Lost in Mine

a suuuuper creative use of a paper medium for a puzzle game. a few of these puzzles show that a lot of craft and love have been put into creation of this game.

Lost in Mine thrusts you into the darkness as you venture into an abandoned mine. After finding a book with annotations and mysterious images, you must slowly work your way through the dark caverns. The booklet may seem small, but don't be mistaken - there are plenty of puzzles to work your way through. It also uses really creative ways to hide and reveal hidden secrets. I found the theme really intriguing, and the narrative kept me hooked throughout. It was certainly a more psychological affair than I was expecting. The puzzles were well-integrated into the story, utilising the paper-based booklet (including a map of the underground tunnel system) and online elements. Both must be used together to navigate your way through the mine, unlocking the narrative along the way. I particularly enjoyed the nostalgic '90s Windows theming that was used for the online portion of the game. As I've come to expect from Funbi, the game had several joyous aha moments along the way and a surprising ending. With a difficulty rating of 3/5, beginners might find it a challenge, while more experienced players will feel right at home.

Soooo many layers to this one! It's incredibly impressive how much gameplay Funbi managed to pack into the humble zine format, supplemented by a robust web app (which was also a really great mini graphic novel of sorts!) Highly recommend!