Spin Master Games - Escape Room Expansion Pack - Murder Mystery

Great Expansion Pack for the Main Game: ESCAPE ROOM by Spin Master.This cannot be played without the main game, so take that into account.This game's theme intro:"Rascals! As you enter the crime scene, you realize you're in trouble. Although you've solved numerous murder cases in the past and you aren't easily shocked, you've stumbled upon a real doozy.This isn't just an ordinary murder case. Not only was Theodore Jones a man of great fortune and fame, but the note found on the body was highly disturbing. If you don't solve this case quickly, there'll be blood on your hands...."So get your team ready and be quick of thinking to solve this awesome expansion.PS: I bought this expansion in Walmart at $9.99, for some reason is still not being sold by Amazon yet, so take that into mind so you don't blow your hard-earned money.

This was a huge hit at our family get togethers. We love escape games and have tried them all. This brand is especially fun because of the codes to find. Easy to play and great for the family.

As long as one realizes in advance that the "mystery" in this game has absolutely no connection to reality, this will be a fun and entertaining gaming experience. On the other hand, if you're expecting to match wits with Moriarty and use every ounce of your deductive reasoning skills to solve a realistic (or at least believable) crime, then you're in for a disappointment. This is more of a "puzzle" game than a "mystery" game (I can't even really call it an "escape room" game either, if you want to be honest about it). For example, hmmm... I don't know if I can give an example without a spoiler... but let's just say that a real murderer isn't going to design incriminating evidence into a public construction project for everyone to see, nor do items falling randomly somehow magically arrange themselves in recognizable patterns. So the mystery side of this game lacks realistic evidence and merely provides the backdrop for the game. If you accept that going in, this is a fun game; if not, then buy a game specifically designed to be a whodunnit (like Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, or one of the Unsolved Case Files or Cryptic Killers series, etc).Now, as for the game... as I've already mentioned, it's a fun time, but there are moments when you have to wonder what's going on inside the designer's head. Some of the puzzle clues can be rather vague, particularly where the ordering of the code digits is concerned. As a number of other reviews have mentioned, you need magnifying glasses to see important details (i.e. the playing materials are too small), and you certainly need plenty of bright light. But even with all its flaws, I'd still play Murder Mystery again (if I didn't already know all the answers).What I really wish, though, is that Escape Room games would quit trying to cross into other genres. EXIT: The Game has tried this on a few occasions also (3 times); and while I realize I'm in the minority here (based on user ratings/reviews), I personally think it detracts from the games. Just my 2 cents.

My family has played all the games in this Spinmaster escape room series. Murder mystery was good. I would rate it better than the Funland expansion game. However neither expansion game is as good as the original 4 that come with the starter box. Some of the clues in this one are a bit of stretch and I think would be nearly impossible without making use of the hints. However, for a solid hour of fun on a rainy day with the family (there were 4 of us playing and for everyone to have access to parts of the puzzle I wouldn't recommend more than that) the Spinmaster Escape Room games are a good product.

Great for the whole family!!

We've played the 4 original games, the funhouse and this one: Murder Mystery. We've loved the others but this one was a total dud. Starting with the poor English making it obvious it was "made in China" to the dark red image of the room that comprises the main playing surface that was difficult to see. Only the youngest in our party (13) was ever able to read the smudgy, tiny note on the floor despite having 20/20 vision. Trying to figure out which item had "Red" on it was guesswork - everything was reddish dark and difficult to decipher. The switchboard was ridiculously tiny as well and you had to match up all the teeny numbers and letters. Just flat out poorly designed. Finally, what murdered leaves threads on the carpet in the shape of letters? Just ridiculously unrealistic and poor story telling.

I've been waiting for months for the expansion packs to be released. Murder Mystery was a medium level of difficulty. Perfect for two people to play & finish in the hour while being challenged and having to work as a team. Can't wait to try the next one!

Our family has the original edition (which we loved playing) and these expansion packs are just as good. A challenge that takes several people thinking in different ways to all come together and solve the mystery. We hope Spin Master will continue to produce expansion packs.