Room Escape Artist

A game you can’t refuse

Location:  at home

Date Played: March 2, 2024

Team size: 1-3; we recommend 1-3

Duration: 1-2 hours

Price: about $32

REA Reaction

Having played all of the Escape the Room games by Thinkfun, Murder in the Mafia has been my favorite. Its puzzles, story, and miniature set created a cohesive experience where these elements seamlessly reinforced one another. It’s a solid tabletop game by any standard, and its 3D “set” was a fun bonus.

The set warrants first comment because of its unusual 3-dimensional nature. Honestly, this game could have technically been delivered as a standard 2D experience with envelopes and flat game pieces, but the 3D structure positively affected our impressions. It was a novelty to literally open furniture and props to reveal clues, and the tight space still managed to surprise with reveals. The space also gave depth to the final metapuzzle by adding complexity and authenticity to the sleuthing. The only missed opportunity was for the puzzles themselves to leverage the 3D nature of the game.

Beyond this novelty, the game offered a remarkably smooth interplay between story and puzzles. We were rewarded for trying to follow the story, and the puzzles each served a purpose within that context. Story seekers may enjoy internalizing the finer details of the narrative, but puzzle-focused players will still have enough guidance to determine the most relevant information.

The overall construction and materials in this game were high-quality, but some manufacturing flaws scuffed an otherwise polished experience. In our copy of the game, multiple pieces were not attached in the right places, the temporary glue substance threatened to tear the pieces (though never quite did), and multiple rotating components were difficult to turn (including the decoder wheel’s reveal mechanism). These details were surely difficult to manage in mass-produced games, but they were still a nuisance.

Tabletop escape games with a 3D environment are a small minority of the overall offering, making them stand out by default. Murder in the Mafia went beyond the novelty to offer a well-rounded escape experience.

Who is this for?

• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Scenery snobs
• Murder mystery fans
• Any experience level

Why play?

• To enjoy a simple yet effective 3D tabletop set
• To solve a puzzle-laden mystery

Story

As a private investigator, we were shocked to discover Mafia member Mickey Malone dead in our office one evening, shot by our own gun. Between his ties to the Mafia and our circumstantial association with the body, we knew that both our life and reputation were on the line. We needed to prove our innocence and clear our name before either the Mafia or the law jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Setup

With minimal effort, we constructed a miniature replica of the our office by folding cardboard, inserting tabs, and arranging boxy furniture according to a diagram. We were ready to play in under five minutes.

Gameplay

ThinkFun’s Escape the Room: Murder in the Mafia was a 3D play-at-home escape game with a moderate level of difficulty.

Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing, and making connections. The game presented an intricate story through four chapters. Each chapter offered a collection of puzzles associated with various objects within the 3D environment. When we solved a puzzle, we revealed a pair of symbols to enter into a decoder wheel for validation. If correct, we could open the relevant object and obtain more clues. The game culminated in a metapuzzle that linked all the chapters together and traversed the entire space.

Analysis

➕ The 3D set’s construction and artwork were solid, if not breathtaking. If this had been an IRL set, it would have been sufficient but mundane. As a miniature, it was kind of adorable.

➖ Our set came improperly assembled. We were able to correct the issue by comparing it to the completed setup illustration.

➖ The decoder was decorated as a roulette wheel. This was a jarring departure from the rest of the game, which had no gambling motif whatsoever.

➕ The puzzles were fair, varied, and complementary to the story, creating a remarkably smooth experience.

➕ The physical manipulation puzzles took some out-of-box thinking but were within reach, unlike in some other Escape the Room games.

➕ We were impressed with a couple of genuinely surprising reveals, both narratively and physically.

➖ A few game pieces required tedious manipulation. Long fingernails helped.

➕/➖ The story was important but somewhat convoluted. This helped create a mystery with enough complexity to be interesting, but it still bogged down gameplay a bit.

➕ The final mystery was involved but clearly breadcrumbed. We got to revisit much of the game with a new focus. It was a satisfying final effort.

Tips For Players

• Space Requirements: A small tabletop or floor space
• Required Gear: An internet connection for accessing hints

Buy your copy of ThinkFun’s Escape the Room: Murder in the Mafia, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

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