The Hidden Room
- October 14, 2021
- Emanuele Avallone
Get on SteamThe Hidden Room is an escape room containing various puzzles. Several popular rumors speak of a hidden treasure somewhere in the home of Tom Barkley, an American archaeologist who moved to Germany.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features decent graphics and a unique art style, especially considering it's made by two students.
- It's a short and free escape room game, making it accessible for players looking for a quick challenge.
- Some puzzles, like the Morse code and QR code, provide a fresh twist that adds to the gameplay experience.
- The requirement to scan a QR code to progress is seen as a poor design choice and can be frustrating for players without access to a QR reader.
- Many puzzles lack clarity and logic, leading to confusion and reliance on walkthroughs to complete the game.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs, poor lighting, and a lack of sound effects, which detracts from the overall experience.
- graphics16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive positive feedback, with many users praising the impressive 3D rendering and visual effects. While some players noted that the graphics can be demanding on hardware, the aesthetic quality is consistently highlighted as a strong point, enhancing the overall experience despite mixed opinions on other gameplay elements.
“It's a neat little game with rather easy puzzles, but amazing graphics and effects, especially with the walking.”
“I streamed this today and I will say the puzzles were hard but enjoyable, the story is interesting and hit a spot where it makes you think after you have played it and for two people, the design and graphics are impressive.”
“Graphics is surprisingly good, the game seems like a showcase for 3D rendering.”
“Graphics are average, and using FaceRig, I had to put the settings to low.”
“I don't think my graphics card is up to the task.”
“Must have VR for the game or a computer that runs games with high graphics.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it initially engaging but ultimately simplistic and bogged down by bugs and slow movement. The requirement to scan a QR code for progression has been criticized as a poor mechanic. Overall, while some appreciate the relaxing nature of the gameplay, many feel it lacks depth and complexity.
“Relaxing gameplay.”
“Gameplay wise, it's great.”
“They also wanted you to scan a QR code to progress, which I think is a bad mechanic to have.”
“Gameplay, mechanics, and puzzles are too simple; not very good, in my humble opinion.”
“Additionally, it's a bit buggy when it comes to mechanics, along with slow movement.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews; while some players found it engaging and thought-provoking, others felt it lacked depth and clarity, with certain clues being difficult to decipher. Additionally, the translation issues due to the developers' non-native English may have impacted the overall narrative experience. Overall, the storyline shows potential but could benefit from further development and refinement.
“I streamed this today and I will say the puzzles were hard but enjoyable. The story is interesting and hits a spot where it makes you think after you have played it, and for two people, the design and graphics are impressive.”
“The storyline is also really good!”
“I'm not sure if more levels will be added in future updates or if a more fleshed-out story will be developed, but it's a decent play-through for now.”
“The story drew me in but was lacking once it was finished.”
“The story doesn't really hit, and some clues are not obvious without running around and clicking everywhere.”
“As English is not their native language, the current story they do have does not translate well.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with some environments making clue hunting unnecessarily difficult due to extreme lighting contrasts. While the puzzles are generally easy to grasp, the overall experience can feel laborious, leading some to suggest that additional lives may be necessary for effective grinding.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
“Some areas are painfully bright while the rest are pitch dark, and that combined with the shine of everything made clue hunting in some of the environments needlessly tedious.”
“The puzzles are pretty easy to understand, but it was more tedious than anything trying to figure out what happened.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous bugs and mechanical issues, as well as sluggish movement.
“The game is quite buggy.”
“Additionally, it is a bit buggy when it comes to mechanics, along with slow movement.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is largely absent, with players noting a lack of charm and sound beyond occasional footsteps. However, some find the ambient sounds, like running water, to be soothing and preferable to traditional music.
“The puzzles are bad and there is no charm, or music or sound other than occasional footsteps for that matter.”
“My favorite is the running water sounds - so soothing - much better than music.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express disappointment with the emotional impact of the game's ending, feeling cheated by unresolved elements, such as a giant golden safe and a non-functional fuse box, which detracted from their overall experience.
