition and quality of services, among others.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States is $654.5m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Escape Rooms in the US industry in 2024?

There are 3,590 businesses in the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 11.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What does the Escape Rooms in the US in United States include?

Operating escape room facilities and related games and Offering food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages are part of the Escape Rooms in the US industry.

How competitive is the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Escape Rooms in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

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International industries

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Methodology

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IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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