Exit: The Game – The Enchanted Forest

KOSMOS

1-4 Players

Playtime: 1-2 Hours

The Exit series is one of KOSMOS’ most popular lines of gaming. Each game takes advantage of the wildly popular escape room craze and puts it on the tabletop. Exit: The Game – The Enchanted Forest puts players in a situation where they are trapped in a forest full of fairy tales.

The last Exit title we played was House of Riddles, which placed players in a spooky house full of atmosphere. The Enchanted Forest is similar in that it brings the atmosphere, though this entry is a lot less creepy. Before all the puzzles start, players will read a nice little introduction about getting lost in the woods and needing a way out. Players will meet tons of iconic characters in memorable situations as they both learn about the forest and solve puzzles. Exit isn’t satisfied with just throwing puzzles at people, it connects them all in an intriguing narrative that makes it feel more enthralling.

Like other entries, The Enchanted Forest can be enjoyed solo or with friends. With a group, this entry isn’t too difficult, as it’s on the easier end of the difficulty spectrum. There is just enough challenge to make all of the players think, though. Players are likely to run into a few occasions when they are stumped. Fortunately, Exit offers hint cards that slowly guide players to a solution, usually without spoiling things too much. Regardless of puzzle difficulty or hint cards used, solving a puzzle always feels rewarding in Exit.

The hint system and cooperative nature of The Enchanted Forest are great for families. Older children can work with their parents to solve part of or entire puzzles. For the more competitive crowd, there is a social aspect to Exit where sharing your results is encouraged. It’s a nice touch that encourages fast but methodical play if the crowd wants that extra rush.

There is a lot of nice art filling the pages and puzzle cards of The Enchanted Forest. It adds to the atmosphere quite a bit, making it more immersive. The fairy tale premise makes it more familiar, leading to one of the most intimate Exit experiences so far.

Like the rest of the series, Exit is meant to only be played once. In fact, there is no other way to play it. By the end of your 1-2 hour playthrough, you will have cut up and otherwise destroyed many cards, pages, and even the box in some ways. It’s unfortunate that players can’t get more value out of Exit, but the low price point and memorable experience makes it worth it for puzzle fans.

This is one of the easier Exit titles, so if you have a good experience with this one, you’ll find yourself challenged with future entries. Fans of puzzle games should certainly consider giving The Enchanted Forest a try, especially if you want to use it to bond with your family. It’s a nice experience for a thoughtful afternoon.