Thames & Kosmos - "Masters of Crime: Shadows"

Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos

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Company: Thames & Kosmos

Game: Masters of Crime: Shadows

Country: USA 🇺🇸

Language: English

Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬

Genre: Mystery, Heist

Date Played: December 24, 2024

Difficulty (based on 2 player): 5/10

Size of Team: 1+ Players (Ages 16+)

Time: Approximately 10-15 Mins/ per day (for 24 days)

Price: $15.38

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You’re no ordinary thief. You’ve been hired for the ultimate high-stakes job: stealing a painting from the prestigious Bachmann Gallery. But before you can snag the goods, there’s a whole lot of prep work to do. From assembling a crack team to scouting the gallery and crafting a foolproof plan, every choice you make could be the difference between getting away with the loot or ending up in the slammer. And when the big day comes, the real question is: were you ready? The thrill of executing your plan and seeing your decisions play out makes this game different from your typical tabletop puzzle game. You’ll feel the rush (and pressure) of pulling off that perfect heist!

Video above is property of Thames & Kosmos

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Visually, "Masters of Crime: Shadows" leans minimalist, but it works for the tone of the game. The illustrations are few but effective, capturing the vibe of a sleek, modern heist. The materials are dominated by a deck of cards (covering locations, characters, and story/puzzle elements) and 12 envelopes containing images, clues, and other vital info. You’ll also get a notes page to track things like your timeline and a paper playmat to keep the chaos organized. The playmat isn’t strictly essential, especially if you’re short on table space, but it’s a nice touch to help you find things. While the game may not leave a visual imprint in the way some highly stylized games do, the clean design and sharp organization allow the story and puzzles to shine. It’s a form-follows-function approach, and it works.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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Where "Masters of Crime: Shadows" truly excels is in making you feel like your decisions matter. The game unfolds in two acts: first, the planning phase, where you decide how to prepare for the heist. This is where most of the action takes place, as you’ll weigh options, debate strategies, and try to cover all your bases. The second act is the heist itself, where your earlier choices play out and determine your success. While the heist section is shorter, it’s deeply satisfying to see how your preparation pays off…or doesn’t. The game blends storytelling, paper puzzles, and online elements, requiring an internet connection to play. The online components feel realistic, heightening the tension and pulling you deeper into the world. Be ready for a fair bit of reading - it’s a storytelling game, after all - but it never feels overwhelming. Instead, it adds depth to your decisions, and it sparked plenty of lively discussions between Dave and I over how best to pull off our daring plan.

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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The puzzles themselves are on the easier side, making this a great entry point for non-puzzlers, and the quick solves keep the pace moving. Despite their simplicity, the puzzles are polished and well-integrated into the story, never feeling like afterthoughts. Both the paper-based and online elements are thoughtfully designed, enhancing the narrative while keeping you engaged. We especially loved how everything tied back to the heist theme, making each solve feel purposeful and connected to your mission. The puzzles are not the star of this show, but they play their part solidly, complementing the story and heightening the sense of being actively involved in your heist.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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If you’re craving something different, "Masters of Crime: Shadows" delivers. It’s the first of the Masters of Crime series that we’ve tried, and the concept feels fresh! A heist may be a common theme, but the freedom to plan and shape it yourself is unusual, intriguing, and lots of fun. The story is engaging, and the game is well-constructed, providing plenty of value (and hours of play) for its price point. The 16+ age rating felt a bit high to us. While you do play criminals and there are some more adult concepts, we’d feel comfortable with players 12+, as the feeling is more lighthearted rather than gory or gritty. While we’ve pulled off plenty of heists in in-person escape rooms, we’ve found that tabletop games more often have you as the detective solving the crime. Shadows not only puts you on the dark side of the law, it has you overseeing every aspect of the heist from the ground up. It’s a novel and immersive approach that made us feel fully invested in the gameplay. Whether you’re a puzzle enthusiast or a storytelling fan, this is a game worth your time—especially if you’ve ever dreamed of being the mastermind behind the perfect crime.

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Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game:

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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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 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.

#KristaJones #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #OneOffs #Heist #ThamesandKosmos #USA