An escape room based on the legendary horror film Saw sounds like a dream for every fan of the genre. When I learned that there was a place in Prague where you could play a game set directly in Jigsaw’s world, it was clear that we had to go. And honestly? It exceeded my expectations.
Why we chose Saw and Endorfin
In Prague, we took part in an absolutely amazing escape room by Endorfin. It is called, or rather styled after, the film Saw. And of course, they have several other game scenarios – Freddy Krueger, Star Wars, and Titanic.
We chose Saw because I like Saw as a horror film – it’s simply a classic. And as soon as the words “I want to play a game” were mentioned, I knew it was going to be absolutely fantastic.
A brief aside: what exactly is an escape room?
If you have never played an escape room before, the principle is simple: they lock you in a room (or an entire series of rooms), set a time limit – usually 60 minutes – and your task is to gradually solve logic puzzles, find hidden objects, combine clues, and ultimately get out.
The better the creators, the more closely the tasks are connected to the story and the more you genuinely feel like you are “inside” the game. And this is exactly what Endorfin achieves at a level I had never seen before.
An atmospheric arrival – creepy from the parking lot onward
Our reservation was for 10:20, so we arrived shortly before ten. I was immediately surprised that the creepy atmosphere begins outside. The parking lot is located in a hidden courtyard between buildings – a narrow passageway, old houses, an iron spiral staircase, and an overall somewhat industrial, forgotten look.
If I had to describe it in one word, it would be: creepy. What’s more, there was barely another soul around in the morning. The perfect way to set the mood.
A bar that looks like a film set
As soon as they let us inside, it was clear that they had put a great deal of work into the space. The bar looks really nice – concrete walls, industrial light bulbs, old tricycles above the bar, and recycled wood arranged in colorful strips. The whole place feels very stylish.
In the hallways, you can already see the doors to the individual escape rooms – an iron gate with a submarine-style wheel and the word TITANIC, and doors covered in black-and-white comic-book strokes with a neon FREDDY sign. We didn’t see the Star Wars doors, so I don’t know where they were, but merely looking at those “gateways to other worlds” gets you even more excited.
Before the game began, we also had some good sodas there – I chose Targa Tonica Ginger, a Sicilian tonic with ginger that was really nice. I can also imagine relaxing in a bar like this after the game while the adrenaline is still coursing through your veins.
A brief introduction to the world of Saw – what is it actually about?
To make sense of what was happening in the room, I’ll pause to talk about the films themselves. The Saw franchise was created in 2004 by director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell. It began modestly – with a nine-minute short film from 2003 intended to convince producers that a feature-length version was worth pursuing. It worked: Lionsgate gave the creators a budget of around $1.2 million, and the result grossed more than $100 million at the box office.
A total of ten films were made between 2004 and 2023, from Saw to Saw X, plus the spin-off Spiral: From the Book of Saw starring Chris Rock.
The central character of the entire saga is John Kramer – a man who completely reevaluated his outlook on the world after a car accident and a diagnosis of an incurable brain tumor. He began noticing people who, in his opinion, were wasting their lives – drug addicts, fraudsters, adulterers, corrupt police officers – and created brutal “games” for them in which they had to decide whether they were willing to endure pain to understand the value of life or whether they would die. He never killed anyone himself – his traps could always be escaped. Just at a price that usually could not be undone.
The media nickname “Jigsaw” originated from the fact that he cut puzzle pieces out of his victims – a symbol of the missing piece of humanity that he believed they lacked.
His iconic line appears in practically every film:
“I’m not a murderer. Those people chose death themselves because they don’t appreciate life.”
And then there is the legendary “I want to play a game.” That is exactly what awaits you at Endorfin.
The rules, drawing lots – and I lost
They explained the rules to us, followed by the classic question: “Who is the bravest?” In the end, it fell to me. And it turned out exactly as you might imagine – they placed some kind of contraption over my shoulders, chained me up, and led me through the darkness into the first room.
This is where I have to give Endorfin credit: they tell you absolutely nothing about what awaits you. The game truly begins from scratch.
Inside the room: straight out of the film
I won’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to spoil the experience. But to give you an idea of what it’s about: you really feel as though you are in the film. One of us was locked in a cage, another tied to a chair in some kind of furnace, and another trapped in another device. Everyone has their own smaller “problem” that needs to be solved – and you simply cannot do it without the others.
At one point, a television turns on and Jigsaw begins speaking to you through it. The iconic “You don’t appreciate life, so we have prepared a game for you…” is exactly the moment when you realize that the people who built this escape room genuinely love the film.
And to mention one crucial thing without spoilers: you can (but do not have to) sacrifice one or more members of your group. Depending on what you decide, the game will end differently based on the choices you make along the way. There are several possible endings, and your choices genuinely matter. Incidentally, this is one of its greatest strengths – the entire moral dimension of the Saw franchise has been recreated perfectly.
Difficulty? Officially hard, but I would say more medium-hard
Endorfin rates Saw as hard, but I would describe it as a reasonable medium difficulty. You can figure it out if you really think about the clues, and you must not forget to search the space around you. Everything is logical.
Plus – and this is another great idea – Jigsaw occasionally gives you hints through the television. When you complete a particular task or remain stuck for a long time, he speaks up and offers you a clue. It isn’t distracting; on the contrary, it adds another layer to the atmosphere.
Overall, I have to say that technically, atmospherically, narratively, and in terms of the logic of the tasks, it is exceptionally well made. Of course, you remain aware that nothing there can actually kill you, but many of the things you have to do look as though you are genuinely hurting someone or preparing to kill them so that you can survive. And that is precisely what makes the whole experience “creepy” in the right way.
Verdict: definitely yes, and I’m tempted by the others too
I definitely recommend Endorfin. And I would certainly also try Freddy Krueger and Star Wars – of all the branded escape rooms, the latter probably appeals to me the most. When I imagine being able to play a game in the Star Wars universe, it sounds almost like a childhood dream come true.
Lunch next door: Royal Lumbini, an Indian-Nepalese restaurant
Because we were very hungry after the game, we followed a recommendation and headed a short distance from Endorfin to the Indian and Nepalese restaurant Royal Lumbini in Vršovice, Prague 10. The interior is simple but very nice – Tibetan prayer flags above the bar, statues of Buddha and Ganesha, and the flag of Nepal.
The owners gave us a warm welcome, and the menu offers a genuinely solid selection – from pakoras, samosas, and soups to classic curries (Butter Chicken, Masala, Madras, Palak, Garlic) and vegetarian specialties.
We started with tomato soup, which was accompanied by appetizers in the form of onion bhaji (onion rings) with three chutneys – sweet tamarind, mint, and spicy hot chutney. For our main course, we tried the classic Butter Chicken with garlic naan and jasmine rice.
Honestly, it did not surpass my favorite Indian restaurant in Brno, Jomsom, but the meal was absolutely flawless. The portions are large, the food is authentic, and the atmosphere is pleasant. It is definitely worth the short trip from Endorfin.
A perfect day trip from Brno
We completed the drive to Prague and back in roughly two hours each way without any problems. So even though we spent only a few hours in Prague for the escape room and lunch, it was a very enjoyable day.
So if you like the Saw horror films or simply want to experience what it is like to find yourself in the middle of an elaborate deadly game, Endorfin will not disappoint you. The entire concept – from the atmospheric parking lot to the bar, the rules, and the execution of the rooms themselves – is exceptionally well thought out. You genuinely feel as though you are inside the film.
And then, as a bonus, you can have curry. There is probably no better combination for a Saturday morning.
