Hincks Gazette (Volume 1, Issue 7) by BlueFish Games

Inspectors' Review:

• This newspaper is MINE now!

• What is this creature I'm looking at - I have never heard of this bat you speak of???

• Hey! I think this article is important!

• Paper is thin and awesome...but boss says no clawing :(

• This fall festival sounds fun! Why wasn't I invited??

• You mean, I, the amazing Titus, wasn't alive?!?

• And Queenie lost the invitation?!?

• Well, we must find this bat trainer to make up for our negligience!

• Begin!

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Boss' Review:

Back in October of 2020 I was gifted an issue of Hincks Gazette…and it went missing about a month later. I let it be for awhile as I thought it would turn up like my credit card sometimes does or my remote. It did final turn up…about 8 months later while I was cleaning my kitchen and found it lodged behind my lower cabinet. I also found a collection of cat toys, string, and balls. As a result, I blame the cat inspector for my very delayed review.

The Hincks Gazette is a monthly puzzle newspaper subscription that provides you with around 1-2 hours of puzzling fun while you explore the rather strange world of Mr. Hincks. I posted review of their most recent game The Curious Stairs on the website. This game was created by Blue Fish Games, husband and wife team Anna and Ace who first started with kickstarting, The Curious Elevator of Mr. Hincks, which was highly successful!

Now the Hincks Gazettes take pride in the fact that, on the surface, it appears simple. A newspaper filled with weird stories and advertisements. When you log onto the website you are prompted with what a question – what is the code name of the bat trainer? As you dig into the paper you are faced with a series of puzzles that lead one into the next with a clue. Hincks is not a narrative puzzle experience by any means but it has a clear and well designed theme that focuses of the whimsy and obscure. Bats trained to deliver treats, an obituary for phones, and more; these little tales don’t progress anything but show you a facet of the world of Mr. Hincks that allows anything to be possible. I found this theme to be on point and the final solution was the best play on words for this themed paper. I tend to prefer narratives but for an nice hour long game while listening to music this Gazette was a perfect balm to a long day.

In terms of puzzles, these puzzles were challenging and well made. I loved the little pieces of tactile puzzling but be aware you may have to alter the newspaper or, at least, photocopy sections. It provided a variety as you solved puzzle after puzzle. There is an inherent order to the solving and each solution is a clue directing you to the next puzzles. The puzzles utilize pattern and logic puzzling but each puzzle was different (ie. one had you organize while another had to identify words) from the next which kept me engaged and thus avoid any tediousness some logic puzzles can produce.

In terms of customer service, Bluefish was perfect. It arrived timely (it was a gift) and the hint system is robust to help you along. My only advice would be if there was a way to input your puzzle answers to double check without having to scroll through all the hints? Yet this is only a small quibble and honestly didn’t impact my enjoyment of the game. Just know if you like checking your answers that you will have to go through the hints.

Overall, if the October issue of Hinck’s Gazette is indicative of the subscription as a whole then this series is a excellent whimsical newspaper experience that peppers you with challenging and fun logic puzzles while giving you an on point theme that brings everything together cohesively. Each puzzle makes sense and has a purpose to the theme and world which is important when your game is puzzle focused with a strong theme. I recommend this subscription for those who love the challenge and focus of puzzles for an affordable price! I can picture having a coffee or a glass of wine while you play.

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