Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories

pretty fun game but beware when playing with friends, u might be shocked with the utter incompetence your friends might show :)

Game is somewhat challenging but passes the time very well, I also like my achievements so I bought the Bunker DLC to get them all and I don't regret it
The collectable dudes are pretty cool too

Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories is one of those so-called 'escape room' puzzle games, where we have to meticulously search for clues in order to solve puzzles, find keys and unlock combination locks, progressing from room to room.
While it possesses some degrees of the usual wonkiness of free-to-play games, it's also a high quality product and despite its super short nature (just 5 rooms + 2 corridors), it can take up to several hours to finish.
Even though it's called 'Stories', in reality it contains just a single scenario - if we don't take the DLC into account.
While it's unspecified, I would put the game into the early 1900s (or even earlier): we are locked in a police station - caught after an unsuccessful heist. Not long into the game, we get help from a mysterious associate who hands over (well, almost) the key to our cell, but the real challenge just begins from that point.
Our perception is what's put to the test the most: we have to spot hidden items behind or under different objects - often in the dark, which are vital for progression. Using these items, which can be a simple knife, a special key or a box full of punch cards we must overcome various obstacles. These items can be actively used, stored for later use (our inventory has 6 slots) or just simply read as one of the game's numerous notes or documents, which contain seemingly unimportant information at first sight... and very useful leads upon the second one.
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3422659472
The intricate puzzles are well-thought-out, requiring attention to details and information lying around, but some of them require trial and error method instead of thinking - at least for me: the Evidence Storage fuse box and the electric cabinet puzzle in the final room both were like this. I also had problems with the punch card puzzle - not with the actual puzzle itself, but the task of successfully inserting the box of cards into the machine... after trying it for almost half an hour (yes, as long as the lockpicking - definitely the toughest one in the game!), I tried doing it sideways, from the left of the desk and it finally began to work -_-
The puzzles can't be reset to their initial position, but they can't be irreversibly screwed up either. There is an autohelp feature though, which I can't tell much about since I didn't use it and the same goes for the multiplayer mode.
Before we leave the last room - I intentionally refrain from mentioning 'escape', since we just get to the point where the DLC begins - we should start looking for the missing collectibles which we can check in the menu. There are 16 of these small copper/bronze figurines in total, carefully hidden in weird locations. One of them we have no chance of finding without a guide which I did use, since having 15/16 would have just been crazy... Most of them are out of reach even if they are spotted, so that step-ladder we carry around is necessary to grab them as well.
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3422660113
If we wish to earn all the achievements we must invest in the DLC.
The game uses Unreal Engine 3 (could be 4 considering the relatively large file size while it's such a short game) and it does look decent despite its subtle nature and displaying indoor environments only. The only character we 'meet' is cleverly concealed.
Sound effects are simple but clear and the surround sound is done well (just like in all games using Unreal engine) with a constant light whirring ambient in the background.
Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories is a very short, but good little puzzle game, which everyone should try who likes a challenge and the genre. Plus it's free too.
PROS
+ great puzzles requiring a lot of attention
+ makes good use of the notes scattered around
+ generally good graphics and sound design
+ relaxing...
CONS
- ...except for a few wonkiness here and there
- one of the collectibles is basically impossible to spot
- the ending is not that satisfying - forcibly pushes us into buying the sequel
RATING
6.5/10

As an escape room aficionado in real life, I figured I'd try this one out. I have to say that the quality of the puzzles in this game rivals that of some real escape rooms I've done.

Me and 3 of my friends played this game together. One of them is in a psychiatric ward, one went missing, and the other committed suicide, but we escaped. Once I get more friends, would play again.

Played both the free and the paid bunker.
I see a lot of the negative reviews are just from people who couldn't quite get their brain out of first gear. This escape room doesn't hand you much. It defends itself well against brute force solves. I saw one person complaining about the game not guiding you, but it does - you cannot interact with irrelevant things, and it doesn't throw red herrings at you. So your task list is pretty obvious, it is the things you can interact with and haven't find a purpose for yet. Who cares if it doesn't consume items? Why would it? Maybe you will use it again, maybe you won't. The important thing is you now know what it does.
This game is for people that can pay attention to small details, don't get tunnel vision, don't mind having a piece of paper and a pen in front of them and taking notes, and is patient enough to just keep moving forward. I found all the clues and the steps logical. They have done a great design job making puzzles not seem too arbitrary, even having little notes pointing out how silly some of the locks are.
But it is deeply rewarding when you figure things out. Starting the generator in the bunker was one of the most satisfying solves I have ever had in any escape room game.

Good game, my friend rage quitted. Game gives u a lot information but almost everything is useless. Hints are bad as well.