Overview
Exit: The Game – The Forbidden Castle is a cooperative puzzle/escape-room game. On vacation in a mountain village, you hike to an impressive castle. After entering the throne room, the door slams shut. The castle is filled with riddles that must be solved to escape before the creepy host traps you forever. This is a one-time-play game; materials are written on, folded, and torn during play.
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Components
- 1 Decoder disk
- 88 Cards:
- 24 Riddle Cards
- 31 Answer Cards
- 33 Help Cards
- 4 Strange items
- 1 Book
- 1 Rulebook
Additional required materials (not included): Pens/pencils/eraser, paper, stopwatch/watch, scissors (optional but helpful).
Setup
- Place the book and decoder disk on the table.
- Leave the four strange items in the box.
- Sort cards into three face-down piles: Riddle Cards, Answer Cards, Help Cards.
- Arrange Riddle Cards and Answer Cards in ascending order.
- Sort Help Cards by symbol; stack each set with “1st CLUE” on top, then “2nd CLUE,” then “SOLUTION.”
- Do NOT look at the front of any card until instructed.
Turn Structure
No individual turns. All players collaborate simultaneously in real time:
- Explore — Examine the book and revealed Riddle Cards for clues and symbols.
- Discover — Pull referenced Riddle Cards from the pile when found in illustrations or text.
- Solve — Enter a three-digit code on the decoder disk under the matching symbol.
- Verify — Read the viewing window number and pull the corresponding Answer Card.
- Progress or Retry — Correct answers unlock new content; incorrect answers mean keep searching.
Actions
Solving a Riddle
- Find a locked object marked with a symbol in the book or on Riddle Cards.
- Deduce the three-digit code logically.
- Enter the code on the decoder disk; check the Answer Card number in the viewing window.
Using Help Cards
Three Help Cards per riddle symbol:
- 1st Clue — Lists required Riddle Cards and gives an initial hint.
- 2nd Clue — More concrete guidance.
- Solution — Reveals the answer.
Manipulating Materials
Writing on, folding, tearing, or cutting game materials is allowed and sometimes required.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The game ends when the final riddle is solved and you escape. Score based on time and Help Cards used:
| Time |
0 Help Cards |
1-2 |
3-5 |
6-10 |
>10 |
| < 60 min |
10 stars |
8 stars |
— |
— |
— |
| < 90 min |
9 stars |
6 stars |
3 stars |
— |
— |
| < 120 min |
8 stars |
6 stars |
3 stars |
2 stars |
— |
| > 120 min |
— |
2 stars |
— |
1 star |
— |
Special Rules & Edge Cases
- One-time play: Materials are permanently altered.
- Logical solutions only: Do not brute-force the decoder disk.
- Always return Answer Cards to the pile after checking.
- Progressive discovery: Some riddles need cards not yet revealed.
- You must find an object before opening it.
- Bonus riddles are available via the free Kosmos Helper App.
Player Reference
| Item |
Details |
| Players |
1-4 |
| Age |
12+ |
| Difficulty |
Intermediate |
| Code format |
Three-digit code |
| Decoder disk symbols |
10 total |
| Help Cards per riddle |
3 |
| Required extras |
Pen, paper, stopwatch, scissors (optional) |