An escape room is a type of real-life game in which a group of players try to solve puzzles and riddles within a specified time limit, usually 60 minutes. It is rooted in entertainment genres such as adventure-style video games, immersive theater and audience participation.
A game like The Room combines mystery, physics and adventure in a way that’s truly unique. It’s a classic example of the kind of puzzle-based app that really captures the essence of mobile gaming and is often seen as one of the best on the platform.
Its unique blend of puzzle mechanics helped The Room achieve success in 2012 and since then has been ported to Android, Windows and Nintendo Switch among others. The original iOS version was one of the top-rated apps on that platform, and it has a lot of appeal to mobile users who are looking for an engaging, challenging puzzle experience that’s also easy to enjoy with friends.
The Room has a number of hidden secrets to discover and plenty of challenges that will keep you engaged throughout the game. Each of the boxes you work through has different puzzles, from simple locks to complex safe combinations and more. You’ll also find items that will help you progress, including pages of a diary and inventory items that let you store the keys and other objects you’ve found as you search for clues to your mission.
You won’t be able to open the boxes until you’ve solved some of their puzzles, so make sure you take your time and don’t rush through. As you solve each of the puzzles, you’ll unlock new rooms and find additional secrets.
Those secrets include pages that describe the world of your game, puzzles that you can’t solve alone and even a storyline that unfolds as you progress. While this may sound like a distraction, it’s an excellent addition to the game, as it helps to create a greater sense of tension and keeps you interested while you play.
When you first start playing The Room, you’ll be given a mission and a one-hour time limit to complete it. Depending on the theme of your room, this may involve escaping from prison or completing a heist or even launching a spaceship. You’ll then be greeted by a mission video, which explains what you’re doing and why the time limit is so short.
Once the video has ended, you’ll meet your Game Guide, who will walk you through the room and explain the rules of the game. Then you’ll have a few minutes to think about the task at hand and get ready to start your adventure.
Then you’ll be prompted to search the room for any clues that might help you escape. You can use the map to help you navigate your surroundings, but you can also look for patterns or connections that might lead you to solutions.
As you progress through the game, you’ll come across more and more letters from a mysterious person known only as A.S. who reveals more and more about the secret world of The Room and the mysterious element he calls the Null. These letters are a great way to keep you engaged with the puzzles, as they tell a story that you’ll want to read more about in future titles of this series.