EXIT: The Return to the Abandoned Cabin
This sequel shows how much the series has grown.
One of the first EXIT games was The Abandoned Cabin. It set the tone for the whole series by introducing EXIT’s signature style: a single-use, destructible escape room adventure in a box. Years later, the designers returned to that same cabin. This sequel shows just how much the series has grown.
Quick facts
Game: EXIT: The Return to the Abandoned Cabin
Type: Escape room in a box
Players: 1–4
Time: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Medium
I’ve always loved the EXIT games. If you haven’t had a chance to try one, imagine a board game packed into a small box. It’s priced cheaply because you can only play it once, not just because it’s an escape room and you’ll know the answers on a second run, but because EXIT games actually require you to destroy some of the components to solve the puzzles. That’s what sets them apart from similar franchises like Unlock!, which are mostly card-based and don’t ask you to bend, cut, tear, or even dunk anything in water.
Some people dislike EXIT for that reason. I think it’s what makes them great. The physical interaction allows for more creative, surprising, and satisfying puzzle design than you’d get from a purely card-driven system.
EXIT: The Return to the Abandoned Cabin is a sequel that works. It doesn’t just recycle old puzzles. It feels much sharper and more confident than the original.
The best part is how it uses the physical materials. You don’t just read cards and solve riddles. You interact with the cabin itself. There are walls, furniture, and hidden spaces. It feels like you’re exploring a real room. When you open the box, you’ll see a smaller cardboard container that looks like a cabinet. You know you’ll need to open it at some point, and that builds excitement. You wonder what’s inside, and when you’ll finally get to open it.
Another thing I like about the EXIT series is how some puzzle solutions are hidden in places you wouldn’t expect. Not every game does this well, but when it works, it’s a great surprise. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but I will say that this game has several of those moments. They’re clever, and they make the experience feel more rewarding.
Besides the main point (that the game is single-use), the only other downside I can mention is that it works best with two or three players. In a bigger group, it’s hard to share everything, and some people might feel left out.
But for me, this is one of the strongest EXIT titles. The puzzles are just the right difficulty, so it’s a good starting point if you haven’t played any of the others.