I couldn't go to escape rooms during the pandemic, so these card games recreated the experience from my couch

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

• Unlock! card games are a bit like an escape room in a box.
• You and a few friends huddle around your phone for about an hour and try to puzzle out the mystery.
• The games are available in themes like time travel, haunted houses, and more.

I've been to escape rooms all over the US. (Ok, it was only in about three states, but still!) I love them and have missed them during the pandemic.

Technically, I discovered the Unlock! card games a few years ago, which are described by the publisher as escape room adventures. Most of my family also like escape rooms, but there are often too many of us to fit in a single room. A card-and-phone-app version seemed like a promising alternative.

I'd played a few of the Unlock! games pre-pandemic, but found them especially enticing during lockdown. They don't require many people (and in fact often work better with fewer players), and they're a fun activity when you've had one too many Netflix marathons.

Game setup

The three-pack game comes with a trio of adventures. Each separate game has 60 cards. Some have supplemental material, like a booklet with a map. All use the app (Android and iOS).

The app is an integral part of the game - it's where you'll enter clues and find hints if you get stuck. Some of the games use video and sound, so you'll want to have the volume up on your phone.

The games have different difficulty levels, rated in one to three "locks." The games are all independent of each other, so you can start anywhere. Even escape room and puzzle pros should still have fun doing the easiest games.

The game is advertised for 1-6 players, but 2-3 is really best. I've played with four people, and there's a lot of passing cards and phones around. If going past the time limit doesn't stress you out, then you can take your time and give everyone a chance to look.

The truth is that you probably won't solve the game in an hour, anyway - at least, your first time. That's fine. The app doesn't suddenly freeze or play a mocking sad trombone sound. You can actually forgo the timer altogether, if you prefer.

While you may be tempted to get right to the time-traveling or searching for pirate treasure, I'd recommend playing through the tutorial your first time. It will help familiarize you with the types of clues you should look for and the different card types.

Gameplay

The top card will have instructions that you can read before tapping the start button on the app. The cards underneath should be facedown, with numbers or letters printed on the back.

Once you've done a few Unlock! games, you start to recognize some patterns. You'll remember which color cards need to pair with others (blue with red) and which are "machines" you need to input into the app (green).

In an attempt to recreate the feel of an in-person escape room, the cards have hidden objects and puzzles you need to solve. The basic goal is to find the clue that helps you discover which card to turn over next.

The fun (and sometimes frustration) is in teasing out what each card is asking you to do. You might need to find a series of numbers to input a code, combine a red and blue card to make a new number, or find a number hidden on the card itself.

As you might imagine, these games are the one-and-done sort. Once you've solved it, there's no real replayability. However, you're not destroying any components and should be able to pass them along to puzzle-loving friends or family members.

What are the best Unlock! games?

Having played quite a few of these games, I prefer to buy the three-game bundles over a single, because some are better than others. Since their initial release in 2017, the games' app integration has improved. Sometimes you need to use your phone's camera or listen to a recording - these touches make the experience feel a bit more escape room-y.

My two favorite bundles - and some of the highest-rated on BoardGameGeek - are Unlock! Timeless Adventures and Unlock! Heroic Adventures. The Arsène Lupin game has a fun map aspect, while "Insert Coin" is full of fun video game-esque challenges.

Be warned: The Alice in Wonderland game, "In Pursuit of the White Rabbit," has a tricky bit at the end that requires dexterity. I, and many other reviewers, found it vexing. Still, that particular game has a great story and nice-looking artwork.

The bottom line

If you don't relish the idea of going to an escape room right now, the Unlock! games offer one of the best at-home approximations I've seen. The puzzles are fun and interactive and a great way to spend an hour or so with a couple of friends. There are themes to suit just about anyone, from dinosaurs to horror movies to mythic Greece.

Not everyone will love these games, particularly those who don't like puzzles. Plus, the idea of playing a game only once doesn't appeal to some people. For those who miss getting locked in a room and hunting down clues, though, there are worse ways to spend an hour.