If you've never played an EXIT game before, you might be wondering exactly how an escape-room advent calendar works. Unlike a traditional advent calendar, where you simply open a numbered door each day, EXIT challenges you to solve a puzzle to discover which door to open next.
I played The Intergalactic Race throughout December, completing one puzzle every day. It was my first experience with an EXIT game, so here's everything you need to know before starting your own adventure, without spoiling any of the puzzles!
Getting Started
Inside the box, you'll find an instruction booklet and a separate clue booklet, along with everything you need to complete your adventure.
Before opening any doors, take some time to read the instructions carefully. They explain how the game works, how to use the decoder and, most importantly, what you should and shouldn't open until instructed.
The game begins with an introduction to the story. Rather than reading everything at once, you'll follow the adventure in stages, with the story directing you when to open your next door.
It's important not to jump ahead, as opening doors or reading sections too early could spoil the experience.
Solving Your First Puzzle
Each day presents a new puzzle, but they don't all work in the same way.
Sometimes you'll need to examine the miniature room behind a door. Other times, you might find additional cards, maps or sheets that you'll need to use to work out your answer.
Your aim is to solve the puzzle and discover a three-digit code.
Once you have your numbers, you'll need the decoder table included with the game.
How to Use the Decoder Table
The decoder table uses three coloured sliding strips: red, blue and yellow.
After solving a puzzle, move the strips to display your three-digit answer in the centre of the decoder.
Turn the decoder over, and you'll find symbols and directional arrows that help you locate your next door.
Follow the directions across the advent calendar and check whether the symbols match those displayed on your decoder.
If everything matches, you've found your next door!
You can then mark that door with the next day's number, ready for tomorrow's adventure.
This is what makes EXIT different from a traditional advent calendar. You're not simply looking for the next number. You have to earn your next door by solving the puzzle!
What If Your Code Doesn't Work?
Don't worry if your answer doesn't lead you to the correct door. It doesn't necessarily mean you've got the entire puzzle wrong.
I found myself in this situation several times. Sometimes I'd worked out the correct three numbers but had them in the wrong order.
If the symbols don't match, go back and examine your puzzle again. Check the order of your numbers and make sure you haven't overlooked anything.
It can be frustrating when you think you've solved something, only to discover you're not quite there, but that's all part of the challenge.
What Happens If You Get Stuck?
Some puzzles are definitely trickier than others, and there may be times when you feel completely stuck.
Fortunately, the game includes a separate clue booklet.
The hints are arranged so you can reveal them gradually without immediately seeing the entire solution. This gives you the opportunity to try again after receiving a little help.
If you're still struggling after working through the hints, you can reveal the answer and continue your adventure.
I found this particularly useful because sometimes I'd simply overlooked something inside one of the rooms.
There's no shame in using a clue. Sometimes all you need is a little nudge in the right direction!
How Difficult Are the Puzzles?
I found that the difficulty varied throughout the advent calendar.
Some puzzles were incredibly easy for me, while others had me scratching my head for quite some time.
Interestingly, when comparing experiences with other people playing the same game, I discovered that puzzles I'd solved almost immediately had left others completely stumped. Equally, puzzles I'd really struggled with had been solved quickly by other players.
It really depends on how you approach each puzzle and what sort of challenges you find easier to understand.
You never quite know what's waiting behind the next door!
Can You Play on Your Own?
Absolutely!
I completed the majority of the adventure by myself, although I did have a little help along the way.
My partner occasionally joined in, but because he hadn't followed the story from the beginning, he wasn't always sure what was going on!
Personally, I enjoyed working through the puzzles independently, taking my time and figuring things out for myself.
You could certainly work through the challenges together, but you don't need a group of people to enjoy the experience.
A Few Tips Before You Start
One thing I'd recommend having nearby is a small torch or your phone's torch.
Some puzzles require you to examine the rooms behind the doors very carefully, and I occasionally found it difficult to see every detail clearly.
There were times when I wasn't sure whether something was simply part of the decoration or an important clue.
A little extra light made it easier to examine everything properly.
Take your time, inspect each room thoroughly and don't automatically dismiss something as decoration. You never know what might be important!
I'd also recommend keeping the instruction and clue booklets somewhere safe so you can easily find them when needed.
Completing the Adventure
Once you've solved the final puzzle, there's still a little more to discover.
The game has one last surprise waiting for you before you return to the story booklet to find out how everything ends.
I won't spoil what happens, but it's certainly a memorable way to finish your Christmas adventure!
Final Thoughts
For someone who had never played an EXIT game before, I found The Intergalactic Race a fun introduction to this style of puzzle-solving.
I particularly enjoyed having something different to work out each day rather than simply opening a numbered advent calendar door.
Some puzzles were straightforward, others took considerably more thought, but there was always the satisfaction of finally cracking a code and discovering where the adventure would take me next.
My biggest advice for anyone playing for the first time would be to read the instructions carefully, take your time and don't be afraid to use the hints if you need them.
Most importantly, enjoy the adventure and resist the temptation to peek behind tomorrow's door!
Game Ratings
Overall Rating: 90/100
- Artwork: 4/5
- Complexity: 3.5/5
- Replayability: 1/5
- Player Interaction: 4/5
- Component Quality: 4/5
Replayability is rated low simply because this is a one-time escape-room advent calendar, rather than a game designed to be played repeatedly.
What I Liked
- The variety of puzzles, with something different to solve each day.
- The satisfaction of cracking a code and discovering which door to open next.
- Having a new challenge to look forward to every day throughout December.
- The helpful clue system, which allows you to reveal hints gradually without immediately spoiling the answer.
- The clever construction of the calendar and its memorable ending.
What I Disliked
- Some of the miniature rooms were quite dark, making certain details difficult to see without additional lighting.
- The space-themed storyline and some of the puzzles weren't particularly suited to my personal interests.
- Having to wait until the following day to continue the adventure when I was enjoying solving the puzzles
