Solar Wind Publishing - "Forsaken Souls: Cursed Artifact"

Photo above is property of Solar Wind Publishing

---

Company: Solar Wind Publishing

Game: Forsaken Souls: Cursed Artifact

Country: Greece 🇬🇷

Language: English

Type of Game: DIY Escape Kits 🖨️ ✂

Genre: Mystery

Date Played: August 1, 2025

Difficulty (based on 5 players): 5/10

Size of Team: 1-6 ppl (Ages 14+)

Time: Approximately 2 - 2.5 Hrs.

Price: $22.99 USD

🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈

You have been summoned to the Finch Estate to locate a missing antique music box that has been passed down through generations. But as you begin to learn more about it, you realize the music box holds secrets darker than anyone ever imagined.

🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞

The game come as three print-n-play files. One with the clues, one for the GM guide, and a bonus file with extras to help the game run more smoothly. The multiple clue pages feature some polished artwork and detailed item designs that really give it that escape room feel. Even the GM guide is well-designed and easy on the eyes.

Photo above is property of Solar Wind Publishing

🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈

Since this is a print-n-play game, you’ll need to print and cut everything out before playing. A few puzzles require colour to solve but as long as you make note of the colours beforehand, you should be good. Be sure to give yourself some prep time. For myself, it took about an hour to cut and organize everything.

The game provided a detailed GM guide that walks you through the entire setup process. So thorough that beginners who have never run an escape room would have no issues. The GM guide includes a link to the introduction video, the cutscenes and the ending. There is also the transcript as well if you want to read it out loud, but the video gives more immersion. One neat feature is you have options for gameplay. You can either set the game up around your house using real lockboxes and envelopes (or print their provided ones), or you can just play it at a table, revealing items as you go.

Gameplay wise, as we unlocked pieces and solved puzzles, we would either get a number or word, which was indicated on the lock, to enter into their online validator. The validator would spit out a key (number). If the key matched the key on the lock, then we had the correct solution and could open that envelope.

There were a few things that stood out to us. First, there was the detailed artwork. It was fantastic with the pieces and was all thoughtfully designed. I also appreciated how well everything was organized. I was a bit worried I might spoil something while cutting, but the game pieces were sorted in a way that kept everything spoiler free. The story also had a little more punch than we expected and found it a satisfying tale when we finished.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂

We were really impressed by the variety of puzzles throughout the game. Even though it was all paper-based, there were some surprisingly creative puzzles that made clever use of just paper and really had us thinking as some required some outside the box thinking with the paper.

The hint system was also really well done. The clues were tiered in a way that helped guide us without giving too much away, and we got those satisfying “aha!” moments even when we needed a little nudge.

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂

"Forsaken Souls: Cursed Artifact" was an entertaining print-nplay game. The GM guide was detailed and thorough for easy set up and it lets you build a story driven and immersive game right in your own living room. The puzzles were solid and were perfect that we could all work through together. We had 5 players but the pieces were large enough for us to see gathered around the table. This is a perfect pick for introducing someone to escape games or just enjoying a casual, puzzle-filled evening with friends.

---

BUY NOW

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank Solar Wind Publishing for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.

#MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #PrintNCut #Mystery #SolarWindPublishing #Greece