A Classic Escape Room Experience

Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: May 2023

Team size: 1-4; we recommend 1-2

Duration: 1 hour / game; total 3 hours

Price: ~S$50 on Amazon

Premise

Unlock! Escape Adventures is a cooperative card game that takes inspiration from escape rooms. This first series in the Unlock! lineup offers players three distinct adventures: "The Formula," "Squeek & Sausage," and "The Island of Dr. Goorse." Each adventure presents a unique escape room scenario, challenging players to solve puzzles, find clues, and outsmart Professor Noside's plans.

Components

Unlock! Escape Adventures includes three separate adventures, each containing around 60 cards, a tutorial deck of cards, and an instruction manual. Players must also download the companion app (available for iOS and Android), which serves as a timer, sound effects provider, and clue system. Unlike some other escape room games, this series doesn't include physical props; it relies solely on cards and the app for immersion.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Unlock! Escape Adventures follows a familiar format found in most Unlock! series. Players begin with an introductory card and progress by deciphering numbers and solving puzzles, either through the app or by deducing numbers and letters from the clues on the cards. While this series sticks to the traditional escape room formula, it offers a few variations in the third adventure, where players are split into two teams, creating a unique cooperative challenge.

Puzzles

➕ Enjoyable Puzzles: The puzzles in all three adventures are engaging and satisfying to solve. They offer a good balance of difficulty and fairness, and we found them enjoyable without becoming overly frustrated.

➕ Unique Challenges: Some puzzles in the series introduce creative and unique elements, requiring players to think outside the box to find solutions.

➖ Traditional Gameplay: While the puzzles are enjoyable, the gameplay in this series doesn't introduce many innovations or groundbreaking mechanics. It sticks to the tried-and-true escape room formula.

Verdict

Unlock! Escape Adventures is a classic escape room experience that delivers enjoyable puzzles and challenges. While it doesn't break new ground in terms of gameplay, it excels at what it sets out to do. Whether you're a newcomer to escape room-style games or an experienced player, this series offers a satisfying and immersive experience.

Rating: 4/5

★★★★✩

You can buy it on Amazon here.