Room Escape Artist

You’ve got mail … Cousin JJ needs your help!

Location:  at home

Date Played: July-November, 2024

Team size: 1-4; we recommend 1-2

Duration: 30-60 minutes

Price: about $12-$17 per episode

REA Reaction

Family Secrets was a multi-chapter experience where I worked remotely with my cousin JJ to help him investigate a mystery that was slowly revealed as the story progressed. The story was told sequentially through videos and chats and maintained a lighthearted tone throughout. I found the delivery of the story engaging, and the puzzles in each episode were well crafted to suit the storyline of that episode.

Cousin JJ traveled to numerous locations in pursuit of clues, and the physical elements that were included in each envelope were appropriately diverse, which kept things fresh and interesting. Accordingly, there was a wide variety of puzzle structure from episode to episode.

I had the standard difficulty bundle which included all 12 episodes. I played through the first 6 episodes, and there was a significant amount of puzzle content. For the sake of this review, I looked ahead to episode 12 to see how the story arc concluded, but it appeared to be a finale with meta puzzles using codes that were introduced in previous episodes. This review is based on those first 6 episodes, given that it is possible to purchase the initial episodes individually.

This product fills a unique niche and I do hope that Escape Mail will consider creating more similar products in the future!

Who is this for?

• Story seekers
• Puzzle lovers
• Any experience level

Why play?

• A full episode comes in a single business-sized envelope which fits in everyone’s mailbox. No issues with porch pirates!
• Creative variety of puzzle types, both tactile and digital, and utilizing all sorts of materials with high production value
• Substantial puzzles of moderate difficulty that are accessible to various experience levels
• Fun, extended storytelling with continuity as I followed Cousin JJ through his adventures

Story

My Cousin JJ had gotten himself involved in an extensive international mystery. He had sent me materials and research to request my help deciphering the clues from afar.

Setup

Family Secrets is a play-at-home escape game in 12 episodes. They can be purchased as a monthly subscription, individual episodes, or as a complete bundle. Each episode is a self-contained package that comes in a single envelope.

In standard difficulty, each episode included a “flow card” that indicated the order in which the puzzles should be worked on, or what sort of solutions the puzzles should yield. 

Playing each episode began with reading a letter that continued the plot line. I would be directed to a website that simulated a conversation with that episode’s protagonist and allowed for checking answers. A Spotify soundtrack for that episode was also available, should I desire more atmosphere during gameplay.

Sometimes scissors and tape were required, and occasionally, I had to construct pop-up game elements from the provided materials.

Gameplay

Escape Mail’s Family Secrets was a standard play-at-home escape game with a moderate level of difficulty.

The gameplay varied greatly from episode to episode. There were puzzles that used codes, logic, searching, perspective, map reading, and many other mechanisms that would be found in a traditional escape room. Some episodes relied primarily on the physical materials; others made more use of the website.

For each puzzle, depending on the amount of help the player needed, 3 levels of hints were available, in addition to the answer, and could be retrieved online.

Analysis

➕ The standard difficulty edition provided a “flow card” which would be helpful to less experienced players, and could easily be ignored for a more challenging game.

➕ Each episode that I played was considerably different from the prior episodes, both in setting and in game structure. Each new chapter was refreshingly distinct.

❓ Given the wide variety of puzzle types, my enjoyment of each individual episode was somewhat dependent on my preference for the types of puzzles in that specific envelope. There was one decoding task in particular that was somewhat tedious, which I opted to bypass using a hint.

➕/➖ Technology was creatively used to add immersiveness into the experience through videos and chat. It was also sometimes used for puzzle interfaces, which kept things engaging. For one episode, however, the interface would reset whenever my phone locked through inactivity, which was mildly annoying, albeit not progress blocking.

➕/➖ Purchasing the game as a bundle reduced the average price of each episode, but locked the purchase into a single difficulty. I had the standard difficulty edition bundle, but belatedly realized that the expert edition may have been more suitable, given my experience level.

➕ I considered the fact that each episode came in a single envelope to be a great selling point as it eliminated issues that some people have with receiving packages.

Tips For Players

• Space Requirements: A table to spread out game items.
• Required Gear: Internet connected device. Other equipment varies for each episode, but is indicated on the flow card, and may include scissors, tape, and a pen.

Buy your copy of Escape Mail’s Family Secrets, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Escape Mail provided a complimentary game.