Cube Escape Collection

So at time of writing I’ve played up to but not including Roots, the game that caused the series to blow up. That means the first 9 games. That sounds like a lot, but the series started as small flash games so they went by pretty fast; Hotel was probably the most involved one, and it was still just 2.5 hours to 100% (it was also the one that wasn’t just a web game at first release). I honestly really have loved these, despite the fact that on paper it doesn’t necessary seem like something I would like –eldritch horror elements, a retconned story that clearly started as just vibes, few answers to what’s going on, weird use of suicide as a metaphor, sometimes gross, etc. But the game does these things so well that it transcends the problems I usually have with them — I actually really liked seeing how they clearly were just going for atmosphere in the first couple of Cube Escape games and then later on were like, okay, how do we explain this and make it coherent? The result is some really creative, unique, and interesting lore that was clearly done deliberately and thoughtfully when it was retconned in, and it works. The other thing that works are the soft horror elements — the game really understands why and when less is more; the anticipation of horror is worse than the thing itself, the monster you see briefly outside the window is scarier than the thing you see clearly in front of you. The result is that the game really, really earns its jumpscares by being judicious with them. By using things like the shadows and disembodied hands as motifs it also makes them feel purposeful and meaningful within the universe; I think one of the problems these types of games can have is that the horror stuff starts to feel too directed at the player and becomes a suspension of disbelief problem, but here when you do stumble across it you’re like ‘oh, yeah, ok, that is what would be here.’ I don’t know, it just worked for me. The whole mood and tone worked for me in a way it usually wouldn’t. The other thing is this game has a really wonderful conservation of detail and gameplay that I really appreciated. Nothing is frivolous or puseposeless and it really enhances the puzzle-solving. The oldest games can definitely have an issue with obscure solutions, but those get significantly better over time (I seem to also remember seeing one of the devs say this is something they know they were iffy on early on but have consciously improved, and it shows). The puzzles are satisfying because nothing is extraneous; no amount of detail-oriented gameplay is too much, but at the same time there’s no excess of detail to waste your time. Solid. I liked these enough I also played their tabletop version! Mr. Act and I had a lot of fun with it, it was a good time. The design ethos translated really well to pen-and-paper. These games won’t be for everyone, but as far as weird point-and-click logic puzzles go, I really liked them. I’m looking forward to Roots, the dev’s first commercial release, when I have time for it.

One of my favorite things about the Rusty Lake room escape games is the overarching story that connects every title. The more games you play, the more pieces of the bigger mystery fall into place, making the series incredibly rewarding to experience from start to finish. Each game has its own unique setting, puzzles, and atmosphere, so they never feel repetitive. They're consistently captivating, with just the right balance of challenging puzzles and intriguing storytelling. If you enjoy escape rooms and narrative-driven games, this series is absolutely worth playing.

I don't usually leave reviews, but I Love Rusty Lake! They make the perfect escape games and the cube collection proves that. The puzzles really get you to think and the story keeps you on your toes. Some puzzles are harder than others, but nothing feels impossible. For anyone considering to play this game, make sure to click and look at EVERYTHING. It may take a few hints sometimes but once you get a feel for how the game works, it goes by pretty smoothly. Thanks Rusty Lake for making an awesome game! :)