Curse you Neil Patrick Harris! - A box one review

“For others, magic is a crisp autumn’s day or a tender hug from a loved one.”

-Neil Patrick Harris, The Magic Misfits

Let me be clear right from the outset, I suck at puzzle games. If you take me to an escape room you better make sure it's about useless trivia because if it's not I am going to be no use to you. If you need to break a code and that's the only way to open the door and I'm your only hope you are going to die of starvation in said room. That being said from time to time I will try to do some puzzle games such as unlock or Sherlock Holmes consulting detective. I am very bad at them but I like to give them a shot once in a while. I want to be good at them, I'm just not.

While walking through Target I saw a new game by NPH (I feel like if we were friends I would call him NPH, maybe even notorious NPH, which he would probably hate and I would switch back to just NPH). and I know his affinity for magic and thought that if anyone could create a good solo puzzle experience it would be my close personal friend NPH.

From the publisher

Box ONE is an ever-evolving game of trivia, codes, puzzles, and discovery - only from the mind of Neil Patrick Harris.

There are tons of great party games — but unlike the rest, Box ONE is designed to challenge just ONE person: YOU! And you alone.

Prepare to set out on an exciting adventure like no other as you discover, decode, and unlock the secrets of Box ONE.

Look closely, though, as with all things - there’s more than meets the eye...

Box ONE is the perfect gift for anyone into puzzles, codes, and escape rooms. The game represents years of thought and careful planning by Neil Patrick Harris. Everything you need to decode each challenge is inside the box. Can you decode it? Can you solve it? The clock is ticking...

How to play

You start with card one and go from there, puzzles will increase with difficulty, storylines will unfold. You'll laugh, you'll cry.

Components

I tend not to get into this aspect of gaming because I'm much more focused on gameplay but these components are great. Everything is super high quality. It shows that they really thought about how everything would fit together in the story with keen attention to detail.

The takeaway

This is a very well done puzzle game. I love the use of trivia in the game which is something that is not commonly used in puzzle/escape games. For the less puzzle inclined (such as I), there are hints online when you get stuck, but they are hints and as such do not just give away the answer to you which I appreciated. The game is easy to reassemble when you are done so that you may give it to a friend so they can enjoy it. I look forward to talking to the person I am giving it to when they are done with it to find out their favorite part. The main complaint online that I have seen is the price point. As a gamer $30 is not a big deal to me but I can see how some might think it is a lot of money for a one-play game, but I disagree. It is a fully engrossing experience in this box. I found myself saying "oh that's clever" or being surprised a few times at how things are revealed. Notorious N.P.H. raised the bar significantly and showed what can be accomplished with a home puzzle game when you take the time and think outside (and inside) the box.