Escape the Room: The Cursed Dollhouse (2020) Board Game

Escape the Room: The Cursed Dollhouse is a board game released in 2020 by the publisher ThinkFun. The game is designed by Rebecca Bleau and Nicholas Cravotta, with artwork by Monsters Pit. It falls under the categories of murder/mystery, party game, and puzzle, and is designed for 1-4 players with a recommended age of 13 and up. The game involves cooperative gameplay, memory challenges, paper-and-pencil tasks, pattern recognition, and storytelling elements.

Game Components of Escape the Room: The Cursed Dollhouse

A 3D dollhouse constructed from the game box and additional cardboard components.

Five rooms with 3D furniture and various objects to investigate.

Over 20 puzzle pieces, clues, and dollhouse components.

Five doll character puzzles.

A solution wheel with a locking mechanism.

A story booklet that doubles as the rulebook.

Access to an online hint system.

How To Setup Escape the Room: The Cursed Dollhouse

Setting up the game involves transforming the box into a large, detailed dollhouse. The process is fairly straightforward, taking about 20 minutes to complete. Players follow the instructions to assemble the dollhouse and place the various items and puzzle components into their respective rooms. It is crucial to set up the dollhouse correctly to avoid inadvertently revealing secrets or damaging components.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Cooperative, Escape Room.

Mechanics: Puzzle-solving, cooperative play, storytelling.

Objective: Players must solve puzzles in each of the five rooms to escape the dollhouse. Each room contains three specific symbols that must be found and matched on the solution wheel to progress.

Gameplay Loop: Read the story passage for the current room, examine the room and objects, solve the puzzles, and input the solutions into the solution wheel to unlock the next room.

Player Experience

Playing **Escape the Room: The Cursed Dollhouse** is an immersive and engaging experience. The game encourages cooperation, with players working on multiple puzzles concurrently. The detailed and creepy setting, complete with a 3D dollhouse, enhances the escape room feel. Players must pay close attention to the story and clues, as these are integral to solving the puzzles. The game is challenging, often requiring the use of an online hint system, and typically takes 2-3 hours to complete.

Pros

Immersive Setting: The 3D dollhouse and detailed components create a highly immersive environment.

Strong Puzzles: The game features a variety of challenging and clever puzzles that cater to different skill sets.

Cooperative Play: Encourages teamwork and collaboration among players.

Story Integration: The story is well-integrated with the gameplay, providing essential clues and enhancing the overall experience.

Cons

Complexity: The puzzles are highly complex, which can be both a strength and a weakness, as it may lead to frustration or the need for frequent hints.

Space Requirements: The game requires a significant amount of table space to set up the dollhouse.

Late-Game Segment: One of the late-game segments may feel less impressive compared to earlier puzzles.

Personal Thoughts on Escape the Room: The Cursed Dollhouse

This game is ideal for experienced escape room enthusiasts and fans of cooperative puzzle games. It is best played with 2-4 players, as it allows for diverse perspectives and collaboration. The game’s complexity and challenge level make it less suitable for beginners, but it is a great choice for those looking for a more immersive and demanding escape room experience at home.

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