Montague Island Mysteries

July 15, 2024 Brian Gondek 0

I have an unusual report today- a neat thrift store find that has enriched many late evenings over the course of my last few weeks- Montague Island Mysteries. It practically jumped off the shelf at me at St. Vincent De Paul, and it’s been a remarkably pleasant blind purchase.

Perplex City

March 9, 2024 Brian Gondek 1

I casually keep an eye out for puzzle memorabilia, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to scoop up a trove of Perplex City content when I found it for the right price. The treasure hunt has been done for fifteen years, but the content is still interesting to look at in its own right, and I’m happy to have it.

Galactic Puzzle Hunt 2023

November 28, 2023 Brian Gondek 0

I was on the fence about participating in Galactic Puzzle Hunt in 2023. I’ve participated before in the past and found that the hunt required a pretty significant time commitment compared to other puzzle hunts. I noticed this both in Galactic’s hunt as well as the MIT Mystery Hunt they facilitated. I cautiously decided to dip my toe in this year. I’m glad I did- it was a blast!

ERChamp 2023 Finals Completed!

October 16, 2023 Brian Gondek 0

ERChamp 2023 is in the books, and it was a blast. I didn’t know what to expect for the coverage of the in-person finals, but the team did a great job, and it was tremendously entertaining.

A Thank You to Paruzal

December 19, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

One of my favorite new developments in 2019-2020 was the advent of the online escape room. While businesses everywhere were locked down, clever business owners realized there was a new opportunity to offer puzzle games playable from home. While escape rooms you can play on your computer are nothing new, the novelty of having an online game master walking you through a scenario was great, and even after physical businesses reopened, I still appreciate playing these games from time to time.

ERChamp as a Watcher

November 20, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

Being part of the design team for ERChamp this year has been a unique experience- the annual online escape room tournament has been my favorite event to participate in every year, and now that I’m part of the design team, I can’t play along any more.

Great US Treasure Hunt – Milwaukee Recap

September 9, 2022 Brian Gondek 2

Saturday, September 3rd – There was no guarantee I was going to be able to participate in the Great US Treasure Hunt this year. I was excited when Milwaukee was on the list of cities hosting the hunt this year, but on the day of the hunt my wife and I had a commitment to be hosting family at our cabin in northern Wisconsin- nearly three hours north of Milwaukee.

Box One – What Is It?

July 23, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

Out of all the escape room / puzzle home games, I’ve seen the most hype around Box One. Produced by Neil Patrick Harris, the actor famous for Doogie Howser, How I Met Your Mother, and Doctor Horrible, the game graces the shelves of Target- a rare feat for a niche puzzle game that doesn’t advertise what exactly it is. So does the game live up to the hype?

Treasure Hunt Roundup

July 9, 2022 Brian Gondek 0

The last few weeks have been full of treasure hunts and puzzle design. Between partcipating in a few new treasure hunts and joining the ERChamp design team, I’ve had my hands full.