The Egyptian Enigma is the first game from History Mysteries (formerly Mini Mysteries). It’s an immersive, family-friendly escape room in a box that transports players through time to complete important missions and learn about different periods in the past. The first of the series is set in Egypt in 1922 while future instalments will take place in different historical settings.
Players: 1-5 // Age: 8+ // Playtime: 60 mins (timed) // Difficulty: Beginner
What you need: Internet is required, so you will need a laptop, desktop or tablet to play.
First impressions
As first impressions go, I am in love with the box design for this game. The branding is spot on and the sleek black box with gold-foil hieroglyphics looks superb. It screams quality and would definitely grab my attention if I saw it on a shelf. The back of the box shows off some of the components to great effect.
The outer sleeve slides off satisfyingly, revealing the black box underneath which has a note asking “Are you ready?” to which the answer is a resounding… “Yes!”
Story
Agent Cleo works for a top-secret organisation called The Ministry of Time. Someone has tampered with her time machine leaving her stuck in Egypt in 1922. She needs your help to find an override code for the time machine so that it can be fixed and she can return to 2352. If you fail then it could lead to catastrophic reality-breaking consequences. As you race against the clock to find the code, you must avoid traps laid by The Ministry of Time’s nefarious arch-nemesis The Baron who is determined to keep you in the past.
Gameplay
The first thing to point out is that this is a timed escape room game. You have 60 minutes to complete the game. There is ample time to solve all the puzzles, but be careful not to rush too much as you may incur time penalties; more about that later.
Web interface
The first objective Cleo sets for you is to visit a special website and log in to reset the time machine. Once inside, you are greeted by the MoTOS (Ministry of Time Operating System) which acts as the web interface for the game. It is well designed and features animation/voiceovers involving a couple of characters which leads to the countdown starting.
You can keep the site open in the background while working through the game. There is a great soundtrack playing while the timer counts down and you will regularly receive motivational comments from Cleo to most moral (and maybe some snide remarks from a certain Baron). There is an option to turn the sound off if you find it too distracting or would like to use your own. I found having the soundtrack in the background to add to the experience.
Puzzles
As you would expect to find in a traditional escape room, there was a range of puzzles including a maze, jigsaw, spot the difference, logic task and some decoding. All of the components are well-made using different paper types and interesting designs.
The main objective is to decode an ancient parchment that will give you the override code for the time machine. You need to collect the correct letter/hieroglyphic pairings by solving puzzles correctly and use this to decipher the coded message. Each puzzle also results in you being given a symbol which, if correctly used with the handy ‘Cleo-setta’ stone (think Rosetta stone), will determine which envelope you need to open next. If used incorrectly, you may well end up on the wrong path…
Beware the booby traps! The Baron is hellbent on sabotaging your attempts to save Agent Cleo. If you get the answer to a puzzle wrong, you will be instructed to open the wrong envelope, which may lead to you suffering a 10-minute time penalty.
All of these elements really added to the excitement of the gameplay, and having the added risk of falling into a booby trap meant I was extra careful to get the correct answer the first time.
Hints are accessible throughout the game by clicking on the big question mark at the bottom of the web interface.
Once you’ve finished
The fun doesn’t stop when the game ends! You can print off a very cool certificate of completion signed by the Director herself; a classified debrief document is also available, containing more fun facts about the Egyptians.
No components of the game are destroyed but you will have to open envelopes so the game won’t be ‘like new’ when you are finished with it. Provided you open all of the envelopes (sealed ones would obviously be booby traps) then it would be good to pass on. Otherwise, everything in the box can be recycled.
Verdict
The Egyptian Enigma
Summary
The Egyptian Enigma is an interactive adventure for all the family, delivering a fun and engaging escape game with educational content and a polished web interface. The audio-visual content paired with the physical components, makes it stimulating for children and adults alike. The price point is great for such a premium game which would make an impressive gift for a birthday, Christmas, or just a treat for yourself.
It is a game for beginners, so if you would prefer more of a challenge then you may wish to opt for The Medieval Mishap which has a higher difficulty rating, but as a seasoned player I still found lots to love about The Egyptian Enigma.
Although the stakes are high, the game doesn’t take itself too seriously – so there is plenty of humour to counterbalance the ominous ticking down of the timer. It is perfect for a family audience and I can’t wait to get our hands on The Medieval Mishap to play with my niece later this year. Exploring history has never been this much fun!
Bonus: If you are a fan of pin badges, then you are in luck! A “Ministry of Time” logo pin is available to add to your order.
About History Mysteries
“History Mysteries is the work of three guys who just love to puzzle. Jon Gracey is a writer and game designer. Matthew Hancock is an illustrator and graphic designer. Richard Soames is an actor, comedian and teacher.”
History Mysteries launched its first game, The Egyptian Enigma in 2020. Their second game, The Medieval Mishap is currently available to preorder and a third game, The Roman Rivalry, is coming to Kickstarter soon.
Disclaimer: History Mysteries kindly provided me with a review copy of this game in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences the content of my review.
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