Red Door Escape Room (Las Vegas) - "Borderlands: Tannis's Lab"
- Krista Jones
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Photo above is property of Red Door Escape Room (Las Vegas)
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Borderlands: Tannis's Lab
📅 DATE PLAYED: November 9, 2025
🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi, Action
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $39.95/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
Red Door teamed up with 2K Games and Nerdvana to build a real-life slice of the Borderlands universe and Tannis’ Lab lands with all the game’s wild, irreverent energy. You’re recruited to stabilize and power up a vault key and then put it to use. If you’ve played the game, the in-jokes and lore will land and amplify the fun (we imagine). If you haven’t, the plot can feel a bit murky, but that doesn’t stop the room from delivering on the look and the weirdness that Borderlands is known for.
Video above is property of Red Door Escape Room (Las Vegas)
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
Set design & vibe: The lab nails that cartoon-punk sci-fi aesthetic with futuristic machinery, piles of gadgets, and the sort of delightful clutter that reads instantly as Borderlands. Big, bold, and weirdly playful (considering all the guns), it was our favorite environment of the three Red Door rooms we played
Tech that works: We always appreciate when a game that is so gadget-forward (tablets, custom machines and devices, and lots of interactive tech) where everything functions smoothly! The tech feels integral to the game and the experience.
Character work: A quirky, thematic character (a fun robot-y presence) helps shepherd you through the lab. Whether or not they’re a canonical NPC from the game, they’re charming, and their personality adds a lot to the experience. (Some people might find him a bit over the top, but I was a big fan!)
Moments of levity: The room leans into some seriously goofy and irreverent energy with little flourishes (including a brief, delightful dance moment) that are pure joy if you let them land.
Mission guidance: The tablet can guide you through objectives when you need it, which is handy; sometimes you’ll spot the next move without it, but it’s a sensible safety net if you’re unsure what your next step should be.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
Narrative clarity: As players unfamiliar with the video game on which the room is based, we had a hard time really understanding the story. While it didn’t impact actual gameplay, it seems like a little more exposition about what’s going on would help all players to engage with and follow the narrative.
Terminology hiccup: Calling mandatory objectives “side missions” adds a small layer of head-scratching from the start. Staff do warn you in the intro, but the wording seems unnecessarily misleading, even if it may be a nod to the video game.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
If you love "Borderlands", Tannis’s Lab is a must-visit. While we couldn’t recognize them ourselves, we’re confident the Easter eggs, tone, and set dressing will reward your fandom. But if you’re coming in cold, like us, don’t worry! The room still delivers on immersion, polished tech, and playful moments; just be prepared not to be too focused on the story. This is primarily a single-space romp with a few pockets to open up, so expect concentrated, gadget-forward puzzling and plenty of tactile interaction. Fans of strong set design and character-driven quirks will get the most mileage here. For folks who want a big, theatrical, game-accurate environment and don’t mind leaning into the chaos, this one’s a blast!
🔎 HINT
Take a careful sweep to find what’s immediately accessible…
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
The lobby/waiting area where you check in also has merch for sale and a small amount of seating. There also are bathrooms available, and each escape room has a small box in which to put your things. Parking can be tricky, so allow extra time if driving yourself and look for a paid lot. Otherwise, it is right on the strip and walkable from many local hotels.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)
Disclosure: We thank Red Door Escape Room (Las Vegas) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever.
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