The Roman Rivalry: an Immersive Puzzle Adventure

Twin sisters Rubi and Renata were this close to completing their final exams and becoming fully-fledged Agents of the Ministry of Time. All they had to do was travel back to Ancient Rome, blend in seamlessly, and observe history’s greatest tactician at work.

So much for that. One small slip-up, and now the fabric of history is starting to unravel. They'll need to act fast to avert a catastrophe, and they’ll need your help.

The third game from History Mysteries is our biggest and most ambitious yet. Can you master the arts of war, politics and chicken-whispering? Are you ready to step into the sandals of a would-be Emperor?

The Roman Rivalry is an immersive puzzle adventure game. In essence, that means we took the "escape room in a box" model and ran with it. And then ran some more.

The game is set in the world of the Ministry of Time, in which time-travelling secret agents must work from the shadows to protect the integrity of our timeline. Each of the game's many puzzles is one building block in a large-scale, epic adventure.

With Caesar... "indisposed," the twins must fight a war on two fronts. You'll help Renata plot Caesar's military campaigns across the length and breadth of the Roman world. Then, you'll join Rubi as she goes undercover in the city of Rome, sorting Caesar's allies from his enemies, and doing her best not get killed in the process.

As you progress through the twists and turns of the story, you'll be using the documents in Renata's exam folder to solve puzzles and make connections. Put names to faces, identify factions and alliances, and use that information to manoeuvre Caesar's armies around the map. Only by solving all the puzzles can you develop a complete picture, and stand a chance of guiding Caesar to the top.

However, if the twins should fail, and Caesar does not fulfil his destiny by becoming Ruler of Rome, the very fabric of History itself will be torn asunder!

Plus, they'll have to redo the exam. Bummer.

Everything you need to play is in the box, except a pen and a device connected to the internet. Any device will do - phone, tablet or laptop. There are no rules to learn and no prior knowledge is required. Even if your familiarity with Caesar extends only to the salad that bears his name... you have everything you need!

You can play by yourself, with a partner, or in a group of up to around 5. There is no timer, so you can take it at your own pace. You'll input all your answers online, and can check for clues at any time if you need them. If you ever get really stuck, you can always ask for the solution. There is no penalty for doing so - we want our players to have fun, not get frustrated.

Our games are designed for the whole family. That means they're challenging, but never punishingly difficult. Kids aged 8 and above will enjoy them, though they might need a bit of help from an adult. And because you can dive straight in without learning a bunch of rules, those "board game averse" family members need not feel excluded!

The Roman Rivalry is a puzzle adventure, and it certainly has a lot of them. Logic puzzles, visual puzzles, tactile and audio puzzles, and many more besides. This means everyone can contribute, regardless of age and skillset.

The game is roughly twice the size of our previous game, the Medieval Mishap. It's a larger, more epic story and, while it is certainly possible to complete the game in a single sitting, there is a natural "intermission" moment half way through. The game can safely be put away at this point without fear of losing your place, and you can resume playing whenever you are ready.

The game begins with a cryptic letter from Agent Renata. Following her instructions, you'll log in to an online portal on your device. You'll meet Renata and her twin sister Rubi, as well as a whole cast of other characters from Ancient Rome. They'll set puzzles for you, and you’ll solve them using the documents and artefacts in the box. 

We have created an entirely new online system for this game, a significant step up from our previous outings. It's lushly illustrated and animated, with voice and musical accompaniment, but no app downloads are required - everything is browser-based. You can use any device to play, from a mobile phone to a tablet or laptop. Just don't forget to turn your sound up!

The game is set in Ancient Rome, but it's not just thematic set-dressing. To solve the puzzles you'll need to engage with real history. You'll master the art of conquest across the full span of the Empire, uncover secretive back-room dealings between shady characters, and, of course, consult with the Sacred Chickens. But don't worry; absolutely no prior knowledge is required!

Characters are all voiced by top comedians and actors, and you'll be swept up in an epic accompanying soundtrack as you move through the twists and turns of the story. Characters are voiced by the following voice artists, with more to come:

To avoid spoilers, we won't list every item that appears in the Roman Rivalry. But here are the core documents that you'll be using throughout your playtime:

The Campaign Map
A huge map of the entire Roman Republic. You'll use it to gather intelligence, mark alliances, locate the enemy, and position your Legions. And there are plenty more secrets besides.

The Forum Map
Right now it's blank, but you'll need to know this place like the back of your hand. Piece by piece, you'll be able to identify each building as you expand your knowledge of the secretive world of the Roman elite.

The Patron Mosaic
The Great Patrons of Rome are an elusive bunch. This Mosaic depicts all twelve of them, their allegiances and relationships. Too bad someone has removed their names...

The Handbook
The Field Agent's best friend. The Handbook of Ancient Rome contains an encyclopaedic array of information, complete with maps, diagrams and fold-out illustrations. Compare notes from Rubi, Renata, and the Handbook's previous owners (if you trust them...)

Our stretch goals for this project are modest. We don't want to overcomplicate it with unnecessary knick-knacks. Instead, our focus is on maximising two things that go a long way to making the History Mysteries experience extra special: the voice work of our talented cast, and the incredible art!

Below are a small selection of reviews for our previous two games, The Egyptian Enigma and the Medieval Mishap.

The artwork, structure and story of the game are around 70% complete. The remaining work that needs to be done is in finalising the puzzles in the game's latter half, completing dialogue and character artwork, completing the technical build and recording dialogue audio. Depending on our stretch goals, there may also be additional background illustration work, but this can be produced concurrently with the rest of the design. We estimate the game will be complete in around Spring 2025, at which point we will begin manufacture with our partners in China. The manufacturing and shipping process can be unpredictable, but assuming there are no unforeseen delays, we aim to have the game out of production and on its way to backers by the end of Summer 2025.

Please note that shipping is a separate charge that will vary depending on where you are in the world. After you have pledged on Hive you will be able to tweak your details, including updating your shipping address and adding extra items. Shipping costs will also be charged to you here. We will update you with a notification when we are close to our final ship date.

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