Today I bring you the perfect game to wrap up this year with a bang. It’s a true gem that has been with us for a while now and definitely deserves your attention. The game in question is Cube Escape Collection, developed by Rusty Lake.
Cube Escape Collection is available on almost all platforms with outstanding results. This anthology collection gathers the first nine chapters of the Cube Escape series, where you’ll get to know the origin and background of the main characters of Rusty Lake.
Cube Escape Collection is a detective point-and-click game. We delve into the Rusty Lake universe alongside detective Dale Vandermeer, a specialist in murders and paranormal situations. As we investigate various homicide cases, the tension and darkness increase, making us question to what extent we are responsible for the horrors that occur.
The collection includes the following nine chapters: Seasons, The Lake, Arles, Harvey's Box, Case 23, The Mill, Birthday, Theatre, and The Cave. Each chapter immerses us in mysteries that, far from being solved, open up new enigmas, leading to moments of frustration with endings that raise more questions than answers.
Released in 2020 and available in multiple languages, the game is undoubtedly one of the best escape rooms I've played. Since my love for Carmen Sandiego on the distant SNES, I have been a fan of this type of game. Cube Escape stands out for its well-designed and complex puzzles that will test all our neurons. These puzzles blend perfectly with eerie images and an art style full of mystery.
The art in Cube Escape Collection is exceptional. The developers have opted for careless and somewhat bizarre drawings that, nevertheless, are used with great care to introduce us to situations of horror and bewilderment. The colors remind us of the photography and setting of old movies, even the filmography of David Lynch. Anthropomorphic animals, vintage scenarios, and decorative elements feel alive and mysterious.
Moreover, the music and soundtrack are another strong point, making the experience even more immersive. The terror and tension can be felt in every note, contributing to the game's unique atmosphere.
Cube Escape is the necessary gateway to understanding the vast universe of Rusty Lake. Although each game has a unique narrative and style, together they form part of a larger puzzle that must be understood first in its individuality and then as an integrated whole. Some puzzles will be so difficult that you will need paper and pencil to solve them. But this level of difficulty makes them even more enjoyable. Also, prepare yourself for some well-justified jump scares within the narrative.
In terms of gameplay, Cube Escape doesn’t stray far from other point-and-click games. The main mechanic involves collecting objects and finding interactions between them to solve puzzles and advance the story. Although some may find this mechanic a bit repetitive, the difficulty and variety of the puzzles more than make up for it.
Rusty Lake is full of mysteries, with the lake being the main protagonist and the common thread between stories. Paranormal aspects are prevalent, blending myths and realities, with ghosts, monsters, and animals born from the most twisted minds. Each episode approaches the Rusty Lake universe differently, focusing on different scenarios. Unexplainable phenomena occur one after another, culminating in total madness where you will doubt everything you've seen and break the barriers between realities.
The stories of Cube Escape will help us understand the entire Rusty Lake universe. I recommend playing all the episodes for a complete experience. Among my favorites are "Birthday" and "The Cave", with "Birthday" perhaps being the first major climax of the story.
If you love a story without an apparent reason, where the tense atmosphere and crazy situations blend into a blurred line between reality and fiction, Cube Escape Collection is for you. This game will make you ponder with various theories seeking explanations for phenomena that perhaps have none. But above all, if you enjoy detective and puzzle games, it will give you several hours of fun (around 14 hours, in my case, after getting stuck on some puzzles).
I hope you enjoy this game and give it a chance. If you've already played it, share your experiences in the comments!
I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this article. Your support means a lot to me and motivates me to keep sharing content that can be useful and interesting for you. If you found this article helpful or enjoyed reading it, I would greatly appreciate your comments. Best wishes!
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
I apologize if there are any grammatical errors, English is not my native language, I have tried to be as careful as possible.
I regularly create images on Pixabay, which are free of copyright. Access my gallery by clicking here.
All assets, illustrations and banners have been created by me and are original content, unless otherwise specified.
Screenshots taken by me, used under “Fair Use” for criticism and commentary, and are the property of their respective owners.
Article first published on my personal blog at HIVE.
