Puzzlegram shark.
Location: at home
Date played: October 8, 2017
Team size: 1-4; we recommend 1-3
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: £19 (+£2.50 Shipping) UK, €22 (+€4 Shipping) Europe, $25 (+$10 Shipping) Worldwide
Story & setup
When a great white shark washed up on the shore of South West England, investigators found several documents inside its stomach. We were called in to help investigate.
The Enigma Files was a play-at-home tabletop puzzle game. Escape Game Enterprises mailed us a collection of paper puzzles. This was about as straightforward as tabletop escape games get.
Puzzles
The Enigma Files contained paper puzzles. We determined which pieces connected to others in order to begin solving the puzzles. These puzzles all had at least two layers to them.
While paper-based, it played in the style of an escape room.
Standouts
There was minimal setup and it was easy to get rolling. The puzzle structure was straightforward. It soon became clear how these pieces would ultimately fit together, which gave us a finite goal.
The Enigma Files had a clear objective. It was also immediately apparent when we’d solved the game.
Although entirely paper based, the puzzle components interacted in fun ways and solved cleanly. We enjoyed the more involved puzzles.
The puzzles felt well tested.
Shortcomings
The Enigma Files was well made, but homemade. It didn’t have the polish of many of the other play-at-home games.
Some of the elements in the box seemed unnecessary. If they were puzzle pieces, we didn’t need them. If they were story elements, we didn’t get that from them.
The solution didn’t mean anything. It didn’t have any bearing on the brief staging. We were left wondering why that was the solution… and for that matter, why the setup mattered at all.
Should I play Escape Game Enterprises’ The Enigma Files?
The Enigma Files was an escape room-style puzzle game to play at home. While the setup and solution weren’t meaningful, the puzzling was clear and satisfying.
Note that you can request hints for The Enigma Files over email. We did not try the hint system and can’t speak to its speed or efficacy. Honestly, this was a mistake on our part.
The Enigma Files was entirely paper-based. It was well made, but not as polished as many other escape room-style play-at-home games.
If you’re just getting into these types of games, there are more exciting ones on the market for less money (consider that this one is shipping from the UK).
If you enjoy this type of hour-long, at-home puzzle game and you’re looking for another one to sink your teeth into, The Enigma Files would be a good choice. You’ll likely enjoy the gameplay.
Buy your copy of Escape Game Enterprises’ The Enigma Files, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Full disclosure: Thank you to Amanda Harris and Drew Nelson for sharing their copy with us.
