Theresa
70 escape rooms
You’re lured into a butcher shop by the promise of "free steak," only to realize what meats the butcher is stocking... The room starts with a non-linear flow, which is great for larger groups because it allows everyone to split up and tackle different corners of the shop simultaneously. It is a traditional room that relies mostly on locks although it featured a couple of nontraditional tactile components which were the highlights of the game. Unfortunately the feedback loop on some components were weak to signal we moved ahead with the puzzle. There were a ton of labels throughout the game that told us what we can’t do! That added a level of distraction, and instead of labels they could have been resolved with simple game modifications. The Challenges (The "Old Meat" Factor) While this was likely a standout room when it first launched, the age of the experience is starting to show in ways that actively hinder the fun: • Visibility Issues: A combination of "mood lighting" and literal fading of colors on props makes it frustratingly difficult to see the clues and numbers on the locks. • Red Herrings: There is a significant amount of "prop clutter." You'll also be given a heads up about several boxes and locks that are visible but not actually part of the game. There’s also information overload that may lead you astray leading to a lot of wasted time. • Poor Feedback: Many puzzles lack a clear "click" or signal when they’ve been solved. You might finish a task only to realize something was triggered elsewhere in the room three minutes ago without anyone noticing. • The Clue System: not a deal breaker but like other rooms at Jigsaw escape, they use standard intercom on the wall which feels a bit dated and breaks the immersion running back and forth potentially. The Gameplay Experience The room is definitely challenging with the quantity of puzzles, but often for the wrong reasons. There is a fair amount of "information overload" and some tasks feel more like tedious chores than clever "Aha!" moments. Some props are really worn/dirty and were not fun to handle. While there are some cool tactile elements—the overall flow is bogged down by tedium and poor aging of the room. Final Thoughts We managed to escape, but only because the staff was kind enough to grant us a few extra minutes (since we started a bit late and were right at the finish line). While the butcher theme is a classic, it’s hard to recommend this one in 2026. With other high-tech, polished rooms now available in the Ottawa and surrounding area, this one feels like a relic of the past.
