Honestly, I don't get people making a fuss about Exit being 'one time playable' games. I have played the same Exit game twice once, and it's alot less fun the second time (It ruined the experience for me, since I knew how to move forward, but the others are still trying to figure it out. In the end, I found something different to do). You get the best experience from playing it only once. It's kinda like an Escape Room. You're not gonna do the same one twice. (I've never played the english ones before, though. I'm not even sure if some of the Exit games we played have an english version.)
really nice review. i ordered two of the beginner ones to start (they mustve put the difficulty on them since your review). as a fan of regular escape roons- im excited to try these out!
Very cool concept, and I have tried one Escape Room experience, which was awesome. I know the price for entry is quite cheap( $10 online), I'm leery on "disposable" games but this one is cheap enough that it does not bug me as much. However, I would like a company to make similar style game with a replay factor and can still be unique and varied enough from play to play. That's wishful thinking at this point, but hey I'm willing to give it a try at the price for entry
Could a person just copy and reprint the sheet(s) that you "fold or cut" to play the game again? Or do you need to do things to the other components during the game?
If you use paper and pen you can solve the puzzles that require destruction by simple drawing out what you have to destroy/cut up and doing that to the paper. I did this for the Cabin one successfully without too much issue. That said it adds time to your solution and honestly they are so well priced I don't know that it's worth the effort.
So I picked up all 3 of these, and each one has the instructions, some small paper pieces, a dial, a deck of cards that is sealed, and a booklet that's 5-6 double sided pages. So that's the contents if anybody else is curious as to what exactly is inside the box.
Jeremiah Culp They are the best by far. Unlock is not completely balanced and the app not yet polished, Deckscape is a bad copy of Unlock so even worse, the ThinkFun ones are far too easy and more geared towards kids and the Noris one has the cheap plastic components, nerve wrenching musical background and some machine decoders that were programmed badly (so you have to get in contact with the publisher and get a replacement one). The German scene is very vocal about these games and we have several comparison videos online btw, all of them coming to the same conclusion (Spielerleben, Brettspielblog, Hunter & Cron etc.): Kosmos reigns supreme. And try to start with the abandoned Cabin, worked better than the Lab as an entry point for most people.
I have enjoyed playing all of the Exit and Unlock escape games. The one criticism I have is that I feel that all of the puzzles need to logically add to the story. I don't want to solve a crossword puzzle to get out of a pyramid. To solve this we created a fully illustrated comic book where you are the leader of a superhero group of escape artist. The puzzles make logical sense and add to the story like a song would in a well performed musical. If you want some of our puzzles for free just reply to this post. We have more information at www.escapeteam.org. :)
@@LookAtTheBacon I believe that for the Noris ones (Escape Room: The Game series) that you may use the app instead of the Chrono decoder. I'm not entirely sure about this because I have the games but have yet to play them, though I've read elsewhere that this is how some players managed to circumvent the decoders that were 'programmed badly'. Edit - Actually scrap that. Upon closer inspection and having downloaded the app, it does not come with a built-in chrono decoder. I just wonder whether the decoders from the first and second games are interchangeable because I have both of them.
If you do want to pass the game on, there's usually a forum post on BoardGameGeek that indicates the cards/materials to copy. Do note that some of the games may have you destroy components that are not easy to copy, in which case you'd probably have to look at the solution card instead if you want to keep everything intact. Putting aside the game materials, pretty much all escape room board games are single play since if you've figured out the solution, you then know it, and it doesn't change between playthroughs, so there's no point replaying.
I love escape games and I watched a few old (and newer) shows on youtube testing the contestants' wits, but I never really tried one myself. For the price that these are, surely they are worth it since 4 players seems to be the minimum, one can argue that each person paid 3 bucks or so. :D
No idea if the home games are worth it, but it is absolutely worth your time to do at least one actual escape room. I plan on picking up one of these games to try out with my grandmother and disabled aunt, both of whom would love an actual escape room but neither of which are actually physically capable of spending the time in one that is necessary.
If you ever happen to be in Athens: do one there. They have so many different companies and each has many different rooms, totally worth it! It's in English too. Also it's not as expensive there. We paid like 8€ per person.
As a game designer (and player), I am attracted to the ingenuity of this game series, but am one of those who dislikes the disposable aspect. The price is great for the entertainment, I get that, and I understand the business model of planned obsolescence (thought it annoys me)...but the waste really is an issue for me. I don't mind the one-time use at all. It's a puzzle after all. But I can't pass it on to someone as a gift after I solve it? Seems cruel. I understand they want/need to sell copies, obviously, but people pass games/puzzles onto others. It happens. Even helps keep the hobby and industry going. That's why companies make more and more of them, to keep it fresh. I think the series is almost perfect, save for the disposable aspect.
Really sucks that you can't use the games over and over. Here I was, planning to play it first with my girlfriend. Then I would have my friends play it, and I would moderate and amuse myself with their struggles. Then I would host my own escape room parties where I put other friends through them. I was planning to get like a minimum of three uses out of each. If I can only use it once, it's a No Buy from me.
The EXIT games are not recommended for anyone with colour deficient vision (that's 8% of the male population). I wish game designers would consider that fact more often.
if i buy a game i dont expect one use out of it - 12 bucks is a lot when you have to buy it again and again and you want to get the others and you're already buying different games etc - I hate this trend in games! - pass
The thing is that you spend 12 bucks, play it once, enjoy the moment and then you don't buy it again. See it as the same thing as going to see a movie or a play or a good meal in a restaurant.
Mike J. Where's the issue? Just don't buy it... Is someone forcing you to buy one..!? How do you expect they could do an 'Escape Room' type game with replay? $12 for an hour of fun with a group of people is pretty cheap in my book... if you're 4, that's $3 each...
I am commenting on a trend in games and a trend in society. This has nothing to do with me buying or not buying. I realize I can buy or not buy a game. I realize a company can make whatever kind of game they want and charge whatever price they want. I am commenting that 1. I don't like this trend in games where they are disposable (just like if dvds were disposable) and 2. I don't like when people say that certain amounts of money are "cheap" when in fact they might not be "cheap" for other people. That's all.
Mike J. Sorry, but I still don't understand where's the problem... Have you ever went to an Escape Room? It's about $20-25 /person, so yes, I think I'm confident saying those Ecit games, at $12, are pretty cheap compare to an Escape Room for the same amount of playtime. As for the disposable trend like you said... Have you ever bought a Hallmarks card for someone, that's pretty disposable and sone cards can go up to $10-12... You have to see it as an experience just like watching a movie or going to the theatre... And again, if you don't like it, just don't buy it. Personally, I don't like 'living cards' games type, I'm not going on review of those type of games and complaining.. I can understand that it's not for me and I'm just not buying those... there's still thousands of games to buy anyway...
now that there are a couple escape room type games, could we get a review of the pros/cons of each and which ones are the best?
From what I've seen just browsing around casually, it seems like the ones reviewed in this video are the best so far.
that is so incredibly subjective it's almost impossible to answer with any certainty
Thanks for the quick tutorial. Me and my sister picked this up at target, however we have the Dead Man on the Orient Express. Thanks again!!
Honestly, I don't get people making a fuss about Exit being 'one time playable' games. I have played the same Exit game twice once, and it's alot less fun the second time (It ruined the experience for me, since I knew how to move forward, but the others are still trying to figure it out. In the end, I found something different to do). You get the best experience from playing it only once.
It's kinda like an Escape Room. You're not gonna do the same one twice.
(I've never played the english ones before, though. I'm not even sure if some of the Exit games we played have an english version.)
really nice review. i ordered two of the beginner ones to start (they mustve put the difficulty on them since your review). as a fan of regular escape roons- im excited to try these out!
Very cool concept, and I have tried one Escape Room experience, which was awesome. I know the price for entry is quite cheap( $10 online), I'm leery on "disposable" games but this one is cheap enough that it does not bug me as much. However, I would like a company to make similar style game with a replay factor and can still be unique and varied enough from play to play.
That's wishful thinking at this point, but hey I'm willing to give it a try at the price for entry
This is a great review. Thank you!!
Could a person just copy and reprint the sheet(s) that you "fold or cut" to play the game again? Or do you need to do things to the other components during the game?
boohiss83 interested to know this
Cheaper and less time consuming to buy a new copy.
If you use paper and pen you can solve the puzzles that require destruction by simple drawing out what you have to destroy/cut up and doing that to the paper. I did this for the Cabin one successfully without too much issue. That said it adds time to your solution and honestly they are so well priced I don't know that it's worth the effort.
So I picked up all 3 of these, and each one has the instructions, some small paper pieces, a dial, a deck of cards that is sealed, and a booklet that's 5-6 double sided pages. So that's the contents if anybody else is curious as to what exactly is inside the box.
boohiss83 o
So these are play one time games with disposable parts?
Yes, it says so on the box.
Out of the different escape room games, where do these fall?
Jeremiah Culp They are the best by far.
Unlock is not completely balanced and the app not yet polished, Deckscape is a bad copy of Unlock so even worse, the ThinkFun ones are far too easy and more geared towards kids and the Noris one has the cheap plastic components, nerve wrenching musical background and some machine decoders that were programmed badly (so you have to get in contact with the publisher and get a replacement one).
The German scene is very vocal about these games and we have several comparison videos online btw, all of them coming to the same conclusion (Spielerleben, Brettspielblog, Hunter & Cron etc.): Kosmos reigns supreme. And try to start with the abandoned Cabin, worked better than the Lab as an entry point for most people.
I have enjoyed playing all of the Exit and Unlock escape games. The one criticism I have is that I feel that all of the puzzles need to logically add to the story. I don't want to solve a crossword puzzle to get out of a pyramid. To solve this we created a fully illustrated comic book where you are the leader of a superhero group of escape artist. The puzzles make logical sense and add to the story like a song would in a well performed musical. If you want some of our puzzles for free just reply to this post. We have more information at www.escapeteam.org. :)
@@DougBeech website link not working
@@LookAtTheBacon I believe that for the Noris ones (Escape Room: The Game series) that you may use the app instead of the Chrono decoder. I'm not entirely sure about this because I have the games but have yet to play them, though I've read elsewhere that this is how some players managed to circumvent the decoders that were 'programmed badly'.
Edit - Actually scrap that. Upon closer inspection and having downloaded the app, it does not come with a built-in chrono decoder. I just wonder whether the decoders from the first and second games are interchangeable because I have both of them.
Just a question: is it one time play? Or you can replay it more times?
literally said one time play lol
If you do want to pass the game on, there's usually a forum post on BoardGameGeek that indicates the cards/materials to copy. Do note that some of the games may have you destroy components that are not easy to copy, in which case you'd probably have to look at the solution card instead if you want to keep everything intact.
Putting aside the game materials, pretty much all escape room board games are single play since if you've figured out the solution, you then know it, and it doesn't change between playthroughs, so there's no point replaying.
Do any of these have a "horror" theme? Or are they more "mystery" in nature? Thanks.
I've not played Pharaoh's Tomb, but the other two are definitely more mystery. There's no horror here.
Thanks for the info. I truly appreciate it.
I love escape games and I watched a few old (and newer) shows on youtube testing the contestants' wits, but I never really tried one myself. For the price that these are, surely they are worth it since 4 players seems to be the minimum, one can argue that each person paid 3 bucks or so. :D
No idea if the home games are worth it, but it is absolutely worth your time to do at least one actual escape room. I plan on picking up one of these games to try out with my grandmother and disabled aunt, both of whom would love an actual escape room but neither of which are actually physically capable of spending the time in one that is necessary.
Completely agree, if you can try one, it's a truly great experience. Pricey, sure, but very fun and entertaining
If you ever happen to be in Athens: do one there. They have so many different companies and each has many different rooms, totally worth it! It's in English too. Also it's not as expensive there. We paid like 8€ per person.
As a game designer (and player), I am attracted to the ingenuity of this game series, but am one of those who dislikes the disposable aspect. The price is great for the entertainment, I get that, and I understand the business model of planned obsolescence (thought it annoys me)...but the waste really is an issue for me. I don't mind the one-time use at all. It's a puzzle after all. But I can't pass it on to someone as a gift after I solve it? Seems cruel.
I understand they want/need to sell copies, obviously, but people pass games/puzzles onto others. It happens. Even helps keep the hobby and industry going. That's why companies make more and more of them, to keep it fresh. I think the series is almost perfect, save for the disposable aspect.
they put difficulties on them now !!
Really sucks that you can't use the games over and over.
Here I was, planning to play it first with my girlfriend.
Then I would have my friends play it, and I would moderate and amuse myself with their struggles.
Then I would host my own escape room parties where I put other friends through them.
I was planning to get like a minimum of three uses out of each. If I can only use it once, it's a No Buy from me.
The EXIT games are not recommended for anyone with colour deficient vision (that's 8% of the male population). I wish game designers would consider that fact more often.
if i buy a game i dont expect one use out of it - 12 bucks is a lot when you have to buy it again and again and you want to get the others and you're already buying different games etc - I hate this trend in games! - pass
The thing is that you spend 12 bucks, play it once, enjoy the moment and then you don't buy it again.
See it as the same thing as going to see a movie or a play or a good meal in a restaurant.
I get that but I am saying imo boardgames shouldn't be like that. Also I dislike the idea of people acting like 12 dollars is nothing.
Mike J. Where's the issue? Just don't buy it... Is someone forcing you to buy one..!? How do you expect they could do an 'Escape Room' type game with replay? $12 for an hour of fun with a group of people is pretty cheap in my book... if you're 4, that's $3 each...
I am commenting on a trend in games and a trend in society. This has nothing to do with me buying or not buying. I realize I can buy or not buy a game. I realize a company can make whatever kind of game they want and charge whatever price they want. I am commenting that 1. I don't like this trend in games where they are disposable (just like if dvds were disposable) and 2. I don't like when people say that certain amounts of money are "cheap" when in fact they might not be "cheap" for other people. That's all.
Mike J. Sorry, but I still don't understand where's the problem... Have you ever went to an Escape Room? It's about $20-25 /person, so yes, I think I'm confident saying those Ecit games, at $12, are pretty cheap compare to an Escape Room for the same amount of playtime.
As for the disposable trend like you said... Have you ever bought a Hallmarks card for someone, that's pretty disposable and sone cards can go up to $10-12... You have to see it as an experience just like watching a movie or going to the theatre... And again, if you don't like it, just don't buy it. Personally, I don't like 'living cards' games type, I'm not going on review of those type of games and complaining.. I can understand that it's not for me and I'm just not buying those... there's still thousands of games to buy anyway...