My Review of the PanIQ Escape Room Las Vegas

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When I first heard about the PanIQ Escape Room at the Venetian, the name alone made me nervous. That sounded like it was designed to stress me out, and I already have enough of that in my life, thanks!

But after checking out their rooms online, I was relieved. They weren’t all horror-movie-scary after all. (Shoutout to my friend Heather for pointing out it’s “PanIQ” because it challenges your IQ. Clever!)

So on a Saturday afternoon, my friends and I headed to the Venetian to test our skills with Casino Heist. We almost didn’t make it out – but not for the reason you’d think. Here’s what really happened, and what you should know before you book.

The Rundown

• Duration: 45 minutes to complete
• Group size: 2-7 players (most games), up to 10 for Zombie Outbreak
• Price: $36-$46 per person (varies by day and whether you book a private or public space)
• Arrival time: 15 minutes prior

First challenge? Actually finding the place.

Getting to the Las Vegas Location

Finding the place was trickier than we expected. All we knew was that it was located in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. We had to resort to using the interactive directory, and even then, we only got a vague arrow pointing in a direction.

Honestly, I started to wonder how our team would fare during the actual experience if we couldn’t even locate the place!

So to help you avoid the same frustration, here are the directions:

From the lower level: Make your way to the Waterfall Atrium, which is situated between the Palazzo and the Venetian. Look up, and you’ll see small red banners for PanIQ Escape Room and the Atomic Saloon Show.

Take the first set of escalators up to level 2, where those red banners are. They look like this:

Once you’re at the red banners on level 2, you’ll see a larger Atomic Saloon Show sign and another set of escalators. Take those escalators up to the mezzanine level (3rd floor). Walk past the Atomic Saloon box office, then turn left. You’ll find the entrance directly in front of you!

Pre-Game Lounge

The venue has a cool bar area with tables and velvet booths where you can hang out before your game. We arrived early, and I’m glad we did. It gave us time to relax and get excited about what was coming.

We signed a waiver on our phones (quick and easy). After that, we grabbed a table and ordered drinks. I went with Sprite, but they have a full menu if you want something stronger. You can even bring your drinks in with a souvenir cup, which ties in perfectly with one of their experiences called The Morning After.

Here’s a look at their current drink menu:

We also had to come up with a team name. Ours? 3F – named after the parking level where we left the car. Not our most creative moment, but hey, at least we remembered where we parked!

One fun extra: if you finish fast enough, you can earn a spot on the leaderboard. The rankings are prominently displayed in the lounge, which made us feel the pressure even more.

Casino Heist: The Story

Here’s the setup: You’ve just snuck past security and broken into the casino manager’s office on the third floor of the Venetian. The casino’s main vault is somewhere in this office, hidden behind a secret door. You’ve got 45 minutes to find it and crack it open.

Meanwhile, your crew’s got you covered. Someone’s downstairs making a scene at the high-limit tables, and someone else is hacking into the Venetian’s security cameras.

The stakes? If you pull it off, you walk away very, very rich. If you fail… well, let’s not go there.

Puzzle Quality

I thought there was a good mix of puzzles, and it didn’t feel like we were just solving random riddles or codes. Most of it was tied directly into the heist story.

We had 8 different challenges to complete in 45 minutes: observation puzzles, deduction, physical manipulation, and even obstacle navigation. Two were similar, but the rest were very unique!

The games are pretty linear, meaning you solve things one after another rather than splitting up your group to tackle separate challenges. I liked that a lot because it’s a true team effort every step of the way, and everyone is involved in each puzzle.

But that does ramp up the tension! I definitely panicked when we got stuck, and I could feel the clock ticking.

Difficulty-wise, it felt just right. Nothing was too complex or unfair, but we definitely had our share of “wait, what?” moments. I think Casino Heist, in particular, is great for first-timers or if you’ve only done a few before.

The Hint System

The hint system is simple and effective! All you have to do is press a button, and a hint appears on the in-room screen in about 30 seconds. Someone’s watching in real-time, so hints are specific to where you’re at in the game.

We used four or five hints total, which I was kind of embarrassed about. But our game master told us it’s better to finish and use some hints than stay stuck and not make it out.

Atmosphere & Immersion

The whole experience screams Ocean’s Eleven (I love that movie!). They even play “Ruben’s In” by David Holmes while you’re hunting for the vault, so you genuinely feel like you’re pulling off a casino heist.

But the coolest part? You’re playing inside the actual Venetian resort. So when the story has you breaking into an office on the third floor, you’re literally on the third floor of the actual Venetian. This blurs the line between game and reality.

The set design nails the details, too. Security camera feeds show what appear to be real gaming tables at the Venetian, with actual people playing on the casino floor. Every element reinforces the immersion.

When you find the hidden door (and yes, there really is a secret vault inside), it’s not some tiny closet. It’s bigger and more impressive than you’d expect. Of course, getting in isn’t simple. There are alarms you need to avoid triggering, and the vault opens in this wild way that I won’t spoil, but you’ll want to stand back when it happens.

Bottom line? Total immersion. I almost completely forgot I was playing a game.

My PanIQ Room Rating

I’ve done three escape rooms now, and this one is by far my favorite. The Casino Heist theme was so fun, the puzzles kept us on our toes, and playing inside the actual Venetian made the whole experience feel real in a way other places haven’t.

Overall, I’d rate it 4.8/5. I’m only docking points because two puzzles felt a bit similar, and we got stuck on the very first challenge. That wasn’t because we couldn’t figure it out, but because we weren’t doing something quite right. It was more of a technicality, but it ate up valuable time early on.

So here’s my advice without giving too much away: Do every action with intention and make sure you’ve fully completed each step before moving on. We lost so much time on that first challenge that we felt rushed the rest of the way and ended up asking for more hints than I would’ve liked.

That said, would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s a blast, and the staff is super friendly.

Did We Make It Out?

Yes! We made it out with about seven minutes to spare.

Honestly, it came down to the wire. After losing so much time on that first puzzle and needing a few hints along the way, I wasn’t sure we’d make it. But when we finally cracked that last challenge and the door opened, the relief was incredible. Our whole group was celebrating like we’d actually pulled off a real heist.

It felt amazing to succeed, especially since my track record with these hasn’t been great. This one restored my confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before you book, here are a few things you might want to know.

Do People Like PanIQ Room in Las Vegas?

Yes! The attraction has a 4.9/5.0 rating on Google (based on 2,268 reviews) and 4.5/5.0 on Yelp (244 reviews) as of the date of this article. The attraction has also been voted Best Escape Room in Las Vegas three years in a row!

And I have to agree – it’s my favorite escape room in Vegas so far.

How Long Does a PanIQ Room Las Vegas Game Last?

All games last 45 minutes. If you don’t solve it within that time, the experience ends, and your mission is incomplete.

There’s also about a 10-minute introduction where they explain the rules and storyline, so plan for about an hour total.

That said, the game portion itself can be shorter than 45 minutes if you solve puzzles quickly and use hints strategically.

What Age is Appropriate for PanIQ Room?

It depends on which experience you choose. Here’s the breakdown:

• The Time Machine: 8 and up
• Atlantis Rising: 8 and up
• The Haunted Manor: 12 and up
• Wizard Trials: 8 and up
• Zombie Outbreak: 12 and up
• Casino Heist: 8 and up
• Morning After: 18 and up

My Final Thoughts

If you’re planning to go, I recommend booking a private space. It costs a little more, but it’s totally worth it. At another place on the Strip, we were paired with people who called themselves “escape room experts” and had done over 100 of them. They took over completely, and my friends and I just stood there. Not fun!

The hint system is also miles better than what I’ve experienced elsewhere. At another spot, the hints took forever to arrive, which killed the momentum and kept us from making it out in time! At PanIQ, you press a button and get help in about 30 seconds.

I absolutely want to come back and try another game. I’ve been to other escape rooms in Vegas and haven’t felt that way about any of them, but here? I’ll definitely be back. I’m eyeing The Time Machine next, or maybe The Morning After, since that one just screams Vegas.