Escape Tales: The Awakening

A dark, timer-free escape room on cards where your choices rewrite the story and a father fights to wake his daughter.

Designers: Bartosz Idzikowski, Matt Dembek, Jakub Caban
Published by: Board&Dice
Editions by: White Goblin Games, KOSMOS, REXhry, Lavka Games, Pixie Games, Fractal Juegos, MS Edizioni, TCG Factory, Ludofy Creative, Delight, Cosmodrome Games, HOLYSWORD GAMES, Lockme

Escape Tales: The Awakening (2018) is a story-driven escape room in card form, with no timer and no rush. You play Sam, whose daughter has been in a coma for months while the doctors shrug. A stranger hands you a creepy book containing a ritual called The Awakening, and from there you explore locations, combine objects, crack puzzles and make choices that can't be taken back. Those decisions steer where the story goes, so two groups can end up in quite different places. The tone is dark and unsettling rather than jump-scare spooky, and it is aimed at adults. Plan an evening or several, and keep a notepad handy. You can play alone or with up to four, as one shared investigation.

No timer, puzzles at your own pacePermanent choices that branch the plotDark mystery for solo or up to four

Who it's for

You like narrative adventures and puzzles you can chew on, and you want a mature story you can play alone or with one or two partners in crime.

Not for you if…

You want a quick, light evening or a game you can replay. This is a long, one-time story with a dark mood, and it is not meant for kids.

Vibe's take

Slow, atmospheric and a little uncomfortable in the good way. You lean over cards, argue about clues and feel each irreversible choice land.