"Commissioning a Bespoke Puzzle Game"
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"Commissioning a Bespoke Puzzle Game"

Written by: Krista Jones, ESCAPETHEROOMers // Writer

Dave and I love puzzles. Obviously! While we’d both been fans of escape rooms previously, it wasn’t until we met that we fell fully down the rabbit hole and also discovered the world of tabletop and online puzzles games. It’s one of our absolute favorite things to do together - for the teamwork, the mental challenge, the incredible moments of magic and discovery…so after Dave proposed to me by puzzle, we knew that we wanted to incorporate this aspect into the wedding itself. In part, we wanted to share our passion with our loved ones and maybe generate some new enthusiasts; so, we crafted little tabletop puzzles for the reception, with the prize for everyone who solved being some kind of tabletop puzzle game. But we also wanted something special for US. In particular, we thought it would be awesome to have a game that we would lock up and have to open on our 5-year anniversary. Initially, we thought we might create this ourselves but…we were a little busy with the rest of the wedding planning! Then, we thought maybe we would take a special already-available game…like Tale of Ord (if we could find it). But when I posted in the Puzzle People Facebook group for some suggestions, Shuai Chen came up with one that had never occurred to us…commission a bespoke game JUST for us inspired BY us. And we couldn’t imagine a more fabulous option. Thus entered Josh Rosenfeld and the team at Odes Unboxed.

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers


The Process

While we were super excited about the concept and what we could see of their previous work, we didn’t really know what to expect for how it would all work. Josh quickly set up an initial video chat with us and explained the process, as well as sending a follow-up email right after our meeting summarizing what we discussed and the plan moving forward.

  • Discovery: In our initial call, we chatted about our general vision and preferences, budget, logistics, etc., and he answered our questions. At that point, we agreed we wanted to move forward. Then, he scheduled separate hour-long intake calls with each of us to discover more about our relationship, our story, and each other. (He did give us the option of having one call together, but we both liked the idea that we might each think of different things or have little surprises for each other. He also gave the option of interviewing some of our nearest and dearest, though we decided not to do that.) Some of the other members of his team listened in on these calls as well, to help them get to know us better. We found these to be really fun…it felt almost indulgent to just chat for an hour about each other and our relationship. Josh gave us prompts like “What do you want the overall mood or vibe to be or not be?” and “What are some of your favorite memories together?”, but spent most of his time listening, with the occasional follow up question. He seemed really interested and invested in our story and made it easy to speak openly. When I occasionally got stumped on an answer, it was easy for him to rephrase or just move on to something else, so nothing felt stressful or like there was a “right’ answer. From our perspective, the goal was to provide Josh with lots of potential material to work with, without being beholden to inclusion of any one particular aspect. Though, I’m sure he could accommodate more specific design briefs! After our calls, he again quickly sent summaries of key points and next steps.

  • Development: At this point, Josh and his team moved into the development phase, with relatively limited discussion with us. This incorporated not just the design of the flow of the game and puzzles, but also conception and creation of all of the collateral pieces. In many cases, when someone is commissioning a game for someone else, I think he has more feedback as they develop the concept. In our case, since we BOTH wanted to be totally surprised, we preferred to skip this step and just trusted that they would come up with something fabulous! Though he did periodically clarify relevant preferences for a few things. We also asked him to incorporate copies of our vows, so we sent those along as they were finished. Since this step happened largely “behind the curtain for us,” I asked Josh about his perspective:

    • “It was incredibly touching to speak with you each on the phone. This work gives me a beautiful window into what people value most about their loved ones. The way you two support and uphold each other was moving to hear, and I feel grateful for the chance to have made something for you. I loved that this experience allowed both of you to give and receive. You each got to influence the concept by reflecting on your relationship and you’ll each get to enjoy surprises from the things your loved one shared in their interview with me. Overall, I really enjoy the mutual trust and generosity that’s part of this process. I trusted you two to approach this process with curiosity and a willingness to be candid and vulnerable. You trusted me to celebrate everything you shared and design something to honor this special moment in your lives.” Yep - can you tell he’s an incredible human being?

  • Delivery: Finally, we had to sort out how to get the box to the wedding. In our case, Josh arranged an in-person hand-off with a friend who worked in NYC and was going to be driving up for the festivities, but shipping would have been an option as well.

Videos above are property of Odes Unboxed


The Outcome

Dave and I were excited for the wedding for a lot of reasons…but we definitely couldn’t wait to see our box! We just had no idea of how it might have actually turned out. And it was definitely awesome when Dave’s youngest revealed it with a flourish in the midst of the ceremony. It’s a gorgeously intriguing laser cut wooden lock box with mysterious etchings…In addition, Josh sent along a card and two beautifully wrapped packages for us to open right away. These included a framed landscape image of our land, Kaidervast, and a smaller box containing little teaser items to help build that world, including the nametags for our alter egos: Proximatron and Dr. Jones. OK, one is a little more “alter” than the other…

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers


Go For It!

Not having actually gotten to PLAY the game yet, or to see any of the interior contents, of course we can’t fully comment on the gameplay experience itself. However, we were blown away by the care and craftsmanship clearly evident in what we have seen, not to mention the overall care and service that Josh provided…he is an utterly lovely human being and a delight to work with. We can’t wait for the 5 year mark to discover all of its secrets! Until then, we will continue to gaze wistfully at it where it sits in a place of honor on our shelves, as a beautiful reminder of our love and commitment, not to mention all the support and creativity of the puzzling community. And wonder at what the world of Kaidervast may hold!


While we commissioned the box for our wedding, of course there are plenty of other worthy occasions. I’ve seen all sorts of experience motivations come up on Odes Unboxed’s social media - love (proposals, weddings, anniversaries), life (birthdays, graduations, parent’s days), or even work (e.g., retirements, promotions, team-building, brand activation). There’s really no end to the possible inspiration behind the gift; since they’re fully customized, you can always chat with him about any specific occasion, goals, inspirations, and/or constraints.. And, of course, for most of those, you would have the benefit of getting to actually play it right away! Currently, his projects tend to have a base design fee plus production costs, but check his website for the latest info. And if you’re interested in checking out one of his experiences right away, they are actually doing a limited run production of a Valentine’s Day experience! It’s apparently an “intimate, heavily personalized adventure that will shower your partner with love and celebrate all of the things you love most about them.” We are definitely excited for its release, and you can read more about it in the interview below!

Photos above are property of Odes Unboxed


Behind the Scenes:

an interview with Josh Rosenfeld (Creator of Odes Unboxed)

Photos above are property of Odes Unboxed


Creating bespoke puzzle games and adventures is a rather niche field! How did you get into this line of work and start Odes Unboxed?


My journey is simultaneously serendipitous and premeditated. Here’s a quick recap:

  • I worked in tech for several years as a Product Manager. The work was intellectually stimulating and I loved working with my teammates; however, I didn’t have strong emotional connections to the people I was designing for.

  • I worked with a coach in my life to introspect and clearly articulate what kind of work I wanted to make a career out of. We honed in on designing experiences that helped people step into the best versions of themselves. I wanted to get to know the people I was designing for and offer them something that would give them space to connect, play, grow, heal, and self-actualize.

  • I quit my job with this general intention and a handful of ideas. I just started trying a lot of different things. One of those things was taking a friend’s birthday gifts, locking them in a cardboard safe (made with an x-acto knife and a hot glue gun), and designing puzzles for her to unlock the gifts. She loved it and my friends thought it was the coolest thing. So I made another puzzle experience for another friend’s birthday and one for a friend’s wedding. Then, people started reaching out to me to design experiences for their loved ones.

  • I saw there was traction with these puzzle experiences, so I leaned into it and grew the quality, depth, and scale of my work one step at a time. If you look back at the photos on my Instagram (they’re roughly in chronological order), you can see how much the work has evolved since I started doing it.

  • So, overall, the journey was premeditated in that I entered this leap with a clear intention, a financial safety net, a few coaches & mentors in my life, and an emotional readiness to embrace uncertainty. And it was serendipitous in that I didn’t know what exactly I would do, yet kept taking chances, trying new things, and moving forward one step at a time.


We’re so glad you made the leap! What about the meaning/story behind the name, Odes Unboxed? We’ve been curious…

  • Each creation is an ode (it celebrates one or more people). And each creation is something that gets unboxed (you use your hands and make a beautiful mess).


We can’t wait til we get to do our unboxing…How has coming from a tech background translated into your current work, and what new skills have you been honing?

  • The tech background has been incredibly helpful. As a Product Manager, I led cross-functional teams to identify the biggest challenges our customers faced and to run rapid experiments to see what solutions would be most helpful. This iterative mindset continues to be a big part of the work I do today. I’m constantly trying new things, tinkering, and giving myself permission to fail, trusting that I’ll grow from it and that I’ll eventually find my way into a solution.

  • Another thing I take from tech is a focus on customer experience. I see my relationships with customers as journeys. I want every aspect of working with me – from finding my website to chatting with me through the intake process to receiving the gift – to be as seamless and uplifting as possible.

  • I’ve always had an affinity for telling stories, synthesizing many threads into a unifying theme, and tuning into emotions. Some of the other skills I’ve enjoyed exploring are using my hands to make crafts and geeking out on puzzle design. I’ve always enjoyed both these things and, over the past few months, I’ve given myself a chance to learn a lot more about them and get many repetitions to level up my craft.


Speaking of skills, how much of your components are created "in-house" in terms of graphic design and manufacturing, and do you have your own workshop and machines?

  • I want to emphasize that you can start where you are. I started really simple, with cardboard, a hot glue gun, an x-acto knife, acrylic paint, and construction paper. I used Google Slides (!!!) for graphic design. I didn’t even own a printer (I did all of my printing at Staples). And I used a makerspace for some early forays into laser cutting. I gave my creations as gifts to friends, and that initial traction allowed me to keep honing my craft and working on richer projects.

  • Over the months since I started, I’ve gradually invested in some light equipment – namely, a printer and a Silhouette Cameo 4 (for cutting vinyl & stickers). I’ve also started working with other makers and artisans who can create components (like wood boxes) much better and faster than I can. And I’ve upgraded my software stack (I do all the graphic design myself). Canva has been immensely helpful, since it’s full of templates and elements. And Dall-e has been a game-changer for creating custom artwork. I’ve also really enjoyed having parts fabricated through board game makers like Print & Play.


Some great tips there! In terms of “soft skills,” the work that you do is in some ways very intimate, getting to know people on a very personal level and crafting what I imagine are often very meaningful experiences around them. Certainly, that’s how we have experienced it! How do you approach this, and how do you find that people respond?

  • I do this because I enjoy connecting with people and celebrating their relationships. And I allow that enthusiasm and kindness to show in all of my interactions with the people I work with. It slowly and steadily builds a feeling of trust and safety.

  • When I speak with someone for the intake call, we’ve usually spoken on the phone or over email a bit, so we’re familiar with each other. On the call itself, I use the first segment to talk about lighter topics and build rapport. Throughout the call, I try to strike a balance between (1) giving plenty of blank space for their thoughts to develop and (2) asking specific questions to guide the conversation toward themes that seem rich. Throughout the call, I remind them that there are no wrong answers, that they’re welcome to share as much with me as they’d like, and that I wouldn’t want them to share anything they’re not comfortable sharing.

  • I also make it clear that these calls are commitment-free. We’ll chat on the phone for about an hour. I’ll digest everything you’ve told me, then come back to you with a plan that celebrates everything you’ve shared in a novel way. If we’re both excited about the plan, then, at this point, we’d commit to spending the time and money to work together. If we’re not excited about the plan, we can look for tweaks that feel right, or we can table this concept for now, without any consequence.


You clearly put a lot of thought and heart into the whole experience! How has your design process evolved over time?

  • Over time, I’ve leaned much more into the emotional intimacy of the process and of the gifts. The richest experiences come from a willingness to introspect and to candidly look at the highs and the lows. I steer conversations in this direction as much as the participants are willing to go there with me. And I gravitate toward people who share my enthusiasm for exploring the full spectrum of emotions.

  • Another evolution is that I’ve started developing richer worlds and stories. I aspire for the puzzles to serve the story and to feel natural within it. Nothing should feel arbitrary or out of place. There shouldn’t be a puzzle for the sake of it. Nor should there be a puzzle experience for the sake of it (unless the recipient really loves puzzles). Rather, there should be a premise that justifies the puzzles. And there should be a message or intention that is amplified by experiencing hands-on puzzles and activities together.


In the big picture, what do you find to be the best and most challenging aspects of this work?

  • The best part of the work is getting a window into people’s relationships. It’s incredibly moving to hear what people appreciate most about their loved ones. Often, the person who gifts the experience (and conspires with me on the design) becomes a friend.

  • On a similar note, my goal with every creation is for the gifter & recipient to both feel loved, seen, and heard. I want them to feel that they’re stepping into their best selves. It puts an enormous smile on my face when I hear that we were able to create space for this to happen.

  • The most challenging aspect is that, as a solopreneur, I wear many hats. I’m responsible for concept creation, puzzle design, graphic design, assembly, quality assurance, customer relationships, social media, my website, accounting, legalese, etc. Building a great product is hard in and of itself; getting the word out is even harder; then adding all the administrative & legal work on the side makes it even more challenging.

  • Similarly, I’ve been continuously finding a balance between my roles as an artist and entrepreneur. It’s an absolute must-have that the work I do is thoughtful, beautiful, and uplifting. It needs to be financially sustainable too. And I want it to be as accessible as possible as well. It’s difficult to juggle all 3 of those. Fundamentally, I believe that doing the right thing will pay off. To me, it’s like planting seeds and watering them with a steady dose of patience, courage, generosity, and trust. Then, one day, they’ll blossom in the future.


I can only imagine what a tough balancing act that is! But it has led to some incredible things already. Do you have a favorite experience that you have created, or a moment along the way?

  • One of my favorite experiences was one that told the story of a couple’s relationship. Over 10 chapters, it showed how their lives have intersected – from an initial spark through many moments of love, courage, and vulnerability to an ultimate sense of home. It showed that it’s the ups and downs – the shared struggle, growth, and healing – that make relationships buzz with life. Because the gifter was vulnerable with me and spoke about all aspects of their relationship, the experience had a depth and richness that it wouldn’t have had, had we limited ourselves to only the happy memories and feelings.

  • Another one of my favorites was creating Bare for Jared & Zach at Puzzling Company. The story looked at what it means to grow up. Is it about becoming stronger? More hardened? More impervious to pain? It was an 8 part puzzle adventure that grappled with those questions, told through the story of a cub becoming a bear. It explored how growth flows from vulnerability, friendship, and attention to one’s inner world. Hearing Jared & Zach’s stories during the initial intake process was extremely meaningful. And it was clear how much love (from all 3 of us) went into the puzzle experience. Hearing their reaction a few weeks later and seeing how moved they were was one of the biggest highlights of my journey so far.

I will have to check these out! Any tips for people who may be inspired after reading this to create their own custom experience for a loved one?

  1. This experience is for your loved one. Gravitate toward the kinds of activities, vibes, and themes that they enjoy. Really check-in with yourself; am I designing this for myself or for them?

  2. Start by getting as much on paper as possible. Think about inside jokes, favorite memories, routines you share, etc. Ask yourself what makes them unique? What makes this moment in their life special? What's a story that only they could tell and that could only be told by a gift like this?

  3. Once you’ve gone broad, start to go deep. Look for patterns and themes. Are there topics that come up over and over? Is there a nice turn of phrase or inside joke that could pull a story together?

  4. (Once you have a high-level idea, just start building something. You won’t know how every moment will work or flow. That’s okay. Trust your ability to figure things out. Think of the design process as driving a car (i.e. making adjustments at each turn) rather than as launching a rocket (i.e. forming a grand plan, then hoping it all comes together when you execute on it).

It sounds like you’ve come a long way already. How would you like to see Odes Unboxed evolve over the next 5-10 years?

  • Over the next few years, I see the brand evolving to offer a wider range of experiences. For example, I’d imagine having a few types of experiences for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, weddings, graduation, etc. Each of the experiences would have a well-developed core concept that’s common to everyone who receives it while also being heavily personalized, so that the gift couldn’t be received by anyone else.

  • I’d also like to offer more experiences that focus on growth and transformation. For example, I experienced chronic headaches for several years and went through a difficult journey to heal and, ultimately, grow. I would love to offer an experience (whether a puzzle tale, workshop, retreat, or world) that helps someone experiencing chronic pain feel like a hero at the center of their journey. They’d feel empowered and uplifted as they go on quests, meet mentors, and ultimately come back with the elixir.

In the more immediate future, are there any upcoming projects or plans that you would like to share?

  • I’m designing a Valentine’s Day experience that’s coming out beautifully. It’s an intimate, heavily personalized adventure that will shower your partner with love and celebrate all of the things you love most about them. It is designed to hold your partner in a weeklong embrace. The magic starts building up several days before Valentine’s Day, culminates on the day itself, and lives on through mementos your partner will cherish forever. You’ll celebrate some of your favorite memories from over the years and step into moments designed for play, pampering, and conversation.

  • To make it heavily personalized, there will be an intake process where I ask the gifter for photos, inside jokes, the things they love most about their partner, etc. Then, I’ll incorporate all of that into a version of the experience made just for that couple. So, it’s not quite custom since it’s the same underlying story & concept for each version I’m making. However, the personalization is meaningful & substantial enough that it will feel custom. In other words, it’s a level of personalization that goes far, far beyond putting your name on things. It’s an integral part of the experience. It will have the gifter’s fingerprints all over it.

  • Bonus: This is still a really enjoyable experience for the gifter as well! They’ll be clued into a few small things, yet still surprised by all of the puzzles and activities.

  • Since it’s so heavily personalized (and since my team is small), we can only make 12 copies. I’m going to make sign-up available around January 12. The latest I can take sign-ups will be January 20, since I’ll need quite a bit of time to order parts, assemble everything, and turn it around ahead of February 14.

  • The experience will be more affordable than a custom experience at the same level of depth. However, the experience involves dozens of high quality parts and many hours of assembly by hand, so the cost will be comparable to seeing a Broadway show, going out to a fancy dinner, or getting a nice piece of jewelry. I’ve been describing it as the magic of an escape room, the thrill of a sexy date night, and the warmth of an intimate conversation, all made just for you, with several personalized keepsakes to remember the experience forever.

  • If you’d like to learn more, reach out to me at josh@odesunboxed.com.

Photos above are property of Odes Unboxed


Shoutout time! Who are some of your favorite experience/game designers or what are some of your favorite experiences/games, and why?

  • I love "The Light in the Mist" (by Rita Orlov & Jack Fallows). The design is beautiful, the puzzles are really thoughtful, and the story has a lot of emotional resonance.

  • "Boda Borg" & "Level 99" near Boston are tons of fun. I was able to visit them at RECON (the Reality Escape Convention). I loved how they combined my favorite elements of escape rooms, obstacle courses, sports, and video games.

  • "Storyteller’s Secret" at Boxaroo is one of my favorite escape rooms. I loved the tender, mellow vibe. It was clear that so much care and love went into the experience.

Anything else that you would like to share?

  • If anything I’ve said resonates with someone reading this, feel free to reach out. I’m quite swamped but I promise I’ll respond and we’ll find some way to connect. You can contact me at josh@odesunboxed.com.

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