If you’re a horror fan, escape room junkie, or just looking for a Vegas attraction beyond the casino, you can’t miss the Saw Escape Room. While the creators ensured a certain convenience factor for tourists (It’s technically strip-adjacent), you won’t find any flashing neon signs or clean casinos. Instead your Uber driver will drop you off in front of a plain looking warehouse in (what feels like) a fairly seedy area of town. Available signage says simply “Egan and Co. Meat Packing Plant.” Your experience has already begun.
Arriving at Egan and Co.
When we arrived at the meat packing plant, we were a little confused (and a lot creeped out) by the lack of signage. We couldn’t figure out how to get in. Every door was locked. The gates were closed. There was no indication that we’d be able to enter.
After a few unsettling minutes, a security guard walked out to the gate with a checklist. I asked him if this was where we could find the “Saw” Escape Room. He replied that he didn’t know anything about that. But if we were looking for the after hours meat packing plant tour, this was the right place.
Before The Tour
After our group checked in, the guard offered a free locker and a chance for a bathroom break. I locked my purse away and received a key to hold around my wrist.
We were then asked to wait inside the lobby. This area was incredibly detailed with newspaper articles, old food cases, and even an “informational video” playing on one of the walls. Every bit of the room looked like a meat packing plant with ulterior motives.
After watching a safety video explaining the rules (still themed to the meat-packing plant facade), we were ushered into the first room. Before long, it’s abundantly clear that your after-hours tour was only a ruse. You’ve been trapped into playing one of Jigsaw’s infamous games.
The Game – No Spoilers
I WILL NOT BE GIVING ANY SPOILERS. I will only discuss the logistics of the game and some tips that will make your experience easier.
In a traditional escape game, you have an allotted time (generally an hour) to find your way out of a single room or small series of rooms. “Saw” works a little differently. There are six different, elaborately-themed rooms to escape. To ensure each guest is able to experience all six rooms, you will have a certain amount of time allotted for each piece. If you do not find your way out of one room within the allotted time, you will be ushered into the next room with a lowered overall score.
While working your way through Jigsaw’s traps, you’ll encounter loud sound effects and tight spaces. Some of the challenges involve crawling through tunnels, but only one or two members of the party are required to do this. If you are unable to or uncomfortable with crawling, you can skip these challenges.
Lastly, the “Saw” Escape Room does include a live actor completing challenges with your group. This actor can act as a hindrance or help to completing the challenges, depending on the circumstance and your group’s performance. Our actor was very talented and really added to overall experience. We wouldn’t have been able to solve some of the puzzles without his help.
Final Thoughts…
Admittedly, the “Saw” Escape Room will not be enjoyable for everyone. If your idea of a perfect Vegas vacation includes losing lots of money in slot machines, topless shows, and little else – you may find it as an unnecessary distraction from debauchery. If you’re more horror fan than escape room junkie, you might be a little disappointed. While the experience is certainly creepy, the emphasis is on the puzzles rather than the scares.
If you enjoy escape rooms, however, this is a unique experience that you won’t want to miss. As the only game of its kind, “Saw” is an immersive, incredibly detailed masterpiece.
