Closing Out the British Mystery in Blackbrim: 1876
Solve the final part of a tricky Victorian British mystery with a variety of intriguing clues in Blackbrim: 1876.
Not quite finished yet! I completed the first part of Blackbrim: 1876, yet the mystery continued. With back-to-back pieces of the same mystery, it formed the perfect stopping point as I considered my detective skills. Hint: Do not hire me to solve anything. Ha ha! The hints system was awesome, but where would this all end? Onward to the new clues!
Game Overview
Game Name: Blackbrim: 1876
Publication Year: 2020
Designer: Uncredited
Artist: Uncredited
Publisher: Puzzling Pursuits
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Once again, no spoilers here! Part II features all new clues in different puzzles. These are split up a little more and add more variety. With an optional hints system, this is a great way to enjoy a solo mystery game with limited frustration. It all would culminate in the finale!
First Play
June 12, 2022
Complexity
1
Latest Play
June 12, 2022
Expansions
0
Setup Time
Almost None
Lifetime Plays
2
Play Time
1 Hour & 30 Minutes
High Score
N/A
Game Area
40" x 24"
Low Score
N/A
Moving Into Part II
A big selling point of these mysteries comes down to the idea of having multiple parts to solve. I was generally impressed with how everything was interconnected!
Yet nothing felt repetitive. As I dove into the second part, these puzzles were unique. It wasn’t like the same formula was reused from Part I. Nope: All new clues to look at.
This definitely felt more substantial, which was a nice way to end the entire mystery. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Without a doubt, I used the website hints system. I needed it! But I was still putting in the effort to solve what I could.
Quality Storage
I was completely impressed with the way the different parts were housed in envelopes that looked realistic.
The little buckle actually folded in, and all of the related components fit inside this briefcase of sorts. All very neat and tidy, especially when packing it away.
However, I found myself in a new area with all sorts of puzzles to go through. The goal was to rescue the entire police force. Luckily, no one was in serious danger!
Never put a timer on my amateur detective skills. I need approximately 37 minutes to figure anything out. Ha ha!
An Odd Little Hiccup
Every clue was well-made. Using thin paper for an ancient newspaper felt thematic, too, and I didn’t mind that it almost felt like tissue paper. I handled that carefully!
One puzzle completely threw me off, though. Again, no spoilers here, but this photo is the actual image with lots of pixelation and a very strange border in the upper right.
I think this was one of the only disappointing moments for me, particularly since it required outside research.
Then again, it’s hard to create about 12-15 individual puzzles and have them all work out. Plenty of others!
Individual Envelopes
Whereas the Part I puzzles were all jumbled together, there was a decidedly more ordered approach here. Each puzzle had its own envelope with a little flavor text.
I encountered one of the most clever puzzles I’ve ever seen in one of these envelopes. It took some effort to piece it together, but I was thoroughly thrilled with the result!
Aside from a couple of puzzles I wasn’t excited about, these were all excellent. I had a healthy helping of hints!
There’s no shame in getting hints like this, though. I used to think I should just retire from the mystery genre…
Coming to Terms with a Lack of Detective Skills
I’m someone who loves trying to solve mysteries… And I’m rather terrible at it! With some solo mystery games, I’ve almost felt guilty for trying to continue on. All of the clues just led to more questions, and even when I thought I had solved something important, I was completely wrong. The frustration level has been rather unfortunate at times.
So… Why continue? I’ve sometimes wondered why I continuously try to solve puzzles and mysteries when I’m laughably bad at it. But that’s part of the charm: I know how hard it is for me to get the correct solutions, so those victories are all the more exciting! Plus, being able to get immersed in the setting can be a very fun experience.
These hints kept me on track and never made me feel guilty like I was cheating. We all have our own set of knowledge. I guarantee others who play through this mystery will like some puzzles more, and others less. The hints system probably will play a bigger role for some, and a smaller role for others. There it is: The beauty of playing solo!
Session Overview
Play Number: 2
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Part II
Outcome: Complete
Success! In just under 2 hours, I reached the conclusion. Everyone made it back home safely! And there were even hints of a sequel… There was a little bit of sadness as I reached the end, almost like I wanted there to be a lot more. I believe this is the end of the line for this as a solo experience, although I might introduce it to my family. Definitely a worthwhile mystery experience!
%
1 Play
Affordability
Price & Value
5
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
7
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
2
+ Pros (Positives)
- All of the puzzles feel very different and utilize a variety of skills or knowledge to appeal to various players.
- Using the website for hints or solutions is very customizable and helps reduce the level of frustration.
- The storyline is fairly minimal, yet it sets the stage for a Victorian mystery with very limited violence.
- Each puzzle is its own stand-alone element, but everything ties together to form overarching solutions.
- There are a total of about 15 puzzles that provide a lot of variety and unveil more layers of the mystery.
- It should take at least 2-3 hours to complete all of the puzzles, and nothing ever feels like it drags on.
– Cons (Negatives)
- There are a few areas where the puzzle or component quality is a little lacking, especially with one image.
- Outside research is required for at least a couple of puzzles, which can be fun, yet also breaks the immersion.
- Each set of clues leads to a single solution, so there aren’t any other ways to play again or find other paths.
- The Part II envelopes are sealed with clear stickers that easily damage the paper and serve little purpose.
Victory Conditions
Solve All of the Puzzles
- Overall Goal Progress 100%
Goals and Milestones
Solve every Part I puzzle.
Solve every Part II puzzle.
Continue the Conversation
What do you think of Blackbrim: 1876? It might not exactly fit the definition of a board game, but I’ll allow it! There were a lot of fun moments as I puzzled through these clues. What are some elements of solo mystery games you enjoy? I have another one of these boxes, and look forward to putting on my amateur detective cap again in the future!
I’m a big mystery novel fan… but I don’t get on with one-and-done games. (The first few Exit boxes could be solved without destroying them, so you could move the thing on to someone else, but the authors or publisher quickly changed that.)
I’m in a similar boat, although I’m trying out some of these sorts of games here and there. That’s an interesting comparison with mystery novels since the first read reveals the answer, so to speak. I’m more likely to re-read a mystery novel than play through a mystery game with a static solution, though. Definitely some food for thought!