“An incredible adventure game filled with puzzles, riddles, secrets, and surprises.” – Theory 11
Box One. Ask anyone who has played it to explain what it is and they may become coy, shifty or outright uncomfortable. Don’t be alarmed, this isn’t because the game is bad – it is just extremely difficult to talk about it without accidentally spilling secrets. Fear not, I won’t be ruining any surprises in this review of the popular collaboration between the legendary Neil Patrick Harris and Theory 11, but I will tell you as much as I can.
First impressions
The box design (as pictured above) exudes premium quality, something that Theory 11 is renowned for, with embossed lettering and some eye-catching keyhole cut-outs. These help convey the tone of mystery that awaits inside.
Once you lift off the lid, you are met with an introduction sheet that explains how the game works. Set this aside to find a pen, notepad and box of challenge cards. As with the front of the box, the Challenge Card pack has embossed lettering which is so satisfying to run your finger across – the bronze colouring is great too. Alongside these components is a mysterious business-card-sized black envelope with the Box One logo on…
Gameplay
I will start by saying that Box One has been designed as a single-player experience. The game’s tagline is “A game for one, created by one” and Neil Patrick Harris has been very clear that the game was developed to help fill a gap in the solo-player market. This doesn’t stop you from playing it with someone else, but I do think that to fully embrace the intent of the box, you would be better off playing alone. You can always pass it on to your partner, parent or friend afterwards to enjoy.
True to its description, the game starts as a trivia card game but rapidly evolves into something very different. Don’t be daunted by the hefty pack of challenge cards, I found that I worked through them quickly and that the questions were very accessible.
The story is really clever and engaging, with the most exciting reveal being…
Emergency silence protocol activated: “J xjti J dpvme tbz npsf, cvu J sfbmmz dbo’u.”
You will need to go online at least once in the game, so an internet connection is required. Aside from that, everything you need is contained within the box.
Difficulty
I didn’t find this game difficult per se, and didn’t have to use any hints, but don’t take that as a negative! This is one of those times where it is the sum of the parts, rather than just the puzzle elements themselves, that make this such a great experience. Help is available if you do happen to get stuck, although you are strongly encouraged to push through if you can. I certainly finished the game feeling very satisfied and I live in hope that Box Two will emerge one day…
Verdict
Box One
Summary
I wish I could un-know what I know so that I could play this game again for the first time. It was such a thrilling experience – to find out why you will really have to play it yourself!
If you can bring yourself to part with the box, then it is perfectly possible to regift this game once you have finished it. In fact, I am sure you will want to so that others can experience it for themselves (and then you can talk about it with them).
I can’t stress enough how much you will appreciate keeping this experience spoiler-free, so I’d suggest getting your hands on a copy sooner rather than later!
Further information
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