The Vanishing Gambler

Difficulty - 3.5 / 5 Puzzles - 4 / 5 Theming - 3.5 / 5 Creativity - 4 / 5 Enjoyment - 4 / 5 Value For Money - 4 / 5 Overall Score - 4 / 5 The vanishing gambler is yet another stunning escape game from the team over at the Mystery Agency, following the story of a con artist that has gone missing from his prison cell; you are tasked to figure out how he escaped and where he is now! Loading up the website printed on the inside of the box you are met with an interface of an old computer, a starting letter and a hints folder. As always the production value of this project is evident from the packaging to the contents and accompanying website; all incredible. The puzzles in the box help aid and develop the story perfectly, each individual puzzle and prop serves its purpose. The physical props in the game are aided by secret websites and videos that also add to the immersion of the game. The puzzles in this game range from decoding to some really unique puzzles I've yet to see elsewhere. I can never wrap my head around Mystery Agency's ability to hide information in plain sight while making it seemingly ignorable, its incredibly impressive. Coming from a magic background I found the use of playing cards in this game even more enjoyable than most would; the use of cards was incredibly unique and fun. It's incredibly difficult to go into further details about what makes this game so great without giving any spoilers. I'd just advise trying to get your hands on it if you can. I can't wait to do the other escape games from Mystery Agency.

➕ Exceptional components. The quality of the components truly impressed my guests, making kudos to The Mystery Agency well-deserved. ➕ Most puzzles were enjoyable to solve. It was engaging to decipher the game's expectations and piece together the solutions. ➕ Simple and engaging story. The story is straightforward yet engaging, providing a genuine detective experience as you piece together the events. ➖ Finicky website. The need to re-enter answers and log in multiple times proved to be a minor inconvenience. Streamlining this aspect would enhance the gameplay. ✖️ A few puzzles seemed illogical thematically. Some puzzles required hints to identify that two seemingly unrelated clues were meant to be combined, leading to moments of frustration. ✖️ One particular puzzle was disappointing. Its propensity for busywork and potential for errors made us consume a significant chunk of time before resorting to the solutions. "The Vanishing Gambler" is an excellent choice for a game night with friends or for solo play. While it has its share of minor inconveniences and puzzling moments, it offers numerous highlights that make it a recommendation. I thoroughly enjoyed playing it with my friends, and I'm confident you will too.