Inspectors' Review:
We're on the case!
The string was very tasty, thank you very much!
We need to look at this...sugar fairy...no one can be this sweet!
Newspaper passes the sniff test!
Senior inspectors gives approval here!
Boss' Review:
Sweet Witch Inferno is the third instalment in Society of Curiosities' off shoot puzzle experience, Fairy Tale Files. This series was initially kickstarted in 2020 where you receive, over the course of the year, four case files from Inspector Maximillian Lepoof of the Magical Mishaps Agency. He needs your help in solving strange cases happening in happily ever after. Previous I reviewed The Cinderella Murders and The Case of the Poisoned Apple. If you haven’t heard of Society of Curiosities they are a table top escape room company from Hawaii who create episode puzzle adventures. I first tried out their secret society treasure adventure which is packed with puzzles and content and loved it. This fairy tale series is intended to be a lighter experience with a bit of deduction as you identify suspects and find evidence. Now, let’s dive in!
Story:
The premise of this case follows an arson case at the Sweet Witch’s candy store on Drury Lane. After the fire was tamed, it was discovered that the witch is now missing. Max has identified four suspects and needs you help following the evidence. The are four suspects, Hansel & Gretel, The Muffin Man, The Gingerbread Man, and the Sugar Fairy; each appears to have their own secrets to hide and it up to you to solve the mystery using Max as ground support. Through Max, you navigate the land in search of clues to figure out what happened, what the suspects are hiding, and where is the witch?!?
I felt the structure of this game was similar to the previous two. I did find the intermingling of various fairy tales into one investigation was fun and the exploration of the game really is fun for those who like interactive fiction with a dash of visual artwork. While Max, the AI, nudges you along with questions to guide your investigation, you have the freedom to really explore the area. Some area will not be solvable until later down the line but there are others where little clues are key to other locations. Once you have explored all possible avenues, Max will prompt you to consider your four suspects now that you’ve followed the clues and identify which suspect is the criminal. I recommend having a pen and paper to make notes alongside each clue to help you narrow down suspect. Consider why are certain suspect acting suspicious. I had my suspicions of the criminal for a while, but their motivation was fascinating!
Puzzles:
For puzzles, this episode upped the challenge a little bit from the previous games, which I thoroughly enjoyed because the other games provided the stepping tools. You gained various other puzzling skills to help your investigation from the previous two games. The puzzles themselves ranged from logic, ciphers, tracking, observation, deduction, and more. I would say these puzzles definitely cater to an umbrella of problem solving as Max gives you a question you must solve or uncover through uncovering and solving other puzzles. The majority of puzzles were light-hearted and fun but there were two that did trip me up because of their visual nature. A lot of the puzzles require noting key things in the evidence pictures and so take the time to really look things over. The artwork is beautiful but also so integral to the experience.
Customer Service:
My thoughts on their customer service are the same as always. The game arrived in a timely fashion and the AI was ready to help. I found the hint system using a magic mirror to be fun and a cute way to incorporate help – I can just imagine kids yelling “mirror mirror” as they type to Maximillian for help. My game arrived aged and with a wax seal which was so satisfying to break open. Note my game is from the collector edition.
Conclusion:
Overall, I found Sweet Witch Inferno to be a fantastical mystery with twists and turns. I liked how there was a bit more challenge with the puzzles and that you had a bit of freedom to explore the map. I truly got to explore the trail of evidence where I wanted and the gating in the game felt natural. This game is a good balance for experienced and beginner puzzlers to enjoy together.In addition, this game can easily be fit into an evening with friends and family with only taking around 45 minutes. If you like puzzles, mystery, detective work, and fairy tales then I think is a great option for players. I cannot wait to see what the final episode will entail!
Check out their website here.
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