Cube Escape: Paradox

Cube Escape: Paradox puts the player in the shoes of detective Dale Vandermeer, who wakes up trapped in his own strange vision and must escape it before the difference between dream and reality stops existing for him. Rusty Lake here builds on the series of shorter Cube Escape episodes and merges them into a longer, more cinematically conceived whole, which even includes live-action sequences played on an old television inside the game - an unusual contrast to the otherwise drawn, darkly surreal environments.

The game is controlled by tapping and dragging like the rest of the series, and since the Cube Escape episodes were originally designed primarily for mobile, the controls feel completely natural on a touchscreen - no scene feels like a compromise carried over from PC. The puzzles combine classic item combining with short logic tricks, and the game takes its time building atmosphere before sending the player toward the next, usually darker revelation.

Paradox functions as one of the central entries of the interconnected Rusty Lake universe and links the character of Dale with other titles in the series, including the later Cube Escape: The Lake and Rusty Lake: Paradise, so players who have followed the series for a long time will encounter a number of references and recurring symbols from earlier episodes.

The game is free to download, but the extra content must be purchased, so the payment model sits somewhere between a classic free game and a full paid title - players can try the opening part before buying and only then decide whether they want to pay to continue the story.

Why play: Worthwhile for players familiar with the Rusty Lake universe who appreciate a more ambitious, more cinematic take at the cost of having to buy the continuation of the story.