Dec 6, 2021

Enigmida / The new top escape room?!

By Matthew Stein • Issue #17 • View online

Hey there, puzzle people!

I’ve been writing SO MUCH recently, and I’m excited to share a few of my favorite pieces with you.

Below you’ll find:

My Room Escape Artist review of The Attraction — the newest offering from Palace Games in San Francisco (and maybe newest best escape room in the world??!?)
An interview with the creators of Society of Curiosities
Room Escape Artist’s annual holiday gift guide, to which I contributed a few blurbs

As always, thanks for reading and for your support! As I’m closing out my first year of writing this newsletter, I have a small request for each of you: if you’ve been enjoying this newsletter, consider sharing it with some friends who might also enjoy it. I have so many exciting puzzle design projects in the works, and I’d love to be able to share them with even more folks. Thank you!

Palace Games - The Attraction [Review]

“The Attraction thoroughly blew my mind, distorted my sense of reality, and set a new and invigoratingly high bar for the future of escape rooms as an experiential art form. This was a world-class escapist experience worth traveling any distance to play.”

The Attraction is my new all-time favorite escape room, and it was a pleasure and an honor to write about it. Go out of your way to experience this San Francisco gem as soon as you possibly can.

roomescapeartist.com • Share

Research Rabbit Holes and Artificial Intelligence with Society of Curiosities [Interview]

Earlier this year, I interviewed Michelle and Yacine, the brilliant narrative puzzle designers behind Society of Curiosities. I was blown away by the depth of research that goes into creating their games, the artistry required to handcraft so many intricate components, and the custom AI they build to facilitate seamless SMS-based character interactions.

When designing puzzle games, so much happens behind the scenes that players rarely get to fully see. It was so fun pulling back the curtain and showcasing the work of these talented creators.

roomescapeartist.com • Share

Room Escape Artist Holiday Gift Guide – 2021

Each year, Room Escape Artist releases a Holiday Gift Guide filled with a slew of recommendations for wondrous holiday gifts. This year, I contributed quotes about a few of my favorite games, including Jessica Creane’s Schrödinger’s Cat, Art of Play’s Tangram journal (featuring puzzles by me!), and Society of Curiosities’ Fairy Tale Files.

If you’re looking for creative holiday gifts, this is the list for you!

roomescapeartist.com • Share

Puzzle of the Week

This puzzle is similar in format to the last issue’s puzzle.

I’m thinking of a name. If I remove two letters from the beginning, I get another name. If I remove two more letters from the beginning, I get a word in a comparison… that would be a fictional name if it were an operating system. What am I thinking of?

Submit your answer here.

Solution to last issue’s puzzle

(in rot13) SVERCYNPR / ERCYNPR / CYNPR / NPR

Congrats to everyone who submitted a correct answer: Sean McBride, Sandy, Dan Katz, wassamatta)u, Will L, Naomi Glascock, Scott Weiss, Elizabeth Plunkett, Tommy, Rachel, Dawnkey, Ryan Kannegiesser, Anne of Green Gables, Jennifer L., M. Sean Molley, Drew, Neil Zussman, Mark Wurzelbacher, Josh M., Bogdan GT, Aiden Guinnip, Maude, Andrew Reynolds, Adam Sequoyah, Zach Z, Brian E Bohmueller, Diane S, and DTA.

Cryptically yours,

Matthew

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By Matthew Stein

I'm an Oakland, CA-based puzzle and alternate reality game designer. I create experiences that guide participants to connect through play and to find wonder in the mundane.

In this newsletter, I share behind-the-scenes content, puzzle design thoughts, project updates, and other miscellaneous whimsy I think puzzle lovers will enjoy.

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