Chambered Nautilus

• Designers: Ace & Anna Ellett
• Publisher: Grand Gamers Guild
• Players: 1+
• Age: 13+
• Difficulty Rating: 2/3
• Time: 60 minutes on the box; 48 min in reality
• Played with review copy provided by publisher
• Weblink – https://grandgamersguild.com/Games/collections/18escape

As a science journalist hosting a symposium on the chambered nautilus, you’re counting on a renowned expert to close the show. When they mysteriously fail to appear, you must balance running the event with searching the aquarium. Can you find the missing expert and save the symposium before time runs out?

Endangered Rescue: Chambered Nautilus is an 18Escape adventure created in partnership with Science Friday to support Cephalopod Week. Every game purchased supports independent science journalism. Stay connected to the awe and joy of science all year with Science Friday’s flagship newsletter Week in Science.

Want to dive deeper? Learn more about Dr. Gregory Barord’s work to raise awareness about the nautilus, its precarious future, and the research needed to help protect the species at savethenautilus.com.

The 18 Escape series (previously called Holiday Hijinks) are a set of 20+ 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.

So, until today, I didn’t know there was a World Octpous Day.  International Cephalopod Awareness Days: Observed annually from October 8 to October 12, kicking off with World Octopus Day on October 8. For Cephalopod Week 2026, Science Friday is hosting a special live Q&A event about the chambered nautilus. Join Science Friday and scientist Dr. Gregory J. Barord for a free YouTube livestream on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 1 pm ET / 10 pm PT.

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 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.  Note that puzzles may test your perception, wordplay, and lateral thinking. English language fluency is required.

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 have been 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.  I have played the games solo, I have played them in pairs (on airplane tray tables and in our car at charging stops) – and it works great for those situations.  Really, you can play with any number of people, but you’ll have to remember that these puzzles come on playing cards, so only so many eyes can see it at once.

While all the puzzles are contained on the cards, it would definitely be recommended to have pen and paper near as some of the puzzles require you to take notes or to draw out paths, etc.  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.   Once you type in a correct answer, the web app will direct to you to the next card(s) to look at to continue the adventure.

There are also links to some common puzzle solving things which you might need as well as specific information for the particular theme of the game such as information on the chambered nautilus and other cephalopods.  I think it’s quite nice and helpful to have these references available at all times.  You won’t need them for every puzzle, but it is a nice resource to have at your fingertips.  The app also keeps your time, and it’s expected that you’ll spend around 60 minutes to finish each game.

This one was just above averagein the middle difficulty scale.  We did not require any hints though the first puzzle did take a number of attempts to get right – a tough puzzle right off the bat!

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 for a particular holiday…  If you order soon, you should have time to get the game(s) in time for their respective holiday dates!

You can find them here  –  https://grandgamersguild.com/Games/collections/18escape

Until your next appointment

The Gaming Doctor