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"Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure" is a challenging game that puts your puzzle-solving skills to the test. You are hired to search a mansion for a wealthy man's last will and testament, hidden in one of 35 unique safes. Each safe contains clues to help you open the others, leading you to the master safe. With multiple difficulty levels, this game offers creative and clever puzzles to entertain all types of puzzle enthusiasts. Explore a magnificent mansion with 30 intriguing rooms along the way.

Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure screenshot
Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure screenshot
Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure screenshot
Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure screenshot
Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure screenshot

58%
Audience ScoreBased on 441 reviews
graphics25 positive mentions
stability23 negative mentions

  • The game features a variety of clever and challenging puzzles that keep players engaged.
  • The nostalgic atmosphere and graphics are appealing, reminiscent of classic puzzle games.
  • The game provides a satisfying experience for puzzle enthusiasts, with a rewarding sense of accomplishment upon solving puzzles.
  • The game has significant technical issues on modern systems, including flickering graphics and unresponsive menus.
  • Many players report that the game is virtually unplayable without extensive troubleshooting and modifications.
  • The storyline is minimal and does not add much to the overall experience, making it feel somewhat lacking.
  • graphics
    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are visually appealing for their age, they suffer from significant technical issues, including flickering, glitches, and compatibility problems with modern systems. Some users report needing to disable dedicated graphics cards or adjust configuration settings to achieve playable visuals, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, a few players appreciate the game's aesthetic charm and the immersive environment it creates, particularly in the context of its puzzle-solving gameplay.

    • “The game-play is fun and challenging, the graphics are beautiful even now (and especially nice for 2006 when it was released), and if you make it to the end, you'll feel like a true safe-cracking master.”
    • “With nice graphics, intuitive gameplay, tons of safes to unlock and challenging puzzles to solve, and a big fancy mansion to explore.”
    • “The visuals themselves were pretty great, with lots of pretty scenery to see around the giant house, though I wish the game had been set at a first-person view, allowing you to freely view the house, instead of the frame by frame.”
    • “The low resolution and grainy graphics kill all the enjoyment while solving the puzzles.”
    • “The one computer it does work on, it is unbelievably slow (despite running an i7 + GTX 1070) and is littered with graphical bugs that make it borderline unplayable.”
    • “Completely unplayable due to graphical glitches.”
  • story
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal and serves primarily as a backdrop for the puzzle-solving gameplay, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth, complexity, and character development. While some found the simple plot about finding a will in a mansion to be mildly interesting, most agree that the focus is heavily on the puzzles rather than the narrative. Overall, players who prioritize puzzle mechanics over a rich story will likely enjoy the experience, but those seeking a compelling narrative may be disappointed.

    • “Fun puzzle game with a story of finding the last will and testament of the deceased owner of a mansion full of eccentric safe vaults.”
    • “The back story is well thought up and fits the genre nicely.”
    • “It was nice having a subtle story behind it too, as it gave it more meaning.”
    • “There’s no complex story, meaningful writing, active characters, or impressive cut-scenes to speak of, just puzzles upon puzzles upon puzzles.”
    • “The story is minimal and mostly serves as a loose way to tie the puzzles together.”
    • “The story exists purely as a motivational device to send you around a house solving puzzles to break into safes.”
  • music
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting for the setting, providing a calm backdrop while solving puzzles. However, it is often noted as forgettable and generic, with some players experiencing technical issues that disrupt the audio. Overall, while the music contributes to the ambiance, it is not a standout feature and does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “The music was atmospheric and helped give the feel of almost a classic Sherlock Holmes kind of setting.”
    • “A beautiful mansion to explore with relaxing music and a comfy atmosphere.”
    • “The music is inobtrusive and does its job well.”
    • “The music and sound effects are reasonable, but contribute nothing significant to the game.”
    • “Sound: once again, the music is serviceable, but terribly generic.”
    • “However, be sure to bring your own soundtrack; this game does not have one of its own.”
  • gameplay
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Safecracker* is characterized by a diverse array of puzzles that cater to various skill levels, providing a satisfying experience for puzzle enthusiasts. While the game features a nostalgic design and a variety of unique mechanics, some players have reported technical issues and a lack of challenge in certain areas. Overall, it offers around 5-6 hours of engaging gameplay, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre despite some criticisms.

    • “With a diverse range of challenges that cater to different skill levels, [i]safecracker[/i] offers a satisfying and rewarding experience for fans of puzzle games, reminding us that timeless gameplay mechanics can still provide hours of enjoyment.”
    • “Immersive, beautiful environment, cute story, lots of various puzzles, and around 6 hours of gameplay.”
    • “With nice graphics, intuitive gameplay, tons of safes to unlock and challenging puzzles to solve, and a big fancy mansion to explore.”
    • “I was only able to start the game by clicking around blindly in the main menu, and even then the cursor flickers on and off during gameplay.”
    • “Not too fancy, since the main gameplay consists only of the sets of typical mini-trials like 'connect the pipes' and 'magic square', or cracking some random code pieces, like 'turn letters to numbers and vice versa'.”
    • “In general, I hate old-school adventure games, with their nonsense non-logic, pixel hunting, try everything on everything, and generally broken mechanics.”
  • stability
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting severe bugs, graphical glitches, and unplayable conditions across various setups. Many players experienced issues such as disappearing cursors, freezing screens, and the need for extensive troubleshooting to achieve any functionality. Overall, the game is deemed extremely unstable, particularly on modern operating systems, making it frustrating for users despite some appreciation for its gameplay elements.

    • “Buggy mess unable to run on setup, save time and don't bother installing.”
    • “Completely unplayable due to graphical glitches.”
    • “Extremely buggy on modern operating systems.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, enhanced by atmospheric music and a beautifully designed mansion to explore. While some reviewers noted a lack of narrative depth, the overall ambiance is described as inspirational and engaging, drawing players into the experience despite minimal storytelling elements.

    • “The music was atmospheric and helped give the feel of almost a classic Sherlock Holmes kind of setting.”
    • “A beautiful mansion to explore with relaxing music and a comfy atmosphere.”
    • “It's similar to Myst – but without the mystic atmosphere.”
    • “And despite minimal atmosphere, I somehow found myself sucked into the interior world of two characters who get lost in safes and puzzle solving.”
    • “The overall atmosphere is undisturbed and somehow inspirational, too.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky premise, such as the unexpected printing of a will and the amusing letters from relatives vying for inheritance, which add a lighthearted touch to the puzzle-solving experience. Players appreciate the cleverness of the puzzles and the comedic elements tied to the eccentric backstory of a wealthy retiree creating absurd challenges. Overall, while the game offers moments of humor, technical issues may detract from the experience for some users.

    • “What I found kind of funny, though, is that it will automatically print a will for Duncan W. Adams at the end of the game—with whoever you left it to's name on it.”
    • “This is a solitary journey through beautifully furnished rooms from safe to safe, as you (with your British TV anchor accent) think of nothing more complex than the current puzzle in front of you, periodically chuckling at the letters from relatives who, for some unexplained reason, might or might not want just a little bit of that sweet uncle’s money.”
    • “The idea of a rich guy retiring and going into making ridiculous puzzles to hide his fortune is quite interesting and funny.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting that it can be completed in just a few hours and offers little incentive to play again. While some appreciate the potential for multiple users on the same account, the consensus is that the game is best enjoyed as a one-time experience, making it more suitable for a sale purchase.

    • “It took me just 3:54 hours of game time to finish it, and while there's limited replay value, the game seems to account for that, which is cool. I can recommend it anyway for a fun afternoon.”
    • “Took a good 3 hours to finish it, but there's little replay value unless you leave it for a long time or lose your memory.”
    • “Given the limited content and lack of replayability, I recommend only purchasing it if it's on sale.”
    • “There's essentially no replay value.”
    • “Replayability is nil.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is notably poor, particularly for current operating systems like Windows 10, leading to performance issues and a lack of compatibility. Users have found that running the game in compatibility mode for older versions, such as XP SP3, can improve performance, but fullscreen mode remains problematic. Overall, the release on Steam without adequate optimization has left many players frustrated.

    • “I found it works best with compatibility mode for XP SP3; I also tried 16-bit color mode and disabling fullscreen optimizations.”
    • “Just check out my comment around what version, as I had better performance with v3.0.1 than with 3.0-staging.”
    • “My only gripe with it is that it doesn't run smoothly in fullscreen.”
    • “Kinda rough to get started, as it is not optimized for current operating systems.”
    • “Be aware this game is not optimized to run on Windows 10 (and can't be run successfully in compatibility mode).”
    • “Why it was released on Steam lacking optimization is beyond me.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when it comes to solving puzzles and navigating large areas. The repetitive nature of moving around and executing solutions can detract from the overall experience, leading some to resort to scripting for efficiency.

    • “A few puzzles are of the type where you know the solution, but producing it is overly tedious.”
    • “Moving around by clicking is just really tedious sometimes, especially if you're going from one end of the house to the other.”
    • “A couple of these puzzles would have been too tedious for me had I not been able to write little Python scripts to brute force the solutions.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant character development and engaging dialogue, suggesting that players seeking these elements should look to alternatives like Baldur's Gate for a more fulfilling experience.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character.”
    • “I love how the choices I make influence the growth and evolution of my character throughout the story.”
    • “Each character has a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully, making every interaction feel meaningful.”
    • “If you want character development and dialogue, nope - go play Baldur's Gate instead.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any real growth throughout the game.”
    • “I was hoping for a deeper exploration of the characters, but they all seem to follow predictable tropes.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report a strong sense of accomplishment and intelligence upon completing the game, highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of pride and satisfaction.

    • “Beating the game made me feel like a genius.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express concern that the monetization aspect of the game feels overly aggressive, likening the narrator's rapid-fire delivery at the end to the frantic tone of financial product advertisements, which often highlight potential negative outcomes. This suggests a perception that the game's monetization strategy may be perceived as exploitative or overwhelming.

    • “It might be my imagination, but at the end, the narrator seemed to start talking as fast as the people in financial product advertisements, cramming in all the details about how you will probably go bankrupt, lose your house, and the respect of all but the lowest of bums.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by prompts to spend more money.”
    • “I found the in-game purchases to be exploitative, as they create a pay-to-win environment that detracts from the overall experience.”

Buy Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure

6h Median play time
15h Average play time
5-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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