RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 7:00
Wait… learning can be fun?! And we can become filthy rich in the process? Dubrovnik here we come!
Secret Treasure of Dubrovnik is a remote play version of an existing, physical escape game at the venue’s brick and mortar location – retrofitted to be offered as a live, online experience. Although altered slightly to better flow in this new medium, the game is, at it’s core, essentially the same as what guests will find should they visit Puzzle Punks in person. To read our Pro-Tips on how to best enjoy this new Remote Play genre, click here.
Engage in an educational and fun experience, a race against the clock through the rich and tumultuous history of Dubrovnik.
Your mission is to find the secret treasure, buried in the ruins after the Great Earthquake in 1667. Though it was thought to be lost forever, secret society found it and rescued it. You have the opportunity to go look for it, but be careful as everything comes at a price!
Find out interesting things from the past while solving the puzzles, put your brain to work and figure out how to get to the treasure.
Dubrovnik – a city rich in history and richer in secret treasures. Travelers now have a unique opportunity to not only learn about the fabric that makes up this seaside Croatian town, but also to dig deeper than the surface in an attempt to unearth it’s greatest hidden mysteries.
Visitors will be led by local historian and tour guide, Ivan, as he shows them around the museum. His vast knowledge of Dubrovnik will help each item in the space develop a deeper meaning as it connects to the real world history of the city. From bricks that each man had to bring to rebuild after the great earthquake, to the orphanage door that allowed unwanted children to be anonymously handed over, each puzzle and artifact intertwines with the storyworld in a genuinely authentic manner.
The adventure begins in the curators office at a Dubrovnik museum.
This space is loaded with historical references to the city, some very intentional and others more like an Easter egg hunt. Old maps from when the ports thrived on shipping and trading, model ships that were helmed by famous Dubrovnik sailors, and portraits of important historical figures fill the room.
Intricately crafted figures create a sense of interacting with genuine museum pieces in order to discover their secrets. After thorough exploration of the office, visitors gain access to the tunnels hidden away by the secret society years ago. This area is darker and significantly smaller in footprint which creates the sense that those in search of the secret have actually moved into a clandestine passageway.
Real stone recovered from authentic Dubrovnik tunnels line the walls, taking the scenic authenticity to an even higher level. From start to finish, visitors are transported to a museum quality setting that wonderfully brings the history of Dubrovnik to life.
Every step of the process to uncover the secret treasure of Dubrovnik is completely in storyworld and furthers the understanding of local history and legend. From navigating shipping routes to utilizing many of the clever inventions credited to locals, visitors will subtly learn about the rich annals of this seaside Croatian city in an engaging and creative manner.
The puzzles found in the museum are mostly based on critical thinking and logic, which make sense in such a setting. This perfectly contrasts with the challenges in the tunnel that come towards the end of the game.
The later tasks are more physical in nature which creates an excitedly frantic rush to find the secret treasure before the clock runs out. The puzzles could believably have been roadblocks installed by the secret society in order to protect their valuable hiding spot.
The Secret Treasure of Dubrovnik does something few games successfully pull off: it educates without detracting from the enjoyment of the experience at all. In fact, the way the puzzles integrate with learning about the history of the city is so in storyworld that it significantly enhances the game.
Puzzle Punks has created a uniquely enjoyable game with Secret Treasure of Dubrovnik. Being in a city frequented by tourists, it provides a fun and engaging way to learn about the local history. As a remote play game, it affords that same opportunity to visitors from around the globe. Ivan, the tour guide, manages to educate guests in a very fluid manner without breaking the pace or immersion of the experience at all.
Intuitive puzzles work well with and enhance the storyworld as each task ties in to some historical aspect of the city. Paired with quality scenic, including some materials actually repurposed from around the town, the overall product is a well polished game that immerses visitors into the fascinating world of Dubrivnik.
*Montu, Escape Authority’s VP, Dog Business™ and lead home game correspondent endorses the opinions found within this review.
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Venue: Puzzle Punks
Location: Remote online play at home, broadcast live from Dubrovnik, Croatia
Number of Remote Games: 2
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 6 devices
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: 60€
We thank Puzzle Punks Dubrovnik Escape Room for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary access was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.