For our next three blog posts, you will notice that we have played not just one but three Unlock! adventure cooperative card games! This Unlock! Exotic Adventures card game follows a very similar format to those real escape rooms and requires the players to cooperate to search scenes, combine objects, and solve riddles, in order to escape before the timer runs out. There are three full one-hour scenarios in the box, as well as a 10 minute taster game to get the hang of how to play.
This game is required to be played alongside the free Unlock! app via Google Play or App Store. Once downloaded, an internet connection is not required during gameplay. After launching the app, players must select the box, then the game language: they are directed towards the adventure selection screen. There are quite a few adventures listed on the app, so make sure you click the correct adventure which is the Exotic Adventures for this occasion. The app is very easy and intuitive. On your phone or tablet screen, it shows your timer counting down and a button for hints, hidden objects, penalties etc. Some of the cards in play have a machine or computer etc. which has a unique number on it. By typing the unique number into the app, you can solve these puzzles and know instantly if you got the solution correct. Some will give you hints, solution or no hints at all!
This game is for one to six players, and for ages 10 and above. Each game will take around an hour to play. Inside the box, it comes with three decks of adventure cards plus a ten-card tutorial and instructions. The ten-card tutorial allows you to learn how to play without reading the game rules. The tutorial only lasts 10 minutes or less. It can be shorter or longer. It depends on how fast you are able to solve it. We skipped the tutorial as we had already played the Unlock! Escape Adventures game before.
For this Unlock! Exotic Adventures game, it consists of three captivating adventures: The Night of The Boogeymen (easy – one lock), Sheherazade’s Last Tale (medium – two locks) and Expedition: Challenger (hard – three locks). We decided to play the easy version: The Night of The Boogeymen.
In this adventure, the Boogeymen have invaded William’s dreams! You all have to unite your forces to chase them and soothe the little boy. Will you solve all the riddles and get out in less than an hour? Definitely not us! We managed to overrun the game by more than 30 minutes! It was really hard as each time we keyed in the wrong code due to accidental mistakes or incorrect guesses, we received time penalties of one to three minutes!
Whenever you find something or need a clue, go to your app for help. We love having the sound on but sometimes we do find it makes it hard to concentrate. But it does create the right level of tension!
There were times we needed clues via the app and they are not always very helpful when you are stuck. Occasionally it will pop out with a hint to help you along! There are a few hidden numbers on the pictures, so make sure you check each card carefully. Also, some pictures are connected with one another to give you more clues!
As I mentioned earlier, we didn’t manage to find our way out within 60 minutes, but the time on the app will continue counting until you solve it. We all find this game is refreshing and fun to play, especially as a party game. It challenges us on many levels with head-scratching puzzles. There is also plenty of satisfaction in store when you manage to crack the code! There are many hidden numbers on the cards and it is important to inspect each card carefully. It can be frustrating when we fail to grasp the designers’ train of thought. We keep asking why and what to do next! We did end up seeking additional hints by going onto the maker’s website for the step-by-step solution. Hopefully, you will do better than us, but if you need a helping hand, please visit: https://www.spacecowboys.fr/unlock-solutions-english
We love this game very much, but once you complete all three adventures, there is not much play value again but we will keep it for half a year or more to re-play it. We’ve tried this already with the Escape Adventures game and you will be surprised how little of the solution you remember! The game is inexpensive to buy, so it is worth getting this game to play with your family and friends for an evening’s entertainment. This game can be purchased from all good toy retailers, as well as national retailers such as Argos, eBay and Amazon. We can’t wait to play the next two games!
Disclosure: We are members of Asmodee UK Blogger Board Game Club. We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own. We have included an Amazon affiliate link to the product. If you click on this and buy, we may earn a small commission.
