The puzzle game is fun, but the lack of storyline and short length are issues
Debut game from indie developer Indigo Studios – Interactive Stories, Seven doors is a puzzle game, with different types of puzzles to solve as you progress through the rooms of a sinister mansion.
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The game was released in 2020 for PC and is now also available for consoles, with versions for PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. As the name “seven doors” suggests, the player has to go through seven rooms in the main campaign. Then there are three more bonus rooms, released after reaching the end, a novelty introduced with the arrival of the game on consoles.
Entering each room, the player is locked inside and must figure out how to get out, an experience that was fashionable a few years ago in the real world, the so-called ‘Escape Room’. What’s interesting is that the game doesn’t indicate which puzzle needs to be solved, so there’s an element of really fun exploration and deduction as you first pass through each new area.
By solving the puzzles, the player unlocks a golden skull and moves on to the next area. Don’t expect action or, unfortunately, more elaborate storytelling. I have no problem with the lack of action, after all it’s a puzzle and not a shooter anymore. But as a fan of games in the genre since the days of The 7th Guest and Myst, it’s a shame that there isn’t a driving storyline to justify playing… or motivating you to play more often.
The game is all in Portuguese which is very good. Some puzzles are very visual and easy to deduce what needs to be done to solve them. One of them involves stealth and is the scariest, with a room full of grotesque statues that you have to go through. Another requires reflexes to escape deadly traps and can be frustrating, but nothing a little patience with the controls can’t fix.
The additional puzzles are more varied, but not complex. The biggest problem with Seven Doors is that, once you’ve solved it for the first time, there’s almost no reason to play it again, except maybe for trophy and achievement collectors, who will have to go through the bonus rooms twice. Hint: Don’t forget the trophy, you’ll need it.
Considerations
Seven Doors is a good puzzle game, which can be completed in a few hours. It’s fun, but don’t expect reasons to play more than one and a half times (you don’t have to go through the initial seven rooms in the second game). A storyline that explored the dark environment was missing.
Seven Doors is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
*This review was done on the Xbox Series X, with a copy kindly provided by Soedesco.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
