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break in™ alcatraz by playmonster - unlock the mystery of america's most infamous prison logo

Break In™ Alcatraz By PlayMonster - Unlock The Mystery Of America'S Most Infamous Prison Review

36

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Poor

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$$
Revainrating 2.5 out of 5  
Rating 
2.7
🃏 Card Games, 🎮 Games

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Reviews

Global ratings 36
  • 5
    9
  • 4
    1
  • 3
    6
  • 2
    8
  • 1
    12

Type of review

Revainrating 1 out of 5

No clear direction, no support, no fun.

This is a slick looking package with amazing graphics high quality pieces. And that's where the fun ends.There is no clear direction and even when using clues, it isn't clear what you are supposed to be doing.We've played many puzzle games, but this is the first time our group didn't even bother to finish.The whole thing went into the trash without a second thought.

Pros
  • The night of June 11, 1962 marks the only successful break out from Alcatraz. No one has ever figured out how these men made their way off the island. But no one ever knew their secret: There was an outside man.
Cons
  • May be too scary for young children

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Good concept, but other makers games are better.

My wife and I have enjoyed these boxed escape rooms/ puzzle games for date nights over the last little while. We decided to give this manufacture a shot to see how we enjoyed their game. We were highly disappointed. The game set up was pretty awesome, the puzzles were awful, most of them made no sense whatsoever and instructions were as clear as mud. We gave up halfway through the game because there was no real way to solve any of the puzzles. We are avid puzzle solvers and while we struggled…

Pros
  • Amazing Game! Loads of fun playing with a partner and working together to figure out the clues!!
Cons
  • It's a cheap alternative to other escape room boxes. Kinda confusing at times, but still fun.

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Awkward and unclear instructions

While we appreciated the creative design of this activity, the design was implemented awkwardly. Some of the clues were clever, while others were just not very much fun to solve. This was not our favorite "escape room in a box".

Pros
  • Offers a great mental workout for retired people
Cons
  • May be too easy or too difficult depending on the players' skill levels

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Tickles your brain - my new review

Great game for friends and family. I played this game with my family and I enjoyed it. Helps with critical thinking and problem solving. This games makes you think and that’s what I love about it. Awsome!

Pros
  • Gift
Cons
  • Too hard to figure out we have up

Revainrating 3 out of 5

For the right price, it's worth it

I didn't have high hopes going in to this game, given the other reviews, and they aren't wrong, but I was happy for the price I paid ($15). The quality of the game pieces was better than I expected. There's even a plastic 3D puzzle included. The opening layers is unique. Though you'll want to use something flat like a butter knife to help pop the cardstock layers off the plastic studs when its time.This game would be difficult to do in a medium or large group. I played it with one other person,

Pros
  • Games & Accessories
Cons
  • May not be as engaging as advertised

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Great plot, balanced and entertaining puzzles

The story, the quests, and the box itself were amazingly entertaining and fun. I mean I can totally see and appreciate how much attention and care has been put into designing this game.The quests weren’t too easy, but also they were quite logical and totally solvable with a proper approach and attention. Makes for a great evening for a couple, just make sure to not overdrink before solving the toughest puzzles )

Pros
  • Provides an immersive and escapist experience
Cons
  • May not have enough surprises or twists

Revainrating 2 out of 5

I adore escape games. Hated this.

Frustrating, difficult, and hard to follow. We love escape rooms, escape games, and puzzles. We've done nearly 100 at this point, but this game was just too convoluted.

Pros
  • Offers a unique and challenging form of entertainment
Cons
  • May not be suitable for family-friendly game nights

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Error on game card on my review.

There is an error on the game card. When you get to the vent portion of the game, the hint on the card says your route along the vents must pass through number 240. My girlfriend and I tried to get through this level for almost 30 minutes. We finally looked online and the online paths shows you going through number 270 for the correct path. See the photos attached. So the card is wrong and the office website shows the correct answer.This is a great game but how you get an error on the card is…

Pros
  • Offers a fun and challenging alternative to traditional board games
Cons
  • May cause frustration and arguments between players

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Unique concept but needs improvement

My wife and I love these escape room board games. When we came across this one, we couldn't wait to give it a try. The 3D aspect of it is fun and peeling back the layers is rewarding.Overall the puzzles are clever and I like the concept of the 'Solution Stick'. We were able to solve most of the puzzles with little or no hints. The artwork is wonderful giving the game board a nice overall look.On the downside though, some of the puzzles don't make sense and even with the hints we weren't quite…

Pros
  • Emphasizes communication and teamwork skills
Cons
  • Board may not be visually appealing

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Nope. Not Enjoyable. Skip this one.

I wanted to love this game. The artwork is really nice. The idea of the box unfolding and being part of the experience is GREAT. The puzzles or perhaps how they are introduced to the player make it very difficult to play. I have done actual escape rooms and have played a few different escape room boxes and this one just was not fun. Sorry. I really don’t like having to say it. I got this game at a discount and still don’t feel like it was worth the effort. Hope the creators learn from this and…

Pros
  • Encourages problem-solving skills and critical thinking
Cons
  • Rules may be too complex for some

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Challenging-Teamwork required!

Not only is this game a great way to get the teens away from the TV and video games, but it provides an opportunity for the family to work as a team. We have a competitive family. Most games only have one winner. This game is different. The only way to win (Break In) is to work together. It is a bit complicated at first to figure out how to set it up and how all of the cards work. The puzzles are difficult enough to be challenging, but not too difficult that they are frustrating. The teens are…

Pros
  • Can be played individually or in a group
Cons
  • May not have enough replay value

Revainrating 5 out of 5

New Concept On Escape Room Games

This game is very fun and engaging for my family of four (kids are 11 and 13). We had a blast playing it as soon as we received it, although I'd give it more of 3-4 out of 5 for difficulty. We had to use the hint cards a few times. The best part of the game was this new concept of breaking in, as opposed to escaping. I loved that it's a new style, and I'm glad to hear that there are follow-ups that stay in this vein. I saw that others had a hard time with the puzzles, and we did have to focus…

Pros
  • Builds confidence and self-esteem
Cons
  • May not be as informative or educational as advertised

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Fantastic presentation - Poor Execution

So, when all is said and done, this was a beautiful game; however, it was full of problems. These ranged from (A) The instructions were confusing. I had difficulty a few times figuring out what I was supposed to do (the glue puzzle is a great example) or which piece of the gameboard I was actually working with (B) Some puzzles had more than one solution and (C) there was one answer where there was actually a misprint on the card (I've read online it was later corrected). I've played probably 50

Pros
  • Perfect for groups looking for a thrilling challenge
Cons
  • May require too much concentration for casual gamers

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Waste of money! for my opinion

Great concept horrible puzzle setup and execution. Most puzzles give no clear if any direction on what your doing. The puzzles with direction are confusing and very more a hindrance then a direction. If you like puzzle games and don't want to be pissed while you play do not buy this.

Pros
  • Makes a novel and thoughtful gift for any occasion
Cons
  • May not be as interactive as advertised

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Just say no! NOT good

This was quite possibly the worst gift I've ever given. It was for a very smart 10 year old. He was so excited since he does escape rooms frequently and loves puzzles. But this. it made no sense. Even the adults in the room were ready to give up about half an hour in. What's more, you can only "play" it once, so after you've gone thru it, that's the end; there are no options for variants or to choose a different outcome. This one gets negative one million stars from us!

Pros
  • Encourages lateral thinking and creativity
Cons
  • May require too much preparation before playing

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Not the best.: my feedback

Way, way, WAY too much story/text, not enough actually puzzles. Concept was really good, but the focus on the story was exhausting and the puzzles were not well executed. We were able to figure out the jist, but the path could have 3 or 4 options and directions were not clear on where to start. Will stick with other series, also, the ending was super anticlimactic.

Pros
  • A LOT of reading
Cons
  • MIT grads will love this. We did not. The game board needs more explanation.

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Not recommended. in my review

All escape games are subject to personal preference. With that said, we did not find this escape room to have a smooth play. The puzzles were odd and it was difficult to understand the creator’s train of thought. There were several times when we found that a massive leap of thought was necessary to understand puzzles. Game play was quirky and frustrating. However, the unfolding of the prison was interesting. All in all, we do not recommend this escape game.

Pros
  • 4 x 10.5 x 8.5 inches
Cons
  • Theme may not appeal to everyone

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Will not buy a game from this company ever again

Great idea, poorly thought out. Steps are missing like when yo open the next layers etc, at in point it actually you to just guess.

Pros
  • Can be played for short or long periods of time
Cons
  • May not have enough strategy involved

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Complicated with poorly designed puzzles

The concept was neat, great theme, but the puzzles were poorly designed and the directions were unclear. This made the game difficult to play. We spent more time trying to decipher what the puzzles were supposed to be and how to play than finding enjoyment out of the game. The game play was frustrating and poorly designed.

Pros
  • Includes different difficulty levels to accommodate all skill levels
Cons
  • May not be as engaging for those who don't enjoy mystery-themed games

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Game night? Solve it yourself first

Solve it yourself first to avoid frustration on game night. Here's why:I've completed several escape rooms, but this was my first board game version. The concept and the 3D aspect drew me in! As other reviews said, there are a few errors on the hint cards, the instructions aren't very clear, and even the hint cards are pretty vague. I brought this game to our biweekly game night, super excited to try it out, and we all fizzled out 20 minutes after having no idea how to solve the first puzzle…

Pros
  • Offers a unique perspective into historical events
Cons
  • May not be as immersive as advertised