The Escape Puzzler

The Morrison Game Factory is a puzzletale designed by Nebula-nominated TV writer Lauren Bello and produced by renowned puzzle game publisher PostCurious. The mysterious and whimsical boxed game combines elements of board games, escape rooms and interactive fiction to create an experience like no other. It is accessible for both new and seasoned puzzlers who are sure to fall in love with its charming characters and quirky gameplay. The game was successfully funded on Kickstarter in November 2023 and is now available to buy.

I have been careful not to spoil anything in this review so as not to ruin the experience. Pictures of game components are included, but nothing that will spoil the puzzles or story.

What you need: A pencil, paper and an internet-connected device. I would recommend using a laptop, desktop or tablet to play as there is a fair amount of screen time.

Gameplay context: I asked my partner if he wanted to play a game. He said he didn’t feel up to it. “Fine”, I said, “I’ve been looking forward to playing this for ages, so I’m happy to go ahead and play it by myself. It’s the new PostCurious game.”. He glanced over at the box, picked it up to inspect it, and then said he’d changed his mind! A couple of hours later he lauded it as one of the best games he has played. Here are my thoughts…

Players: 1-4 // Age: 14+ // Playtime: 2-4hrs // Difficulty: Medium

First impressions

The box is beautifully designed by Steve Thomas who has done a great job conveying the vintage aesthetic of the game. The cover art includes hints at the mysterious contents of the box and a hidden surprise for keen-eyed puzzlers. The game title is printed on all four edges in different orientations, which allows plenty of options when storing it on your game shelf.

My copy of the game also came with a lovely enamel pin badge, which can be purchased alongside the game.

Story

“When an urban explorer sends you a package recovered from an abandoned board game factory, you instantly know that there is more to these materials than meets the eye. The box in your hands doesn’t just contain a board game—it contains an untold story.“

One of the game’s many strengths is its writing. Lauren Bello has constructed a story that is both surprising and compelling, with an unexpected emotional core that left a lasting impression. The storytelling mechanic felt fresh and totally in keeping with the game’s setting; I was gripped and couldn’t read fast enough to see where it would take me next.

An aspect of the storytelling that I loved is that the player/s are receiving the game because they are experts in the field of puzzle-solving. Often games don’t establish why you are receiving a box of random objects, but the in-game explanation worked well here. I won’t venture further into the details of the story as it is best played with as little information as possible.

Gameplay

Presentation

The Morrison Game Factory is the pinnacle of high-production value and I am continually amazed at what can be achieved by PostCurious. All of the physical components in the box are fantastic. There is a real sense of nostalgia when handling them and the tactile nature of the game adds so much joy to the experience. The vibrant and colourful game components really pop and although the games featured didn’t exist when I was a child, they feel like they could have.

The attention to detail is second to none. One example is a letter you receive at the start of the game. It looks to have been handwritten and if you turn it over the page is covered with patches where the ink has seemingly soaked through. In reality, it hasn’t been handwritten but it looks so convincing! It would have been easy to overlook details like this and leave the back blank. It is this authenticity I’ve come to expect from PostCurious releases and as a player, I appreciate it so much.

Another stand-out moment is a wonderful audio recording that is brilliantly acted and features some great music. It goes a long way to bringing the world to life and further adds to the immersion.

Online

The online elements are perfectly executed and are instrumental in driving forward the narrative. Thankfully you aren’t trapped endlessly searching Google or reading up on obscure facts, instead, you are interacting with a mysterious character that needs your help. The web interfaces are well realised and perfectly executed. The fact that your progress is stored as you proceed through the game is great. I had to pause my session for a while and it was a relief to find that when I reopened the browser I could pick up where I left off.

Puzzles

The puzzles are a joy to solve and whilst they aren’t all super challenging, this doesn’t detract from the game for me at all because they are so well-designed and fun to play. There are logic puzzles, some Morse code, image puzzles and lots more – but even the familiar puzzles have special twists in design and execution. Everything is so cohesive; I can’t imagine how much time and effort went into creating this.

I would place this in the easy-medium difficulty range for players who have a few puzzle games under their belt. For those new to the genre, it will pose a sufficient challenge but not so much as to cause a total meltdown! That being said, the puzzles are only part of the piece – although there are lots of them.

If you find yourself stuck, online hints are available to nudge you in the right direction. They are incorporated into the game seamlessly; depending on where you are in the story they will appear in different forms.

Verdict

About Lauren Bello & PostCurious