Thames & Kosmos - "Spy Labs: Spy Location Tracker"

Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos

---

Company: Thames & Kosmos

Game: Spy Labs: Spy Location Tracker

Country: USA 🇺🇸

Language: English

Type of Game: Tabletop Games 📬

Genre: Adventure

Date Played: May 30, 2025

Difficulty (based on 2 players): N/A

Size of Team: 1 Player to set up, 1+ Player to find (Ages 8+)

Time: N/A

Price: $44.95

🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈

The Spy Location Tracker from Thames & Kosmos isn’t a puzzle game but a spy-themed tool waiting to be recruited into your own mission. In our case, I folded it into a surprise mini-date for Dave: a sweet little “spycapade” leading him across the property to uncover puzzle clues that revealed a cozy setup: two-person camp chair, blanket, snacks, and hot cocoa. His final challenge was using the Tracker to track down the cocoa, which I’m happy to report he secured without needing backup.

Of course, that’s just one way to use it. You could incorporate it to find a treasure chest, lead someone to a secret meeting point, or perhaps even track a moving “suspect”!

Video above is property of Thames & Kosmos

🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞

Built from sturdy plastic, the Tracker feels solid in hand. While clearly designed with younger spies in mind (the box says 8+), it’s not so toy-like that it cheapens the experience. It’s a bit more “kid-friendly field gear” than secret-society steampunk, but entirely functional and surprisingly hefty with a more modern aesthetic. It’s more James Bond than DaVinci Code.

The device features LED lights for tracking, which show up well in most conditions but may require a hand-shield in bright sun. There’s no indication of water resistance, so it’s best kept away from unexpected drizzle or damp foliage. One delightful touch: the manual includes educational facts about bats and their use of ultrasound, tying the tech into nature in a charming, thoughtful way.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈

Here’s how it works: once powered on with a small switch, the transmitter sends out a silent ultrasonic signal. You then depress a trigger on the handheld receiver to scan for a signal. When it picks one up, it displays directional guidance using LEDs on a display. A yellow LED lights up in the center to indicate that it’s scanning, regardless of whether it’s receiving a signal.

We found the display slightly counterintuitive: the left side of the receiver always uses red LEDs, the right side green. Whichever side lights up tells you which direction the signal is coming from. Once you get used to that logic, the idea is straightforward, and it’s fun to feel like you’re honing in on your target…

The stated range is up to 50 feet (15 meters), but in our testing it performed best at around 25-30 feet, and only with a clear line of sight. My original thought was to already have the picnic set up in the woods but the signal was not strong enough to reach somewhere not immediately visible. Even something as seemingly innocent as a thin blanket could block the signal unless we were very close (within a few feet). Both very crowded and extremely empty spaces can lead to some bounce, and there was occasional contradicting flickering of the LEDs. Overall, while it may not have surgical precision, it’s functional and fun with smaller distances and clear lines of site..

An important word of caution: ultrasonic signals can affect pets and wildlife, so it’s best to steer clear of animals while playing.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂

N/A - Not a puzzle game in itself, but a gadget to power one. The puzzling is up to you!

🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂

"Spy Labs: Spy Location Tracker" is a simple, tactile tool that adds a satisfying layer of hands-on exploration and makes a puzzle or roleplay scenario feel more real. There’s something instantly satisfying about pointing the device and watching the lights flicker as you close in. Whether you're planning a family scavenger hunt, a secret-agent-inspired date night, or an immersive quest for friends, this little device brings a touch of spy-fi energy and lets you play the part. It’s a high-charm gadget that can turn an ordinary search into something a little more cinematic.

Its limitations (range, signal bounce) mean it’s best treated as a close-range mechanic, not a long-range GPS replacement. And keep it away from the animals! But once you know how to wield it, the device functions reliably and adds a genuinely fun layer of discovery.

Would I use it in a future mission? Absolutely. Would I keep a spare set of batteries and a clear field in mind? Also yes. But it earned its place in our puzzle challenge arsenal, and I’m already scheming up ways to integrate it into the next mission for the kids. For anyone who enjoys planning “missions” or explorative games - for kids or the young at heart, this little gadget could be just the signal boost you need.

Note: This is part of Thames & Kosmos’ extensive Spy Lab series, which has lots of other fun little mission gadgets. Requires 2 AA (for the receiver) and 2 AAA (in the transmitter) batteries, along with a small Phillips head screwdriver.

---

Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game:

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

---

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 Thames & Kosmos 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.

#KristaJones #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #OneOffs #ThamesandKosmos #Adventure #Spy #Espionage #USA