The Dreidel Dilemma

• Designers: Jasmine Hweh and Kirsten Lunde
• Publisher: Grand Gamers Guild
• Players: 1+
• Age: 13+
• Difficulty Rating: 2/3
• Time: 60 minutes on the box; 27 min in reality
• Played with review copy provided by publisher
• Weblink – https://grandgamersguild.com/Games/collections/18escape

Why did they have to put you in charge of last minute Hanukkah preparations? It’s a race against the clock as you scour the neighborhood for clues that will remind you of cherished traditions, tell you what items to bring…and most importantly, let you know where the celebration is!

The Dreidel Dilemma, title #14 in the Holiday Hijinks line, is an escape room-style game in just 18 cards! As a group, you will solve a series of puzzles to unravel a mystery. Puzzles may test your perception, wordplay, and lateral thinking. English language fluency is required.

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, I didn’t grow up with any Hanukkah traditions as I was raised Catholic, and a brief internet search was quite enlightening…

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that brings joy during a dark time of the year. Beginning on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which falls in November or December each year, Hanukkah lasts for eight nights and commemorates when a small Jewish Maccabee army took back their Holy Temple from ancient Greeks in Judea. The Maccabees discovered that the eternal light in the temple had gone out. They only had enough oil to relight the lamp for one day, but the oil continued to burn for eight full days.

In recognition of this miracle, Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting the candles in the menorah. The menorah holds nine candles: one for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah plus the shamash, or “helper,” in the center. One candle is added to the menorah each night, progressing from right to left. Then, the candles are lit by the shamash, from left to right. There are three blessings offered on the first night, and two blessings for every night thereafter, which can be followed by the thankfulness blessing (Al HaNissim) and singing songs.

Many families exchange gifts during Hanukkah, and traditions are observed including eating latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) which are cooked in oil. The game dreidel, featuring a spinning top and money or chocolates called gelt, is often played.

Playing with the dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game played in Jewish homes all over the world.  The Hebrew word for dreidel is sevivon, which, as in Yiddish, means “to turn around.” Dreidels have four Hebrew letters on them, and they stand for the saying, Nes gadol haya sham, meaning “A great miracle occurred there.” In Israel, instead of the fourth letter shin, there is a peh, which means the saying is Nes gadol haya po, “A great miracle occurred here.”

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 lyrics to common Christmas carols.  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 game was rated at 2/3, and it felt a little easier than that.  I solved this is 27 minutes and did not require any hints.

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

And here are eight of them stacked up with a soda can for scale!

Until your next appointment

The Gaming Doctor