Cubick: La Entrevista

Cubick’s La Entrevista, or Interview, is styled after a job interview – the sort of job interview which you attend as a group, and start off blindfolded. That might sound like a horror setup, but while there are elements of that in the story and decor style, this didn’t strike me as a game designed to be scary.

Both visually and in style of puzzle, Interview felt like an older style of game, particularly when compared to the other that we played at the venue. Expect graffiti used as a form of decoration, and plenty of padlocks.

As in Nathael, our host was a much more active presence than simply providing hints when we needed them. Being used to games where any input from the host indicates you’re struggling, that’s a little disconcerting, but it’s important to realise that that’s part of the experience.

What makes The Interview more than simply a well-designed, somewhat traditional puzzle game is the sense it gives that, while you’re playing the game, you’re also being played with. It has tricks and surprises and fake-outs, and keeps you on your toes to the end. In fact for us the end was ever more tense, in a good way, as we kept finding the finish was further away than we’d thought and the clock ticked ever closer to timeout.

Amidst the astonishingly high standard of Barcelona’s top games, there are others to pick ahead of Interview (including within the same venue) – but it’s an interesting game that would be a strong recommendation in any less crowded market.