# Unlock!: Mystery Adventures – The House on the Hill ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2017 - **BGG Rating**: 7.0 - **BGG Rank**: #2191 - **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 60 min - **Weight**: 1.81 / 5 - **Designers**: Fabrice Mazza - **Artists**: Pierre Santamaria - **Publishers**: Space Cowboys - **Categories**: Card Game, Exploration, Puzzle, Real-time - **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Storytelling ## Verdict If you love spooky mansions and the rush of a ticking clock, you’ll adore the frantic cooperation in Unlock! The House on the Hill.Escape‑room vibeIntense teamworkIntegrated app with hintsHigh replay valueSmartphone requiredModerate difficultyTime pressure can be stressfulHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description The House on the Hill, part of the Unlock! line, drops you and up to five friends into an abandoned mansion that’s been buzzing with paranormal activity for three days. The strange events climax when a passage from the Book of the Dead is read, unleashing a curse that can only be stopped by finding the very book itself. You have exactly 60 minutes—kept by the free Unlock! companion app—to scour rooms, gather clues, combine items, and solve puzzles. The deck contains 60 cards representing rooms, items, challenges and events; each card can reveal a hint or demand that the team combine objects to move forward. The app handles the timer, offers hints on request, and validates whether the entered code is correct. Once the final combination is discovered and entered into the app, the door opens and you escape victorious. The real charm is the feeling of being inside an actual escape room: the clock ticks, tension builds, and cooperation is key. There are no rigid turns—everyone can chat, swap ideas, and test hypotheses simultaneously, giving the game a fast pace and lots of interaction. Difficulty is moderate; puzzles require logic but are well signposted, and the app can provide graduated clues if the group gets stuck. Components include high‑quality cards, a small notepad for code tracking, and a smartphone or tablet to run the app. It works great for friends, families, or even solo play, as a single player can lead the investigation. If you love spooky mansions, collaborative brain‑teasers, and the adrenaline of a ticking clock, Unlock!: The House on the Hill delivers a compact, highly entertaining escape‑room experience. ## FAQ ### How many players can join? From 1 to 6 players, including a solo mode. ### How long does a game take? The standard scenario runs for 60 minutes of countdown. ### Do I need a smartphone or tablet? Yes, the free Unlock! app handles the timer, hints, and code verification. ### What is the difficulty level? BGG weight 1.8 – moderate puzzles, easy to learn but challenging to solve. ### What’s included in the box? 60 cards, a notepad, printed rules, and a QR code to download the app. ### Can I play without the app? No, the app is essential for the clock and solution validation. ### Is it suitable for kids? Recommended for ages 12+, as it requires reading and logical reasoning. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 14.12 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1667250&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 17.30 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1572808&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 20.44 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3925478&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/21229/unlock-the-house-on-the-hill?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com