Cube Escape Collection Reviews

by Jamcat1190

I have been a die hard Rusty Lake fan for years. I love everything about the games...challenging, grotesque, evolving storylines, uniqueness, etc. And I’ve loved watching them evolve over the years. I’ve never left anything less than a 5* review for their games, and it pains me to do so now, but I feel I must. I feel like the developers lost their focus and tried to go in too many different directions...videos, comics, merchandise, different types of games. And while I appreciate the creativity, they lost sight of what they do best...high end, point and click escape games. They now release a new game maybe once every 2 years...which offers, at best, 1-3 days of gameplay. That is just not enough to hold anyone’s attention and they are letting competitors pass them by. I hope they soon figure out what they want to be, and stick to it. In the meantime, I’ll be spending my time and money on other developers....Forgotten Hill, Lucid Dream, Cotton Games, Snapbreak...to name a few.

by Queenbeeinherhive

I played most of the others in the Rusty Lake Cube Escape series before this, so I already knew somewhat the mood and feel of many of the puzzles before starting this. Most of them were clever, as usual, and just the right combo of weird and challenging. However, in this one, I got stuck at the sunflowers. As far as I can tell, there is no logic and just trial and error, with too many combinations to guess randomly. After trying for days, I finally watched the walkthrough to figure it out. We shouldn’t have to do this to finish the game! I think perhaps a hint somewhere about the order? Or hint of mechanism of how the sunflowers enlarge and shrink, because as far as I can tell, you just have to get lucky. Otherwise, great game. Surprisingly light and cheerful in tone compared to the others—well, despite the ear thing and the corrupted soul making an appearance at the end. Only didn’t give a 5 because I was comparing to the others, which were outstanding.

by :)aleyann(:

^ best describes this series. Especially coming from someone who has followed these games from practically their beginning. When I had just found these types of games and instantly fell in love with the genre. Back then I played the game thinking it was just another one off game that would never solve the mystery and it was just there to make for interesting game play. I’m glad that I’m the end it turned into this wacky, weird, and at times morbid universe. I replayed some of the cube games dozens of times. Some how it doesn’t get boring for me. 😆 and while I have to admit there are times I get stuck on a puzzle there are hints and walkthroughs to help every time. I hope that there is still more to come as this is one of my favorite point and click games if you could call it that. Thank you for all the hard work you have put into these games.

by IPreferKittens

Similar to an escape room, but felt very original. Some parts were very easy, others a bit too hard, but they provide video walkthroughs when you get stuck. I wish there had been more clarification as to what happened in the story, some levels I couldn’t even tell which character I was playing as, and what my relationship with the victim was. Overall it was an interesting game, and took me about twelve hours to complete start-to-finish with all of the achievements. I will definitely be purchasing the other Rusty Lake games.

by Xenthuseastic

I had memories of playing Harvey’s Box and Birthday in 2015, when I was in high school and home sick from some kind of fever. During this time I played several Flash games, these two being one of them. I won’t spoil the plot or mood, but I was completely blown away by the way the story emerges through the interactive elements.

Maybe it’s just me, but this game goes into my weird memory brain box of things that are detached from my normal reality and I completely forgot that this existed immediately after playing, like some kind of fever dream. Also, 2015 is pretty late for a flash game to be released. So when I heard that all of the Rusty Lake Games were ported to mobile, I immediately downloaded them so that I could play them through in order. What cool concepts and simple and intuitive implementation: this game is truly a fresh take on the point-and-click adventure genre.

by Mary22K

This is a collection of Escape Room (Cube) games that have previously been individually released, and based on the first few games I’ve finished, it is well worth the download.

There’s a story that flows through out, even for ones that seem unrelated. The gameplay and puzzles are very reminiscent of old PC point and click escape games, including its difficulty😳, which is partially due to its psychological horror elements that make for a good mix of common sense and thinking outside the box type puzzles.

Horror is also another staple of a lot of classic escape room games and this game is especially impressive because each room is pretty simple, only really showing things that are needed for the puzzles.

The horror in this gave me Fran Bow vibes (particularly when the “madness” really kicks in and there’s a visual rumbling) without as much gore and without the horror elements being consistent throughout, which makes when they do happen that much more unnerving if you’ve lowered your guard, and if you haven’t, you’ll be anxious the whole time, worried about when something spooky will happen. 😬

It really adds this sense of being watched and feeling trapped which seems to be what they’re going for thematically. It’s really well done storytelling so far with a lot of symbolism and atmosphere.

by Mari4u2

First game I played from rusty lake was samsara’s room a few years ago; and I found it absolutely interesting, although I was so confused. It wasn’t until some time after that I decided to play more of their games, and I must say, I absolutely love these compiled ones. The story is mysterious and eerie, yet captivating. It’s odd in the way that you don’t know what’s happening, but makes you want to learn more, about the characters that pop up from time to time, who they are and why they even appear in the first place. There’s some jump scares here and there, but they’re not overdone and placed nicely. The concept of memories, future and past is strong within the escape rooms, so it makes your brain do jumping jacks trying to comprehend their cryptic messages. But it’s absolutely fun! The order in which these escape rooms are placed within CubeEscapeCollection definitely gives you the best experience, as the next one will always reveal something that may have been left unanswered in the last one. Overall, it’s a game worth a try, and remember, “The past is never dead, it’s not even past.”

by Bygonepancake

I have played now almost all Cube series escape games and each one is unique whilst staying true to an ongoing story. I usually just game casually in the evening, but I can admit I became hooked on these escape games by Rusty Lake. I even replayed several due to wanting to get the achievements completed as well. I rarely encounter any bugs and I would say all the puzzles can be solved with patience and thinking outside the box. Everything you need to progress is somewhere in that room, just click around or drag items you pick up to different parts of the room and see if any interact if you get stuck. A huge thank you to Rusty Lake for creating these games. You have added something unique to CubeEscapeCollection Store and I am definitely now a fan who will be watching to see what new adventures you create next.

by BunnyBebe31

The complexity and beautifully linked actual game series that Rusty Lake has managed to create and give us… chef’s kiss. I’ve played a couple times before about 2 years ago- before the all-in-one chapters were available- I looked up what order to play each game. I just happened to think about it randomly and dove right back in to this eerie and unnervingly deep world. The puzzles ARE tricky sometimes. But you really have to think outside the box….or rather….cube (ha). And there are walkthroughs and clues available if you get stuck. Seriously though, I keep coming back to this game. And be sure to play the others that tie into all the previous chapters. Standing ovation to the Rusty Lake creators. I really hope you continue putting all your effort into creating more. Thanks for giving us great quality and entertainment in these games.

by Pinkykait

I download games all the time and end up deleting them after five minutes of gameplay, in fact I downloaded this along with a mix of fiveish other random games when I was bored one night. It’s the only game that stuck. It’s been a very long time since I actually enjoyed a phone game, even longer since I finished one. Most games these days are either mindlessly easy or mimic 100 other games just like it. Cube escape was genuinely something different. I found it challenging but my curiosity and the gratification I got when I discovered anything, no matter how significant, is what led me to finishing every chapter of this game. The gameplay itself is enough to entertain but once bits a pieces of the story start to uncover you’ll get drawn into the mystery of it all.

by Dissastisfied101

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. The plot left a lot of room for imagination and curiosity. It does contain frequent scenes of blood and violence, so I would be aware of that. It’s meant to be spooky, and what I love about the way it does that is that *spoiler* there are episodes where you play as the villain or the spooky character.
As for the puzzles, there are several that I had to use the hint for. Unlike some other escape rooms there is a paranormal or fantasy element that means that the products of the puzzles are not always the logical expectation, but that just adds to the intrigue.
The only ads in this game were by choice: you watch an ad to get a hint when you’re stuck, and you have no limits to the amounts of hints you can get. What’s great is that there were no pop-up ads whatsoever. It was so refreshing and helped me to have a more immersive experience.
I have played some of this franchise’s other games, and if you have as well, you’ll enjoy the concepts, characters, and Easter eggs that carry over from the rest of the series.
All in all I loved it. Intriguing storyline, challenging puzzles, and a great experience. I can see myself playing it again.

by Wonderstrumpet

I have been playing these games for YEARS. My youngest kid had a memory flash the other day of sitting with me watching me play these games when they were in elementary school (So I’m not the most concerned parent, I guess. Cartoon blood and whatnot). I’m now replaying the games and loving them as much as I remember.

I love that they do a lot of weirdness just for weirdness’s sake - that’s pretty much my whole life’s mission. The music is perfect - just enough to give the vibe but not overbearing or obnoxious. The imagery is simple and effective. The whole thing is a complex weaving of puzzle, horror, story, room escape, and something indefinable.

Long story short, Rusty Lake is everything I didn’t know I needed in my life. Keep it up, my dudes. 🖤

by Quail

I’ve played most of the Rusty Lake games, and they are fantastic pieces of storytelling, world-building, and artwork. I look forward to coming back to the world and the multi-generational storyline with each new release. The voice acting and music adds beautifully to the atmosphere.

Each game is inventive and thoughtful, with fun puzzles that require some time and thought but that are doable, especially as you come to understand the horror and paranormal elements.

Two big warnings, though. Victims of sexual assault or domestic violence and those who’ve experienced miscarriage may struggle with some of the imagery and game actions. And cruelty to animals is a through-line. All is played for creepy laughs, so be warned and take care.

by BigJ8224

Honestly I wasn’t looking for much when I came across this game, just a fun little escape-room-like puzzle game. But when I played the first one I was sucked into the story of Rusty Lake. I played through each game at least three times in a span of a week, got all the achievements on day six, and I haven’t really gotten tired of it at all. Trying to find all the connections across all the games between Laura Vanderboom, Dale Vandermeer, and the various other characters within the story has been really fun so far. Long story short, this is probably one of the greatest series of games I’ve come across in a long time, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves puzzles and a great overarching story

by <=v><v><v=>

I was on a hunt through CubeEscapeCollection Store for a puzzle-based escape room for about a month. Of the 10-12 different developers I’ve tried, not a single one can hold a candle to the genius of Rusty Lake. The originality alone would put it on the top spot, but the great puzzles, artwork that is both sophisticated and simple, and the plot that is clear enough to understand it, but still is confusing enough for personal aha moments make it shoot past the competition. Even the details are perfect: the anonymity of the animal-headed people , the recurring images of fish, Laura, clocks, Harvey, cubes, etc., and the simply inspired use of famous paintings. I loved seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place as I uncovered the story. Another great part about this game is that if I wait a while, I can replay all the puzzles, and I usually make a new realization every time! I can tell how much the developers care about telling the story instead of making money on cheap content, unlike the ad-loaded, mindless games I used to play. I have played nearly every game in the series already, including the premium ones, and I can’t wait to see what happens next at Rusty Lake! Also, thank you so much.

by Generic_gamer_

This was the most fun I’ve had with a mobile game in years. I happened upon it after playing several live Escape Rooms and this was a great way to bring that same fun home. I love escape rooms and puzzles. This was quite challenging, but had enough going on that even when I was stuck I was still determined. I would put it down for a few hours and come back, or give to my son, or just restart. I played most of them twice to try to catch anything I missed the first time. Huge variety of puzzles and challenges. Quite macabre intermittently, with a couple jump scares. Occasionally I wished they’d held back, but I suppose that added to the aura. Super fun!!

by ... .. . ..... . ... ......

I love this game so much it’s so fun to play when I’m bored or have nothing to do or if I’m just out and about and need something to fill the time they give hints which are awesome but also, if you need more help, you can find a guide online. The game itself isn’t too hard to point where you’re going to want to
give up but it’s just challenging enough to keep you playing. I personally love puzzle games and I feel like anyone who does puzzle games will love this game. You may need to take a break and step away from the game here and there but you can always come back and start where you left off or even start all over 10/10 game would recommend

by Rosie Robloxian

I've watched and played tons of escape rooms, and this is the topper. They can be insanely difficult, but overall still possible. It's such an amazing game. I've downloaded Paradox, Hotel, and now am playing Roots. I'm not the best at writing a big paragraph like other reviews, but I think I can be able to do it like this. The art style is simple yet unsettling, the perfect mix for this series. If I could experience these games in the right order for the first time again, I completely would. I will buy every game that they have, no matter the cost. I highly suggest when you finish this to download Paradox and buy Chapter 2, as well as Roots. Roots has the story of the Vanderbooms. I'll stand by this opinion for however long I live, and wish that the creators make it super far in this journey, even more than they already have. Thank you Robin and Maarten for making such an amazing series, continue to make these amazing games!!

by GameKLyva

I recommend this series to everyone I know! Hands down my favorite series ever. I love playing these games. The plot and the Twin Peak’s inspiration is probably my favorite thing about this entire series. The characters are awesome too! Dale and Harvey are my absolute favorite. Rusty Lake manages to take a normal escape room game and turn it into a full blown adventure! An amazing time is always guaranteed when playing any of their games! Challenging, fun, and absolutely awesome. If you have the money, definitely check out their other games: Rusty Lake Hotel, Rusty Lake: Roots, Rusty Lake Paradise, and The White Door! I had them downloaded on my old phone and I would play them all the time! I can’t wait to see what else you guys create to expand on this already awesome series!

by CcInThePark

This game is a collection of the first main entries in the Rusty Lake/Cube Escape series. Esoteric, challenging, and vaguely terrifying, these games tell the story of a murder-mystery in the alchemical pursuit of eternal life. Using classic point-and-click puzzling that heralds back to the franchise’s flash game roots, this series is most suitable for people who have already played point-and-click games before and are familiar with the kind of collect-items, then use-item-on gameplay tropes. The puzzles are challenging, particularly in the early entries of the series. The collection includes all of the mainline Cube Escape series and is WELL worth the cost. You get tons of content for the price (essentially 6 games in 1). The mystery of the story unfolding here continues to expand with each new installment in the franchise, and there’s so much to fall in love with here and try to figure out! Welcome to Rusty Lake Mental Health & Fishing, once you get hooked on the series you will invariably find it difficult to leave.

by KawaiiJalapeño

OMG LITERALLY BEST GAME/games EVERRRR. I’m not going to spoil it for new player but the storyline is absolutely AMAZING. Warning for young children and people who are easily scared, there is no inappropriate content, but it can be extremely dark and scary. The main things include jump scares, blood, and dead bodies. Some of it can be disturbing so be careful. But I definitely recommend this game! Also, definitely go in order of how they are placed on the Home Screen, everything will make a LOT more sense, and the storyline is really the best part of this game. If you need help or are stuck, look up the walkthrough! I definitely had to do that in the first one to get the hang of it. I really recommend this game, but remember, this is a horror game, it’s meant to be scary. LOVE THIS GAME!

by Sevren2213

When I first stumbled upon this series I thought it was just a generic puzzle game but I was wrong. This series of games with a story all uniting each other is amazing, at first I had a hard time figuring out some of the puzzles and still do. No matter how many times I get bored of this game and come back to it it’s still just as hard and entertaining as last time. I still haven’t fully pieced the story together but what I think/ know is that your exploring your memories which are starting to fade away and become distorted from the lake. I’m still confused as who you are when playing as it seems to switch between people like for example Arles but yet again I haven’t pieced together much of the lore behind the game. Great job, would recommend. Also this is my first time leaving a review so it may sound a little weird or not be as good as others but I tried.

by Rogerrogercopycopy104

I am so glad I found this game. I never leave reviews but after listening to the podcast Beach Too Sandy Water Too Wet, I realized how important it is to compliment excellent work. This is a mind bending puzzle with a really emotional story. The elements of horror and eerie backdrop all add to the depth. Even with all of the oddities, there is a lot of truth to it all. It is like a nightmare that comes from grief and repressed memories. I found the difficulty to be hard enough but not ridiculous, the story line was creepy and well-crafted, and the gameplay worked perfectly on a small smart phone. Excellent work, Rusty Lake. I am going to purchase every one of your games ❤️

by Microbiobot

If you are looking for a escape room experience that you can do in a couple of hours, this is a good set of games for you. If you are new to games like this, be sure to write down any object that you have collected that you haven’t used yet, and any action that you do in one scene that doesn’t seem to have a purpose. You will use those items and return to those actions later in the game.

If you get stuck, clues are available by watching an ad, and the price to remove all ads is reasonable. If worse comes to worst, walkthroughs are available for every game.

All in all, a pleasant little diversion.

by 100% Would Install

these games are so addicting, yet challenging. i could play these games hours on end. last year during science class, this is all i would do instead of doing my work. these games are definitely a emotion rollercoaster, which is very good in a game. during the cube escape: birthday, i cried during class when the boys family got shot, which is a good thing, since that means its a terrific game. the first game that got me hooked on cube escape games was the paradox one. when i finished that game, i heard there was a mini movie. so i watched it. sobbed. balled my eyes out at 11 o'clock. these games are so good. i love a good game that can keep you hooked for a long period of time. these games also scared me a little, but i was so surprised on how well made this game was. please continue to make games like these, and never stop. everyone deserves to see these beautiful, well thought out, games. i follow yall on tiktok and you guys are so sweet on it, and deserve a huge fan base. my tiktok is userj9ti77wfzc if yall are curious. keep up the amazing work🫶

by Meagannaise

I love every single game Rusty Lake has put out, and have played all of them (except Albert). It sounds silly, but these games came to me at a really dark time in my life and helped me in a lot of ways. As far as I’m concerned, these people are geniuses.

The artwork is stunning, the intricate web tying the characters and settings together is immaculate, and I frankly cannot recommend these games enough. I love the morbidity, the darkness, but also the humor. I often play one of these games when I’m having a tough day to make myself feel better, because the Vanderbooms have some problems that make mine seem elementary.

by Spesh713

THIS is what gaming should be. I have loved every single game Rusty Lake puts out. I bought each of these cube escape games individually when they were released and was thrilled to see them put together in one series. I loved playing them again, and it was even more fun this time around. I just played them all and will again many more times, I already know. If you love puzzle games, adventure/mystery games, fantastic graphics, and hours of entertainment, then do not hesitate: get them all! Also highly highly recommend The White Door, Samsara Room, Rusty Lake Paradise, Rusty Lake Hotel, Rusty Lake Roots, and of course Cube Escape Paradox. Seriously, they are all amazing. Love their Instagram and their support of fans (and fan art) too. Rusty Lake team: THANK YOU!

by Sapphic Vampire

i've been looking for a phone game like this for AGES. and the first 9 chapters are free on this. plus the 10th is free as a separate app. it's insane. i have adhd and this managed to hold my interest and attention for far longer than other games like this. i'm so into the storyline and lore. this game is so well made and so well written. the only reason i can think of to not play this would be if you're sensitive to blood (it's not realistic though) or death/murder. if you're cool with that stuff and like games with mind puzzles and stuff i recommend this so much

by ❤︎ShyButtercups❤︎

I’ve been playing Rusty Lake’s games for 2 years now, and as someone who’s really into escape room games, this one and many others really put you to think, and don’t just make you look for tools and fix things, but actually have a way of working. The graphics of the game, the backgrounds, and the characters are all so unique and play their own part across all the games and I’m so happy I was able to come across such amazing pieces of art<3

by Seda Sev

I am a big fan of rusty lake games since I found samsara room. The puzzles amazed me but I had no idea that everything had a meaning and it was all connected. I wanted answers so I started researching and found the cube escape collection. I am amazed! It is the most entertaining and well made game I have ever played! The Plot is incredible, the music is amazing, and the puzzles are challenging enough to make you think and get you creative! I finished all the games but I wish I could forget them all so I could experience the games for the first time all over again. Thank you Rusty Lake for such an amazing creation!!!!!!

by Stemp005

I’ve never written a review for an app before but I feel so strongly about these games. I used to work at an escape room as a game master, and I’ve played every escape game you could imagine. These games are not just great, but EXPONENTIALLY better than any others I’ve played. The story is cryptic and thrilling and it never feels just like filler. The games are actually quite long and the puzzles are so much fun to figure out. Overall, the amount of effort and love that the developers put into these games shows and I hope they continue to make more! Rusty Lake fan for life :)

by Demi Elle Ditmer

So I never really enjoy the escape room type of games but I was bored on a car ride and it popped up so I thought so would try it out. It turned out to be one of my favorite games ever! Not only does it have an amazing twist in the story but I love the graphics and the detail in some of the clues. I also really enjoyed the birthday level that one was probably my favorite because it brought back old memories of the past levels. So even if you don’t like puzzles or escaping games I think you should try this one out because it’s free and really interesting!👍

by Sadhomebrewer

Saying that this game is great would be an understatement because it is much more then that and will get your mind twisting and turning and yes, its can be difficult but thats one of the qualities I love about this game it never fails to stump me. All these other games seem oddly easy yet this one is a perfect challenge and a great story. The writers knew exactly what they were doing with this one and I don’t know how they came up with it but I commend them for it. Thank you Rusty Lake for making an awesome, fun, cool, crazy game we all enjoy

by Madzep88

I really appreciate a good escape game. To me, a good escape game has to have a good story, quality graphics and, most importantly, it has to be just hard enough to challenge the player without being impossible without a walkthrough. This game has it all and I love the hint feature because they actually give you HINTS, not the actual answers!
I sincerely hope to see more from these guys in the future and I just wanted to share my appreciation for this awesome game! Thanks :)