Rush Escape Game’s second venue features more creative puzzles and elaborately designed rooms

Saw, arguably, is the original escape game. Heck, the film franchise’s Jigsaw Killer even infamously says “I want to play a game”. So it makes perfect sense that Rush Escape Game drew inspiration from the classic horror film to create an escape room for its second venue.

Hacksaw is the first escape room built at Rush Escape Game’s second venue in Hawthorn (the original Rush is still open for business in South Yarra). As with the movie it’s inspired by, you’ll start Hacksaw chained up and will have to solve some very creative riddles if you want to escape alive (don’t worry, for legal reasons all guests do escape alive).

The set design in Hacksaw is genuinely creepy and true to the feeling of the films, with the whole room built by hand. The escape room takes place inside a shed decked out to resemble a dingey bathroom complete with a shower and toilet (which, as we’re gently reminded, does not work so please pee beforehand). Steel yourself if you’re irked by dirt, blood, needles, dead bodies or small spaces, as the room pulls no punches in creating its eerie atmosphere.

Teamwork is key to solving the puzzles but for the average escape room player, we would suggest a max of four people so that everyone can feel involved. Rush also informs us that the gory escape room is also popular with couples looking for an alternative date idea. Nothing brings you closer than trauma after all. There’s a smidge of math involved too, so keep that in mind when deciding who to play with.

Outcome: Success!

Atmosphere: 5/5

Creativity of puzzles: 5/5

Difficulty: 3/5

Fun: 5/5

Best quote: “Have you checked under the dead body?”

Our tip: Don’t forget about clues at the start – you may need them again later.