The setup is episodic, and you don't really get any hints or places to start. Everyone starts at Box 1, but the items in it, at first glance, are really random. As you dig, things start connecting, but then you can also get really lost and off course. For instance, I was looking into this little-known historical figure and found what I thought was a connection between it and one of the other items, but after about an hour of research I hit a dead end and figured I was probably heading in an entirely wrong direction. The first "season" is 8 boxes (8 months), and there are mini-mysteries that last for 2-4 boxes. The last box is supposed to be a season finale that ties everything together, but when you start you don't know what it is that you're solving. The puzzles do have their own little hints and references to each other so that you know if you are heading in the right direction. The whole things is a lot more research oriented than I originally anticipated, but it is also WAY more in depth and thought out than I expected. There have only been a few "puzzles", most notable being a pretty confusing cryptogram (confusing due to intended typos to signal another puzzle). The whole thing is very multimedia, and utilizes websites, audio files, facebook pages, real-world news articles, and more. I have to say that I am pretty impressed!
Oh wow, research is right up my street! I shall have a look into this when I get home. I don't know how I hadn't heard about this before actually.
There are one or two board games that are a bit like this, in that they're sort of one off quests. There are two based around locked room puzzles and then another which is a co-op game where you're working towards completion. It's all very clever in a creative way.
It is a pretty new box subscription. I think the first official one came out a few months ago. They already have 14 "episodes" planned and prepared. The whole thing stems from a weekend retreat. The company held this event last year where teams of people competed to be the first to track down a killer in a mock crime scene investigation. It was such a big hit that they wanted to expand, so they came up with the box idea. It freaked me out a bit when I started researching for my first box because all of the clues and things are about my area, just down the road from me! It turns out the company is actually based nearby, haha. Scared me a bit!
Do you happen to know the names of the board games? It seems like an interesting premise! Thinking about it, it does sort of remind me a bit of Betrayal at the House on the Hill. I played that a few times with my college roommates and it was a total blast! It starts off as just an exploration game, but once someone triggers the "haunt" it becomes a race against the clock to solve the puzzle(s). It is a vastly different game every time!
It's a very cool idea. I had a look into it last night and although the price isn't too bad if you live in the US, to ship it to the UK could double the price which is annoying. I might wait and see if a similar thing launches here. I saw a linked site which does escape rooms in a box too!
I think I've seen Betrayal on Tabletop? I remember it looking quite good.
The two escape room games are called EXIT and Unlocked and there's a great comparison of them both here: https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/review-exit-the-game-vs-unlock/ They're both really different. One is a 'use once and destroy' affair while the other one is not. EXIT is only about £13 which isn't too bad and is still cheaper than actually doing an escape room.
Reply
There are one or two board games that are a bit like this, in that they're sort of one off quests. There are two based around locked room puzzles and then another which is a co-op game where you're working towards completion. It's all very clever in a creative way.
Reply
Do you happen to know the names of the board games? It seems like an interesting premise! Thinking about it, it does sort of remind me a bit of Betrayal at the House on the Hill. I played that a few times with my college roommates and it was a total blast! It starts off as just an exploration game, but once someone triggers the "haunt" it becomes a race against the clock to solve the puzzle(s). It is a vastly different game every time!
Reply
I think I've seen Betrayal on Tabletop? I remember it looking quite good.
The two escape room games are called EXIT and Unlocked and there's a great comparison of them both here: https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/review-exit-the-game-vs-unlock/ They're both really different. One is a 'use once and destroy' affair while the other one is not. EXIT is only about £13 which isn't too bad and is still cheaper than actually doing an escape room.
The third game is called T.I.M.E Stories and there a review here: https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/videos/review-time-stories/ It sounds intriguing. I've got some friends who are playing it at the moment actually.
Reply
Leave a comment