The Cupid Crisis

• Designer: Jonathan Chaffer
• Publisher: Grand Gamers Guild
• Players: 1-4
• Age: 13+
• Difficulty Rating: 3/3
• Time: ~60 minutes on the box; ??? in reality 
• Played with review copy provided by publisher
• Weblink – https://grandgamersguild.com/collections/holiday-hijinks

It’s Valentine’s Day, and your much-anticipated date has met with an unexpected heartbreak. Can you set things right in time for a lovely evening together?

The Holiday Hijinks series are a set of eight (so far) pocket sized escape room/puzzles.  I first encountered the series a few years ago, and we were quite impressed with the challenges provided by this small packet of 18 cards.  The idea here is an “Escape room” of sorts- with the goal being to get though the deck to the last card.

To play any of these games, simply unwrap the little sachet of cards, and you’ll find the instructions on the inside surface of the packet.  Keep all the cards facedown until instructed otherwise.  You will need a smartphone or a computer to play the game as well – there is a link on the instructions to a web based app.  The app gives a similar interface for each game, but I have found there to be some unique aspects to each game.

As you work on the puzzles, you will eventually find red magnifying glasses next to questions – when you find the answer to that question, type it into the app and see if you’re right.  If you have put in the correct answer, you’ll be instructed which card(s) to reveal from the deck to continue your adventure.

The standard sized playing cards definitely limit how “large” the puzzles can be – though some of the puzzles will be spread out over multiple cards.  I was pleasantly surprised with the variety and difficulty of the puzzles.  As with many games in this genre, having a few solvers work on the game together will help because sometimes a gamer will just “see” a puzzle and instantly solve it, and other times, it helps to have a couple of brains working on a puzzle at the same time in order to make the necessary breakthru.

While all the puzzles are contained on the cards, it would definitely be recommended to have pen and paper near.  Sure, you could write directly on the cards, but if you don’t, then you’ll have a nice gift to give to someone else when you’re done.  One of the great things about this series is that nothing is destroyed – so after you finish it, you can pass it on and let someone else enjoy this great system.

The web-app is well done.  It’s a nice system for entering answers and checking them.  The hint system is also very helpful, and it’s a nice backup if you get completely stuck. 

There are also links to some common puzzle solving things which you might need.  The app also keeps your time, and it’s expected that you’ll spend between 60-90 minutes to finish each game.  

The Cupid Crisis was a fun one, and while I needed no clues, there were a number of difficult puzzles in this one, and this goes with the rating of 3/3 difficulty on the cover.  It took me most of two workdays to play through this one (I just had it on my desk and worked on it during very limited bits of downtime), and as a result I don’t really know how much time I spent on it. 

The whole series is a blast, and I’d highly recommend trying them out – either for yourself, or they would make great stocking stuffers or small gifts…

You can find them here – https://grandgamersguild.com/collections/holiday-hijinks 

Until your next appointment

The Gaming Doctor