As I mentioned when asked to review previously, I think that the Deadbolt Society does a GREAT job with the boxes themselves. They’re well put together. They’re interactive. They have great support.
The SOLE reason I subtracted 1 star for the overall rating is because Cratejoy gave it a 13+ for the recommended age range. When we subscribed we took this to understand that younger kids/teens (13-16) could easily enjoy it solo or with adults. Arguably, it’s NOT something that a couple of younger teens would be able to play without needing to use A LOT of hints/clues.
The boxes are challenging and fun. Don’t expect to breeze right through them. It’s a good time with the right group of people/friends.
Thank you, Kathryn, for sharing your thoughts on the DMS mysteries. We are glad to hear you are enjoying them. We have a 13+ rating on our boxes due to the subject matter contained within the stories. Although there is no nudity or profanity, there are references to murder. The puzzles are designed to be challenging but not impossible. Hopefully, kids ages 13 to 16 will continue working with our boxes and develop an appreciation for the creativity. :-)
I bought this box on as when November was transitioning to December. I wouldve liked it if i couldve gotten this box before Christmas but hey, 1 day too late is better than like 1 week too late. This box looks interesting, however I was originally bought this box to get the Framed theme but The Spider def does look interesting to play. Tbh, i dont hate this subscription, Im only going to done one and done as i only got this as a gift for my uncle
The box was a lot of fun, the materials inside it were of better quality than the delivery box itself. The only detractor was the extreme shipping time to Canada, but that's probably due to Covid and the horrible state that the USPS is currently in.
In terms of the puzzles, nothing was too hard or weird so you feel nice and clever by the end, unlike some games that require a bit too large a leap of logic.
I bought the 3 month subscription for a gift, and my niece and nephew are really enjoying it!
Thank you, Bonnie for choosing DMS for your gift! So glad to have Gabriella and Dave on our team of detectives!
I wanted something for a family with young children. These boxes are for adults and older adolescents. Oh, well.
Hey Janet, thanks for your feedback. We try to be as clear as possible on our listing about this with "Great gift for friends and family who love mysteries and puzzle-solving (recommended for age 13+). Crack the case alone or with a group of up to 4 people."
This was fun. We worked on it as a family and it was a happy evening activity. There were moments where we got a little bogged down in tedious activity but mostly we were entertained and challenged.
As always, we love hearing about families spending quality time together! Thanks so much for helping us restore the peace, Detectives!
The concept was clever the clues were hard but not too hard. I felt like a pro when I solved one. It's a nice 'Easter Egg' that the names in the box are actually subscribers. The absolute favorite part for my teenager was opening the box that had a note out of the 'trash,' and it was actually crumpled and balled up. That made the box personal and so very clever.
We are so glad you and your teenager are enjoying our boxes. Thank you for sharing your experience.
It should be noted that a smartphone will be necessary throughout the game to participate.
Hey Katie, thank you for your feedback. We do have this information on our Cratejoy listing:
"Unbox a mystery! Solve a crime! Close the case!
Enjoy immersive scenarios, intriguing characters, and original compelling stories with your friends and family! Every month subscribers receive a new stand-alone case file with everything needed to close the case & SOLVE THE MYSTERY! Give the gift of quality time!
Stand-alone stories that don't require other boxes to complete. Start and stop each mystery at any point.
Interactive, online components that bring each story to life (Requires a QR code reader on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop and Internet access)
Great gift for friends and family who love mysteries and puzzle-solving (recommended for age 13+)
Crack the case alone or with a group of up...
I bought 6 month subscription for my wife for Christmas, and received it last week. She sat down and solved it in about 3 hours. She loves it she is very interested with crime related stuff. She is already looking forward to her next crate.
Sounds like you chose the perfect Christmas gift, Jeremy! Thanks so much for introducing our mysteries to your wife! We are always happy to add another detective to our society!
When I bought it, I was “guaranteed” that it would arrive by Christmas. Not only did it not, it wasn’t even shipped until after New Years and ended up being 3 weeks late. The person I bought it for enjoyed it, but the shipping was very frustrating.
Hey Kristina, we appreciate your feedback. We are sorry if you were under the impression of a "guaranteed" delivery date. We don't guarantee delivery dates and we never have in the 3 years of our company, for exactly this reason. You are correct that your order shipped out after New Years because that is our subscription and shipping policy. You purchased your subscription on December 16th. Our subscription and shipping policy is clearly stated in "Shipping Details" located directly under the Subscribe Now button and the Give as a Gift button. Here is our policy: "Subscriptions are taken from the first day of the month through the last day of the month at 6PM CST. Boxes ship to subscribers the first week of...