MindOpus - "Haunted Hotel"

Photo above is property of MindOpus

Company: MindOpus

Game: Haunted Hotel

Country: Canada 🇨🇦

Language: English

Type of Game: Digital Escape Game 💻

Genre: Horror

Date Played: January 15, 2024

Difficulty (based on 1 player): 6/10

Size of Team: 1-6 ppl

Time: Unlimited (Approximately 2-3 Hrs)

Price: $7,69 CAD/ pp

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As a team of paranormal investigators, you've received a call from the owner of an old hotel, who claims that the establishment is plagued by intense paranormal activity. Your mission, as outlined by your contact, is to delve into the eerie premises and uncover the nature of the haunting. It's your responsibility to identify the type of ghost that lingers within the hotel and, ultimately, perform the necessary rituals to exercise it from the haunted confines.

Video above is property of MindOpus

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The game is exclusively accessible through a web browser, and after acquiring an individual license from the website, players launch the game from their accounts. A step-by-step guide is provided, offering a comprehensive overview of what to anticipate during gameplay.

Upon initiation, players are forewarned about the extensive number of tabs that will be open throughout the game. It mirrors a point-and-click adventure, necessitating navigation from one location to another, image to image, in the quest to uncover items crucial for puzzle-solving. The game is segmented into three parts, aiming to provide users with intervals to manage the multitude of open tabs. However, more time is spent scrolling through tabs than actually engaging in puzzle-solving.

In nearly every location visited, there's an answer box prompting the input of words or strings of letters. An inventory system is introduced at the start of each chapter, serving as a vital tab to keep open. It instructs players on the keywords or phrases necessary for utilizing items in their inventory. Additionally, the inventory page may feature pertinent videos to aid in investigations.

Accessing hints in the game is straightforward, with a designated button available when a puzzle is encountered. However, some pages assert that a puzzle cannot be solved in the current location, which proved less effective in guiding players on where and what to focus on during their investigations.

Photos above are property of MindOpus

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Many of these puzzles resemble a point-and-click adventure game, requiring keen observation of the surroundings, association of items in the inventory, and connecting these elements. Notably, items in the inventory are often used multiple times in different locations.

Given its observational nature, the ability to zoom in or enlarge photos becomes a crucial skill. However, there were instances in the game where the information needed to solve a puzzle seemed excessively small.

This game is observation-based, and due to its nonlinear nature, it's essential to pay close attention. However, there's an issue with starting and stopping sequences not being telegraphed very well. While understanding how to solve the puzzle, there's a challenge in determining where or how to begin.

Photo above is property of MindOpus

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"Haunted Hotel" stands out among MindOpus's more challenging games, and its difficulty primarily stems from the intricacies of navigating the game. The requirement to have multiple tabs open, sometimes reaching double digits, proved more of a hindrance than a helpful feature. Playing the game with others also posed a considerable communication challenge, given the divergence of web pages or tabs.

Despite showcasing commendable craftsmanship with impressive visuals, art styles, and videos, the puzzles, while more engaging than some, occasionally lack the captivating intrigue that truly elevates the gaming experience. It stands as a noticeable improvement compared to other offerings from MindOpus, yet falls short of delivering a consistently immersive and gripping challenge. Nevertheless, if you're in the mood for a spooky evening filled with puzzles, it could still be worth exploring for a unique and atmospheric experience.

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(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank MindOpus for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.

#MikeSchnurr #AtHomeGames #DigitalGames #Horrory #MindOpus #Canada