The Room

The Room is the first game in Fireproof's puzzle box series, originally a mobile hit and later ported to PC. A letter leads you to an attic with a carved iron safe, and you open it layer by layer by turning dials, sliding panels and using an eyepiece lens to reveal hidden symbols. It suits solo players who want a polished, tactile puzzler for a single evening, and works well as a first puzzle game.

About 97% of its 15,186 Steam reviews are positive. Players praise the intricate boxes, the Victorian occult mood and how well the touch controls translate to the mouse, and many replayed it after first playing on a phone. Most say it is challenging without being unfair, and the built-in hints help when stuck.

The main caveats are length and story. Players typically finish in two to five hours, and the plot is thin and ends on a cliffhanger that points to the sequel. A few found the click targets fussy or the clues too plain. It is cheap already, and buying the series bundle on sale is the best value.