A Solid Escape Room Experience with Room for Improvement

Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: July 2023

Team size: 4; we recommend 1-5

Duration: 2 - 4 hours

Price: ~S$47 on their website

Premise

Al Capone, Chicago’s infamous mafia boss, was just arrested, but there’s more to the story. You receive a request for help from the FBI for their investigation into a gang called La Famiglia who might be even more dangerous than Capone’s Chicago Outfit gang. With the help of Agent Morris and Agent Price, you have to decode the gang's messages and figure out their next target.

While "La Famiglia" incorporates a sprinkle of narrative to its predominantly puzzle-oriented gameplay, it may fall short of satisfying the story-driven players.

Components

The components primarily consist of paper-based elements such as newspapers, notes, and posters. This simplicity helps keep the game's price point in check, although players who favor games with more physical trinkets may find it less appealing. The components, while not elaborate, maintain a high level of quality and authenticity in look and feel. It's worth noting that some components arrived slightly dented, but this didn't significantly impact the overall experience.

Gameplay

The game is divided into two parts, aptly named Part 1 and Part 2. Each segment comprises five puzzles, coupled with an overarching puzzle that necessitates solutions from the initial five. The game employs a dedicated website for inputting the final puzzle's answer, after which you receive a brief story snippet. The hint and solution system is thoughtfully designed, offering a generous number of hints (up to seven) and the complete solution if needed.

Puzzles/Thoughts

➕High-Quality Components: The components successfully convey a sense of realism, from newspapers that feel genuinely newspaper-like to flyers that capture their essence.

➕Decent Puzzle Variety: The game offers a mix of lateral thinking and logical puzzles, with a slight emphasis on the latter. While there isn't a puzzle that astounds with its ingenuity, the overall puzzle quality is commendable.

➕Convenient Two-Part Structure: The game's division into two parts naturally signals when to take a break, allowing players to recharge and approach Part 2 with renewed focus.

➖Lacking "Wow" Factor: While the puzzles are solid, none achieve the status of transcendent brilliance, though this is often a challenge in escape room games.

✖️Puzzles Divided Opinion: Opinions within the group varied regarding certain puzzles, with some feeling that a few lacked careful consideration. One puzzle, in particular, appeared intriguing in concept but proved overly complicated in execution.

Verdict

"La Famiglia" offers a strong tabletop escape room experience with well-crafted components packaged in an attractive box. Despite its light narrative, it provides engaging puzzles. Though it may be on the pricier side, the 20% discount for additional game purchases softens the blow. Overall, it's recommended for anyone curious to experience it.

Rating: 4/5

★★★★✩

You can buy their game here