GAME
OF THE
DAY
Cube Escape: Paradox
The Tenth Cube Escape
What’s scarier: a horror movie or a creepy videogame? In Cube Escape: Paradox, the answer is a resounding “both.”
You play as detective Dal Vandermeer. You’ve awoken in a mysterious, well-appointed room with no memory of how you got there—and worse, no idea how to get out. To escape, you must solve a series of puzzles and (hopefully) suss out how and why you got stuck there in the first place.
Paradox is an intriguing blend of videogame and short film. Begin by solving puzzles in the room, but at any point you can switch over to watch a 20-minute live-action version of Vandermeer navigating the same space.
These two sides—game and movie—offer portals into each other. For example, in the film, Vandermeer turns on the room’s television and sees the videogame version of himself. In the game, you can gaze into the same television to watch the “real” Vandermeer meandering around the room. The interdependent relationship also offers subtle clues. Not sure what to do next? Perhaps a few minutes of the film will lend insight.
Crafted by the developers behind the mind-bending Rusty Lake adventure games, Cube Escape: Paradox’s puzzles are clever and odd. One especially cool one involves deciphering an ominous message recorded on a cassette tape. (Tip: The person on the recording is speaking backward.)
There are even a few great jump scares, like when you have to look through the keyhole of a door and then—well, we won’t spoil it. Just make sure you’re sitting down—and make sure to inspect everything if you wish to escape this devilishly fun game.