The popularity of escape rooms soared between 2012-2014, and they remain in demand to this day. The rise of this form of entertainment is largely due to social media. Escape room tutorials have been very popular on social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. There are now over 50,000 escape rooms worldwide. In 2020, COVID 19 caused many of these to temporarily or even permanently close their doors to the public for fear of public safety and to limit exposure to the virus. Virtual escape rooms began in response to this pandemic as a way for app developers to fill the demand in this industry. “Escape Room: Mystery Word” is one of those games.
“Escape Room: Mystery Word” is a mobile game available in the IOS app store. It has hundreds of levels, with more being released in the coming months. Users solve a series of puzzles, riddles, and codes in order to discover the word that will unlock the door. Unlocking the door allows you to advance to the next level. Hints may be hidden in furniture, artwork, drawers, and a multitude of other locations.
The game utilizes sound, haptics, and graphics to create a more immersive game experience. The background music is subtle enough to not be intrusive. Sounds play when the user is typing in the door password, and there are different sounds that play based on whether the inputted code is correct or not. As for haptics, the phone vibrates when an answer is input incorrectly. It will also vibrate if the user taps on the door while it is still locked. The graphics are cartoonish, and the background/door often fit the theme of the level. For example, the pirate themed level featured log cabin walls and a barrel door, whereas the laboratory level featured a metal wall and door.
The user interface of the game is as follows: menu button in the top-left corner, level in the top-center, coin balance in the top-right, keypad in the center, hint purchase button in the bottom-left, and coin videos in the bottom-right. The in-game form of currency is coins. Coins can be used to purchase hints. The currency is earned through completing levels and watching advertisements. Coins can also be purchased in different bundles ranging from $2.99 USD to $99.99 USD. Players can rate levels with a thumbs up or down once completed.
Overall, this was a very positive game experience. Levels got progressively more difficult but weren’t impossible. The game was immersive, and it was easy to lose track of time when playing. My favorite features were the level design and the haptics, and least favorite was the quantity of coins available for purchase. However, as this game is not multiplayer, the pay-to-win possibility does not detract from overall game experience. I would give this game 6/10 for design, it was a little simple for my tastes. I’d rate challenge at an 8/10, the levels increased in complexity but the first twenty dragged before the difficulty began to ramp up. As far as functionality, “Escape Room: Mystery Word” would get a 10/10. I did not encounter any bugs while playing and all buttons functioned as they were supposed to.
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