A Puzzling Adventure with Dr. Watson



Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: May 2023

Team size: 1

Duration: 8 - 10 hours

Price: ~S$23 in retail

Story

Sherlock Holmes Escape Room Puzzlesplaces players in the shoes of Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes's trusted friend, and challenges them to solve a series of 10 interconnected puzzles to uncover the mystery of Holmes's disappearance. Watson receives a mysterious letter from Holmes, who entrusts him with a case no one else can handle. The story is narrated in classic Sherlock Holmes style, with first-person narrative and touches of humor in the interactions between Watson and Holmes.

Gameplay

Players must use their logical reasoning, mathematics, and observation skills to tackle each of the story-driven puzzles. The book offers a hint system with clues of three different difficulty levels to provide guidance when needed. However, some players may still find certain puzzles challenging even with hints. The book allows players to check their answers as they progress or view solutions in the back of the book for full explanations.

Puzzles

 

➕ Excellent Signposting: The book excels in providing subtle but effective clues, allowing players to connect the dots between the text and the given clues without making things too obvious.

➕ Well-Crafted Puzzles: It offers a variety of puzzles, many of which are enjoyable and engaging. While there is some repetition, it doesn't significantly impact the overall enjoyment.

➖ High Difficulty: The puzzles in this book can be quite challenging, potentially frustrating children and even some adults unless they have experience with escape room-style puzzles. Once you adapt to the puzzle designer's logic, the second half of the book becomes more manageable.

✖️ Requires Busywork: Solving some puzzles may involve deciphering codes and performing time-consuming tasks, which can feel like busywork.

✖️ Lack of Checkpoints: The interconnected nature of the puzzles means that a small mistake in one puzzle can lead to entirely different answers in subsequent puzzles. Implementing checkpoints could help players confirm if they're on the right track.

Verdict

This book offers an excellent puzzling adventure at an affordable price. As it provides a challenging experience, it may not be suitable for beginners in the genre. Players with some escape room or puzzle-solving experience will likely find it to be a rewarding and enjoyable adventure.

Rating: 4/5

★★★★✩

You can buy it on Amazon