Overview

Escape from New York is a 1981 board game by TSR based on the John Carpenter film of the same name. Players take on the role of characters dropped into Manhattan, which has been converted into a maximum-security prison. The objective is to locate the President of the United States (or the cassette tape he carries) and escape the island before time runs out. Players move through the city, encounter allies and enemies, collect weapons and equipment, gather clues to the President’s location, and ultimately attempt to escape via glider or through the mine fields.

Components

• 1 game board (map of Manhattan island)
• Character cards/tokens
• Clue cards (with location information)
• Weapon and equipment cards
• Ally and enemy encounter cards
• 1 die
• Turn/time track
• Rules booklet

Setup

1. Place the game board (Manhattan island map) in the center of the table.
2. Each player selects a character and takes the corresponding token and starting equipment/weapon cards.
3. Shuffle the clue cards and place them in a draw pile.
4. Shuffle encounter cards and place them face-down.
5. Set the time track marker to the starting position.
6. Place characters at their starting locations (entry points to Manhattan).

Turn Structure

On each turn:

1. Move: Move your character a number of spaces on the map determined by die roll or movement allowance.
2. Encounter: If you enter a space with an encounter, draw or resolve the appropriate card. You may meet allies (who join you) or enemies (who you must fight).
3. Collect clues: At landmark spaces or through encounters, you may acquire clue cards that point to possible locations of the President or the tape.
4. Fight: Combat is resolved by rolling a die and adding modifiers from weapons and allies.
5. Advance the clock: The time track advances, representing the countdown before the explosive charges in the characters’ necks detonate.

Actions

Movement

Move your character through the streets of Manhattan. Different areas may have different danger levels.

Combat

When encountering enemies, roll a single die and add modifiers for weapons and allies in your party. Compare the total against the enemy’s strength. Success means you defeat the enemy and may gain loot; failure means losing equipment, allies, or health.

Gathering Clues

Clue cards each list several possible locations. When a player acquires two clue cards that share the same location, they can travel there to find the President or the cassette tape.

Ambushing Other Players

Players can ambush one another to steal possessions, equipment, and clue cards. This adds a competitive element to the cooperative-seeming objective.

Escaping

After finding the President or the tape, you must still find a means of escape:

• Locate a glider, OR
• Find a map to the mine fields surrounding Manhattan. Then make your way to an exit point and escape before time runs out.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Winning

The first player to rescue the President (or recover the cassette tape) AND successfully escape Manhattan wins the game.

Losing

All players lose if the time track reaches zero before anyone escapes with the President or tape.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• The game is based directly on the 1981 film, so thematic events mirror the movie’s plot.
• Players can cooperate or compete – alliances are temporary and backstabbing is possible.
• Weapons and allies can be lost in failed combat encounters.
• The time pressure creates urgency as the game progresses.
• Some landmark spaces provide special benefits or encounters.
• The game can be played solo with one player controlling a single character.

Player Reference

Objective: Find the President or his tape, then escape Manhattan

Turn: Move > Encounter > Collect clues/Fight > Advance clock

Clue matching: Two clue cards with the same location reveal where the President is

Escape requirements: President/tape + glider or mine field map + reach exit

Combat: Die roll + weapon/ally modifiers vs. enemy strength

Win condition: First to escape Manhattan with the President or tape before time expires