In a captivating sequel to The Enigma Emporium Presents: Wish You Were Here, The Enigma Emporium is at it again with thought provoking puzzles in Blowback: Wish You Were Here Part II. Is it all fun and games while solving, or will you pull your hair out trying to solve the mystery …? Let’s find out!

What Is It?

A 5-postcard mystery game that presents players with a plethora of puzzles hidden on every inch! (Wow, try saying that sentence 5 times fast). A game closely resembling the ever-popular escape room board games we know and love (Unlock, Exit, et cetera), this one provides big puzzles in a much smaller package and does allow you to share or replay because there is no desturction! Blowback is also the 2nd in its series … but will it be the last?

Who Is It For?

I’d recommend this one to adults because the puzzles are definitely a challenge; they are likely too difficult for most kids or teens. Anyone who adores tricky puzzles and/or escape rooms (be it the real ones or the board games).

“You’ve got to look at it in the right light..” -(c) The Enigma Emporium, Facebook

Quality of Components

There isn’t much for components as there are only 5 postcards (talk about effective minimalism!) but they are sturdy and pretty much everything is very clear and pleasant to look at on them, which is great. (One font was a little difficult for us to read, but that will vary person to person of course). Overall great quality!

PROS

  • A very immersive experience – it also continues/connects  very well from the first game in the series
  • The different elements on each card are all separate but work together to create a cohesive story
  • Though the game can take a few hours depending on how well you’re doing, it’s an enjoyable time to spend with your friends!
  • There’s enough info on the cards that your group can “split up” so to speak and tackle multiple puzzles at once unlike some other games that lock you into one scenario and you can’t move on until it’s complete.
  • A lot of the puzzles teach you new things!
  • The conclusion, in comparison to the first game, was excellent (much better than last time) and let our group very satisfied.
  • The ability to use technology to help you along is unique and an awesome way to expand the things that can be included in the puzzles
  • Also unlike other escape room type games, this is not timed which takes a lot of the pressure off

CONS

  • Some puzzles were confusing and/or frustrating for our group. This could and probably will vary group to group depending on how individuals view and think about things, but they just seemed like a bit of a stretch to us and it was definitely disappointing at times
  • There is not a lot of direction (i.e. where to start or what order to do things in) so if you’re someone who prefers a strict set of rules, this may not be for you. It’s more of a “try things and see where it goes” type of game
  • The clues are not always very helpful, especially if you’re already on the right track for a puzzle, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning on using them; you may have to go through a bunch to get any help

Difficulty

I would give this a solid 4/5 for difficulty because while some things click instantly, there are plenty of little details that make some puzzles take much more time and thinking, and maybe even need a few minds to tackle. Not for the faint of heart!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think this is a pretty enjoyable game, as long as you’re up for a challenge. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t give too much detail (but you can always send me a message if you want to know more and don’t mind spoilers). It’s a big game in a small package and, while fairly difficult, is bound to provide a fun time for many groups.

Happy Gaming~

Additional Information:
Designer – Logan Giannini
Kickstarter
Facebook

*I was provided a prototype copy of this game to do this preview*
*All components shown are subject to change*

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