Sleuth Kings – Isaac Case 004 (Review)

Location: Your Home!

Players:  We recommend 1-4

Price: $29.95 per box

Searching through the ashes

Theme:

After figuring out the identity of the mysterious informant Sullivan has been working with for almost a year, it’s time to return to the mystery of the gang known only as Cinder. Sullivan has enlisted your help in breaking into a laptop stolen from the gang’s hideout, but you’ll need to break several codes in order to figure out how to access the information hidden on it, which will hopefully reveal something about where Isaac has gone. Work quick, though, since the gang knows their property has gone missing, and they don’t exactly take kindly to people who steal from them!

First Impressions:

It’s time for another meta-case from Sleuth Kings! Every four cases, we’ve received a bonus case that ties into the disappearance of Sullivan’s dad, Isaac, which is always exciting! We love getting another case to solve in between the standard monthly cases, and the value this adds to the subscription cannot be ignored. Either way, we were absolutely ready to find out what new mysteries were in store with this next installment to the meta-story!

I would highly recommend that Sleuth Kings’ open a Chik N’ Pete. They have the best mascot ever.

High Points:

This is definitely the most dense and challenging bonus case we’ve received yet! The multiple levels between code cracking and various puzzles was great, and we really enjoyed peeling back the layers of each individual clue in order to progress further into the story. Though this case mostly consisted of breaking one particular code, the code itself is actually quite fascinating, and each puzzle that leads towards it’s eventual solving is satisfying, though it does absolutely make you work for it! The difficulty isn’t strained or frustrating however, and it allows for even veteran solvers to feel a major sense of accomplishment when the final conundrum is completed! The game flows well, and each clue follows into the next well, with some of the most engaging codes we’ve come across yet, which kept us sleuthing well into the night.

After three previous cases, we are definitely engaged with this ongoing mystery, and look forward to seeing it through quarterly, and this case absolutely continues to deliver story wise. The climax truly raises the stakes, ending on the usual cliffhanger, but with a sense of urgency that will keep us on our toes until the next bonus case arrives! Sleuth Kings is nothing if not a master at making you care for the characters they’ve created, and it’s no mistake since they’ve got the most compelling cast of any subscription box. Like any good mystery, I absolutely can’t help but want to know what happens next, but for now, we’ll have to wait and see!

Low Points:

Some of the code breaking included can begin to feel like a solo job, with not much to do once the busy work of filling in the letters begins. Though the presentation of this new cipher is excellent, it may present a short bottleneck where any additional players might want to refresh their beverages. Obviously, this isn’t an issue if you prefer to take on this mystery as a lone wolf. There was also a reference to something being on the epilogue letter that wasn’t actually there, which caused us some slight confusion. One prop was really cool, but it felt like a missed opportunity due to the majority of its contents having little relevance to the case.

Verdict:

While you can’t purchase this case outright, I absolutely recommend subscribing to Sleuth Kings so that you (eventually) will receive this one! The whole run of bonus cases is an amazing value added to your subscription, and isn’t just a throwaway benefit, these stories are truly compelling! You can use the promo code ESCAPEADVENTURE to get $5 off your subscription here! And if you’re really wanting to get to a bonus case quickly, you can order and solve past cases from the Sleuth Kings archive! You can also read the rest of our Sleuth Kings reviews here!

8/10 (Great)

Full Disclosure: Sleuth Kings provided a complementary box. (Duh.)