On Thursday, Hatch Escapes and Arvind Ethan David launched the Kickstarter campaign for Mother of Frankenstein, a unique, titillating and spooky tabletop experience. The puzzle game combines the immersive experience of an escape room with board game elements and a prose narrative, all of which push players to discover the truth behind Mary Shelley's most famous creation.
In Mother of Frankenstein, solo players or groups of 2-6 will read letters, put together clue-laden jigsaw puzzles, examine artifacts and occasionally check online hints for help as they attempt to solve the mystery. The Kickstarter campaign aims to raise $33 thousand in 30 days.
Get a sneak peek at the game and read the full press release below.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
From the genius minds behind Hatch Escapes creators of the #1 Escape Room in Los Angeles, in collaboration with Arvind Ethan David, producer of Broadway hit Jagged Little Pill and cult TV series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Mother of Frankenstein is equal parts immersive theater, escape room, board game, and novel. When COVID shut down both Broadway and Escape Rooms, these two creative forces decided they needed to build an entertainment they could ship into people’s homes: and out of their own creative lockdown was birthed Mother of Frankenstein , a gothic mystery that begins with the true life story of Mary Shelley, author of the iconic Frankenstein, and expands into a speculative story full of heartbreak, suspense and surprise. This highly-anticipated tabletop gaming experience is now available on Kickstarter!
Spanning three volumes, Mother of Frankenstein tells the story of Mary Shelley, proto-feminist and celebrated author of the famous Frankenstein, hidden in a series of hollowed out books containing handwritten letters, 2D and 3D jigsaw puzzles, and clue-strewn artifacts. Blending historical truths with fantastical fiction, Mary Shelley has culled these documents and objects from various periods of her life to leave a secret legacy to her son. It’s your job to uncover the “true” story behind Frankenstein and discover that perhaps her famous novel wasn’t quite as fictional as we’ve been led to believe…
“The same kind of quality, ingenuity and appreciation for narrative-based puzzles… found in the brilliant Lab Rat escape room… they’ve done it again with Mother of Frankenstein. ” - Craig Mazin, Emmy winning writer of Chernobyl
“A narratively and physically beautiful game. If you want to be immersed in a compelling story filled with fascinating characters while solving intricate and delightful puzzles, this is the game for you!” - Juliana Moreno Patel and Ariel Rubin of Wild Optimists (creators of the Escape Room in the Box series)
“This might be the best developed story we’ve ever seen in a game!” - Escape Room Addict
Unlike most puzzle games and escape rooms, Mother of Frankenstein was designed to be as welcoming and fun for newbies as it is rewarding for experts. Recommended for groups of 1 - 6, ages 13 and up, Mother of Frankenstein combines the narrative complexity of a good novel, the physicality and interactivity of immersive theater, the brain-bending challenge of a puzzle-filled escape room, and the accessibility and broad appeal of the best board games. Throw in a couple of clue-strewn jigsaw puzzles, and the game truly has something for everyone!
Turn off your phones, turn down the lights, and immerse yourself in the most fully-realized narrative puzzle game ever devised: Mother of Frankenstein.