The Wizard’s Study is the first release from indie game company Awaken Mysteries. The magical escape room in a box was fully funded on Kickstarter in October last year after a successful campaign and is available now to buy.
I played this game by myself, but it is advertised as being suitable for 1-5 players. You will need a pencil and paper to play and an internet-connected device to submit your answers.
Players: 1-5 // Age: 10+ // Playtime: 90 mins // Difficulty: 4/5
Story
“It’s your first day as an intern for the world-famous Dr. Wiggins. Upon your arrival, you get pulled into a room that locks behind you. You quickly realize that all is not as it seems; test tubes seem like potions, lab coats like wizard’s robes. There is more to this doctor than meets the eye…”
Gameplay
Getting started
The game consists of eight postcard-sized puzzle cards. Each has a puzzle on the front, with a QR code and a small envelope attached to the back. There is an instruction card explaining the rules; once you have read this you are ready to begin.
The back of the instruction card has an introduction to the story and may give you a handy hint as to which puzzle card to start with. It is important to note that not all puzzles are solvable from the start.
To progress through the game you must solve each puzzle card and scan the QR code on the back of that card to enter the correct three-digit code. If your code is accepted you will be instructed to open the small envelope attached to that card, which contains ‘Puzzle Assist’ cards. These can be paired with the main puzzle cards and will gradually allow you to solve more and more of them.
Puzzles
I’ve had a fair amount of experience with puzzle games so didn’t find the puzzles too challenging, although I did have difficulty with a couple. If you get stuck then there are clear hints for each card available on the answer entry screen (scan the QR code on the back of the card to access). These start with simply confirming which Puzzle Assist cards you need to solve the current puzzle but get incrementally more revealing. The solution is available if you get completely stuck.
It took me just over an hour to complete the game, mainly because I got stuck on one of the cards and didn’t want to jump straight to the hints. The box shows a guideline time of 90 minutes which is probably more accurate for people who have played less of these types of games.
Post-game content
Once you escape The Wizard’s Study you can add yourself/your team to the Wall of Fame. You can specify how long it took to complete the game and how many hints you used. This is great for more competitive players. There is also a link to guidance on resetting the game so that it can be passed on to someone else; this is possible as none of the components are written on or destroyed during gameplay.
Verdict
The Wizard’s Study
Summary
The Wizard’s Study is a fun travel-sized escape game with an interesting gameplay mechanic and a good mix of puzzles. The puzzle cards and box are well-designed and feel suitably magical. The straightforward hints system is great if you get stuck along the way, but ultimately I didn’t find the game too challenging.
I would have liked the story to be a bit deeper, but it is a promising first outing from Awaken Mysteries and I look forward to seeing how they build on this in future.
About Awaken Mysteries
Awaken Mysteries was founded during the Covid pandemic. Kevin and his partner got hooked on at-home puzzle games and decided to create their own. The Wizard’s Study was born. It was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2023 and is available to buy now.
So far they have released one game, but the door remains open for future instalments.
Disclaimer: Awaken 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.
