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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 second roundup of 2023! The Keeper and the Fungus Among Us by Headlocked Escape Rooms The Keeper and the Fungus Among Us is an escape room style game with a live game master played over Zoom. It received a lot of praise when it first became available in 2021, and frankly, I can't believe it took me this long to finally play it. Set up in a fictional world of mushroom villains, lovingly crafted miniatures, and original music, this game was simply a delight. Everything felt like it was part of a unified aesthetic, and it was clear how much effort the creators put into getting the details right. The difficulty of the puzzles felt approachable for beginners, yet still appropriate and satisfying for a more experienced audience to solve (though I would recommend keeping the group size to 2-3 for experienced players). The game was full of adorable puppets, video game references, and funky musical numbers, which appeared in the form of video transitions so seamless that it felt like magic. The campy tone fell somewhere between Labyrinth and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (but family-friendly—in fact, this game would probably be a great choice if you're looking for something to play with the younger folk.) Hats off to Headlocked Escape Rooms for keeping us smiling the whole time. Time: <90m Difficulty: 1.5/5 The Initiative by Unexpected Games The Initiative is a cooperative campaign-style game with an accompanying graphic narrative booklet. The main game consists of 14 missions, which start off with players reading a section in the booklet and then taking turns investigating, moving, and discovering pieces of information necessary to solve a code and complete the mission. The Initiative did a great job of onboarding—the first mission served as a tutorial which allowed us to learn the rules, the second allowed us to begin developing a strategy, and the game continued to ramp up from there, throwing new characters and challenges our way. Because the distribution of information was random across the board, however, the loss condition felt punishing at times. If the information we needed just didn't happen to be in the place we were looking, and we took more time to get there, we would suddenly become at risk of losing the game if we drew a certain card, even if we were really close to finding the solution. This led us to make some (what felt like) wild guesses at times, but then again, that could also be by design? Thankfully, losing a mission isn't exactly the end of the world, either. On the positive side, we often found ourselves cooperating to come up with unexpected ways to solve a mission, and encountered several exciting surprises throughout the campaign. Despite the gameplay mechanic remaining similar throughout, The Initiative managed to keep the solves fresh by putting twists on things you have already learned in previous missions. It also comes with a ton of bonus content—in fact, I think there is more bonus content than there is base game content, so if you find yourself really enjoying the mechanic, there is a lot of good value in this box. Time: ~45m x 14 missions = over 10 hours of main gameplay, plus a ton of bonus content Difficulty: 1.5/5 NORCO NORCO is a narrative-driven point-and-click detective-style adventure that takes place over a couple of different time periods in a run-down Luisiana town. I picked it up because it was described as having a similar vibe to Disco Elysium (a top 3 video game favorite for me), and while they are very different games in terms of scope, both share a similar, yet hard-to-describe atmosphere—poetic, bleak, and somewhat fantastical, while also fundamentally human, and at times even funny. Unlike Disco Elysium, which has a more expansive RPG-like structure and significantly more content, NORCO is very linear and much more succinct, but this is isn't a bad thing. Although there are only few times at which more than one option is available to the player, I never felt trapped or stuck—instead, I was propelled forward by the story, and my own curiosity. If you enjoy a strange, dreamy, and meaningful narrative with some humor thrown in, this could be a good one to try. Time: ~6h Difficulty: 1.5/5 Superliminal Superliminal is a digital game full of wacky perspective puzzles, guided by a humorous test subject voice. The tone was reminiscent of Portal and The Stanley Parable, while the puzzle mechanics reminded me of Maquette and A Fisherman's Tale. The gameplay consisted of moving from space to space, solving puzzles that involved illusion and perspective. Despite how many games I was reminded of while playing it, Superliminal kept surprising me with its own unique approach and often demanded some creative thinking to reach a solution. Because of its linearity, however, this sometimes resulted in my needing to look up hints in order to be able to proceed (not to mention, I completely missed the environmental puzzles on my playthrough... which is partially due to the signposts being extremely subtle, but can be equally blamed on my poor observation...) Regardless, this is definitely a worthwhile pick if you enjoy spacial puzzles and stretching your brain for outside-the-box solutions. Time: ~2.5h Difficulty: 2.5/5 The Case of the Golden Idol The Case of the Golden Idol is a deduction mystery game played in a series of 10 chapters. Each chapter presents the player with a scene and invites them to figure out what happened as they flip between the "Thinking" and "Exploring" modes. This game reminds me somewhat of Return of the Obra Dinn (another top 3 favorite) but with a much more approachable difficulty level. After finishing the third chapter, what struck me is just how top notch the onramping was. The game taught us its mechanics, characters, and quirks while slowly increasing the complexity of each subsequent scenario until we suddenly found ourselves exploring an entire mansion with a full cast of personalities, items, motives, and secrets. The solves were always logical, and not superficially easy. Only in one chapter did we truly fumble (once again the culprit was our own lack of observation), but for the most part we found the answers elegantly unraveling as we pieced together bits of information. Receiving feedback that our hypotheses were correct felt victorious, and the game kept us excited from the first chapter to the very end. If you enjoy a funky deduction mystery, make sure to give this one a try. Time: ~6h Difficulty: 2/5 Mother of Frankenstein: Volume 1 The first volume of Mother of Frankenstein was a strong start to what I hope will be an even stronger trilogy, and is especially suitable for lovers of games in which the puzzles live equal to the narrative. Volume 1 was split up into 3 sections (poetry, music, and astronomy), and the puzzles varied in both style and difficulty. The writing was plentiful without feeling tedious. All the solutions felt logical and well thought-out, though I was left wishing there was a little less margin for error left in some spaces. I appreciated that the 3 section envelopes offer you a glance at the solution before you use the answer to assemble elements that become crucial in the final step, though I did wish the hints were written with a higher level of granularity to confirm and explain each step of the puzzle as you move through it—there were times where I went wrong, and I wasn’t sure why or how I got the answer that I did. Nevertheless, the assemblies from the three sections ultimately culminated in a satisfying meta sequence that simultaneously felt like a good conclusion to a chapter and an enticing set up for Volume 2. Time: ~3h Difficulty: 2/5 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 third roundup of 2023! Chants of Sennaar Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows Chants of Sennaar is a puzzle-driven adventure game that explores the ideas, structures, and impacts of language. Featuring a vibrant limited palette, the aesthetic of the game is effective in its simplicity. The gameplay revolves around exploring the world, discovering symbols, and making connections in order to translate their meaning. Soon enough, you’ll find yourself understanding the pictographs, but your learning will span much farther than just one fictional dialect... The UI in this game was clearly designed with a lot of thought. I didn’t require a piece of paper to keep track of my ideas, and the ability to verify answers along the way was as useful as it was satisfying. Since there might be moments of frustration with the controls in any game, I especially appreciated the fact that the stealth sequences were extremely forgiving, saving an anxious Nelly like myself a lot of stress over finishing a level. (If you’re going to include stealth sequences, doing so in a way that doesn’t make them overstay their welcome is really nice, thank you!) The progression and onboarding were smooth as well. Each level felt distinct, yet clearly part of the same story, continuing to build on the foundation of the knowledge already learned. Did I mention that the narrative driving the game forward is a fictionalized version of the Tower of Babel? I was impressed with how much the creators managed to convey with so few words. Fun fact: after my first session playing this for 3 hours, I was solving (impossible) language puzzles in my dreams. If you’re a language nerd like me, this one is a must-play, but as long as you like puzzles, Chants of Sennaar should be on your radar. Time: ~9-12 hours Difficulty: 2/5 The Philosopher’s Stone by Puzzle Potato The Philosopher’s Stone is very reminiscent of iDventure’s Clueboxes. The experience to open it was also similar to a degree, but somehow felt a bit shorter, despite taking up the same amount of time. The steps to open the box were clever and fun to discover, but went by surprisingly quick. I guess there’s something to be said when a game leaves you wanting more, but having 1 or 2 more steps in the process would have made this feel like a more substantial puzzle experience. For what felt like a quick solve though, it did contain some really nice aha moments. Once I was done, it was easy enough to put it back together (although a reset guide on the hint site would be appreciated.) It’s also quite nice-looking, making it a good puzzle to gift, lend, or display on the shelf. I’m looking forward to checking out the Anti-Gravity Box next. If you’ve enjoyed iDventure’s Clueboxes, it could be worth checking out. Time: ~45m Difficulty: 1.5/5 Lost in the Shuffle by Spencer is Puzzling Lost in the Shuffle is the debut game from Spencer is Puzzling and resides entirely in a deck of cards and a website. For such a small package, this game certainly packs a punch in terms of puzzle content, but to my own surprise, I found my favorite part of the experience to be the video interludes, which included a cheeky story that made me giggle many times. If you’re a player highly driven by narrative though, you may consider looking elsewhere, as the sheer volume of puzzles is really what defines this game, and they are mostly disconnected from one another. Although many puzzle types will feel familiar to seasoned players (hard to avoid at this point, especially with 50+ puzzles in a single game), there were a decent handful that had us thinking outside the box, and we rarely had to rely on hints. Because the game is non-linear, we also had the freedom to jump from puzzle to puzzle, which was occasionally overwhelming but mostly quite fun, as we kept making discovery after discovery along the way. Its portability makes it a great game for travel, although it's worth noting that internet access is required. You can also easily gather a group of puzzle-loving friends and divide and conquer the dozens of enigmas packed into this little deck… then use it to play a card game—pretty clever. Although aesthetically these cards could be more interesting, the creator made the bare-bones style make sense in the context of the story and work to the game’s advantage. The framing is simple, but full of charm and good humor, and the structure is friendly to beginners. It’s a really smart way to create a first product, and we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next from Spencer is Puzzling—we hope it’s very silly. Time: 4+ hours Difficulty: 2/5 World Travelers Society by Tangible Narrative The World Travelers Society is an ambitious first project from Tangible Narrative that takes the form of an historical puzzle adventure through the streets of Shanghai. The components felt appropriately realistic, featuring a lot of variation in paper stock, size, and material. It was fun to unbox this game and admire all the little details. We really appreciated what this added to the atmosphere, however, the gameplay could benefit from having more structure and specificity. I generally tend to prefer games that are non-linear, but there were so many options here that we struggled a little to get started. Without knowing what we could or couldn’t solve yet, and seeing multiple puzzles being referenced on a single component, parts of puzzles scattered over several components, etc... there were many connections to be made, but it was easy to get lost in the chaos. It also wasn’t always clear when we needed to use the internet (though ultimately this was a lot.) If there was more specificity in the questions and answers, this wouldn’t be as big of an big issue, but the level of ambiguity in some of the ARG-like elements left way too much room for error, combined with the fact that one can’t rely on Google maps to give you reliable information about buildings in China. Many of the puzzles we encountered felt clever in concept, but with so many layers and conflicting information, the execution left us floundering mid-puzzle and using the hints much more than I would have liked. Having some sort of self-contained website to find information, or additional gating and/or more signposting could have helped. Despite our frustrations, however, we felt this game has a unique vision that we want to see more of (a second, more developed and user-friendly iteration of this game could have the potential for excellence as well.) We’ll certainly be watching Tangible Narrative’s upcoming project, The Great Tea Robbery to see what they come up with next. Time: 8+ hours Difficulty: 4/5 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Available on: Nintendo Switch It seems almost silly to include one of the most anticipated games of 2023 in this roundup, but it also seems kind of bananas not to, so I figure I don’t have much of a choice. But how to even talk about Tears of the Kingdom? Basically, it takes the incredibly expansive world of Breath of the Wild and adds a novel mechanic that empowers players with a high degree of creativity. It also expands the world up to the skies, as well as down to the depths underground, more than doubling the gameplay area. If you’re familiar with Breath of the Wild, the main mechanics of this game will feel largely familiar. You play as Link, running around and fighting monsters, cooking meals, completing side-quests, and eventually fighting the Demon King. So what makes this game different? You get a series of powers that allow you to practice telekinesis, moving objects around in the air, and fusing them together in order to create weapons, vehicles, and all sorts of gadgets. The size of the can of worms opened up by these abilities cannot be overstated, and the internet is full of videos of people doing incredible things with this. Although I felt like the four “Main Quest” areas in this game were not quite as interesting as the majestic mechanisms that guided the puzzle design of Divine Beasts in Breath of the Wild, the incredible physics design and seemingly infinite sandbox of Tears of the Kingdom is really something special. If you like open-world games, this should be at the top of your to-play list. Time: 50+ hours for the main storyline, 100+ hours of content Difficulty: 1.5/5 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, and we're entering the new year with a bang! Here's the first roundup of 2023. Ruff Bluff: A Furlock Holmes Mystery - Trapped! Puzzle Rooms Ruff Bluff is a punny dog-themed puzzle game with the ultimate mystery: Who stole the ruby bone? The game is divided into 4 chapters, an element that we had mixed feelings about. Although the chapters are divided intuitively in terms of the gameplay mechanic and story flow, they felt relatively uneven in terms of the actual investigation effort and gameplay time, and we would have appreciated a better breakup of the longest chapter. There was also a web app with a login to submit answers, but it only kept track of full chapter completions rather than individual answers—luckily, we kept track of all our answers throughout the game and recommended other players do the same, as the narrative builds well on itself throughout the chapters. We were impressed by the way objects were used in multiple ways, and the stories of the different characters evolved over our investigation (because of this, we also recommend trying to play the chapters in close succession.) Our favorite part of the game, unsurprisingly, was Trapped’s signature humor—even the filler content amusing to read and the wit made what could have been a simple mystery a much more whimsical journey. Time: ~6 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 On Circus Grounds: The Final Act - Studio Stamp The Final Act is billed as an epilogue to the main story of On Circus Grounds, but in truth, it was its own short but complete game. Like its predecessor, The Final Act was a narrative-driven experience with well-designed authentic-feeling materials. It opened with excellent onboarding, which conveniently included an inventory list, and continued towards some enjoyable and well-signposted investigating, which shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for seasoned players but made for a satisfying solo playthrough. There was one puzzle sequence which, despite being solved correctly, didn’t seem to have the desired effect, making the solution difficult to parse, but thankfully this could be bypassed by the comprehensive hint system. All-in-all, a short and sweet mystery to cure your puzzle fix, especially for those who enjoyed On Circus Grounds. Time: ~1 hour Difficulty: 1.5/5 Thornbright Manor Chapter 1 - Envelescape Envelescape’s Thornbright Manor: Chapter 1 was a bite-sized mystery that could use a little more refining but felt like an interesting start for the series. Logistically, having to keep the pop card fully open got a bit challenging, but this was easily fixed with a piece of masking tape. The overall puzzle solving was enjoyable, but better onboarding would have gone a long way in improving the flow, in particular having a more concrete starting point and some clarity as to the answer output. Nevertheless, the format is a fun experiment with what you can fit into a tiny envelope and we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next. Time: <45m Difficulty: 1.5/5 Hallows Hill - Wolf Escape Games Hallows Hill is a spooky (not scary) cinematic point-and-click style game that is played in a browser and involves exploring a creepy manor (of course!) Although we struggled on the logic of one puzzle, the overall gameplay was relatively smooth. We sometimes wished it allowed us to do more than one thing at a time but did appreciate how the linearity and limited number of interactable objects kept things on track. We could have done without the timer, leaderboard, and hint penalties though—they didn’t feel particularly necessary to the game and took away from the immersion a little. On the flip side, however, the music and audio effects were great for setting the atmosphere, and the video transitions were effectively executed. Time: ~1.5 hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 Glasshouse Ghost - Society of Curiosities The Glasshouse Ghost is a lightly spooky browser game inspired by the Winchester Mystery House. The interface was smooth, directing us toward what we needed and eliminating items when we were finished with them. It was a linear game with clear signposting, logical solves, and a correspondent that acted as a character in our adventure—they had their own voice, which was a nice touch and added to the immersion. The narrative framed the gameplay nicely, providing context and motivation, although we wished the house was further utilized and we could have explored more spaces within. We also really appreciated the way sound was used to direct us (though it’s worth noting this may be an issue if you’re hearing impaired.) This would make a nice bite-sized game for solo or duo play—we did wish it was a bit longer, but I suppose that is just a compliment to the chefs. Time: ~45 minutes Difficulty: 1.5/5 Alice is Missing Alice is Missing is a really interesting experiment. It felt exactly like Life is Strange meets tabletop RPG. I wasn’t actually sure if I would include it in this blog post, but given I was still thinking about it days later, I decided this game was at least memorable enough to want to share with others. As far as RPGs and storytelling games go, the mechanics are fairly simple, but require a lot of setup. Although the actual play time was only 90 minutes, the game started about 2 hours earlier when we created the world we were about to enter. Every member of our group built out their characters, including relationships, motives, and secrets. For someone who has trouble with improvised storytelling, the balance between prompt cards and composing felt balanced—it was enough to get you to think about something that has potential for more depth and development, but your answer could also be straightforward and simple. This flexibility was important because simplicity can be stretched in other ways. As a group we also had to grant significance to locations and other characters in the world, inventing scenarios, theories, and cooperating together to build a story that made sense. When this stage felt complete, we entered the game world, which was approached with complete silence from the players (relieved by a dedicated soundtrack) and progressed using only a group chat on our phones and cards that would have to be revealed at various intervals throughout the 90 minutes. Our task was to find out what happened to Alice. It was an emotional experience, but your mileage will vary greatly depending on the group. Unfortunately, the ending felt like the weakest part—abrupt and unfinished. I had trouble truly believing that the culprit would have enough motive to commit the crime. Another aspect of the ending, however, was hauntingly beautiful (and I won’t spoil anything by saying more.) Our group needed a long debrief to piece together what actually happened in the end—we didn’t even know which parts were prompted and which were completely invented of our own volition, which is ultimately a testament to the design of the game. The system is also brilliantly simple in some ways—you could get creative and build entirely home-brewed scenarios using similar elements to make a very accessible one-off TTRPG. If you like intimate, emotional storytelling, find some like-minded friends and play through this indie gem. Tips for playing: Have the right group (and I cannot stress this enough.) Choose people that you can trust and be vulnerable with, and make sure everyone in the group is willing to engage actively with the story—it is a very collaborative experience. Use the Search cards sparingly. A couple can make things exciting, too many will muddy up the story. Budget enough time for world building, the game itself, and a debrief. Have plenty of snacks and drinks around for your evening! What have you been playing lately? Tell us in the comments!

Periodically on this blog I highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. Well, it’s been a busy fall, so this typically bi-monthly post is rather delayed, but... better late than never? The Medieval Mishap by Mini Mysteries Mini Mysteries surprised me in the best way possible, and in all honesty, “mini” is not how I would describe this game. The Medieval Mishap will have you going into the past to hunt down a missing agent of the Ministry of Time, using a web app and a folder of paper materials. The narrative is mainly there to accompany the puzzles—this worked very well, but just don’t expect a deep story in this experience. The components were beautifully designed and fitting with the theme, as well as conveniently labeled Exhibits A through M so it was clear with each puzzle which materials were needed. The onboarding and signposting made gameplay a smooth experience that would be accessible to beginners while still entertaining more seasoned solvers. I also appreciated that the materials were of different sizes and that multiple puzzles made good use of a large map that ultimately felt like an anchor for the game. One stellar component was also particularly satisfying to use. Although there was a fair amount of variation, a significant portion of the gameplay was based in logic puzzles. While this was right up my alley, it may not be for you if that is a puzzle style you particularly dislike. The only aspect of the game that I felt could really use some improvement was the web app—the interface was a tad clunky and not formatted to display well on mobile, there was an occasional delay when puzzles were solved, and although I appreciated the voiceover it sometimes felt like the wait between dialogue slowed down the momentum. Additionally, it could really use a back button. Despite these gripes, however, it functioned well enough to frame the experience and provided a sense of progression. If you want a self-contained puzzle game that can be completed in one sitting, I recommend giving The Medieval Mishap a shot! Time: ~2 hours Difficulty: 2/5 Social Distancing Puzzles by Eric Berlin I kept meaning to play through this cooperative two-player puzzle series at the height of the pandemic, but it was still a delight despite our current lack of isolation. If you’re a fan of Eric Berlin’s Puzzlesnacks book, you will likely enjoy these word puzzles as well—they are a little higher in difficulty, but still very solvable and don’t require knowledge of trivia the way many crosswords do. The ten print-at-home puzzles (plus an additional meta puzzle) each took my partner and I anywhere between 20 minutes to over an hour, and while we got tripped up here and there, the payoff was ultimately worth it. (That said, there were a couple of times where we were painfully close to finishing a puzzle, and some sort of hint system would have been greatly appreciated!) The best part is that this puzzle set is technically free, though it is recommended that you make a donation to Feeding America when you download them. Time: 5+ hours Difficulty: 2.5/5 Jigsaw Puzzles by Big Potato Games I realized a couple of years ago how much detailed artwork in a jigsaw puzzle can really increase the enjoyment of putting it together, and after running out of options by the Magic Puzzle Company and Odd Pieces, I needed to find a new set to fuel my addiction, which ended up being Night at the Movies and Mayhem in the Library by Big Potato Games. These 1000-piece puzzles are full of film and book-themed Easter eggs, and a poster is provided inside the box to help you find a slew of titles after assembly if you wish to get the full experience. In terms of the jigsaw board and overall quality, it felt better than most, but not quite as high caliber as the two aforementioned series (it also didn’t contain any non-standard jigsaw pieces.) Although I didn’t go through to try and find every title after I finished, I did enjoy the ones I recognized as I was assembling, and the artwork was still quite pleasing to piece together. The Mysterious Case of Dancing Mania by Wacky Wheels Mysteries A strange phenomenon took place in the 16th century, where hundreds of people started dancing in the streets and seemed unable to stop. The Mysterious Case of the Dancing Mania is a puzzle book that is centered around solving the mystery of this incident, and although the event is real, the characters and story in this game are fictional. As far as puzzle books go, it was significantly shorter than others on the market, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What puts it above the rest is not only the inclusion of an actual narrative with distinct characters, but the fact that the puzzles are well signposted and easy to engage with rather than being a collection of mind-reading exercises with no relation to one another. I have mixed feelings about the online scoresheet which guided the experience—it provided a place to enter solutions and gave a sense of progress, though some of the prompts were not really answers to puzzles as much as information provided in the text. In some ways, it felt a little more like a quiz than a way to round out the experience, but this framework is also one of the things that makes the game so accessible to beginners. Time: ~2 hours Difficulty: 1.5/5 Red Fox Playing Cards - The Enchantment Puzzle Deck I backed Red Fox Playing Cards on Kickstarter partially for the cute artwork and partially for the puzzles. This deck features a short puzzle hunt spread out throughout the cards with clues revealed by using a set of glasses with a red filter. Some of the puzzle elements were relatively easy to see without the glasses, and others were hidden very artfully. It was easy to get started with a single “Quest” card, and while the puzzles were not particularly complex, they often contained several layers, which made for a more satisfying solve. This deck could be a perfect intro to puzzling, especially for younger folk, and would make a great stocking stuffer for someone who might enjoy the charming artwork and a little light solving. The plus side is that once you’re done, you’re left with a deck of usable playing cards full of cute animals. Time: ~1 hour Difficulty: 1/5 KeyWe Available on: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One KeyWe is a two-player cooperative game which blends a bit of puzzling with a bunch of jumping around a post office desk. Playing as adorable kiwi birds, your goal is to complete levels by pressing buttons, typing messages, placing labels, and sending out packages to their correct destinations. Some levels will hinder you by making you decode messages as you type, interrupt you with growing vines that must be removed, or impede your progress with pesky house flies. Each level is timed, and different achievements can be reached depending on your speed. Fans of Overcooked will likely enjoy this variation on a cooperative task game. What have you been playing lately?

In our 2019 gift guide, we outlined some great stocking stuffers and family-friends games for the holidays. In 2021, we wrote about some gifting favorites (especially for beginner puzzlers!) such as Hincks Gazette by Bluefish Games and Society of Curiosities' family-friendly Fairy Tale Files series. This year, we've put out a guide detailing our PostCurious offerings, and now it's time for some other recommendations! Greeting Cards In addition to the PostCurious card set and Scarlet Envelope's greeting cards mentioned in last year's post, you can find similarly puzzly offerings from iDventure, Wacky Wheels, and Enigma Fellowship. Escape the Puzzle Box also offers a greeting card that comes with a padlock you can use to lock up your recipient's gift... Advent Calendars Escape the Advent Calendar has three offerings with various themes... which also contain chocolate. Thames and Kosmos has also released two EXIT Advent Calendars: The Mystery of the Ice Cave and The Hunt for the Golden Book. Surprise Within a Surprise Puzzle wrapping paper?! Yes. Courtesy of Enigmailed. Games Some of our favorite games in the puzzle tabletop genre mentioned in previous posts are iDventure's ClueBox series, CU Adventures' Solve Our Shirts, and Society of Curiosities' Quarterly Subscription Games. These are so good they warrant another mention. But what about some newer releases? The Vandermist Dossier by Diorama is one of our all-time favorite tabletop mysteries, and it's finally available in English. Within you'll find a treasure trove unique objects, creative puzzles of varying difficulty, and the beginning of a complex (but approachable) story that will continue throughout the upcoming sequels. Never House by DarkPark is certainly more spooky than festive, but that doesn't mean it can't be a great gift for those who like horror or darker themes. This game combines a solid narrative with great puzzles, high quality props, and fun reveals. On Circus Grounds by Studio Stamp is another new favorite! Containing beautiful materials woven together with a well-developed narrative, this gem may feel a little overwhelming to start with, but is very satisfying to piece together as the story unfolds. Cantaloop is basically a point-and-click puzzle adventure transformed into book form (for better or worse...) It features some very interesting mechanics and several hours of quality gameplay. It would make a great gift for a variety of experience levels or serve as a good date night activity. Holiday-Themed Games The Magical Tale by Enigma Fellowship is a handmade wood-bound fairy tale puzzle adventure. The game is family-friendly, entirely offline, and even features an audio book option if you don't want to read the story yourself. The Charm of Christmas Past by The Escapement is a festive play-at-home puzzle game with plenty of trinkets, letters, and family history. If you fancy some charming old-timey English Christmas vibes, it may be a good choice for you. What's on your wish list this year?

Whether you're looking for gifts for the holidays, or just a treat for yourself, we've got something for everyone. Not only that, but our entire collection is 15% off until November 30th, so there's no time like the present to pick up some goodies. So what so we have in store? PostCurious Holiday Cards What is it? This holiday card set comes with three illustrated 5"x7" cards with a wintery theme and a puzzly message on the front that solves to a secular holiday greeting. The cards are blank inside for your personalized message, and three envelopes are included with each set. Who is this for? Practically anyone! Can your mom find the hidden message in the snowflakes? Can your friend discover the secret of the deer's ornaments? Adrift What is it? Adrift is the best introductory puzzletale from PostCurious. Players will take on the role of an expert dream interpreter in order to help someone understand the significance of the messages received through their subconscious and solve their way through strange poems, various physical artifact, and beautiful illustrations (in the form of four 8"x10" art prints) Who is this for? - Players who prefer a shorter adventure (2-3 hours) - That friend you want to get hooked on puzzle games - Lovers of physical artifacts, poetry, and mythology Please note: Adrift is now shipping in Australia, Europe, and the UK. North American orders are expected to ship in early Dec, but we unfortunately cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas in Canada. The Light in the Mist What is it? An adventure game in the form of a tarot deck that weaves together hours of puzzling, stunning artwork, and a heartfelt story in a unique choose-your-own-path style of non-linear gameplay. Who is this for? - Players who enjoy an adventure over multiple sittings (5+ hours of gameplay) with an intermediate difficulty - Players who enjoy a character-driven coming-of-age story - Art lovers and tarot deck enthusiasts The Light in the Mist Collector's Edition What is it? The Collector's Edition includes everything from the standard edition of The Light in the Mist, packaged in a beautiful wooden box that features a secret compartment and a bonus puzzle! It also comes with a velvet bag for storing your tarot deck, an adorable enamel pin, and a pack of two posters with artwork from the game (plus another bonus puzzle!) Who is this for? - That person who deserves an extra special gift - Players who want all the puzzle content they can get - Lovers of keepsakes, art prints, and enamel pin collectors The Emerald Flame What is it? A puzzletale that combines history, hand-drawn illustration, vibrant characters, and a variety of puzzles. Players will take the role of a historical expert embarking on a quest to piece together the recipe for a fabled elixir by investigating maps, drawings, alchemical diagrams, and mysterious artifacts. Who is this for? - Players who enjoy a challenging adventure over multiple sittings (6+ hours of gameplay) - Players who enjoy a fantastical story with historical elements - Lovers of physical artifacts and watercolor illustrations Emerald Flame Leatherette Journal What is it? A faux leather journal with gold foil stamping includes a bonus puzzle in the world of The Emerald Flame. Who is this for? - Players who like to take notes while puzzling - Writers and artists (the pages are unlined so it makes a perfect sketchbook) Apprentice Pack What is it? The Apprentice Pack is a thematic prequel to The Emerald Flame but can be played independently of the base game. It includes two puzzles (one easy and one difficult) and two enamel pins. Who is this for? - Players who want some extra puzzles - Enamel pin lovers Enamel Pins What is it? The Light in the Mist, The Emerald Flame, and Adrift each have a unique hard enamel pin design with elements from the game. Who is this for? - Players who like to commemorate their experiences - Enamel pin lovers Art Prints What is it? Posters! Decorate your home with some beautiful hand-drawn artwork from your favorite game. The Light in the Mist two poster pack also includes a bonus puzzle that can be solved in conjunction with tarot deck. Who is this for? - Players who like to commemorate their experiences - Art lovers and decorators Have a question about one of our products? Comment below!

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 latest roundup! On Circus Grounds by Studio Stamp I've been excited for On Circus Grounds since it came out in Dutch as Meester 1883, and rightfully so. The story is presented as a dossier from an old case that was likely misjudged: the mysterious death of a circus master. The player is meant to find the real killer and learn their motives and methods. For starters, the contents of the box was absolutely beautiful. The materials were meticulously designed and packaged for a realistic-feeling experience. The gameplay leaned more toward the deductive mystery category, elegantly feeding you subtle details of the story until the pieces all come together. It was a little overwhelming to get started due to the sheer volume of materials, but the goals were clearly stated in the intro letter, and important information was often emphasized, which helped signpost the connections between items. Although one puzzle with ambiguous instructions threw me for a bit of a loop, the story was engaging and integrated well with the puzzling elements—it even included a whole series of encodings I enjoyed (a rare thing!) This will be a good choice for those who enjoy narrative mysteries and exploring historical artifacts. Time: ~2.5h Difficulty: 2/5 It Takes Two Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows It Takes Two is a cooperative action game about a couple that is about to separate… before their daughter turns them into dolls and they must overcome a challenging adventure to return to their normal form. Gameplay mostly consists of platforming elements (running, jumping, the occasional flying) and shooting (in a family-friendly way—think throwing globs of wax at aggressive bees, not shooting human enemies with guns) as well as some light puzzling. Some sequences were more difficult than others, but even for someone without great reflexes, they were not too punishing. It is clear that the creators wanted the game to be enjoyed by casual players and they did a good job of implementing this intent—it is very forgiving when it comes to messing up, and allows you to start right back up where you were before you perished. It Takes Two was a heftier game than I expected, with plenty of content for multiple sittings and a wide variety of flavors in the level design. Sometimes I wished there were more “break” points between areas, but at the same time, the smoothness of the game is what kept us going for hours. I wouldn’t have minded more puzzly challenges either, but the game made good use of the cooperative aspect, always forcing us to work problems out together to accomplish our goal. The subject matter wasn’t a downer, either; although I have mixed feelings on the story itself, there was plenty of humor to keep up the enjoyment. For those who enjoy a little friendly competition along their collaborative journey, there are also some cute (but optional) 1v1 battles along the way. Long story short, this is the couch coop I’ve been waiting for, and if you’ve been looking for the same, you likely won’t be disappointed. Time: ~12 hours Difficulty: 2/5 Cantaloop Book 1: Breaking Into Prison by Lookout Games Cantaloop has been described to me as a “point and click video game in book form,” and for better or worse, I have to agree. The gameplay felt like something between an Unlock box and a choose-your-own-path adventure game, and utilized an inventive and original mechanic. We appreciated that the story didn’t have to be linear, although at times this resulted in missing places we had to come back to. The writing was generally well done (especially if you enjoy puns), though the story felt a little generic. It would have been cool to see a deeper narrative explored in this special format, but hopefully this is just the beginning. It was also funny, sometimes even sassy, trying to make us feel dumb for taking a certain action—we had mixed feelings about this, because at times it was difficult to tell what could or could not be done, and some puzzles could have used better signposting to alleviate ambiguity. Nevertheless, we did feel that the overall gameplay was of good quality, and frankly, it’s worth playing for the uniqueness of the mechanic alone. Time ~2-4h Difficulty: 3/5 Fairy Tale Files: Who Framed Mr. Wolfe by Society of Curiosities Who Framed Mr. Wolfe was a delightful final episode of the Fairy Tale Files series. Like its predecessors, it features a humorous and family-friendly mystery that can serve as a great bite-sized puzzle break or a warm up for a more intense puzzling session. We appreciated the effort put into the custom artwork and the creative solutions to some of the puzzles, which would not have worked outside the online chat system used by Society of Curiosities. If you’ve been considering picking up a Fairy Tale File though, we would recommend you just get the whole lot. Time: <1h Difficulty: 1/5 Tale of a Golden Dragon by Scarlet Envelope Tale of a Golden Dragon is the seventh installment in Scarlet Envelope’s series, and is centered around the search for a dragon that burned down a village. As is typical for this series, there was a fair amount of content tucked into a small envelope, though a good portion of the interactions were done through the web. We appreciated the flavorful writing and the humorous tone of the experience, though at times it felt like the text had a long-winded way of telling us “there’s nothing here for you to find.” There were also some spots of ambiguous cluing, but we did manage to make it through most of the experience without any hints. There was also one physical interaction that particularly struck our fancy, and overall this felt like a strong episode in the Scarlet Envelope series. Time: <2h Difficulty: 2.5/5 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 a roundup for this spring! Detroit: Become Human Platforms: PlayStation4, Windows Detroit: Become Human is a narrative-driven adventure game set in a world where tensions between humans and androids are on the verge of coming to a head. Players alternate between controlling three key android characters, each with a different personality and role within the story and human society. Gameplay consists mainly of accomplishing tasks, choosing dialogue, and making other decisions that affect the story, as well as a handful of guided action sequences. While Detroit was very enjoyable as a narrative experience, I found myself wishing the creators pushed the envelope further in terms of mechanics, as it seemed like there was a lot of potential to do more. Some quality of life improvements (such as 360 degree camera angle and smoother walking) would have also made for a more pleasant experience. Nevertheless, I did find myself invested in the storylines (although two of the three characters were considerably more interesting to follow than the third) and at times found myself torn when having to make an important choice, which is usually the sign of a good story. Fans of Telltale Games and the Life is Strange series will likely enjoy this. Time: ~12h Difficulty: N/A The Vandermist Dossier by Diorama After stumbling through the original Dutch version (Het Boekanier Dossier) several years ago, I’ve been waiting for this game to be released in English, and I was not disappointed. The Vandermist Dossier is a standout among narrative tabletop puzzle games, seamlessly blending puzzles and story without any artificial gating. The narrative feels both big and personal all at once—there is international intrigue (which we will undoubtedly uncover more of in the two sequels) as well as the story of a family torn apart, adding a sense of empathy to the excitement that comes with high stakes. The puzzles were generally well-signposted and satisfying to solve—not too easy, but not so challenging that it would be off-putting to beginners (though Diorama also offers an excellent hint system if you do get a little lost.) Last but not least, all the items in the game were beautifully crafted and realistic-looking. This added to the immersion, but there was even more to the objects than what you could see at face value… no spoilers though, just pick up a copy and see for yourself! Time: 1.5-2h Difficulty: 2.5/5 A Short Hike Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation4, Xbox One, Mac, Windows, Linux A Short Hike is a sweet little game about a bird trying to get to the peak of a mountain, consisting mainly of exploration and completing some small item quests. This is a lightweight game in a cute low-poly style that you can play in a single sitting, and although you might not know where you are half of the time, you’ll find that it doesn’t matter at all, because you’re really there for the atmosphere. While there wasn’t anything mindblowing in this game, there were certainly a few delightful moments, and it was a pleasant and relaxing way to spend a couple of hours. Time: ~2h Difficulty: 1/5 Letters to Margaret Letters to Margaret is a graphic novel with and about crosswords that offers the perspective of two distinct characters on the same events. Although I’m not a huge crossword fan myself, I picked up this book because I was intrigued by the premise of the story, which examines the use and evolution of language in our culture and how that is extended through word puzzles, both from the perspective of the designers as well as the public. The result is an interesting dialogue that is relevant to our time, which will be particularly enjoyable to those interested in language, culture, and the impact editorialship can have on the public consciousness. It is also a worthwhile read if you like wordplay, puns, and of course, crosswords, of which there are several throughout the book. Time: 2h+ Depends on how much crossword solving you do and your experience level. Difficulty: Most of the book is reading—so technically 0/5. The crosswords can probably best be described as medium difficulty, but as a crossword novice, I was not close to finishing any of them. That said, it didn’t matter, as it wasn’t essential to the story, but those who do enjoy crosswords will get even more out of this book. A Memoir Blue Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation4, Xbox One, Windows A Memoir Blue is a narrative-driven game about the relationship of a mother and a daughter. The gameplay consists mainly of small tasks and object manipulations that reveal memories, with interactions alternating between realistic/literal and dreamy/abstract. It was an excellent example of wordless storytelling in the form of “show, don’t tell,” although some small improvements in feedback and user interface would go a long way in smoothing out the overall gameplay experience. Fans of Gone Home and Old Man's Journey may enjoy this one, but note that if you’re normally a console user, I would recommend playing this one on a computer. Time: ~2h Difficulty: 1/5 Erica Platforms: iOS, PlayStation4, Windows Erica is an interactive story told through video clips and affected by player choices. It features a dark narrative (more haunting than horror), with nearly seamless transitions between interactions and live action scenes, which is impressive in its own right. Playing this game was akin to experiencing a mystery/suspense film in which you get to actually participate and make some decisions, and by the end, it may leave you questioning what reality is. This was an exciting and enjoyable experience, and my only “complaint” is that I wish there was a Chapter Select option to revisit previous scenes once you complete the game. I realize the lack of this feature is very intentional, but it would still be pretty nice to see other outcomes of the story without replaying through the entire thing. That said, it’s not that long of a game, so it may be worth a replay anyway. Fans of Her Story and Life is Strange will probably enjoy this one, but I recommend playing it on a mobile device. Time: ~2h for the basic story, more if you replay for different choices Difficulty: N/A What have you been playing lately?

Every two months 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 a roundup to start off the new year! Never House by DarkPark Never House is a spooky narrative puzzle adventure that mixes physical components with in-game online elements (i.e. links are provided to the necessary websites and the game does not require googling or outside knowledge). Solving clues will lead you to discover the mysterious history of the Sterling Estate and what happened to the families who occupied it over the years. Overall, the Never House presents logical puzzles with a relatively smooth gameflow (look ma, no hints!) and although we solved some puzzles outside of the intended sequence, this didn’t create any issues in the narrative, as it was clear when those elements were meant to be used, and we actually appreciated being able to jump back and forth between different puzzles. The props are also high quality, adding to the immersion, and even include a couple of great reveals. Time: ~2h Difficulty: 2/5 Blackwood Crossing Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox One, Steam (Windows) Blackwood Crossing is a story-driven puzzle game with a dark and dreamy atmosphere. It explores the relationship between two orphaned siblings on what seems like an ordinary train ride that turns into an adventure full of mystery and emotion. I found that there were some "quality of life" elements that could improve the gameplay (adding the ability to run, highlighting clickable items, being able to select items from farther away, etc.) but those minor flaws don't take away from the meaningful narrative and unique mechanic. If you’re looking for a resonant story you can play through in a single sitting, this could be a good choice. Time: 2-3h Difficulty: 2/5 Fairy Tale Files: Sweet Witch Inferno by Society of Curiosities Sweet Witch Inferno is the third game in the Fairy Tale Files series, continuing the streak of charming and accessible gameplay. Like its predecessors, this game uses a web interface for submitting solutions through a "Magic Mirror" and allows you to send an agent to explore various locations in this fantastical world. This entire series is family-friendly while being equally fun for adults, and I always appreciate the embedded humor and colorful artwork. While experienced players may not find this game especially challenging, the puzzles still require some thought to solve and manage to maintain the satisfying aha moments rather than taking an overly simplistic route towards creating a lower difficulty game. Plus, it’s really darn cute and a great option for a quick puzzle fix. Time: <1h Difficulty: 1.5/5 Solve Our Shirts: The Treasure Trove of Pirate Cove by CU Adventures This is the second Solve Our Shirts product from CU Adventures, and just like the first, it utilizes a web application to guide you through the game while you solve the puzzles using elements on the shirt itself as well as some supplementary materials. There are two stages to the game, each with several puzzles which can be completed in any order, granting you the ability to come back to a puzzle and solve it later in case you get a little stuck. The game makes use of the combination of t-shirt, physical elements, and web interface in a relatively seamless manner, and includes not only entertaining puzzles but original pirate songs that are relevant to the gameplay and add a good degree of whimsy to the whole experience. Time: <1.5h Difficulty: 2/5 Beyond the Kelp, Turbo 3000, Snack Attack by Odd Pieces This collection of 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles by Odd Pieces was enjoyable to solve, but didn’t feel like it quite delivered on its intended premise. When I first came across it on Kickstarter, I was a little put off by its similarity to the Magic Puzzles Company’s campaign, but winter was approaching, and my itch for some new jigsaws convinced me to back it anyway. Quality-wise, it is satisfying. The pieces fit nicely and the matte finished graphics are pleasant to look at. The “mystery” aspect, on the other hand, is a bit lacking. The gimmick is that the picture on the puzzle itself is subtly different from the poster, and some form of light narrative is meant to be derived through those distinctions. However, as some who prefers to puzzle on "hard mode" (i.e. without referencing the poster), this element gets a bit lost. I wanted something cool to happen at the end—to have some sort of realization or resolve—and it didn’t really deliver in that regard. It is also disappointing that a puzzle by a company called Odd Pieces actually contains entirely standard-looking pieces. (I knew this fact going in, but I can’t help but not want this to be the case.) If you want some fun and good quality jigsaw puzzles, these are not a bad option, as long as you don’t have expectations for a big surprise at the end. Time: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Least to most difficult: Turbo 3000, Snack Attack, Beyond the Kelp (pictured) Dragon Age: Inquisition Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Steam (Windows) As someone who is still relatively new to RPGs, Dragon Age: Inquisition proved to be both an accessible and engaging way to continue exploring this video game genre. The story pulled me in right from the opening sequence, and the companion characters are all so varied that I had a hard time deciding who I wanted in my party at any given moment (you can only travel with 3 companions at a time.) Aside from the fact that there is a ton of content, dozens of quests, and even additional downloadable content, one of the highlights of the experience was being able to make decisions that actually affected the story, and having meaningful interactions with the characters. The battle sequences also have two modes you can access—the default is a real-time action mode, but it can be easily paused at any moment to enter a tactical interface in which you can choose every character’s next move. This was useful in more complicated battles that benefited from extra planning, as well as in desperate moments of near-death, allowing you to take healing potions before the enemy could cast a deadly strike. My only real issues with the game are the world maps and the physical character mapping—it was often unclear which areas you can or cannot jump to, or how steep a hill has to be before you can’t walk up it. Plus, the actual maps were often unclear about the geography of the space, making navigation much more complicated than it needed to be. While those things were frustrating at times though, they never eclipsed the beauty and substance of the entire adventure, which proved entertaining enough to keep me up for many late nights while I explored landscapes, battled dragons, and even formed relationships with my companions. If you want to be immersed in a long-form fantasy game with a vast world and accessible mechanics, this is a great choice. Time: Many dozens of hours. The total time spent will depend on your desire to explore and complete additional side quests. Difficulty: Variable, including a story mode What have you been playing lately?

Every two months on this blog I highlight a handful of tabletop and digital games to spread the word about interesting experiences and support other creators. This month’s roundup contains both digital and tabletop games, and somehow, I found all of them to be a 2/5 difficulty... This will be the last roundup of the year, so if you've been following and reading these posts, thank you! Also, if this blog resulted in any good recommendations for you, I would love to hear about it! Iris.Fall Iris.Fall is a relaxing puzzle game with a pleasant but spooky art style. The dark-fairy-tale-like aesthetic combines well with the main game mechanic of playing with light and shadow. This Alice-in-Wonderland-esque adventure tells a story without using language—instead, it uses shape and shadow. Although many puzzles are reminiscent of games like Monument Valley, The Room series, and Where Shadows Slumber, they are nonetheless satisfying to solve. And don’t worry, there is plenty of fresh and original content too! Time: ~3h Difficulty: 2/5 Captain Nemo’s Nautilus Cluebox by iDventure Captain Nemo’s Nautilus is an interactive wooden puzzle box, and the third Cluebox released by iDventure. The instructions were brief here, and although I wished the signposting was a touch clearer, I had to rely on careful observation skills to solve this box. Unlike traditional puzzle boxes, solving this is more of an escape room experience, as the solutions rely on logic rather than trial and error. Although this is a purely puzzle/mechanical experience and I normally prefer a bit of narrative involved, I found the language agnosticism the most admirable part of the design. iDventure managed to create satisfying and clever puzzles without using any words, which is not an easy task. This box also makes for a great display piece, and can be reset to give to a friend. Although a few interactions felt a bit tricky to me, the hint system is fantastic and shows how to solve the puzzles step-by-step with photos and videos, so you’ll never get completely stuck. Time: ~1h Difficulty: 2/5 EXIT: The Game - The Sacred Temple by Thames & Kosmos The Sacred Temple is part of EXIT: The Game’s jigsaw puzzle escape room series, which has players ping-pong between puzzle solving and assembling jigsaws throughout the game. The number of puzzle pieces given at any given time felt appropriate—not too easy to breeze through, and not so much to feel unmanageable, ultimately providing an enjoyable break between solving the puzzles. My favorite puzzles were the ones that utilized the jigsaw format well and encouraged some outside-the-box thinking. A couple of others felt like a miss, and one even caused me to backtrack, but the overall gameplay felt relatively smooth. It had a fairly common escape room premise, so I wouldn’t play this game for the narrative, but it definitely provided for a pleasant evening of entertainment. Time: ~2h Difficulty: 2/5 Unlock! Heroic Adventures Heroic Adventures is a part of the Unlock! Series, containing three separate games. Insert Coin is a video game themed adventure, with adorable 8-bit style art, and generally pleasant puzzles that felt standard to the format. Sherlock Holmes is, fittingly, more of a deductive and story-driven installment. This is a departure from the typical Unlock! game, and despite missing a couple of details, we actually found it to be the most intuitive and satisfying of the three games. In Pursuit of the White Rabbit, on the other hand, felt obtuse at times, and after breaking sequence and not being able to find appropriate hints, we lost a bit of steam. If you’re a fan of the series, however, this will probably still be a box you enjoy. Time: ~1h x 3 games Difficulty: 2/5 Greedfall Greedfall is a role-playing game in which the player acts as a diplomat on a newly discovered island, having to negotiate between the island natives and the various colonizing forces. Greedfall had what felt like an appropriate level of complexity for someone who is new to role-playing games. There was a decently sized (but not enormous) map and many side quests to explore, but the story was easily comprehensible and I appreciated being able to choose a female character. Having the ability to select "easy mode" made it much more accessible for someone who doesn’t enjoy fights in games—the fights felt not only manageable, but often even enjoyable (even the big bosses, because by the end you’ve probably leveled up quite a lot and upgraded your gear/skills enough to take them on.) For those completely averse to combat, there is also a "story mode." One thing I particularly enjoyed was making decisions that affected the narrative. The struggle between natives and colonizers amid magical beasts and an epidemic was an interesting theme to explore, and being able to influence the final outcome of the game felt meaningful. As the game went on, I learned more about my character’s background and that of the island, and the game wrapped up storylines with fairly satisfying conclusions. Could it have been more daring? More emotionally impactful? Yes. Could romance have been easier to pursue, adding more intrigue to the storyline? Yes. Could there have been less running? Absolutely. But at least it gave me the courtesy of knowing where I was going, and seeing sparkles when there was something for me to pick up. The quests were usually clear and didn’t require pixel hunting or excessive searching, which made for a pleasant and accessible gameplay experience with varying levels of depth to explore. Time: 20-40 hours Difficulty: Several difficulty levels to choose from What have you been playing lately?

Two years ago I posted a seasonal gift guide that featured some family-friendly non-puzzle games for the holidays. This year’s list is skewed more toward seasonal specials, puzzly stocking stuffers, and games that I thought would make for particularly nice gifts. Greeting Cards Puzzle Greeting Cards by PostCurious That’s right, we’ve got holiday cards this year! Each has a hand-drawn illustration with a puzzle or hidden message that solves to a secular holiday greeting. Comes in a set of 3 and features a lower difficulty level to engage your non-puzzling friends and family as well. Recommended # of players: 1 Time: <5m per card Christmas Puzzle Greeting Card by Scarlet Envelope Scarlet Envelope’s greeting card is more of a mini-game, featuring four multi-layered puzzles. This card will make a great surprise for the puzzle-lovers in your life. Recommended # of players: 1-2 Time: <45m Stocking Stuffers The Fairy Tale Files by Society of Curiosities It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Society of Curiosities, and if you're looking for something more robust, their subscription boxes will make any immersive gaming enthusiast very happy. For something on the lighter side, however, The Fairy Tale Files are an excellent option. The Cinderella Murders and The Curious Case of the Poisoned Apples are the two games currently available in the series. Both are charming, family-friendly, and make for a great introduction to games in this genre. Plus, they come in an envelope, making them easy to ship or slip into a stocking! Recommended # of players: 2 Time: ~1h Great for: Quick play, fairy tale lovers, families Hincks Gazette by Bluefish Games Hincks Gazette is a monthly puzzle newspaper that strikes a good balance of being approachable for beginners but not too easy for experienced puzzlers. Consistently humorous and full of thoughtful puzzles, it is an easy recommendation to make. Although Hincks Gazette is normally available as a subscription, Bluefish Games is offering card packs and boxed sets for the holidays. If your recipient really loves puzzles, Hincks Elevator and Stairs will also make a fantastic gift (and if you haven’t played them yet, you’d probably best pick up a copy for yourself as well.) Recommended # of players: 1-2 Time: <1h per gazette Great for: Quick play, puzzle lovers Chocolateral Bars by Enigmailed Enigmailed has several different flavors of these delicious treats on offer. Each bar contains a handful of bite-sized puzzles on the packaging, making it a great stocking stuffer for anyone who wants to chew on some puzzles while they succumb to their sweet tooth. Recommended # of players: 1-2 Time: <20m per bar Great for: Quick play, chocolate lovers Other Games Cluebox Puzzles by iDventure iDventure offers three different Cluebox games, all made out of laser cut wood. Despite the mechanical puzzle look, these boxes actually require solving escape room style puzzles in order to open the box, rather than using trial and error or spatial logic. They make for an impressive-looking gift that can double as a display piece, and is also fully resettable—if you want to be super sneaky, you could even solve the box first and hide an extra surprise for the recipient on the inside. Recommended # of players: 1-2 Time: <1h per box Great for: Quick play, mechanism lovers, artifact lovers Box ONE by Neil Patrick Harris and Theory11 Box ONE is a game that is easily approachable for non-puzzlers but packs an impressive number of surprises that will undoubtedly delight any seasoned player. Although there’s not a ton that can be said about the game without ruining the aforementioned surprises, you can rest assured the recipient of this gift will be a happy one. Recommended # of players: 1 Time: [Redacted for spoilers] Great for: All experience levels, solo gamers Solve Our Shirts by CU Adventures Solve Our Shirts is essentially an escape game in the form of a T-shirt, making for a puzzly gift whose use will last far beyond the actual solving. Full of quality enigmas and clever surprises, I haven’t yet encountered a person who didn’t enjoy this game (plus look at those great color options!) Recommended # of players: 2 Time: <90m Great for: Puzzle lovers, T-shirt wearers Legend: A Game of Maps Legend: A Game of Maps is a series of beautifully crafted tabletop puzzle games with realistically aged documents. Only the first two chapters are currently available, and I would recommend buying both as a set (as opposed to just the first chapter). Part 1 is definitely easier than the second, but the second is significantly more impressive in both the puzzles, artifacts, and scope. Recommended # of players: 1-2 for part 1, up to 4 for part 2 Time: This will vary from group to group, but it’s not a short game Great for: Experienced puzzlers, artifact lovers Root of All Evil by Crack-A-Nut Mysteries If you’re looking for something a little more premium, Root of All Evil will make for a spooky and unique experience for that special someone. Featuring a handful of puzzles and many physical mysteries to uncover, this story-driven experience will excite anyone who loves handmade quality components and isn’t sensitive to a dark theme. Recommended # of players: 1-2 Time: 2-3h Great for: Narrative lovers, artifact lovers Got any suggestions for other great holiday gifts in the puzzle genre? Put em in the comments!

I’m always on the lookout for good games that will satisfy a diverse group, whether it involves kids, non-gamers, or just a gathering that’s larger than four people - relevant as ever during the holiday season. As you might imagine, these tend to be lighter games than most and take less than an hour to play. I want to be able to explain them in 5 minutes or less, engage everyone, and hopefully confuse no one. At the bottom, I’m also including some neat compact games that are sure to be a delight in someone’s stocking. Medium Players: 2-8, but up to 12 could work. Time: 30-45 minutes Ages: Officially 14+, I’d say 8+ Gameplay style: Communication, party game Great for: Casual gatherings, non-gamers, but actually pretty much everyone. Medium is a brilliantly simple party game. Each turn, 2 players put down cards and try to make an association between two words, melding their minds together in an attempt to say the same word simultaneously. Guessing the correct word on the first attempt will land you more points than doing so on the second or third, while failed attempts will at the very least provide some chuckles. You can play in teams of 2 or go around in a circle alternating neighbors, which might be preferable in a larger group. As soon as I played it, I knew I had to pick up a copy for upcoming holiday events. A shout out to David from Winsmith Games for introducing it to me. PUSH Players: 2-6 Time: ~15 mins Ages: Officially 8+, I’d say 6+ Great for: Quick play, kids PUSH is a simple card drawing game with a “push your luck” mechanic. Each player draws cards on their turn and places into 3 columns, for as long as no column has a repeat of the same color or number. The main tension on each turn is: at what point do you stop drawing cards? If you draw a card you can’t place, you don’t get to keep any of your cards, forfeiting any points you may have received otherwise. There are also cards that force you to roll a die, which may result in the loss of some portion of your existing cache of points. Now, I’m normally not a fan of games with too much randomness, but in this case it doesn’t feel unfair because taking the risk is always up to the player. A shout out to Michelle Ridge for showing this game to me at PAX Unplugged. Sushi Go! Players: 2-5 (Sushi Go Party! Can accommodate up to 8) Time: ~15 mins Ages: 8+ Great for: Quick play, kids Sushi Go! is a game that will cater to all skill levels and can easily be taught through a demo round instead of a rulebook. The game is played in rounds; each player will pick a card from their hand, pass their hand in a clockwise direction, and continue to pick and pass from the hands until there are no cards remaining. Each card has a certain value depending on various factors, like set collection or having the most of a certain card. After three rounds, players add up their total points throughout the game to determine the winner. This one is great for a quick play and the cards are also hella cute. Qwirkle Players: 2-4, but could easily scale up to 6. Time: ~45 mins Ages: 6+ Gameplay style: Abstract strategy Great for: All ages, classic game lovers I’ve mentioned Qwirkle before in my post about abstract strategy game recommendations, and I think it’s a great one for this context. Qwirkle is a tile laying game that can be transported in a drawstring bag, and plays like a combination of dominoes, scrabble, and sudoku, but with shapes and colors. To me, this game is a modern classic that I can play with a little kid or with my grandpa. It’s easily explained, not language dependant, and offers a good blend of strategy, chance, and a little friendly competition. Tips: Make sure you have a decent amount of table space and a paper and pen to write down the scores - points are counted after every turn. If anyone in your group has trouble differentiating colors, a great hack by Sarah Reed is to add a dot or sticker in the center of certain colored tiles to make them easier to tell apart. (Photo via Sarah Reed) Codenames and/or Codenames: Pictures Players: 4-8 Time: 45 mins Ages: Officially 14+, I’d say 10+ Great for: Casual gatherings, better for players with a little experience Codenames is not a complicated game, but compared to the above, the learning curve is a tiny bit higher. It shares some attributes with Medium, in that it is played in teams and involves trying to decipher what’s going on in someone else’s mind. Cards are placed in a 5x5 grid, presenting either words or pictures (depending on the game) and one player acts as a clue-giver for the rest of the team as they try to guess the correct cards per a master-plan card that only the clue-givers can see. The clue can only be one word, but multiple cards can be guessed, so the challenge is finding connections between various objects and communicating those associations effectively to your team. The challenge for the rest of the team is to interpret the clues, which can be easier said than done. As for the two versions, they’re both great, and it’s entirely personal preference. As a very visual person, I enjoy Codenames: Pictures more, but I know plenty of people who prefer the words. Note that the Pictures version does have a lot of detail, so it may prove more difficult for anyone with poor eyesight. Shut the Box Players: 2-4 Time: 10 mins Ages: Officially 8+, I’d say 5+ Great for: Quick play, kids This game is very easy and mostly chance-based, but nonetheless entertaining. It almost feels silly to write about, because it is such an old game, but somehow I never encountered it until I played a similar game called Double Shutter and was pleasantly surprised. Players each have a set of levers, labeled 1-9, and take turns rolling dice and putting down the levers in various combinations that add up to the number on the dice roll (rolling a 6 allows you to put down 6, 5 and 1, or 2 and 4). The goal is to be the first to put down all your levers, and the fast pace of this game will probably make you want to play “best out of 3.” I will add that I enjoyed Double Shutter a little more, as it involved a cleverly reversed second row and therefore a little more strategy, but unfortunately it’s only available for 2 players. (Pictured below: 4 player version of Shut the Box) Stocking Stuffers Dr. Esker’s Notebook Players: I recommend 1-3 Time: ~60-90 minutes Ages: 13+ I already wrote about Dr. Esker’s Notebook in my post about tabletop game recommendations. It’s pretty much a card-based mini-escape room that comes in a nice compact deck box. The puzzles are pretty fun and although you can only play it once it’s not destructible so it can easily be passed on to a friend. Button Shy’s Wallet Games Players/time/ages: Varies Button Shy has an entire collection of Wallet Games - that is to say, card games that come in a small folding slip wallet. I’ve only tried a couple of them so far, but they’re so compact and seem to be pretty light on the difficulty spectrum. (Pictured below: Antimony) Packogames Players/time/ages: Varies Packogames are the size of a pack of gum, which is pretty awesome in itself. There’s a good variety of gameplay styles, from abstract to word games, to auction and deduction. If you order a pack of 8 you get a discount and a free carrying case. (Pictured below: SHH.) And, if you’re looking for recommendations for your nerdy/puzzle friends, check out Room Escape Artist’s Holiday Buyer’s Guide. What games do you whip out for the holidays? #holidays #holidaygames #familygames #tabletopgames #boardgames #games #stockingstuffers #holidaygifts