Immersion Interactive, Inc. - "The Messenger"

Updated: Apr 30

Photo above is property of Immersion Interactive, Inc.

Company: Immersion Interactive, Inc.

Game: The Messenger: An Immersive Mystery

Country: USA 🇺🇸

Language: English

Type of Game: Puzzles By Mail 📬

Genre: Supernatural, Horror

Date Played: May 6, 2021

Difficulty (based on 1 player): 8/10

Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommend 1-4 ppl) (Ages 16+)

Time: Unlimited (Approximately 8 Hrs)

Price: $65.00 - Standard Edition (plus shipping)/ $130.00 - Collector's Edition (plus shipping)

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The hair on the back of your neck stands as you open your door to find a peculiar,

wrapped package on your doorstep. It contains a ledge of names, a wooden diary,

contract and a collection of odd ephemera and objects that, at least initially, bear no connection. You get the sense there is more than meets the eye and must unravel the mystery to find out what is this package. You learn about the last recipient, Shaun Lyons, and realize in his investigation that he discovered there is a curse that haunts this package that you must break… or be lost forever.

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"The Messenger" is a beautifully aged game with handcrafted components. Wrapped in burlap, each game contains an aged and stained wooden diary, a series of aged papers, old tarot cards, a poker chip, dog tags, a cassette, a gold amulet, and an introduction manual to the game. In the Collector’s Edition you also received a wooden box to store the game and a challenge coin to commemorate the event.

This game also contains an online interface the holds a series of videos, audio tracks, and documents that will aid you journey (access to this must be unlocked in the beginning of the game). There is also a hint system available.

** Note: Some parts of this game will be altered during play-through.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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The game starts off a little open ended, but the goal is to solve a series of puzzles contained within the wooden diary using the other ephemera and objects contained in the box. Separately, Shaun, the last recipient, has left a hidden online portal that contains his research into the box. You must solve his puzzles to access different files that may help shed light on this strange package.

What this game excels at is it use of not just the bespoke components that truly look like someone out of a horror film, but also an extensive online portal that feels well interwoven with the game. Each video is top quality, and the files contain just the right amount of tension in leading players through the story. I truly felt like I was learning the story alongside Shaun. I will add the ending is a little open ended with a choice, but the final puzzle reveal made it quite satisfying – read more about the puzzles below!

This game does require online access to play.

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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"The Messenger" utilized a wide variety of puzzles to create a full experience from

logic, pattern identification, searching for clues, riddles, ciphers, manipulation, and

more. There is a layered element to these puzzles that I enjoyed as each solution

added to the goal of the game. I also loved the mix of tactile, written, and auditory

puzzles that made for a rounded experience.

In addition, the online portal contains scans of the documents you receive in the

package so if you would like to write or draw on them (which I recommend), you can

easily print copies.

I recommend solving the puzzle that gives you access to the online portal first as it helps you follow Shaun’s journey for more linearity. This game, in appearance, can be overwhelming since all the content appears to be right in front of you but once I had the online portal, I found it much easier to focus and build.

I will also note some of these puzzles are tough. They require paying close attention to little details and you need to listen and watch carefully. This means this is the kind of game that requires focus so make sure you’re well refreshed when you begin as it is easy to miss something if you’re doing this after a long day of work. That said, the reveal on some of these puzzles are excellent.

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"The Messenger" is a richly crafted puzzle mystery experience that effectively uses

online and physical components to build a tense and moving story. I felt that with

each puzzle solution I was being rewarding with new information that helped paint a complex picture that brought up themes surrounding loss and love. This experience really encourages you to engage in all ways with the game and you end up not realizing that you just spent 8 hours solving the mystery. I highly recommend this experience for those who love strong narratives, challenging (yet rewarding) puzzles, and a paranormal theme that tingles the spine. I cannot wait to see what Immersion Interactive does next.