Escape: The Curse of the Temple – Big Box

This one gets a 10 for one simple reason: the kids love it. It's a unique game format that gets everyone involved. Mechanically, I also appreciate the fact that you never have to wait for other players to "take their turn". You're all working at the same time, and together, to accomplish the goal. Oh, and it's short. A few games of Escape and you've got your game fix in under 30 minutes. Big Box is worth it as you can store everything (and more) in one place, no matter how many expansions and "Queenies" you own.

I’ve never really like the time limiting stress, but I understand why it is there. I love the components and all the little widget mechanism of this game.

So much yelling! So much mayhem! This is a tense, hilarious, absolutely wonderful semi-party game.

Purchased from UKGE Birmingham 2017.

I've just started having regular game nights, and when I looked into this game, it seemed like a must-have. After ordering the regular edition, I ended up realizing I'd probably want the expansions later to get the most out of it, so I returned the original edition and ordered the Big Box.

It is indeed a BIG box-- probably too big, but all the little compartments let you split up the various expansions with some research... you will have trouble keeping things in place if you store the box on its side. Regardless, I'm delighted in my investment.

The game has been a runaway, immediate hit with all my friends I've introduced it to, and we always require several plays. What's great is the ten-minute length easily allows multiple run-throughs on any given game get-together. The rules of the base game are very easy to introduce, and the thrill of the experience gets everyone immediately engaged, even if they're tired or dreading learning new rules.

After the first session, one friend went and got a Big Box of her own, and I spent the night of our first session fighting back sleep to read the rules for each of the expansions. I can't wait to try them out, even if a couple seem more complicated/trouble than they're worth: most of them are excellent. Another bonus? With the Big Box you can automatically play with six players instead of the original's five. If Escape from Zombie City supported five or six players, instead of just four, I would have insta-bought it, too, just on the basis of my experience with Curse of the Temple.

Highly recommended!

Positives

• Fast playing and no waiting for turns
• Tons of flexibility provided with all the expansions
• Six players instead of five
• High quality components
• Can play soundtrack via website links
• Feels constantly fresh and challenging but rarely completely stacked against you, in spite of relying on the luck of dice rolls
• If things feel formulaic or too figured out, throw in an expansion or two

Negatives

• Box is huge and lets components move around easily when stored on side
• You have to do some real work splitting up the components of one expansion to the next, slowing down set-up and take-down
• Can be too stressful for some, but I haven't found someone who doesn't like it yet

This game taught me that the timed mechanic isn't my favorite, but i do like chucking dice!