Today we have another review for an escape room game: Escape from the Starline Express.
Over the years we have played and reviewed many escape room games – the Exit line, the Clue line, Unsolved Cases and Cold Case. We even have our own line of escape room kits for kids. So when we found this one set on a train (the husband loves trains) we knew we had to give it a try.
In this post we’ll see how this one from Professor Puzzle compares to the others. We’ll cover what it was like to play, how easy it was to win (or loose) and if we think you should give it a try. Don’t worry there are no spoilers here! Let’s get to it.
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The Escape from the Starline Express Story
In this story, you are taking on the role of Betty Willson, a crime reporter that has been sent undercover on the Starline Express. She needs to find the stolen Black Widow diamond necklace and collect evidence against the Rag-Tag Crew who they believe stole the priceless necklace.
What’s inside the Starline Express Escape Room
First, there is an “urgent open me first” booklet that has the inductions for the game. This booklet also contains hints and solutions for each puzzle. The hints and solutions are protected by scratch off.
Next, there are nine booklets that represent train cars that are sealed, and a telegram. The box is made to look like a briefcase and there is the Starline Express’ route map on the inside of the box lid.
The instructions tell you that you need a timer and a pen and paper to play. We always have pen and paper on hand, but in this case we really used them.
How to Play The Starline Express Escape Room
The first ting you do is read the telegram. This is your first clue. When you’re solving the puzzle, you’re looking for either the name of a train car or the number of the train car. All the train cars have three digit numbers.
When you think you have the answer, you peel the seal off the train car and open the first flap. Inside, it will tell you what car you are entering and what car you were just in. If it says that you were in a different car than you were in, you got it wrong and will have to go back to the first puzzle.
If you are correct, you will open the rest of the booklet and get the pieces for the next puzzle.
Each of the train cars had a very different puzzle type in them and had us using our critical thinking skills through out.
Winning the Starline Express
In the end, you win if you can find where the necklace is and you lock the gang in until the police can come. But you have to solve all the puzzles in 90 minutes.
What We Like
First, the quality of this game is top notch. The papers a re thick and matt, all the materials for the clues are sturdy and well put together. Next, we love that there were several clues for each puzzle and then the solution if you really needed it. The fact that they were scratch off add an element to it too—no spoilers!
The number of different puzzles was really nice. Some of the puzzles were more physical and some were more thoughtful like cracking a code. We found that each of us was able to bring a problem-solving skill to the game which was nice as a lot of them can get repetitive.
We also liked that each train car was sealed as a bundle with all the items needed for the next puzzle inside. Some of them were a little bulky which was intriguing. We really liked that when you opened each car there was a note that said where you should have been before you got to that car—just in case you made a mistake. This was really reassuring. It’s nice in these games to get a little nod of you’re doing well.
Last, we like that, aside from the scratch off hints, there was nothing that you had to destroy to play. This means that we can pass it on to the next players.
What We Didn’t Like
Ah, the thing that we didn’t like the most was really us. We’ve played quite a few of these games and we were very much over thinking things, especially the first puzzle. We’re also very good at solving the puzzles but backwards (like if you’re collecting letter we will somehow collect them in the reverse order). This is not the game’s fault but it did dim our enthusiasm a little. Aside from that, there was one puzzle that didn’t make sense to us, but it might have been because it was near the end and we were getting tired.
Overall, there really wasn’t much that we didn’t like about the game.
Should you Give the Escape from the Starline Express a try?
I’m sure you’re wondering if we won. Well, yes and no. We didn’t finish in the time (we did get interrupted a few times). But we did solve the crime, find the necklace and trap the gang members. We really need to learn to just take the hints (and stop overthinking).
So, do we think you should give it a try? Yes! It was a really well put together escape room that was really nice to play. The puzzles are challenging but not impossible. Just take the hints if you need to!
You can get your copy of Escape from the Starline Express here, Canadians can get theirs here.
And if you love escape rooms check out our reviews for two of our favorites: Clue Escape and Unsolved Cases. As always, there are no spoilers. And if you have some junior sleuths check out our line of escape room kits for kids.
You might also like out mystery games: Who Burnt the Turkey and Who Stole Santa’s Mittens.
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