Taskmaster: The Escape Room (Ginger Fox) // Review

Taskmaster: The Escape Room is a tabletop puzzle game from Ginger Fox based on the hit TV show, Taskmaster. In it, you must construct a 3D house and then complete a series of 15 tasks to escape it. You’ll need a keen eye and puzzle-solving smarts to get out in record time; are you up for the challenge?

Players: 1-6 // Age: 10+ // Playtime: 2 hours+

What you need: A pencil/paper for notes. An internet-connected device (optional).

Disclaimer: Ginger Fox kindly sent me a copy of this game in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences the content of my review, which accurately depicts my experience.

First impressions

I’ll start with a confession: I’ve never watched Taskmaster. It’s actually amusing how much that seems to shock people. My concern was that not being familiar with the show would impact my overall enjoyment, but that was definitely not the case! Absolutely no prior knowledge of the TV show is required to play and enjoy this game. In fact, I was left feeling more intrigued by the show, so it may gain a new viewer.

Provided you don’t write on anything, the game can be regifted once you’ve finished playing it. You could technically play it again, but you’d already know the solutions, so it wouldn’t be much fun! There is an option to download a worksheet of the items that need to be written on, allowing you to preserve the originals.

The recommended player count is 1-6. I didn’t have any issues at all with playing solo, although I imagine it would be a fun experience to share with others. With extra players, you also gain multiple perspectives, which can be helpful when facing tasks that require different thinking styles.

Presentation

Presenters Greg Davies and Alex Horne feature prominently on the box, alongside an image of the three-dimensional Taskmaster house. This acts as the centrepiece of the game, which you’ll be tasked with assembling fairly early on. It is super easy to slot together, with clear step-by-step instructions. You will need a good amount of table space to manoeuvre it into different positions, but it isn’t huge. Extra points to the design team for utilising so much of the box in actual gameplay. Aside from looking great when it’s all put together, the house features an abundance of puzzle elements.

The cards, booklets and other items included in the box all feature a clean design. The game has an almost cartoony aesthetic, which works well with the humorous nature of the show.

Gameplay

Getting started

The iconic sealed Taskmaster letter is your first port of call, detailing how to play the game. Once you’ve read the instructions, you’ll need to decide on your play style. Whether you prefer online or offline play, this game has you covered. I played 99% of the game offline, with the exception of the final task. Once I finished, I circled back to try out the online versions. You don’t need to download an app to use the digital elements; they’ll load directly in your browser of choice. Online, you’ll find a tiered hint system, featuring clips of Alex Horne, one of the show’s presenters. There is no right or wrong option, so pick whichever you are more comfortable with.

Tasks (aka Puzzles)

There are 15 tasks to complete in all, each challenging players to think in different ways. A card-based mechanic drives gameplay, utilising task and answer cards that will be familiar to fans of Unlock or Exit games. You’ll be told which card to begin with, and this indicates which additional cards you need to take from the task pile. If you complete a task, you’ll discover a letter or icon matching one of the answer cards. If you have the correct answer, the reverse of the card will outline the next task. Get it wrong, and you’ll have to try again. Not all cards will be used straight away; they may be required for future puzzles. If a card is no longer required, you’ll be told to place it in a discard pile.

One of the hallmarks of a great escape room experience is a collection of varied but satisfying puzzles that flow well. The designers have really nailed this. Using the 3D environment, cards, and some other physical components in the box allows for variety in the tasks. Some are simpler, involving one step; others are layered with multiple steps required to reach a solution. The game also boasts some great ‘ah-ha’ moments, which occur when seemingly unconnected pieces converge to reveal a way forward.

The types of tasks you can expect include wordplay, observation/searching, ciphers and outside-the-box thinking. Some puzzles require more brainwork, while others utilise more tactile elements. There is truly something for everyone. The stand-out puzzles for me included books and ‘hands’, which I am keeping purposefully vague to avoid any spoilers. I do love a cipher, and there was a fun one of those to solve, too.

Everything you need to solve the puzzles is contained within the box. For example, a puzzle involving a QWERTY keyboard doesn’t require that you know the layout by heart. You also won’t need to open your laptop to look, as what you need is in the box. So if you are playing offline, you truly don’t need to use a digital device for anything, including research.

Accessibility

There are a few puzzles that use colour, which may cause issues for colour blind players. I’m not colour blind, but I did mix up two similar colours during one particular task.

Hints & Difficulty

I completed the game over two sittings, without using any hints. It could easily be played across a couple of hours in a single sitting. I also chose not to time myself, as I prefer not to add this pressure when playing tabletop games. I’d say the puzzles ranged from easy to medium for enthusiasts/experienced puzzlers. For those new to tabletop puzzle games, it probably sits at a ‘medium’ difficulty, with some challenge in places.

Tiered hints and solutions are available both online and offline. At the end of the game, you can see how the Taskmaster scored your performance, based on the time taken and hints used. You can completely disregard the scoring element if it is something that you aren’t interested in.

Verdict