Unlock is a series of card games from Space Cowboys. In them, 1-6 players work together to solve a mystery or go on an adventure. Here, I’m focusing specifically on the House on the Hill scenario.

Components

The game comes with a short rulebook, 10 tutorial cards, and 60 cards for the main game.

A big drawback is that you can’t play the game on its own. Aside from the items in the box, you also need the companion app. The app contains the answers to all the puzzles as well as a timer.

This particular box is nice. There is some excess space but the box is small enough that I can forgive it. However, I’ve had my copy for a while. Nowadays, all the Unlock games come in a bigger box as a set of three, which have a lot more unnecessary extra space. Also, since they come in sets, usually all with a different theme, the odds that there will be a scenario in the pack that you just aren’t interested in at all is much higher.

Gameplay

You start with the intro card that sets the scene. You can find numbers and letters by looking closely at the cards. If you find something, go find the card with the matching number in the deck. You can combine red items with blue items by adding the numbers together and searching the deck for a card with that number. Yellow cards are puzzles. When you’ve figured out the solution you go into the app and put your answer in. If you’re wrong you’ll take a time penalty, but if you’re right the app will tell you what to do next. You have one hour to solve the mystery.

Thoughts

This game feels so much like a point-and-click adventure game. I’ve played a couple of mystery games like this (such as the recently-reviewed Crime Zoom), but this one does the best job of capturing that video game vibe. I think it’s specifically the way the combining items mechanic works that gives it the edge. Being able to try and slam any and every item together to try and find a solution, even if the result is nothing or a penalty, is peak adventure game and I love it.

The numbers and letters to find some items can be really hard to see. There’s one particular number in this scenario that many of my players could not see at all. I understand part of the appeal is finding hidden things, but there’s a line between what’s well-hidden and what’s unreasonably hard to see.

I hate that you have to use an app with this. I’m of the opinion that if you buy a game, it should come with everything you need to actually play. You don’t need to be connected to the internet to use the app, but you do need the internet to get the app. What if you live in an area where maintaining a reliable internet connection to download something is difficult? What if your phone is dead, or you don’t have space for the app?. What happens if or when the company decides to stop supporting the app?

Verdict

This game gets 3.5 out of 5 cthulhus. It’s very fun and I love the concept, but the visibility issues and the fact you need an app to play kinda take away from the experience. You can check it out at the Amazon link below, but remember that we are an Amazon affiliate and if you buy anything from the links provided we will get some $ back. (3.5 / 5)