Double Major by Crack a Nut Mysteries

Full disclosure I am currently searching through my backlog of puzzle reviews and adding them to my site so please bear with me as I post a bunch of reviews of the course of the week. This game was played back in May 2020 but it was the first of a few games that started me on my Mystery Package Inspector Reviews. Without Further Ado...

Inspectors' Review:

• Box is excellent for sitting and rubbing face against

• Lots of different papers are great against fur

• Clay is not tasty - avoid if possible

• May cause your pawrent to neglect you in the evening because their game is SOOO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU #justsayingmum

Boss' Review:

I came across Double Major through a Facebook group and after buying the most recent experience by Crack A Nut, Root of All Evil, and loving it, I wanted to try of this puzzle driven experience. I was not disappointed!

This experience is a five mailing experience with the third mailing being a package with the majority of puzzles needed to solve the mystery of this case. The story focuses on solving a nefarious situation going on at the University of Michigan after you receive a package from someone who desperately needs you to figure out the truth. The first two mailings do an excellent job in developing the narrative so you understand why you are receiving the package and hints are what you need to do. You are eased into becoming an active member in the story with something on the line. The third package is the best part. Packed to the brim with items and documents to go over, Crack A Nut Mystery weaves a puzzle narrative that is cohesive to follow yet still gives players to freedom to explore at their own pace. Each solution unlocks a new part to the narrative and forces the player to rearrange their theory about what is happening.

The puzzles range from traditional ciphers, riddles, and logic puzzles that encourage players to play with all the items your receive in the box. Everything you received needs to be flipped maneuvered and looked over with a fine tooth comb, which for me is what I want in an experience. The experience also flips between the physical elements of the box and websites and links you find hidden in the box. My favourite part of the puzzle experience was finding the little hidden details in the experience from a photo to a date that unfolds a new layer of the story you might miss when skimming.

There is an online hint system that is very well done at addressing large puzzles. The hints are staged, from giving you a nudge (such as you need to look at this first) to telling you the kind of puzzle it is, before giving you the outright answer. If you still are stuck, customer service was superb as Angela was quick in response to my questions to help when I got caught up in a red herring or wanted to clarify something before I did something (you do need to physically alter objects in puzzles).

Overall, I loved the experience! I loved how the story came together and the ways in which the puzzles increased the intensity of the situation with each deciphering. I was so hooked I spent the whole day working on it. I loved the personalization and the active participation players are encouraged to have in it (it’s not just decipher the code and you are done). I HIGHLY recommend this if you love puzzle based narratives and solving mysteries. I am so excited for the next experience!!!

Check out Crack a Nut Mysteries on their website and their facebook!

This game was purchased by me.