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Video Games Image via Steam Lorelei and the Laser Eyes by Annapurna Interactive Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is an adventure puzzle video game with richly atmospheric, non-linear gameplay. The game features striking artistic direction, blending film noir with a David Lynch-esque surrealism. Its open-ended design and satisfying "aha" moments make it a must-play for puzzle game fans. Read our full review of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes here . Image via Steam Inscryption by Devolver Digital Starting as a roguelike deck-builder set in a spooky cabin, Inscryption expands into something much larger and more surprising after its initial section. With ARG-inspired layers and a handful of puzzle elements sprinkled in, it’s a bizarre and compelling experience for fans of deck-builders and strategy games. Read our full review of Inscryption   here . Image via Steam The Forgotten City by Dear Villagers The Forgotten City  is a mystery adventure where you manipulate events in a cursed Roman city through cleverly designed time loops. The game offers a satisfying sense of discovery and progression, with enough character depth to evoke emotion, making it a great pick for narrative-driven puzzle fans. Read our full review of The Forgotten City here . Board Games So Clover! by Repos Productions So Clover! is a cooperative word-association game where players create clues to connect keywords and work together to guess each other's words. With everyone involved in both clue-giving and guessing, the game keeps engagement high and ensures minimal downtime, making it a perfect choice for parties. Check out So Clover! here . Fromage by R2i Games In Fromage , you are an artisanal cheesemaker in early 20th century France making, aging, and selling your cheese. It's a simultaneous worker-placement game with a unique rotating board, and the gameplay mechanics dovetail nicely with the theme. Check out Fromage here . River Valley Glassworks by Allplay River Valley Glassworks is a puzzly tile-drafting game where players collect colorful river glass and carefully place it to maximize points. The game’s mix of drafting and pattern-building creates a fun and engaging experience with high replayability. Check out River Valley Glassworks here . Remote Escape Room Games Rise of the Fungi by Headlock Escape Rooms Rise of the Fungi is a delightful blend of performance, craft, and escape game, played with a live host over Zoom. This is a standalone prequel to The Keeper & The Fungus Among Us , featuring adorable puppets, miniatures, and campy musical numbers. Unfortunately neither game is currently being offered, but Headlock Escape Rooms but will add occasional booking slots when they have time. Follow their social media to find out when, and read our full review of Rise of the Fungi here . Tabletop Puzzle Games The Medusa Report by Diorama and Sherlocked The Medusa Report  is the second game in Diorama’s narrative tabletop puzzle game trilogy. (Read our review of The Vandermist Dossier , the first game in the trilogy, here . ) We really appreciated the puzzle integration into the narrative, the well-crafted, authentic-feeling materials, and the clever way certain components were used across multiple puzzles. Because of the way the story builds on the previous installment, we recommend playing The Vandermist Dossier  first. Read our full review of The Medusa Report here . Squirrels Gone Wild by Spencer is Puzzling & Mysteries of Christine Squirrels Gone Wild  is a punny game with straightforward yet satisfying puzzles and a few meatier challenges. Its humor, clever callbacks in the meta and bonus puzzles, and accessible hints make it a lighthearted, family-friendly puzzle game worth playing. Read our full review for Squirrels Gone Wild here , and read our review for Spencer’s previous game, Lost in the Shuffle , here . What were your favorite games of 2024?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's our all-video-game April edition! Image via Steam Inscryption by Devolver Digital This game is… kind of crazy? It starts out as a roguelike deck-builder game (see previous post for my obsession with Slay the Spire) that takes place in a spooky cabin with a handful of puzzle elements. It took me several runs and about 14 hours of gameplay to beat what seemed like the final boss, and by doing so, I finally unlocked the... other two thirds of the game(?!) On top of all that, there’s also some ARG-inspired bits in there. It would be too spoilery to reveal what lies beyond that gameplay point, but suffice it to say, the scope of the gameplay expanded dramatically and continued to surprise me throughout my playthrough. After getting past the first portion, the game went by a lot faster and the battles were less punishing. The middle portion was my favorite, and would probably be the most fun part to return to. All in all, a carefully crafted and bizarre (in the best way possible) experience. Though I wouldn’t describe it as a puzzle game, fans of deck builders, strategy games, and ARG-adjacent storylines will find lots to enjoy here. Time: 20+ hours Difficulty: 3/5 Image via Steam The Last Campfire by Hello Games The Last Campfire had relaxing fairy tale vibes. The story was pretty surface level, but so long as you’re not allergic to Cute Things, both the story and character design were cozy and charming. The gameplay progressed through three environments, each with about a dozen puzzle levels. Mechanics involved moving blocks and platforms and manipulating the environment to create paths. Both structure and aesthetic were reminiscent of Monument Valley or a micro version of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The simple mechanics made for very accessible gameplay that could also be appropriate for a younger audience. While I was rarely stumped, there were some tricky and satisfying solves here and there. Nothing in the game felt groundbreaking, but that’s obviously a high standard to judge a game by. If you like casual games that include exploration and environmental puzzles, you’d probably enjoy it. Time: ~6-8 hours Difficulty: 2/5 Image via Steam Call of the Sea by Raw Fury Call of the Sea has a very pleasant visual design and involves exploration and point-and-click puzzle-solving while a narrative unfolds. The puzzles all felt logical, but at times it was hard to know whether I had the necessary information to solve something. I often realized I just hadn’t explored far enough. This then required me to backtrack, which felt a bit tedious at times, but stopped being an issue later in the game. Aside from this backtracking and one specific repetitive mechanic later in the game, the gameplay was fairly smooth. The walking speed and interaction proximity could both be improved, and an in-game hint system would be nice to avoid having to look up walkthroughs if you get stuck. The narrative was a mix of archaeological romance and supernatural island, slowly unfurling the mystery of what happened on an expedition to the island with a mix of emotional and fantastical story beats. It’s a bit reminiscent of What Remains of Edith Finch, but a little more puzzle-driven. Time: ~6h Difficulty: 2.5/5 Image via Steam Pentiment by Xbox Game Studios At its core, Pentiment is an interactive story. The gameplay consists of walking around, having conversations, uncovering evidence, and learning about the town and the characters. That being said, it also has elements of an RPG–you select a background for your character and make consequential dialogue choices. There is a wealth of characters and glossary entries in this world. The limit on the number of actions you can take/people you can talk to felt a bit constricting. There were so many things I didn’t get to do, either because I failed most of my checks (even with favorable boosts) or I just ran out of time, before I really understood how time worked. While I like that choices had consequences in this game, it often felt like the pacing was off, and I was left with a lot of unfinished business. The last third of the game did feel better paced, however, which makes me wonder if I misplayed in the beginning. The narrative had significant depth, and there is a high level of detail in the ending sequence, which I really appreciated. The interactions between the peasants, townsfolk, and abbey built up an interesting story full of religious and class conflict, but without getting lost in the details. However, choosing the dialogue answers where I sounded the least like a jerk typically made it harder to pass checks, which was frustrating. At the end ofeach Act, I was also left wondering if I had the “correct” answer to the mystery, or if there even was one. The game posits an interesting question: “does a story need to be true?” Ultimately, I wished the investigations felt more puzzly, but the narrative, which was central, is what made the game. Time: ~12-14h Difficulty: 1.5/5 Ada's Study by Sherlocked Ada’s Study is a mobile game reminiscent of The Room game series, and akin to playing an escape room on your phone. It had beautifully rendered graphics and conveyed a good sense of character through small and easily digestible snippets of text. The puzzles solved cleanly and the challenge level would be very accessible to novice puzzlers. While one puzzle sequence was a little finicky to control, most worked well, and were well-suited to the medium. The ending presented a choice, which was a fun addition, but since it was the end of the game, it was a bit anticlimactic—hopefully there will be a sequel to continue the story. Time: ~1h Difficulty: 1.5/5 What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's our December edition, which contains a mix of tabletop and video game experiences, including both deduction and puzzly gameplay! 1973 Remastered by Hunt-A-Killer 1973 is a premium murder mystery experience from Hunt A Killer. It focuses on FLUF, a cult band of the 1970s, and the murder of its lead singer. Gameplay involves deduction with several ciphers—some had fun ahas, while others dragged on. Thankfully, hints and translations are available on the website for the few puzzle elements. There is also an envelope explaining the full story, but since it wasn’t meant to be opened until after you’ve finished—you’re on your own for the deduction and piecing together the timeline. The story is fresher than most murder mysteries, and it includes extensive online content and backstory. Some deductions were satisfying, but others felt obtuse or buried in filler. Though advertised as a 6-10 hour experience, we finished it in one sitting. This game also contains an impressive amount of memorabilia for the invented band, though some of the physical items are just there for flavor. While we were disappointed that not all elements are used during gameplay, the production design is still a highlight, and it even includes a playable vinyl record! Time: ~2-3 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 Image via Steam The Forgotten City by Dear Villagers This mystery adventure/exploration game tasks you with saving a cursed Roman city by altering events through repeated time loops. While initially intimidating, the time loop mechanic is cleverly designed to save your progress and prevent unnecessary quest repetition, allowing for smooth and satisfying gameplay. There’s a captivating sense of progression and discovery in the game, and while the characters aren’t deeply developed, they convey enough personality to evoke a range of emotions. Fans of narrative-driven puzzle games should definitely give this a try. The dramatic conclusion and denouement were satisfying, though the epilogue felt over-the-top and a bit cheesy in a way the rest of the game wasn’t. Navigating without a map was also challenging at times, but the overall experience was captivating enough to make me curious about exploring the outcomes of other choices and endings. Time: ~8 hours Difficulty: 2/5 Image via Steam Carto by Humble Games Carto is a cozy, relaxing puzzle game with a cute art style and charming characters. Its wholesome story follows a girl on a journey to reunite with her grandmother. Gameplay revolves around rotating and replacing map tiles to navigate and reshape the world. Some puzzles are simple, while others require a bit of tricky riddle interpretation. A handful of puzzles felt like they required guesswork, which led me to use hints, since the game’s linear progression can stall without the right solution. With its relaxing pace and satisfying mechanics, Carto is perfect for playing a level here and there when you have an hour to spare. Its charming story and enjoyable puzzles make it a delightful experience overall. Time: ~6 hours Difficulty: 2/5 The Man from Sector Six by The Mystery Agency The Man from Sector Six is an escape room style game from The Mystery Agency with impressive components and a fun theme. The puzzles vary from simple gimmes to more engaging challenges, and all were logical and flowed well. The thing we most wanted was simply… more! The mystery plot was enjoyable, but it unraveled too quickly, and felt a bit too obvious. The components, though well-made, were limited in number, and there were a couple of digital elements that would’ve felt more satisfying had they been printed out. We finished much faster than the advertised 2+ hours. That being said, the game is easy to reset for others, and is overall a solid, well-executed experience. Difficulty: 1.5/2 Time: ~1 hour EXIT: Advent Calendar - The Silent Storm by Thames & Kosmos This EXIT advent calendar is a unique spin on the traditional EXIT series. The 24 puzzles varied in quality: some felt too straightforward, there were a couple of red herrings, but most of them felt logical, and many had fun, tactile components to manipulate. However, two mechanical malfunctions—one early and one at the finale—detracted from the experience. Had these effects worked, they would have been impressive, but ultimately it made the ending anticlimactic. The hint system, similar to other EXIT games, isn’t as incremental as we’d prefer, but it is nice that its analog, making this a fully offline experience. We enjoyed the novel answer-checking mechanic as well. The story, while present, felt more like background dressing than an integrated narrative. The prose was largely expository, and because it didn’t deepen the gameplay, it ultimately could’ve been cut down. Despite some uneven puzzles and minor frustrations, this is a solid holiday activity for families and puzzle enthusiasts alike. While it’s of course implicit that you should play one puzzle each day, we split it up into two 2-hour sessions, which also worked well. Difficulty: 2/5 Time: ~4 hours What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's our October edition, which also happens to be full of silly creatures! Squirrels Gone Wild by Spencer is Puzzling & Mysteries of Christine We had the opportunity to play a prototype copy of Squirrels Gone Wild, and can confirm that the product delivers the sort of pun-laden nuttiness that the title implies. We found most of the puzzles to be relatively straightforward but still satisfying solves, and blew through about 3/4 of the game in one sweep before eventually stalling a bit on the not-quite-final puzzle. It delivered a meatier challenge involving some logic puzzling and deduction. In true overthinking fashion, we got a bit ahead of ourselves and tried to make connections we weren't quite ready for, but luckily the hints were readily available to help us past our mental block in this fully analog experience. We loved the way the meta and bonus puzzles called back to previous challenges we solved, and especially enjoyed the humor throughout the whole experience. If you want a lighthearted, beginner and family-friendly puzzle game, Squirrels Gone Wild is a great choice. Time: ~3 hours Difficulty: 2/5 Frog Detective There are three episodes of Frog Detective currently available (The Haunted Island, The Case of the Invisible Wizard, and Corruption at Cowboy County) which can be purchased all together as a Steam bundle, though there is also a free demo available. This series feels like it might be designed for a younger audience, and would make a great introduction to point-and-click adventures for kids. There isn't much of a challenge to the games, but I still found them to be a very amusing and a nice break from more serious gaming. The graphics are simple but charming, and the entire series is incredibly wholesome and doesn't take itself too seriously. The humor was enjoyable throughout, and Episode 3 also took an unexpected turn near the end, which added a fun story twist. Overall, it's a fine activity when you need to take a break or want to procrastinate, but it would also be an excellent way to introduce young sleuths to puzzle adventure games. Time: ~1 hour per chapter Difficulty: 1/5 Duck Detective: The Secret Salami This game was like Frog Detective and Curse of the Golden Idol had a child and then sprinkled it with a little Disco Elysium (which is honestly kind of an amazing sentence, and I am extremely here for it). Overall, Duck Detective was much more deduction-heavy than Frog Detective, and leaned into the mad-lib-like "fill in the blanks" mechanic found in games like Curse of the Golden Idol and Return of the Obra Dinn. Unfortunately, there were times when filling these in felt like guesswork, because I didn't quite make the leap to the particular deduction it wanted me to, or I somehow failed to find the right evidence. At times, I also felt like I had deduced something important, but it wasn’t acknowledged when questioning the characters or inputting solutions... Nevertheless, the humor in this game hit spot on for me, and I would absolutely love to play more episodes. It also had a nice built-in hint system you could access if you got stuck, and each load screen would provide a silly duck "fact," for some extra giggles between scenes. Time: ~2.5 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 Escape the Room: The Game - Adventures: Fall of the Dawnstar My only previous experience of Escape the Room: The Game was their very first boxed set, which I had some mixed feelings about. I didn't know what to expect from Fall of the Dawnstar, but I was pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. It played similarly to a legacy game or an advent calendar, allowing us to unlock one section of the game at a time. Each section contained a small jigsaw puzzle, which became part of the overall spaceship, as well as some extra materials to help with solving the section. The opening puzzle and closing puzzles were the highlights of the game. The rest of the puzzles were of mixed quality, with some solving cleanly and others being a little ambiguous, though we did manage to solve most of it without resorting to hints. As a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, I was a bit disappointed by the quality of the pieces, which all fit one another for the majority of the game. Rather than adding an extra challenge or being utilized within the puzzles, this was just a bit irritating, though one late-game puzzle did introduce a more interesting twist on the jigsaw. This series has a unique analog answer check mechanic, which was mostly functional, but unnecessarily confusing, as two pairs out of the given shapes looked almost identical to one another—why not just choose more unique shapes? Despite these flaws, we had a lot of fun playing through this game, and are now curious to try others in this series. Time: ~2-3 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 The Red Strings Club The Red Strings Club is a narrative-driven game with dialogue options sandwiched between tasks (such as mixing drinks for bar customers or “carving” modules on a turning wheel). Because this is intended as a PC game, trying to play it with anything other than a mouse will have a bit of a learning curve. Once I got the hang of the task sections using the controller, I got drawn into the story world. The game is a funky mix of pixel art with film noir vibes and a sci-fi storyline about a corporation on a power trip. There was clearly a lot of thought put into the world-building, and the themes ask some interesting philosophical questions about humanity, self-determination, the value of emotion, and whether or not the "good of society" can trump the will and rights of the self. All that made for an intriguing play session for someone who revels in these topics. Unfortunately, the last section of the game, while clever, required of a lot of trial and error, so I ended up resorting to a walkthrough rather than stumbling through it blindly. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but the gameplay mechanics could definitely have been pushed further to better reflect the themes that the game philosophizes about. Time: ~4 hours Difficulty: 1/5 What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's our August edition! The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic in Gotham City by Infinite Rabbit Holes The Arkham Asylum Files is a Batman-themed augmented reality (AR) tabletop game that uses a companion app to overlay digital content on physical game components. It’s safe to say Infinite Rabbit Holes did not skimp on production values. This innovative game is packed with a wide array of physical and digital game materials, and we were quite impressed with the sheer ambition of the game. That being said, we often felt that the well-crafted physical materials weren’t used to their full potential. Some only played a minor role in a single puzzle, while others were simply used to conjure AR media, and weren’t relevant to the puzzles themselves. We occasionally had to retrieve items from previous chapters just to scan them for a cut scene, which felt unnecessary. The AR itself, though ever occasionally glitchy, functioned well overall, and the app worked smoothly. One minor gripe is that the cut scenes often necessitated pointing the tablet or smartphone at an object throughout the video—it would’ve been nice if it just continued the cut scene after the initial scan, without the need to keep holding up the device. The puzzles were relatively beginner-friendly and generally had satisfying solutions, though we’d advise against playing with more than 3-4 people. Having said that, this could definitely be a great game to play as a family, especially if you’re all Batman fans. Difficulty: 2/5 Time: ~6h Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game by Portal Games Detective is a tabletop mystery game where players investigate crimes using physical materials and an online portal and database. This game is very similar to Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, but utilizes an online database in lieu of the story booklet and newspaper. While some players do prefer a strictly analog experience, the upside is that you don’t need to parse through quite as much text, and you can do neat things like check fingerprints and DNA matches through the web portal. Uncovering the plot and following leads engaged us, but a lot of the actual text revolved around laughably mundane descriptions: entering offices, submitting paperwork, and waiting for people to retrieve things from the archives for us. Some cards only existed to tell us to look at an entry in the database, which was occasionally frustrating. The game allots you a certain number of in-game “days” to solve each case. Each day consists of 8 hours. Completing tasks, doing research, and moving between locations each takes up a certain amount of time, so you need to plan and budget your hours accordingly. While this didn’t add any time pressure to our actual gameplay, it was usually not predictable how long certain tasks would take in-game, which frequently threw off our time budget, especially if a card didn’t yield much additional information. That being said, the creators seemed committed to mirroring the reality of time-consuming detective work, so we at least understood the logic behind this choice. The game includes five cases, though the first case acted as more of a prologue. Once we got into the second case, things really amped up and we were drawn further into the story. An expansive mystery with details spanning all five cases is an ambitious undertaking, and sometimes it felt like we were on a roller coaster, riding the highs and lows of the narrative. Cases 2 and 4 were our favorites, but we enjoyed unraveling the many threads of this story. Did all of it absolutely make sense? Not exactly. Did the characters’ actions and motivations feel justified and believable? Not always. Were we satisfied with the conclusion? Mostly. Either way, it was certainly an interesting journey. Difficulty: 3/5 Time: ~2-3h per case, ~12-15 hours total Murder on Canvas by Peculiar Pond Murder on Canvas is a tabletop murder mystery that includes both puzzles and deductive reasoning. (We previously reviewed Peculiar Pond’s other game, Requiem for a Double, here.) In comparison to Requiem for a Double, there were overall fewer puzzles and less complexity in Murder on Canvas. All the puzzles solved cleanly and were enjoyable to solve, making this a very accessible game for players new to the genre. In both games, however, it’s possible to accidentally read evidence you don’t have access to yet. The theme is less dark than the average murder mystery plot, with a quirky spin on the weapon, which we appreciated. While it’s not a particularly realistic narrative, the puzzles integrated smoothly into the story, and we were able to figure out the timeline, murderer, and motive without any logic leaps. Some portions of the website and game materials did appear a bit slapdash, and a stronger attention to detail and presentation quality would go a long way in adding polish to this otherwise well-thought-out experience. Difficulty: 1.5/5 Time: 1-2 hours T.I.M.E. Stories by Space Cowboys T.I.M.E. Stories is a narrative “decksploration” game: part TTRPG, part board game, with a few escape room elements sprinkled in. Players act as a team of time-traveling agents, completing missions to prevent temporal faults and paradoxes. Going through the rulebook initially felt like a bit of a slog, but once we actually started the tutorial, the gameplay quickly made sense. Take note that if it’s your first time playing, you’ll likely need to go through the time portal more than once to complete the mission, which could take several hours—plan your day accordingly. The storytelling was intriguing with a touch of creepiness. Like a point-and-click game, there were some red herrings that drew you in but were actually a waste of time and resources. It’s also worth mentioning that success at a specific task often depends on a good dice roll, or in some cases, just choosing the "right" path. The fact that this big box only comes with one scenario is a bit disappointing; I expected to be able to play more stories right off the bat. Still, with the right group, this game is a fun exploration, and we’re looking forward to playing through some of the expansions. What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's our June edition! Tell Me Why by Xbox Game Studios Tell Me Why is an episodic adventure video game with a well-written and compelling story. It’s an emotional family drama about siblings, separation, confusion, trauma, and loss. The gameplay involved exploring spaces and making dialogue choices. The puzzles mostly revolved around reading pieces of the fairytales that were standing in for the lives of the characters. It was a thoughtful storytelling device, but it also involved a fair amount of reading, which isn't my favorite thing to do while playing a video game. Still, I enjoyed the overall story arc and uncovering what happened. The characters and world-building felt considered and thorough. If you’re a fan of Life is Strange, Gone Home, or Telltale games, Tell Me Why is definitely worth checking out. If emotional storytelling isn’t your speed, this game likely won’t be a good fit for you. (Take care if you’re sensitive to content related to trans identity, trauma, or PTSD as well.) Time: 9-13 hours Difficulty: 1/5 Strange Horticulture by Iceberg Interactive Strange Horticulture is a puzzle video game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. The story is delivered in digestible, bite-sized pieces, with moments where your choices directly affect the storyline. While the phrasing of some decisions could be clearer, I enjoyed being able to shape the narrative. I also appreciated that although gameplay is sectioned into days, the player has some flexibility and control over the timeline, and I never felt rushed or like I was missing something important. The majority of the puzzles involve identifying plants and finding locations, with occasional deviations. While not particularly complex, the puzzles are both soothing and compelling, making for an overall zen gaming experience. A small nitpick—once you identify a plant, it would be nice if it was tagged automatically, instead of having to manually type out the name each time. (Though this would definitely be less of a nuisance on a PC versus a console.) The game mechanics evolved seamlessly, gradually adding complexity, and puzzles rarely outstayed their welcome. It also allowed a personal touch to the plant shop; you could name and arrange plants as desired. The plant list eventually became quite lengthy, and searching the entire book for details grew somewhat tedious by the end, but this was a minor issue overall. This game surprised me, and I think I enjoyed its cohesiveness and relative simplicity—it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it is polished, and it accomplishes what it set out to do really well. That is to be applauded. Time: 6-8 hours Difficulty: 2/5 Open Roads by Annapurna Interactive Open Roads is an interactive story video game about family dynamics, relationships, and uncovering secrets in an old house. It plays similarly to games like Gone Home and Life is Strange, almost akin to an interactive movie. In some ways, it’s like a shorter and less intense version of Tell Me Why. Hand-drawn characters in a 3D environment was an odd choice, but lovingly done. Unfortunately, the 2D character art was not animated for the voiceover, though the voice acting itself was quite good. While the gameplay mechanics of point-and-click item discovery and dialogue choices are familiar, it’s a well-written story, and worth checking out for fans of the genre. Time: ~3h Difficulty: 1/5 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes by Annapurna Interactive Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is an adventure puzzle video game with strong artistic direction—think film noir meets David Lynch. The puzzles varied in difficulty—some had straightforward solutions, while others were a bit trickier, and there were also a lot of mathy mini puzzles, though they were technically optional. I loved how non-linear it was, allowing you to explore and solve puzzles at your own place. However, at certain points, it was difficult to know if you had what you needed in order to solve a specific puzzle. Given the wealth of information, the mental inventory system was really helpful and necessary. However, the lack of a back button added unnecessary friction to the navigation at times, and I would’ve appreciated an autosave function as well. It would help to have access to the mental inventory while solving puzzles, to decrease the need for memorization. Despite the extensive in-game memory, you’ll also need a pen and paper handy for notes. I won't get into detail to avoid any spoilers, but there are lots of good aha moments, fun exploration, and surprises throughout. This game will make you want to dive in deeper and deeper to discover all of its secrets—Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a must-play for puzzle game fans. Time: 18-20h Difficulty: 3/5 The Shivers by Pop Fiction Games The Shivers is a pop-up tabletop mystery game that features light puzzle-solving and role-playing. The game is family-friendly, with a silly spooky flavor (think Scooby Doo), and there are funny recurring elements that pop up (ahem 😉) across multiple chapters. It has vibrant artwork, and the pop-ups are unique and well-constructed. The magnets connecting the rooms together are a nice touch, though we did experience a minor polarity issue with one of the rooms. The modular elements of the different rooms that change from chapter to chapter are really neat. However, the cardboard character cutouts don’t seem in scale with the rooms, and are prone to falling over. This game does require a game master, and while it’s relatively easy to pick up, it would also be nice if it were playable without one. Unlike with many RPGs, GMs and players need to do very little preparation, which is a nice feature. Another plus is while the chapters do build on one another, the simple plot would make it feasible to add additional players for single sessions, rather than having to maintain the same group for an entire campaign. It’s occasionally frustrating that the dice are the sole reason for success or failure, but the game is fairly forgiving. It also offers a huge amount of content for the price: there are eight different episodes with 45-90 minutes of playtime each, plus additional expansions available. That being said, with rooms being reused throughout the episodes, gameplay may start to feel repetitive eventually. Overall, it’s an impressive game, and a great fit for folks interested in a light TTRPG without all the prep work. Time: 8-10h Difficulty: 1.5/5 What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's the May roundup for 2024! Cluebox: Sherlock’s Camera by iDventure I am always in awe of the mechanisms iDventure pulls off. They often feel like escape room puzzles on a micro scale, and it's been interesting to see the evolution of their Clueboxes from the first one to Sherlock’s Camera. They started out simpler and only made from laser cut wood, but have gradually added more complexity and additional materials into the mix. Sherlock’s Camera had a bit of a confusing start, mostly due to a component that seems to have gotten loose in transit. I made the first solve, but it didn’t do anything. Thankfully, the hints have pictures, and I was able to figure out what happened and move forward. (This component’s attachment method is a clever idea, but made it difficult to both start the box and reset it afterward.) There were times throughout the experience that found myself doing the right thing but not being fully able to execute it correctly. Aside from that, the puzzles were clever and enjoyable. iDventure has certainly cemented its position as the leader in this genre of puzzle box; so far no other brand has been able to match their quality of construction and cleverness of puzzles. Time: ~1 hour Difficulty: 2/5 The Museum Heist: A Mystery Agency Puzzle Book by Henry Lewis The Museum Heist is an interactive puzzle book with both deduction and escape-room-style puzzles. Visually, the book is nicely printed with a professional design, though the art isn’t quite as cohesive as I would’ve liked. The flow of the book is smooth, and I really appreciated the way the puzzles integrate into the narrative. Overall I enjoyed the puzzles, aside from a handful that felt a bit too open to interpretation or tedious to execute. The sections that required "unlocking" via an web browser felt like the weakest points in the book, but were luckily very easy to skip. Most puzzles were excellently signposted, and I felt relatively confident in my answers. While the hints aren’t quite comprehensive, they’re useful if you need a nudge, and solution verification is available if need be. It’s also possible to leave something unsolved and return to it later if you get stuck, unlike many other puzzle books that require answers from previous pages to continue. Although experienced puzzlers won’t find this book tremendously challenging, it was still enjoyable to put together all the information and evidence to lead you to find the correct culprit in the end. Time: ~3-6 hours Difficulty: 1.5/5 Azul: Queen’s Garden by Next Move Games Azul is one of my favorite board games, and I’m consistently impressed with the subtle but meaningful variations among all the different versions of this beautiful and tactile game. In this rendition, there are new drafting, placement, and scoring rules, putting a fresh spin on the same style of strategic decision-making. If you’ve enjoyed Calico, there are some similarities between it and this version of Azul. Azul will appeal to fans of puzzles and strategy games, but the gameplay is not so complex that board game newbies will have difficulty learning the rules, although scoring can be a little confusing at first. Queen's Garden offers some more depth and additional complexity compared to the classic version, for those who wish to go one step further and try something new. Time: ~45 minutes HitchHiker by Mad About Pandas HitchHiker is a narrative video game that includes minor interactive elements as well. The tone is surreal, philosophical, and a bit dark, akin to a David Lynch film, or a strange dream. You ride in the cars of different characters in each chapter, piecing together memory fragments along the way. While the writing and certain moments of design were compelling, the interactions were fairly simple, similar to what you may find in Life is Strange or a Telltale game. It seemed like the story was building up to something bigger and got me intrigued to learn more, but before I knew it, the game was over. This abrupt ending to what could have been a more impactful story was ultimately a little disappointing. Time: ~3.5 hours Difficulty: 1/5 The Century Ghost by Society of Curiosities The Century Ghost is a mildly spooky browser-based game inspired by the Winchester Mystery House. It’s also a sequel to The Glasshouse Ghost (read our full review here), and made for a solid follow-up. The interface is very user-friendly and makes effective use of multimedia, with transcripts for accessibility. The puzzles made sense and were well-themed, using a mix of digitized media and storytelling devices. The only downside was that it felt a bit short and I found myself wanting something more, but overall it was a fun, quick, game. Time: ~45m Difficulty: 1.5/5 What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's the March roundup for 2024! Requiem for a Double by Peculiar Pond Requiem for a Double is a tabletop murder mystery that incorporates an assortment of puzzles into a unique narrative. The puzzles were varied and well-thought out with lots of fun aha moments along the way. We also really appreciated the non-linear format, allowing us to switch up the puzzle we were working on. Overall the experience is approachable for less experienced puzzlers, though we did need a couple of hints for the multi-step puzzles. One puzzle could’ve used more clarity in the extraction, as we had the correct answer (a date), but had to try and guess what format the input required. We did feel it was sometimes too easy to accidentally look at evidence we hadn’t yet "found" during gameplay. Similarly, when we didn’t initially reach the correct answer, we would’ve preferred to try again rather than be told the correct solution right away. The website for the game was basic but functional, and the themed content was amusing and didn’t take itself too seriously. The story itself was a refreshing change of pace from other murder mysteries, and the puzzles integrated well into the narrative. This game packs an impressive amount of gameplay into a small envelope, and we liked that it included a page to organize evidence and information, as well as a refill kit. Overall, it’s a promising start from a new company, and we’re looking forward to more games from Peculiar Pond! Time: 2-3 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 Dubious Documents by Nick Bantock Dubious Documents is a puzzle book made by the creator of the Griffin & Sabine series. The book contains sixteen envelopes, each containing a single folded page, with clues for each page given at the front of the book. While the first puzzle was a tricky one to start with and the final extraction felt unnecessarily confusing, we enjoyed most of the individual puzzles, though we did feel it would’ve been nicer to have each clue on the same page as the envelope to avoid flipping back and forth. Overall, they solved cleanly and could even be considered beginner-friendly. What stands out the most about this book is the artwork. The components were beautiful to look at, full of collage style art, vintage stamps, and illustrations. More than anything though, we wished the whole experience utilized more of the artwork, and not doing so felt like a missed opportunity. Two of the puzzles were solved using only the envelope, meaning the page wasn’t even necessary, while the rest typically used only a small portion of the enclosed page. The beautifully detailed visual elements had a lot of potential to be incorporated into the puzzles, so this aspect was a bit of a letdown. Overall, a pleasant way to spend some light puzzling time and would make for a lovely gift. Time: <2 hours Difficulty: 2/5 Viewfinder by Thunderful Games Viewfinder lives in the “mind-twisty, playing-with-perspective” genre of puzzle games such as Superliminal, Maquette, and A Fisherman’s Tale. Each time I walked into a photo, it felt a little bit magical. For fans of this genre, Viewfinder delivers a clever new twist on the environment-changing mechanic. It challenges you to seek new solutions but starts out incredibly simple, which would also make a good choice for anyone just dipping their toes into puzzles. If you’re a non-spatial thinker, you might find these types of puzzles more challenging, but I think they would be solvable by people with a wide variety of skills and experience levels. There was some instances of overlapping dialogue in the game, which felt a bit glitchy, but overall the gameplay was pretty smooth. When it came to jumps and completing challenges, it was relatively forgiving and didn’t force a level of precision that felt punishing. Near the end I got a little frustrated due to a timed sequence, which felt like an odd choice for an otherwise casual and rather zen-paced game, and I was delightfully surprised to discover that it’s possible to turn it off in the settings (thanks, devs!) I wished the story had enough substance to match the cleverness of the gameplay, but overall it was a very enjoyable experience. Time: 3-5 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 A Fold Apart by Lightening Rod Games A Fold Apart is a cutesy, surreal, and emotional puzzle game about a couple in a long-distance relationship. The main puzzle mechanic is unique—clever but not too complex, and gradually becomes more fiendish as additional interactions become available. I had a few minor issues with the game—the font choices could have been more refined, the pacing seemed artificially slow at times, and some small UX improvements would be appreciated. At times, I also felt like I was just using trial and error rather than a really comprehensive strategy to stumble into the solution. Overall, however, the onboarding and gradual addition of complexity was very smooth. While I can imagine some people rolling their eyes at the writing, the narrative itself was sweet and relatable. If you like games like Goragoa and Monument Valley and don’t mind a sappy love story with a slower pace, then give this one a shot. Time: ~3 hours Difficulty: 1.5/5 The Leopold Trilogy by 50 Clues The Leopold Trilogy (The Pendulum of the Dead, White Sleep, The Fate of Leopold) is a series of card-based escape room style game from 50 Clues. It felt smoother than most games I’ve tried in this genre and had mechanics similar to an Unlock! game, only with a much darker storyline. While the scenarios were written with the intensity of a psychological thriller, they lacked narrative depth, meaning, and emotion, which made it difficult to connect with the character we were meant to embody. It left us wondering if any of it was “real” or if the protagonist would just be revealed to be mentally ill in the end. There were some interesting moments of choice for the player, but embodying this unhinged character forced our hand at times, and we had mixed feelings about the violent actions we had to take. The atmospheric Noir-style art was thematically appropriate and felt like reading a comic book at times. The puzzles were varied and most solved cleanly, so we rarely had to resort to a hint. Sometimes the actions and puzzles felt a bit random, however, and didn’t quite fit with what was happening in the story. Most of the puzzles felt relatively beginner-friendly, so this can be enjoyed by a wide audience, but because of the thematic material it’s definitely not for everyone. Time: ~60 mins per chapter (about 3 hours total for the series) Difficulty 1.5/5 The Lost Library by Mystery City (hosted by Mastermind Escape Rooms) The Lost Library is an outdoor puzzle game based in Athens, Greece. There is a plethora of escape rooms in Athens to rave about, but this game is brand new and won't be found on the escape room lists since it takes place outside. Although I typically only write about things that are possible to play at home, I wanted to highlight it on the off-chance that our audience may one day end up in Athens and appreciate knowing about this little gem. We embarked on our adventure after being handed a backpack with a map, a book, and a box of small items. There was a total of five locations to visit, and each one was the host to a well-signposted puzzle that utilized the landmarks and environment in a satisfying way. The 3D objects were well-designed, pleasant to handle, and enhanced the gameplay experience. The map was helpful, and it was always clear where to go and what to do next. The challenges were not trivial, but I wouldn't call them difficult, either—this would make for a fantastic activity for traveling families, and can be enjoyed by puzzlers of all experience levels. The best part was being able to learn a few new things and see some landmarks through a fresh lens. We were really pleased to have this adventure take us to see some places around Athens that we may have otherwise missed. Time: 2 hours Difficulty: 1.5/5 What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's the February roundup for 2024! The Medusa Report by Diorama The Medusa Report is the second game in Diorama’s trilogy of narrative tabletop puzzle games. We recommend playing the first game in the trilogy, The Vandermist Dossier, before playing The Medusa Report. (Read our review of that game here.) As big fans of Vandermist, The Medusa Report did not disappoint. It includes lots of authentic-looking documents and unique artifacts, and the way the puzzles integrate into the story is very satisfying. We really enjoyed the creative ways information was communicated using the various game elements, and the way certain artifacts combined with others was quite gratifying. There was a large variety of puzzle types, and extraction never felt too troublesome. Certain components were used in especially clever ways across multiple puzzles. Overall, the experience was smooth and we rarely found ourselves stuck, but the hint system worked well when we needed a nudge. The story built on the previous game, and the added narrative complexity and plot intrigue made the end of the game particularly satisfying to resolve. We’re looking forward to playing the final installment as soon as it’s released! Note: The Medusa Report isn't available for retail purchase yet, but you can order The Vandermist Dossier here. Difficulty: 2.5/5 Time: ~2 hours Doomensions by Mysterious Package Company Doomensions is a 3D pop-up escape room in a box. The construction of the house itself is very impressive, though it was disappointing how easy it was to accidentally rip certain components (especially the doors) during gameplay. Overall, the use of components was quite clever and involved several cool reveals. Unfolding the accompanying dossier book was also exciting and included nice interactions using just paper. The gameplay itself was consistently enjoyable and smooth… for the most part. The puzzles were fun to solve, though occasionally a bit tedious to extract correctly. Some puzzles also had clunky and misleading elements, and a few seemed to contain errors. However, when we got stuck, the printed hints explained enough to allow us to move forward, and the conclusion was a solid culmination of earlier gameplay, wrapping up the story in a satisfying way. Gameplay tips: if you find the ribbons to be too loose to keep the house open, use binder clips or a small clamp. A lazy Susan could also be useful if you have one, as you’re frequently rotating the house to view the different rooms. Time: ~1-1.5h per dossier, ~6h total Difficulty: 2/5 Apart in Time by Enchambered Apart in Time was a faithful sequel to Enchambered’s previous work in this series of asymmetric cooperative two-player online puzzle games. This one had slightly spookier atmosphere, but wasn’t scary. As in their other games, the puzzles flowed well. The mechanics felt familiar, but not so simple as to feel trivial. There was always some thinking and cooperation required to solve a puzzle, but we never got stuck without having any path forward. It’s a good way to spent some time with a friend remotely for a very affordable price. Time: ~90m Difficulty: 2/5 Unheard - Voices of Crime by NEXT Studios Unheard - Voices of Crime is an “acoustic detective” game that has a unique gameplay mechanic—most of the deduction happens by going from room to room and listening to characters’ voices at the scene of a crime shortly before the incident happens. Your mileage may vary depending on how easily you process audio, but we found the level of complexity to be very reasonable, and the difficulty level would be suitable for beginners. It wasn’t too hard to keep track of the details, and the in-game note-taking feature helped with this. The game prompts you to match each voice with a character’s name, which we enjoyed deducing in addition to solving the cases. Still, each chapter had quite a bit of audio to get through (and some chunks of dead air), which was a bit tedious, especially given that the fast-forwarding function didn’t work for us. The writing and acting was a bit campy at times, but still entertaining, and the story had an especially interesting psychological twist at the end. The narrative was a bit disjointed between chapters, and had it carried over through scenes more, this may have been a stronger game. It did attempt to tie the narrative together, which brought forth a couple neat “aha” moments, but the overarching story felt like it lacked depth. As a series though, it definitely has potential—we would love to see this concept developed further. Time: ~3-4 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 ESCWelt: Quest Tower ESCWelt: Quest Tower is a puzzle box with an incredibly intricate physical structure, but the gameplay itself was a bit disappointing. I somehow managed to solve one of the steps without executing the intended solution, and it seemed like either an error or an oversight. The last puzzle had obtuse logic, but was ultimately a trial and error solve, and I didn’t actually realize it was the last puzzle, thinking there must still be more. During my stuck moments, I found the hint videos helpful, but I would’ve appreciated step-by-step hinting as well. The puzzles I did manage to solve correctly were clever, but unfortunately most of them just didn’t quite click. As an object, it has a great shelf presence and makes for a fun conversation piece. Time: ~1 hour Difficulty 2/5 Circus of Modryak by Key Enigma Circus of Modryak is a Lovecraft-inspired escape game that mixes puzzles, narrative, and technology. Overall the puzzles were good and moved the story forward, though some were more satisfying than others. A few puzzles felt a bit trivial or a tad confusing, but we eventually only needed a nudge about once each chapter. The hints, though not diegetic, were integrated well into the tech interface. The interface’s formatting wasn’t always great, but the web app accomplished what it needed to—just know that it works best on a computer. The first chapter involved a lot of reading and browsing webpages, and our group divided and conquered to get through the material. It picked up after that though, and we worked on the rest of the experience together. We enjoyed several creative interactions (though some worked more smoothly than others). The storyline was intruiging, but it didn’t build tension as well as it was attempting to. If the acting and writing were stronger, the story could’ve been as impactful as intended. The last chapter was over a bit faster than we expected, but it flowed quite well. We recommend playing 1-2 chapters at a time. Difficulty: 2.5/5 Time: ~45-60m per chapter, ~4h total What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog we highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's the first roundup of 2024! First Ascent First Ascent is a strategy game about rock climbing, which means it was basically made for me. When things seem too perfect, I tend to ready myself for disappointment, but this game was such a pleasant surprise! Despite the vast number of components, it was easy to learn, and there was just enough player interaction and randomness for a rock climbing theme. Some lingo might go over your head if you know nothing about climbing, but gameplay will still make sense. I appreciate that it celebrates taking the best route strategically rather than making it a race of who can get to the top fastest—in fact, getting to the peak just gives you a small bonus, and is not the main goal. The game captures the essence of climbing, which is much more about efficiency and technique than speed. The one downside for me was the artwork, which could be improved. Overall, this is a well-balanced game with a good application of thematic elements that climbers and non-climbers alike can enjoy. Difficulty: 2/5 Time: 20 minutes per player The Looker by Subcreation Studio The Looker is an amusing satire that pokes fun at The Witness for being pretentious. While I can certainly understand feeling that way, I still think The Witness is brilliant (and I don't know what could possibly knock it down from my top 3 video games). The gameplay generally still centers around drawing lines from A to B, but rather than a rigidly guided path, there is a pencil that allows you to draw loosely and sloppily, which made completing lines a little finicky at times. This game has funny moments, but some puzzles had what felt like a "guess what I'm thinking" mechanic without the kind of feedback offered by The Witness when an input is incorrect. Without clear feedback to test theories, I had to resort to a walkthrough at times, which is ultimately a less satisfying solve to me. Because it's a satire, some jokes obviously won't land if you haven't played The Witness, but you may enjoy this either way—despite my gripes, it was a fun way to spend an hour, especially for the low price of absolutely free. Difficulty: 2/5 Time: <1.5 hours Phantom Ink Phantom Ink is a word-guessing game that's played in two teams, and one of my new favorites for 4+ people (you could still play with three if one player acts neutral). It's quick and easy to explain, and the communication mechanics are unique and clever. Each team has a clue-giving ghost that can intentionally try to confuse the other team while also helping their own, which adds another level of creative complexity. The overall simplicity with an extra layer of potential strategy makes it appealing to both gamers and non-gamers. This game is a great option for parties or as a warm up on your regular board game night. Difficulty: 1.5/5 Time: ~15 minutes Murder on the Ornament Express by CU Adventures Murder on the Ornament Express is a fun, festive game for the holiday season, and the mystery plot of a melted snowman is just plain adorable. There is some decoding involved, but it's primarily a deduction-based mystery, and at times it was necessary to notice small details in the cards to piece together what happened. Occasionally, the cluing felt a bit ambiguous and made it slightly difficult to deduce the answers cleanly, but thankfully the hints were helpful in confirming our answer and allowing us to move forward. Overall, Murder on the Ornament Express offers a light, entertaining holiday challenge for a wide range of experience levels and ages. It works well as a bite-sized solo puzzle, while also being family-friendly and very approachable for beginners and non-puzzlers. Difficulty: 1.5/5 Time: ~1 hour Rise of the Fungi by Headlock Escape Rooms Part show, part escape game, Rise of the Fungi is another delightful experience from Headlock Escape Rooms. Played over Zoom with a live host, this game is a standalone prequel to The Keeper & the Fungus Among Us. I loved revisiting this adorable world full of miniatures, puns, and puppets. Everything is lovingly handcrafted, from the detailed sets to the campy musical numbers. It's such a unique universe, and we felt immersed in the experience and invested in the characters in a way that's rare for a game based on Zoom. The accessible puzzles and overall tone make it a great choice for a family game, but because the focus is on the silly narrative as much as the puzzles themselves, it's still fun for seasoned puzzlers looking for an entertaining experience. Difficulty: 1.5/5 Time: <1.5 hours Puzzle Box: Antigravitation by Puzzle Potato The Antigravitation puzzle box offers a variety of intriguing puzzles and some neat mechanisms. However, I found the last puzzle to be a bit nonsensical, and struggled to open the box even after looking up the solution. Given the price point, I expected a bit more interactivity from the box—its entertaining elements ended too quickly. I also encountered an issue with one of the puzzles getting stuck, making it impossible to reset. That aspect was a bit disappointing. Overall, there are some novel mechanics here, but the execution could be improved for a better experience. Difficulty: 2/5 Time: <1 hour What have you been playing lately?

Periodically on this blog I highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Here's the final roundup of 2023! The Past Within by Rusty Lake The Past Within is a dark and spooky game that is part of the Rusty Lake series, designed to be played cooperatively with two people on separate devices. With smooth and relatively straightforward gameplay, it was a fun way to spend a couple of hours with a friend. I rarely found it to be frustrating, but I did occasionally find it to be a little repetitive. It reminded me of a more macabre version of the Alone Together series from Enchambered, so if you enjoyed those, you may consider giving it a try. Overall, it is an well-designed addition to the Rusty Lake series, showcasing the signature style and atmosphere that fans of the series have come to appreciate through a lens of asymmetrical gameplay. Difficulty: 1.5/5 Time: ~2 hours Puzzle Hunt in Tangram Journal Vol 1 by Art of Play The Tangram Journal is like a mini art-museum in a book, produced by Art of Play. The puzzle hunt hidden throughout the pages of the book was created in collaboration with puzzle designer (and friend of PostCurious) Matthew Stein of Enigmida. Although it was a little confusing to get started, once we found our footing, we were able to get through most of the puzzles without hints. One puzzle wore out its welcome quickly, but I did love the final puzzle, even if it was a little tricky to put together. Keep in mind that some pages do need to be destroyed in gameplay, which might irk some people, so your mileage may vary. A bonus highlight of this experience is that the art in the book is fun to admire on its own. One thing to note: the meta answers for the puzzle hunt are recorded on a postcard that is not attached to the book. Make sure you don’t lose it. Difficulty: 3.5/5 Time: ~4 hours Return of Dr. Esker's Notebook by Plankton Games Return of Dr. Esker's Notebook is the second sequel to Dr. Esker's Notebook, a card-based puzzle game full of enigmatic images and handwritten text. Like with its predecessors, the puzzles were generally very logic-based, which we enjoyed, although a couple of them required recognizing some things which could be considered outside knowledge by some. The difficulty level was a comfortable level of challenge—we only needed a hint on one puzzle and the rest came together through collective brainstorming. Because of its resemblance to the other two games, it didn’t feel exactly novel, but it was entertaining nonetheless. I'm impressed by the creator's ability to come up with this many iterations on the same idea, but I’ll be even more excited to see something new made by the same mind. If you have enjoyed the previous Esker games, you will likely enjoy this as well. If you hate logic puzzles, or want your games to have a compelling narrative thread, then it may not be for you. Difficulty: 2/5 Time: 2-3 hours Escape Tales: Low Memory Escape Tales: Low Memory is a card-based escape room style game with a more substantial narrative component than the EXIT or Unlock! series. It features three chapers, each telling part of the same story from a different perspective. Narrative passages and additional cards are revealed by exploring an area using tokens, which limit your movement. While the exploration aspect of the game sometimes felt a bit arbitrary, the puzzles were a mix of ones that solved cleanly and others that felt rather convoluted. The game provided hints and solutions, but explanations were sometimes lacking, and we couldn't always figure out how we were meant to reach a certain solution. The ending presented us with a choice, which we appreciated, but the conclusion wasn't really clear. Although the story was more unique compared to some other escape room games, it fell short of the emotional impact found in the first installment by this team, Escape Tales: The Awakening. Still, this series offers something a little different, and I'm looking forward to trying a newer addition to the series. Difficulty: 2.5/5 Time: 2-3 hours per chapter x 3 chapters = 6 to 9 hours total Annie Cob Jaws by Enigmailed After hearing a lot of complaints about the infamously difficult Cain's Jawbone, I was intrigued by the idea of a lighter, more fun version of the "reorder the pages in this book" puzzle. The story in Annie Cob Jaws centers around the correspondence between a young girl and her grandmother and is written in an easily digestible prose. At its best, I enjoyed reading through the letters and figuring the clues to put them back in order. On the other hand, I noticed several typos throughout the text, which made it feel like there was some lapse in quality proofreading, and one letter was included twice, which briefly caused some confusion. Submitting the solution to see if you're correct involved sending a list of words in the correct order to an email address. As a conclusion, it felt a bit like a missed opportunity to have a self-confirming answer, which would not only feel more satisfying (especially if it revealed some final narrative detail) but would also eliminate the need to wait for an email reply to find out if you solved it correctly. All in all, a nice lighthearted mystery that could be approachable to a wide audience, including adolescents. Time: ~1.5 hours Difficulty: 2/5 What have you been playing lately?

Video Games Chants of Sennaar Chants of Sennaar is a puzzle-driven adventure game that draws inspiration from the Tower of Babel. With a vibrant yet simple design, this game is a joy for both language nerds and puzzle enthusiasts alike. Read our full review here. The Case of the Golden Idol In The Case of the Golden Idol, you're the detective in a richly layered mystery, unfolding in an engaging narrative that teaches you the game’s mechanics while gradually ramping up the complexity – a captivating play from start to finish. Read our full review here. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Tears of the Kingdom takes the core of Breath of the Wild and introduces a telekinesis mechanic, providing players with an expanded world full of impressive physics and endless interaction possibilities. A must-play for fans of open-world games. Read our full review here. Board Games First Ascent First Ascent is a strategy game about rock climbing that features expertly balanced gameplay, humorous player interactions, and tiny ropes for every player(!) Climbers will especially appreciate the silly lingo, but as long as you aren’t put off by a little jargon, this game offers a surprising amount of strategic depth without bogging you down with overly complicated rules. Junk Drawer Junk Drawer is a polyomino game in which players compete to strategically organize household objects to earn the most points. Simple to teach but hard to master, this clever game takes just ten minutes to play, but we rarely tend to stop at just one round. Phantom Ink Played in two teams, Phantom Ink is a word-guessing game that quickly became a favorite due to its unique mechanic. Easy to teach to non-gamers, this is a twist on a party game that can be enjoyed by a wide audience. Tabletop Puzzle Games On Circus Grounds: The Final Act by Studio Stamp This game is a compact yet complete mystery, offering a seamless continuation of On Circus Grounds. The materials look and feel authentic, the hint system is comprehensive, and the puzzles are well-designed and intuitive. Read our full review here. Lost in the Shuffle by Spencer is Puzzling Despite its small size, Lost in the Shuffle delivers big on content, featuring over 50 puzzles and silly video segments, all in a non-linear format that allows players the freedom to jump from puzzle to puzzle. Read our full review here. Ruff Bluff: A Furlock Holmes Mystery - Trapped! Puzzle Rooms With its dog-themed puns and whimsical story, Ruff Bluff is an amusing puzzle game that cleverly develops its narrative and characters over four chapters, offering a delightful mix of humor, mystery, and canine shenanigans. Read our full review here. What were your favorite games of 2023?