Article: Games like The Mysterious Package Company: 3 alternatives
Games like The Mysterious Package Company: 3 alternatives
For games like The Mysterious Package Company, consider PostCurious for stories told through unusual puzzle objects, Deadbolt Mystery Society for a murder case, or our Puzzling Pursuits boxes for codes and connected documents. Start with the part you enjoyed most. An occult crate and an escape-room box can both contain puzzles while giving you quite different evenings.
We make one of these alternatives. Below are specific starting points, with the player counts and practical requirements you need before choosing.
Which alternative fits what you want next?
These are three publishers to consider, each represented by a particular format or title. The links in the sections below lead to the official details.
| What you want | Where to start | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| A story with physical objects to examine | PostCurious: Emerald Echoes | It includes four chapters and a wooden puzzle box, with a listed play time of about four hours. |
| A murder investigation with puzzles | Deadbolt Mystery Society | Its FAQ recommends 1–4 players and about 2–3 hours per case. |
| A coded story in printed documents | Puzzling Pursuits: The Fifth Column | It supports 1–6 players and takes 2–4+ hours across two parts. |
PostCurious: for puzzles built around physical objects
Emerald Echoes follows the search for a legendary alchemist. Its four chapters include letters and a wooden puzzle box. The publisher lists 1–4 players, ages 14+ and about four hours, with integrated offline hints.
It continues the world of The Emerald Flame but stands on its own. Choose it if you like examining objects as part of a story and want to try a different setting. Our guide to PostCurious-style puzzle adventures also looks at shorter options and games built around cards or illustrated envelopes.
Deadbolt Mystery Society: for a murder case
Deadbolt Mystery Society combines solving puzzles with eliminating suspects. It is a useful place to look if the case itself is what you want to follow. Its FAQ recommends 1–4 players, ages 13+ and roughly 2–3 hours.
You’ll need an internet-connected phone or tablet that can read QR codes. Check the individual case description for the setting and content before buying, especially if you’re choosing a gift. The murder-case premise is a different choice from the alchemy of Emerald Echoes or our wartime thriller below.
The Fifth Column: for codes in wartime documents
Our game The Fifth Column takes place in Manhattan in June 1945. Germany has surrendered, but a Nazi plot is still underway. You examine the materials and solve the puzzles that reveal how to stop it.
The photo below shows some of the pieces you’ll handle: an identity card sits beside a Department of War letter and a telegram. You work out how the information connects, then check your answers in the online companion guide. Optional hints are available there too.
The Fifth Column supports 1–6 players aged 14+ and takes 2–4+ hours across two parts. It has 4.9 stars from 152 customer reviews. See The Fifth Column’s story and game materials if you’d like that kind of document-based puzzle evening.
For an expedition setting, our Cryptid game follows the trail of your vanished uncle, Dr. Herbert Hughes. Its maps and letters give you a different story to investigate. It supports 1–6 players aged 14+, takes 2–4+ hours across two parts and has 4.8 stars from 38 reviews.
What if you specifically want a horror crate?
Use the horror theme and the parcel’s contents as your first filters. The Mysterious Package Company’s HASTUR is a Lovecraftian story in a wooden crate, with documents and occult artifacts. Its page recommends ages 18+ and describes 10+ hours of play. That is a substantially longer commitment than several games above.
If that is the format you want, look at the publisher’s current crate descriptions before switching to a different kind of box. A game about solving codes in wartime papers won’t give you the same theme or presentation. Read the content guidance and check current availability for the title you choose.
How do you choose a gift without seeing the solutions?
Look at spoiler-free photos of the materials, then check the age guidance and listed duration. Confirm whether the recipient needs the internet and how hints work. Those details help you choose without reading a walkthrough.
If you’re considering one of our games, the free Puzzle Archive gives you fifteen browser puzzles to try. Difficulty labels and optional hints let you sample the solving before choosing a full story.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to The Mysterious Package Company?
PostCurious is worth a look for narrative puzzles with physical objects. Deadbolt Mystery Society suits a murder-case evening, while The Fifth Column and Cryptid offer coded stories in printed documents. Choose by the activity and theme you want.
Which option supports five or six players?
The Fifth Column and Cryptid both support 1–6 players. Emerald Echoes lists 1–4, and Deadbolt Mystery Society recommends 1–4. Check each specific title rather than assuming a publisher’s whole catalog has one player limit.
Are all these games horror experiences?
No. Emerald Echoes has an alchemical story, Deadbolt Mystery Society focuses on murder cases, and The Fifth Column is a wartime thriller. HASTUR is the Lovecraftian horror crate discussed here and is recommended for ages 18+.
Can the Puzzling Pursuits boxes be passed on?
No puzzle in our boxed games requires cutting or writing on the materials. Keep working notes on separate paper and repack the pieces for the next group. The original players will already know the solutions.
