Chaos & Confetti

The Starlings is an adventure in a box and a graphic novel fueled puzzle experience.  Players will need to help Hoodie as she joins the Starlings and avoids capture from the Grinning Man.  To achieve success, players will need to solve a series of puzzles sprinkled throughout the included graphic novel.

Everything players need to play The Starlings is included in the game’s box, including the graphic novel, instruction, ten mysterious envelopes, and a hintbook.  Depending on the tier that players backed/purchased, they may also have a Starlings Cube (a special wooden box).  There is also an audio cast recording of the graphic novel and instruction pages, which will require internet access to play if you want to use them (if not, the game is internet-free).

The Starlings is advertised for 2-4 players, aged 10+.  The game is designed to take 2-4 hours.  As a duo, we finished the game in about 2 hours. 

OUR THOUGHTS:

Puzzles: Fun and varied puzzles, that fall on the easier and more child-friendly level

Puzzles are embedded throughout The Starling experience.  As players read through the graphic novel, they will occasionally be prompted to open one of the included envelopes.  Inside they will find a puzzle challenge that they must complete before continuing Hoodie’s journey.

The Starlings makes use of a diverse set of puzzles that each make sure of unique components, which are all high quality.  The game includes a number of three digital locks that need opening.

In general, the puzzles are on the easier side and are aimed at being appropriate for a younger-aged audience.  Thankfully the high quality components and the number of unique challenges keep the puzzle solving experience fun, even if cracking them feels like a breeze.

For those who do need help figuring out puzzles, there is a progressive hint book that contains four clues for each puzzle. 

Narrative: A graphic novel fueled experience that stands out as a quality story

Narrative is an area in which The Starlings truly excels.  The backbone of the experience is an eighty page graphic novel. Hoodie’s story and struggles create the reason for the puzzles players will be solving.

We are happy to say that even as a stand alone graphic novel, the story delivers (though how Hoodie solved the puzzles would of course be missing from the narrative).  As the first in a series, the comic does a great job of setting up characters, establishing a world, and introducing plot threads to be explored further in future installments of The Starlings.  While the story is kept simple and appropriate for children, as adults, we still found it very enjoyable and genuinely funny.

The Starlings delivered a top notch narrative experience. 

Overall Fun:  An entertaining experience that leverages its narrative and silliness to create a memorable adventure

The Starlings gets a lot right.  From the moment they open the box, players will be impressed with the quality of the product they are receiving.  The graphic novel is eye catching, both beautifully illustrated and expertly written.  Players will enjoy a fully fleshed out adventure that feels like more than just an excuse to narratively justify puzzles.

As envelopes are opened and puzzles are revealed, the quality of the components once again is noticeable.  The puzzles themselves are on the much easier side, but that is usually made up for by the fun they provide.  Silly challenges and narrative beats are also often included alongside the puzzles that will make the game even more fun to play in a group, especially if children are involved.

As the foundation of a new series, The Starlings has us excited for the next installment in the series.  The game’s biggest flaw is that we don’t know how long we’ll have to wait for the chapter in the story.   

Website Link – https://thestarlingsbox.com

Price –  $59.99 for the game plus puzzle cube, $39.99 for game sans puzzle cube

Disclaimer: we backed this game on Kickstarter ourselves, this review is not sponsored. All thoughts are our own.