Some of the reviews shown are from related products the merchant grouped with this one.
D
Great fun! Amazing how much story and interactivity can come out of an envelope. One of the better escape room in an envelope/box I've played! As is common in the genre, a couple of the solutions to the smaller puzzles we had to look up clues for and left us going "um, ok." But the most the puzzles were quite fun, clever, and the meta puzzle left things on quite a high note! Would highly recommend!
Hi there, thanks so much for the thoughtful review! We’re delighted Episode 1 kept you entertained and that the story, interactivity, and meta puzzle made a strong impression. We appreciate your feedback on the smaller puzzles, too—it helps us keep improving. Thanks for recommending us! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series! :)
H
We had so much fun!
Hi there! Thank you so much for your review. We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time with our Shackleton Box Set. Here's to many more fun experiences with our products. Cheers!
I
I ordered all 6 episodes, it came in a beautiful elegant box. My wife and I very loved the game! All materials are excellent quality, puzzles and the story are great! Very good work, team!
Hi Igor! We're so happy to hear that you and your wife enjoyed the Shackleton Series! Our team put a lot of effort into creating a high-quality product, so we're thrilled that you noticed. Thank you for taking the time to leave such a kind review. Happy puzzling!
A
Great cold weather activity. Super for families that love escape room activities. No more than 4 people I think. Travels so well and easy to reuse. Puzzles are difficult enough that leveraging the odd hint feels just about right. Thank you so much for your creativity,
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! And thanks for backing the game on kickstarter with the collectors edition!!!
We are so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed this cold weather activity and found it perfect for escape room enthusiasts. We're glad that you found the puzzles challenging yet manageable with the occasional hint. Thank YOU for your support and for choosing our product. Wishing you many more fun adventures ahead!
A
This has been a fantastic series so far. My wife and I are only on Episode 4, but we marvel at how well the puzzles have been constructed. The team that designed this series has some serious creative skills.
Nothing was too easy or too hard. Clues are hidden in plain sight yet hard to spot at the same time.
Seriously Escape Mail team....you've outdone yourselves with this series. MORE PLEASE!!!!!
Hi Adam! Thank you so much for your kind words about the Shackleton Series. We are thrilled to hear that you and your wife are enjoying it and that the puzzles have been challenging yet well-designed. Our team takes great pride in creating unique and exciting experiences. Thank you for choosing Escape Mail and happy puzzling!
J
Ah this we a fantastic experience. I brought it with me to the high Canadian Arctic while working so I had something to do on the few days off I get. I also learned that Schakleton was hired by Canada to explore the high Arctic but the funding was pulled so he went back to Antarctica instead where he suffered a heart attack on the journey and passed away on the boat. Although I’m near the opposite place he was it felt thematic looking out my window at the sea ice forking and icebergs still drifting around up here. I played through by myself and just loved the story. The components were awesome and puzzles were varied both in difficulty and style. I did episodes 1-3 with the flow card and then 4-6 without. Managed to get through with no hints but had a couple puzzles where I had to stare into the abyss of my brain for a long time waiting for something new to think. And it eventually always bubbled up. So satisfying. Anyway it is a 10/10 for anyone who likes puzzle games. I will get the refill pack and pass it along for the next person to enjoy!
K
Loved playing the journey, looking forward to the next episodes.
V
We completed this box set with the kids. Our oldest son (10) was able to contribute meaningfully throughout (he loves puzzles/escape rooms), whereas the younger one mostly enjoyed being our notetaker/entering our answers. As soon as we finished the whole box set, we watched the Endurance documentary on Disney. The kids (and us adults) all really enjoyed identifying the parallels from the game and the characters and experiences as recounted in the film. Really great quality. We’ve order two replacement kits so that we can have friends and family experience the awesomeness too! Well done. Looking forward to your next project (I’ve been backing you since day one). I don’t think Escape Mail is for people who find Exit Games challenging…these definitely require a little something different. We used the cards to know which elements needed to be used to solve each puzzle (we took the expert level for Family Secrets, so didn’t have that luxury then) but I don’t know that we would have enjoyed Shackleton nearly as much if we needed to figure everything out on our own. I think having the option to use the card is the way to go (rather than ordering an expert level boxset). In any case: fantastic.
N
Ordered just the first to see what it was like. Enjoyed it although we found some of the puzzles confusing. But that may just be us !
B
My brother and I enjoyed these six episodes full of puzzles and stories. It was great how hints were included online. They offered help when we were stuck without giving all the answers away. Fascinating storyline!
Love this SO much! Thanks for sharing Buffy! We shared it on our stories too just now :)
M
We've played every game we could find over the last few years. Literally hundreds of games. This game is the best of all of them. Great story. Perfect level of difficulty. Quality material. You will not be sorry for buying this game. Can't wait for the next one...
A
We’ve played all of season 1 and now working through season 2, the episode’s puzzles continue to be great each time! Season 2 has definitely increased the story element and the ‘hands-on’ nature of the puzzles. Each has creative new challenges to be solved and there’s no repetition at all. (As a bonus, the envelope / mail size make them great for traveling). Hope to see many more seasons after this!
S
Beautifully made and really like the story line. We played the first envelope and enjoyed the puzzles until we got to the last one. Even with the clues we couldn’t understand how it was supposed to work, unfortunately. Sure appreciate the clues, though, and that we can carry on to the end even when we don’t get it. Hoping that won’t happen with any more of the puzzles and looking forward to our next adventure!
Hi Sheryl, thank your for your review! We're glad you enjoyed the design and storyline :)That las...
Y
Every escape room we played of escape mail was great -and we played them all-
But this one was the best!! Great story, well thought out, an incredible amount of different puzzels and everything fitted together as a glove. In how many different ways can you use an envelop?
You can feel in the passion of the creators in every episode. Each episode was well balanced out and took us about 2 hours. (Should be faster for native English speakers) and every time we played an episode the story immersed us. We wanted to see what happened to Shackleton and his crew. Follow their story and sheer them on.
It was a great trip to be a part of.
Thanks guys!
Greetings from the two Dutch women who came to Canada to pick this escape room up personally.
OF COURSE WE REMEMBER YOU LADIES! It was so fun that you came to visit, few do! Thank you for tak...
D
I'm not usually a multi part puzzle box person because who wants to wait for the next installment? However, Escape mail allows you to buy the whole series in one box, which is awesome! The Shackleton story is based on a real expedition which was fascinating and inspirational. The puzzles are some of the most original and cleaver ones out there--both fun and challenging. There are graduating levels of help, if needed, so it's frustration free. Escape Mail is also extremely responsive to questions (My phone glitched with one of the puzzles and they gave me solid workaround after hours almost instantaneously). I completely recommend this company and their boxes. Super nice guys. Really fun boxes! We've done Shackleton and Family Secrets and both were fantastic. Plus, Love Cousin JJ. IYKYK.
Donna! So lovely to see your name pop up after a number of years. As one of our earliest customers it brings us such joy to see you continuing to play. Thanks for your support. And yes, JJ sends his mosts heart-felt greetings ;)
T
I really enjoyed the game. Some parts were harder than others, episode 2 I found challenging. Others were okay, but episode 5, I didn’t realize the painting symbols were important, I was glad there was a help for “painting too hard”.
Only reason I knocked off a star is that my dad had such difficulty with the small print on the pages, it wasn’t fun for him, so he didn’t play past episode 1. He was interested in hearing about the story, so for each episode I would show him the pictures and give him the highlights of the story. Maybe include a QR code for the episode pages so he could look at them on his tablet? That way he could make them as big as he needed, also possibly removing the background colour on those pages and a more accessible font. The style of it being an old handwritten journal was great for the context of the game but problematic for those with visual impairment.
Hi Tina, thanks for sharing this! Glad you enjoyed the game! We do try to walk that fine line between authenticity and play-ability. For example, if you look at Shackleton's actual historical hand writing (which we SO wanted to copy) you will find that most people cannot read it at all. So we opted for a non-authentic font that was more legible. As for sizing, we like your suggestion about a digital version that is more legible, and while we don't have this publicly available at the moment, we would be happy to share that with you, if you wanted. Please reach out to us and let us know if that's something you'd still like and we'll put that together for you :)
R
My wife and I - after loving the Family Secrets series - got Shackleton. We love tackling it with just the two of us, or invite a friend or two along. It's flexible and engaging. We also really like the "refill" option so we can pass it on to someone else when we're done with it. Currently on Episode 4.
So good! Love that! Date night puzzle time :) OOHHH episode 4 that's a chilly one. Enjoy that pri...
R
Just finished last episode of this series and it was another great one. Definitely outdid family secrets which was great too.
And spoiler alert: The epilogue puzzle at the end was perfect after we got a little sad that we were done.
Looking forward to the next one the team pita out!!!
C
Very fun and good components. I really like the theme of this one. Good value for money compared to some other puzzle box games
We love this review so much we shared it on socials Claire :) thanks for sharing!!!
C
Just finished episode 1. Fun, challenging and intuitive!
We were hoping Shackleton series would be similar to the Family Secrets series which we loved and Escape Mail delivers!
YES! Thank you Charles! So appreciate you playing and leaving a review too!!!
Y
This was my second purchase from Escape Mail. I had kickstarted The Shackleton Series and was kept informed through every step of the production. The final product is amazing. Top notch quality and professionally done. When I picked up my copy, they were professional and friendly. If you want a challenge place an order. It is an AMAZING game!
THANK YOU! Wow that's so awesome, We really appreciate you taking the time to share!
T
It was a good different kind of puzzle to do with my wife. Not overly challenging or too easy. Probably took us a couple hours. Definitely recommend!
Yahoo! Nice work you two!
L
It arrived promptly and I purchased it following the recommendations of a friend who absolutely loved it. She highly recommended it.
I have not yet played it as I purchased it as something to do over the Christmas holidays when my adult children are home. A family Christmas present (I know, I'm early) of sorts.
I look forward to it!
P
We were blown away by season 1 of Escape Mail, but this new release takes production quality far beyond what we were expecting. We've tried some *other* escape room games - which I'll avoid naming, but you've seen them in stores before - but Shackleton truly surpasses them all in quality, length, and generosity of content and materials.
Plus it's a bit more challenging, which we appreciate.
Highly recommended!
HOLLA! We really hoped for that experience upgrade and made some big jumps, and we're so glad it ...
Prepare for an adventure
where history comes alive, and the thrill of discovery awaits.
This set contains all 6 envelopes, the full story, start to finish.
Each envelope contains a perfect variety of thoughtfully-designed puzzles suitable for the whole family (ages 12+). With an intuitive balance of paper and digital puzzles, each episode should take your party 1-2 hours to solve.
5 EASY STEPS
to enjoy this game
STEP 1
preperation
Gather Friends: Although this game can be played solo, puzzle games are better in teams for a variety of perspectives.
Get Pencil & Paper: Take notes!
Get a Connected Device: Although internet access is not required to solve the puzzles it is required to get hints, soundtrack and videos.
step 2
Exploration
Game Overview: All the info needed to get started is inside each episode's envelope.
Optional Flow Card: Choose your difficulty level by using the Flow Card or not.
A video from Cousin JJ: Sets the stage for this leg of the adventure.
step 3
Investigation
Journal Pages: Whether you choose to skip to the puzzle pages or soak up the full narrative, we recommend starting with the Journal Pages.
Other Contents: Find clues on any maps, schematics, illustrations, and artifacts necessary.
Companion App: Check answers and access tiered hints for every step along the way through the companion app.
step 4
resolution
FInd Solution Words: There are 5-7 core puzzles in each episode which all yield a single word.
Solve the Meta Puzzle: Use all 5-7 solution words to complete the episode's meta puzzle, which yields a coherent phrase to conclude that leg of the adventure.
Keep Your Solutions: At the end of Episode 6, you'll use all 6 phrases from throughout the series to complete a bonus finale puzzle.
step 5
continuation
Refill Kit: There are 1-3 items in each episode that require you to mark up during the solving process. Replace the used components so you can pass the game on to a friend to enjoy.
Continue the Adventure: Play episodes 2-6 to discover how Shackleton and his crew survived!
YOU DON’T NEED TO GO OUT TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE SHACKLETON SERIES...
There are a few differences between Shackleton and Family Secrets.
Shackleton is a 6 episode true story. Family Secrets is a 12 episode fictional story.
In Shackleton, digital usage is optional and sparse whereas in Family Secrets an internet connected device is required and used frequently.
Shackleton is our later work, which means overall presentation is more robust. Players say we "levelled up" as creatives haha! Moreover, there is a consistent structure and difficulty level across the episodes.
You can play Escape Mail almost anywhere as an exciting, unexpected and engaging activity for families, friends or couples. The Shackleton Series in particular appeals to those wanting a challenging puzzle to solve set in the context of a true story. Think: family games night or date night for puzzle solvers and history lovers.
Escape Mail is always a family friendly adventure (all content is PG). The difficulty of this series of Escape Mail is suitable for anyone 12 years or older, but playing with an adult is recommended for anyone under the age of 14. As long as you're a strong reader, you can play!
We've included a Flow Card in Episode 1 (and all episodes). Unless you have solved many escape room games before, or you're eager for an intense challenge, we recommend starting with the Flow Card.
You can always access multiple hints on the web app (and/or the solution) with every puzzle along the way.
Everything you need to solve the entire series is included in your envelope, with the exception of a pencil and scrap paper (with optional use of an internet-connected device for hints, answer checker, etc.). Unlike the Family Secrets Series, there is no tape or scissors required.
Escape Mail games are just different. There's no doubt about it. Just ask Nicholas L who said, "I’m not someone who normally would have chosen an escape room style game; but it has been so much fun trying something new with my wife."
What do people love about Escape Mail?
The Running Storyline: You can lose yourself in this true-story adventure as each episode connects to the one before it, including plots twists, clever connections, and a meta puzzle for every episode!
Variety of Puzzles: When you play Escape Mail you realize no two episodes are alike. Every theme is different and every puzzle we approach from a new angle to keep it fresh for you.
Quality Elements: Our games are immersive, tactile & durable. This series in particular we increased the production value both to wow you, as well as to ensure it is replayable by others after you.
Challenging & Satisfying: By the end of an Escape Mail episode, you have a real sense of achievement and accomplishment. The episode concludes with a phrase that makes sense of the voyage up to that point in time. The entire series also culminates in a final puzzle as well, which we call the Epilogue. It is essentially a Meta-Meta puzzle!
★★★★★"There is so much in here! Everything is so well done and high-quality, it is gorgeous."
JAMIE
@TABLETOPTIKTALK
★★★★★"We had so much fun playing this game. It was perfect for a small group because we could all be working on different things at the same time. I am itching to play Episode 2."
CHARLENE
@CHARLENEKNUDSEN
★★★★★"Please check it out! This is my favourite company that does Escape Room type games."
BAIRNT
@MEETMEATTHETABLE
★★★★★"Wow. They do an amazing job of getting so much in these envelopes! This has been the best thing I've seen from Escape Mail so far."
BEARDIC INSPIRATION
@BEARDIC_INSPIRATION
★★★★★"I have some experience with Escape Mail and let me tell you I love this new series... not only do you get to learn a little bit along the way but your IN IT. You're in the story."
TERESA
@PLAYIN_A_ROUND
