Review: Operation - End of Days, Mission Escape Games, NYC
Fun Factor 6
Mission Escape Games
265 W37th Street, Suite 802A, New York, NY 10018
Date we played: March 22, 2025
Booking size 2 to 10; We recommend 3 to 5
Game time: 60 minutes
Objective: Uh oh! Apocalypse is imminent! Find the materials and create and deploy the Final Element to avoid apocalypse.
Horror Theme: No.
Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced
This is a review of Mission: End of Days at the NYC location of Mission Escape Games. We understand that this same room is available at other Mission Escape Game locations. As with other multi-location businesses, there may be differences in design and artistic decoration, but in general, it is the same experience.
We had fun playing Operation: End of Days by Mission Escape Games and can recommend it with a Fun Factor of 6.
The escape room’s premise puts a familiar spin on the “stop the apocalypse” storyline—your team’s mission is to create and deploy a so-called “final element” to prevent global catastrophe. The setting supports this well, with puzzles and design elements that reflect a high-tech scientific facility equipped with the tools needed to complete the mission.
One of the more effective storytelling tools used here is a series of audio-driven cut scenes, which trigger after key objectives are completed. These brief sequences help move the narrative forward and often reveal new tasks or spaces in a way that feels organic.
Although the room embraces a tech-heavy theme, it avoids over-relying on screens or sensors, providing a satisfying amount of tactile interaction with props and set pieces to solve puzzles and advance the story. We enjoyed the variety of puzzles, both in the methods needed to solve them and in terms of their difficulty level.
“The set effectively gives off remote research facility “bunker vibes”.
The puzzle difficulty in this room generally falls in the intermediate range, though two puzzles in particular stand out as requiring more advanced problem-solving skills. These moments are especially rewarding and should satisfy players who enjoy a good mental challenge and the thrill of a well-earned “aha” moment.
According to our game host, this room has been running for over five years, and we noticed that longevity does show in some areas. We noticed signs of wear on certain props and set elements, which we pointed out after the game—some maintenance and light refurbishing could enhance the overall experience. That said, the set design still succeeds in evoking the feel of a remote research facility, delivering convincing “bunker vibes” throughout.
The space itself is on the smaller side, but it's used efficiently, with a good number of meaningful details contributing directly to the gameplay, rewarding teams that find them. While the room can be booked for a group size of up to 10, it is likely to feel a bit cramped, and the linear structure of the puzzles could leave some team members with less to do at times. We believe that a group of 3 to 5 players is ideal for this room, but experienced duos should also find the challenge manageable and engaging.
As an added bonus of functionality, at THIS location, Mission Esscape Games has two identical versions of Operation: End of Days - these “A” and “B” rooms can be booked by larger groups who want to experience the same escape room or play competitively.
If you are in the area, we recommend you play Operation: End of Days by Mission Escape Games. Please let them know you saw a Fun Factor Escape Room Review - let us know what you think…and HAVE FUN!
