A nostalgic trip to childhood


Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: Sep 2023

Team size: 2; we recommend 2-5

Duration: 1.5 - 2 hours

Price: ~S$54 on Amazon

Premise

Step into the roles of Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang as you work to solve the mystery in Scooby-Doo: Escape from the Haunted Mansion. Work together to decode over 50 clues and find your way out of the haunted mansion in this cooperative Coded Chronicles game, an officially licensed escape room board game great for Scooby-Doo fans.

Components

More than 50 individual clues are hidden in this game’s interactive game board and pieces to help you discover what happened in Lady Fairmont’s Haunted Mansion. Players will share five narrative booklets, to be read as everyone works together to fill in the story’s missing details. Different parts are kept in secret envelopes to be opened as the crew unlocks the answers, keeping everyone on the edge of their seat. Scooby Doo: Escape from the Haunted Mansion is made for one or more players, ages 12 and up.

One delightful aspect of the game is the use of map tiles. Revealing them one by one mirrors the excitement of discovering new rooms in a physical escape room. Keep in mind, though, that the map tiles do require a fair amount of space, so ensure you have a sufficiently sized table for gameplay.

Gameplay

The game is divided into two distinct chapters, each lasting approximately 45 to 60 minutes. In each chapter, you'll explore and interact with map tiles, guided by the Mystery Inc. gang. Each character possesses a unique ability that influences the outcomes of interactions with objects on the map tiles and the cards you collect.

Occasionally, the game prompts you to open a secret envelope containing items to aid in your puzzle-solving. One minor gripe with the envelopes is their size relative to the items inside. Opting for smaller packets could have made the game more space-efficient and less wasteful.

Puzzles/Thoughts

➕Well-written story.  The game boasts a well-written story, undoubtedly its standout feature. The writing is superb, and there are even moments of humor when experimenting with quirky character-object combinations.

➕Components are serviceable and resettable. While they may not be top-of-the-line quality, they get the job done. The game also excels in how effortlessly you can reset everything to its original condition.

➖Puzzles were easy and simplistic. Given that the game targets kids, the puzzles are intentionally simple. We quickly deciphered solutions without needing hints.

➖Too many components. The game requires a lot of table space, which can become cumbersome as it progresses.

Verdict

"Scooby-Doo: Escape from the Haunted Mansion" offers a nostalgic and enjoyable experience that captures the essence of a Scooby-Doo episode. While the puzzles may be on the easier side, the well-crafted story and engaging components make it a worthwhile adventure for fans of all ages.

Rating: 4/5

★★★★✩

Ready to embark on your Scooby-Doo mystery-solving journey? You can purchase the game here.