- Original Release: 2023
- Developer: Funko
- Publisher: Funko
- Platform: Board Game
![](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/st-cryptic-box-s.jpg)
![Star Trek: Cryptic](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/st-cryptic-001-1024x771.jpg)
From the makers of the worst merchandise in existence comes an escape room-like Star Trek board game where you work through three missions of puzzles.
From the few components you can see when you open the box (most parts are sealed inside envelopes), you can tell a lot of effort has gone into it. The tricorder looks great – with an ominous slot to plug in different kinds of filters – and the isolinear chips have texture to them. Also included is a big book with all the puzzles, a pen, a clear plastic sheet and merit points, which you get awarded as you complete puzzles. If you pull the insert out, you’ll also discover that the reverse is an engineering panel.
While this game is similar to escape room games, there are a few major differences. The puzzles are very linear, you go through the book a page at a time completing each one. Each puzzle also lists out which components are needed for the puzzle, which does take away one element of the puzzles as there’s no noticing that a mark on the box is important, it just tells you to use that part of the box. Another change is that many escape room games have a way to show that the answer is wrong without giving you the correct answer, while in this, you just proceed without collecting any merit points. Finally, there’s no timer to judge how well you do, so you can take your time to think.
![Star Trek: Cryptic](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/st-cryptic-006-1024x771.jpg)
While the methods of the puzzles are varied, they boil down to two types. One is more of a drawing challenge than a brain teaser. You use the clear sheet and place it over an image, drawing a couple of key locations. You then have to move the sheet away from the image (one market length apart) and then draw the path, comparing it against the scoring side of the artwork and losing merit points if you mess up, They’re nice to begin with, but are very repetitive.
![Star Trek: Cryptic](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/st-cryptic-005-1024x771.jpg)
The other kind involve working out a word. These are much more varied as the puzzles themselves are completely different, using lots of different components, figuring out mazes and lots more. Unfortunately, the first one was a colour one, which was very difficult due to being colourblind. Each one of these also has a hint you can look up. Lots of these involve discovering letters, with you having to solve an anagram at the end – you just have to keep in mind that some of these words can be technobabble.
Stringing the puzzles together is a well written storyline following your journey across three ships. It helps to tie things together and makes it feel more like a journey than just a series of unrelated puzzles. It’s a very interesting game, but I feel like it could be better with an optional app where you can input answers and be told that you are wrong instead of just being given the answer – it’s no fun working hard on a puzzle, making a small mistake and not getting a second chance.
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