theory11 Box ONE Board Game Presented by Neil Patrick Harris 1 player

(This review is spoiler-free.) I found Box One when I was looking to purchase more of the Exit escape room games. I wasn't sure what to expect, since I took the advice of the first few reviews I read and didn't seek out any information about it; I've been a fan of Neil Patrick Harris for many years, and since I love puzzles and was seeking more physical games to purchase, I decided to give it a try. Box One may be a game, but it is also an experience--and one I THOROUGHLY enjoyed. I was grinning with giddiness every time I discovered something new, because it was all so clever and so... satisfying? It's hard to describe the feeling, but it's almost like the solutions to some of the puzzles were exactly what I wanted them to be, rather than what I expected them to be. There were a lot of really, really cool ideas packed into this box. I will say, though, that if you're looking for a challenge, Box One probably won't satisfy you. I'm no genius, but I never needed any hints, and never struggled on any one puzzle for more than a few minutes. Oddly enough, I didn't find this to be a downside. The puzzles don't feel like they're meant to stump you so much as they're there to guide you to the next step, and I was enjoying the feeling of being the smart person who figured it all out, haha. Just be aware that if you're experienced with escape room style games (or similar genres) this will feel pretty easy to you. And again, if you're at all experienced with puzzle games, Box One probably won't take you very long to finish. I went at a leisurely pace and still finished in maybe 3 hours split between two days. Nothing gets destroyed along the way, so you can technically replay it, but you'll probably want to wait a few years so everything is a surprise again. I still think it's worth the price for how much fun I had, but if you're on a tight budget and need the most bang for your buck, there are plenty of other board games or video games that will give you more playtime. Overall, I can tell that a LOT of time, effort, and passion went into designing Box One. I can't remember the last time I felt so much child-like excitement, and in this day and age, that kind of experience is priceless. I have already purchased Box Two and look forward to seeing what new surprises it brings!

This was a lot of fun. The puzzles are very simple for an adult, but I played with my 7 year old and she was able to figure out some things. Make sure you do things in order- don't jump ahead just because you realized you can. It can get a little confusing if you do that. One thing to note, there's a part that requires internet access. When you do that you will have to wait until a specific time/duration. Using a PC (rather than a phone) is recommended if you don't want to wait, as you can change the time.

This is awesome. After I finished it, I bought box two. These are so much fun. I'm home alone a lot and these are perfect for my brain.

Tons of fun. Designed for one person to play, but definitely works with a small group (2 or 3) working together too

Outstanding game, calling for logic, reasoning and wordplay. Hard to review without giving anything away, but trust me, it's definitely worth it.

Good fun that will last you about 2 hours. In the style of an escape room. The game says to do it alone, but my husband and I completed it together. I would say any more people than that and it might not have enough for everyone to help. Some things we discovered ahead of time and others were unexpected and inspired joy. Overall an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. I like the fact that the story unfolded as we completed clues but felt that the storytelling component could have been a bit stronger and added more complexity and layers as you went. Would be awesome if Box Two does that a little bit better. We ordered both so I'm looking forward to trying the second one when it arrives. We reset everything and will pass it on to some friends who enjoy escape rooms.

Worked great as a present. Took some time for them to finish and then reset it to use for young child with help. Was really enjoyed overall and would highly recommend

I would recommend not reading anything about the experience, as you don't want any spoilers. If you're into puzzle games or escape rooms, this is a perfect evening activity. The difficulty was just right, where I felt challenged, but never stuck for too long. Glad to see there's a second box and hope there will be more.

Just need a little knowledge and able to use the internet.

Very good "escape room" with option to play it again. So after you finish you can pass it to your friends. Good quality and smart puzzles!

J'ai vraiment eu beaucoup de plaisir à faire ce jeu!

Excellent entertainment

My wife enjoys puzzles and this gave her an excuse to spend time away from the kids and myself, just for herself. There are some mildly frustrating parts, but overall she thought it was excellent.