Escape Artist Greenville named one of the Top 10 Escape Rooms in the U.S. by USA TODAY 10Best
October 4, 2026
Escape Artist Greenville has been named one of the Top 10 Escape Rooms in the United States, earning the #7 spot in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The national recognition marks the latest in an extraordinary period of accolades for the Greenville-based immersive entertainment company, which has now been recognized among the best escape room experiences in the country by multiple organizations.
Between 2025-2026, Escape Artist Greenville has earned:
#1 Escape Experience in the United States (#22 in the world) — 2025 Top Escape Room Project Enthusiast Choice Award
#2 in the United States — 2025 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards
#7 in the United States — 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
“We’re incredibly honored to see Escape Artist recognized alongside some of the best,” said owner Will Rutherford. “It’s always validating to see that the creativity, craftsmanship and countless hours that go into creating and performing these experiences make an impact on our guests.”
Escape Artist Greenville was founded with the intention of creating something beyond a traditional escape room. Rather than relying on pre-made rooms or designs, the company’s team designs, builds, and maintains each experience in-house. Their adventures combine elaborate environments, original storytelling, technology, and live actors to create immersive worlds where guests become part of the story.
“Our goal has never been to ‘stick you in a room and test your intelligence’” said Will. “We’d rather create something that helps you forget, even for a moment, that you’re in an escape room at all. These games are all about stepping into another world, becoming the main characters of a story, and sharing an experience with the people around you. These awards are especially meaningful because they remind us that our small team is delivering something that people remember.”
The company currently offers eight original experiences across two Greenville locations, ranging from whimsical adventures and family-friendly stories to immersive horror experiences. Among them is the Chimera Corp Saga, an interconnected multi-hour adventure spanning three experiences: Castle Flüffendor, Dark Lullaby, and Help Wanted. The Saga has earned significant recognition within the international escape room community, including its #1 U.S. ranking in the latest TERPECA results.
The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are determined through a public voting process, giving the award significance among both locals and Greenville visitors. This is Escape Artist Greenville’s second USA TODAY 10BEST award, with their first award being #7 in 2021.
“We’re proud to have created something that people will travel across the country, or even across the world, to experience,” said owner Kim Rutherford. “We couldn’t have gotten this far without our incredible team, our Greenville community, and every person who has ever walked through our doors and believed in what we’re creating here.”
Escape Artist Greenville is located at 209 E. Stone Avenue in downtown Greenville and 1320 Hampton Avenue Extension at Hampton Station. The company offers private, story-driven experiences for groups of friends, families, coworkers, and escape room enthusiasts.
About Escape Artist Greenville
Escape Artist Greenville is a locally owned immersive entertainment company specializing in original, story-driven immersive adventures. Their small team designs and builds its experiences entirely in-house, combining innovative storytelling, elaborate sets, engaging live actors, and interactive challenges. With eight experiences across two locations, Escape Artist Greenville has earned national and international recognition for its commitment to immersive entertainment and original game design.
For more information, visit:
www.escapeartistgreenville.com
