Escape from New York
2–4 players • ages 10+ • David Cook • 1981
- Designer
- David Cook · Harold Johnson
- Publisher
- TSR
- First published
- 1981
- Players
- 2–4 players
- Age
- 10+
- Genre
- Science fiction
How it plays
Escape from New York plays 2–4 players and is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Genres
More by the same designers
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Where to find one
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Where it came from
Escape from New York was released by TSR in 1981, capitalizing on the popularity of John Carpenter’s cult classic film released that same year. Developed as a board game, it sought to replicate the high-stakes, dystopian atmosphere of Manhattan as a maximum-security prison. The project was part of a brief period when TSR attempted to expand its portfolio beyond fantasy role-playing games into the science fiction and movie-tie-in market.
The game was designed by David Cook, a prolific figure at TSR who would later become highly influential in the development of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons second edition rules. Cook’s approach for this title focused on translating the film’s tense rescue mission into a board-based mechanic. While the game captured the aesthetic of the film through its thematic artwork, it is largely remembered today as a niche curiosity from a formative era of licensed tabletop gaming.
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Who's collecting this
Real games collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Escape from New York
Escape from New York is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. 2–4 players • ages 10+ • David Cook • 1981. It's filed under science fiction. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How do you play Escape from New York?
Escape from New York is a board game for 2–4 players, filed under science fiction. collecto.rs catalogues the game, not its rules — for the full rulebook, use the copy in the box or the publisher's own site.
How many players is Escape from New York for?
Escape from New York is built for 2–4 players. That count comes from this catalog entry alone — nothing from an expansion or a spin-off is folded into it.
What age is Escape from New York for?
Escape from New York lists a minimum age of 10. That's a recommended starting age rather than a hard rule.
Who designed Escape from New York?
Escape from New York was designed by David Cook and Harold Johnson. It's published by TSR. The catalog gives its publication year as 1981.
How many collectors track Escape from New York on collecto.rs?
Escape from New York doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Escape from New York?
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Where does the Escape from New York catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Escape from New York is sourced from Wikidata. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
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