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Unlock! is a co-operative card game inspired by escape rooms that uses a simple system which allows you to search scenes, combine objects, and solve riddles. Play Unlock! to embark on great adventures, while seated at a table using only cards and a companion app that can provide clues, check codes, monitor time remaining, etc.
Star Wars: Unlock! uses the Unlock! game system to send you on three new adventures full of ships, droids, and action!
(1) An unforeseen delay
You are smugglers in the Outer Rim, facing danger and the unexpected every day. Today, while transporting expensive cargo belonging to Jabba the Hutt, you are intercepted by an Imperial Star Destroyer!
Imperial operatives impound your ship and confiscate everything in your cargo bay. You know it is only a matter of time before they take a close look and discover Jabba‘s hidden illegal goods. There‘s no time to waste. You need to break out of your cell, rescue your astromech and get hold off the cargo. Then all you need to do is recover your ship and escape!
Your objective: Escape with your astromech (co- pilot droid) and the cargo.
(2) Escape from Hoth
Echo Base, an important Rebel stronghold, has managed to remain hidden on the ice planet Hoth for some time. The hostile climate provides excellent cover and protection from the Empire- but you must always remain vigilant!
You head out on a routine patrol with your trusty tauntaun mount, a hearty creature native to Hoth. After an uneventful morning, you take a brief break to rest your tauntaun while you contact Echo Base with an update. However, due to heavy atmospheric disturbance, you can‘t reach them.
Your mission: Continue your patrol, explore the ice planet, and contact Echo Base!
(3) Secret mission on Jedha
You are an Imperial spy sent to infiltrate the Holy City of Jedha. An Imperial pilot transporting a crate of priceless kyber crystals crashed their Zeta- class cargo shuttle on the surface. You must retrieve the crate without alerting the Rebel scum Saw Gerrera or any of his lawless mercenaries on Jedha. There is an Imperial informant waiting for you on the surface with more details. Meanwhile, Imperial Command orbits Jedha in a Star Destroyer. They are within communications range and expect regular updates.
Your mission: Gather intel, maintain your cover story, and recover the kyber crystals!
- engaging, family-friendly Star Wars theme
- clever use of an app to enact machines and timed challenges
- rich visual/text clues that encourage collaboration and verbal reasoning
- replayable with different missions and hints if needed
- each mission is effectively a one-off; limited replay of specific clues
- can be challenging for first-time players; may require hints
- requires a table and group to fully enjoy; not ideal for solo play
- cooperative puzzle solving under time pressure with a Star Wars narrative wrapper
- Star Wars universe; missions set on locations such as Echo Base on Hoth
- mission-based, card-driven storytelling with text prompts and in-app interactions
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- App Assisted — an accompanying app drives machines, timers, radar screens, and mini-games when certain cards are used
- app-assisted interactions — an accompanying app drives machines, timers, radar screens, and mini-games when certain cards are used
- card-driven puzzle solving — players draw and combine cards with numerical values, colors, and symbols to determine next actions and progress the story
- Cooperative Game — players discuss and collaborate, potentially solving puzzles collectively rather than solo
- cooperative play — players discuss and collaborate, potentially solving puzzles collectively rather than solo
- Multi-Use Cards — the game includes a tutorial and several missions in the box, each with distinct objectives and card sets
- multiple card types and modular missions — the game includes a tutorial and several missions in the box, each with distinct objectives and card sets
- penalties and time pressure — incorrect combinations or dead-ends incur penalty minutes subtracted from the hour-long timer
- resource combination and numerical summation — two compatible cards are combined by adding their numbers to yield a new action or outcome
- verbal and visual reasoning — solving clues relies on interpreting text, images, patterns, and language-based hints
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a really interesting way of getting a group of people around a table together to plug away at solving a problem
- the app is where the timer is going to be counting down
- this is a game that requires people to sit down around a table together
- there's always a way that you can keep moving along in the game
- it's so tricky and clever the way they've set this up
- you could start it all over again if you wanted to
References (from this video)
- thematic Star Wars puzzle experience
- three difficulty levels
- accessible and quick to learn
- puzzle-focused rather than narrative-heavy
- replayability depends on the puzzles
- cooperative puzzle solving with puzzle decks and app moments
- Star Wars universe with puzzle-based escape room experiences in a box
- Array
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- let's start with a big box we've got Star Wars Imperial Assault
- campaign mode with missions that actually goes through like campaign after campaign
- the app for the solo or cooperative mode
- the theme is incredibly strong