Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos
Company: Thames & Kosmos
Game: The Deserted Lighthouse
Country: USA 🇺🇸
Language: English
Type of Game: Puzzles By Mail 📬
Genre: Suspense
Date Played: October 10, 2021
Difficulty (based on 2 players): 7/10
Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommended 1-4 Players)
Time: Unlimited (Suggested 2-3 hours)
Price: $22.83
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Along the dark, rocky coast is a lighthouse, beating back the raging storm. As you make your way to its beacon, the light suddenly goes out. Out in the turbulent waters, a ship is hurtling towards the shark rocks! You must make your way to the top of the lighthouse to light the beacon again quickly or witness a tragic shipwreck in the dark waters below.
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"The Deserted Lighthouse" consist of four illustrated puzzles with 88 pieces each, 12
riddle documents, a treasure map, a decoder you must assemble, one strange item,
and booklet containing instructions, hints, and solutions. The box and illustrations are clean and very detailed so make sure to take a moment to appreciate the artwork!
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
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In “The Deserted Lighthouse” you have the option of playing the game at your leisure or to score yourself a based on your time and the number of hints you used. The booklet provides instructions on how to begin the game by directing you to the first puzzle you must assemble (designated by the designs on the back of the puzzle pieces) and how to assemble your decoder ring. If you haven’t played an Exit The Game before, the decoder is the key piece you will need throughout the game. Around the outer part of the decoder are a series of coloured locks. Using the assembled puzzles and riddle documents (when you have them) you solve for a three-digit number that you input into the decoder to gain three shapes that will direct you to the next riddle document. To double check your answer, simply flip the decoder over and if you see the matching coloured lock then you know your answer is correct.
I found the set up for the game to be easy to follow and interesting. The checks and
balances they provide create a smooth experience and you can easily play this without any internet access thanks to the hints and solution in the back of the book. As someone new to these games I was easily able to jump into the game with minimal instruction. The gradually increase the puzzle difficulty made the experience fun but challenging. It complimented the urgency in the narrative progression.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
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I loved how well the puzzles used the jigsaw illustrations and the documents. They
managed to create a series of puzzles that were not tedious and were also different
throughout the experience. You not only solved riddles but also had to manipulate the papers and puzzles to gain your solutions. Many of the puzzles utilize the element of making connections between items and images so always keep an eye out. The use of the decoder also gave the satisfaction as you were able to easily double check your answers without spoiling the game. The format of solving is a rinse and repeat with the solutions, but the puzzles had enough variety to keep engagement.
I highly recommend taking the time to really look around the puzzle after you assemble each one. The hidden elements and detail were superb and adding to the atmosphere of the game. Make sure you keep all the puzzles assembled as you play as sometimes you must refer back to them in later puzzles. As this is an Exit game, some components will be altered during the game play (ie. You will have to cut or draw of them).
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“The Deserted Lighthouse” does an excellent job in packing a lot of gameplay into a
small package. The artwork was filled with clues that fit within the story and theme beautifully while also providing challenge using a variety of puzzle types. The dimness of some of the puzzle pieces does require good lighting while you play. I think this is a great game to play with friends as you can easily work together on each puzzle. There were quite a few times where I and my partner uncovered a piece of the puzzle to then come together with the all awesome “aha” moment! If you love the idea of the format of these games but are looking for a bit more adventure, check out our review of “The Sacred Temple!”
Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game:
Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(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 Thames & Kosmos 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.
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