If you’ve ever sat at your kitchen table with a mysterious black box, a smartphone, and a growing sense of panic that Neil Patrick Harris is judging your intelligence from a pre-recorded video, you’ve probably played Box One. It was the breakout solo puzzle hit of the pandemic. But now we have the sequel. It’s called Neil Patrick Harris Box 2 (or technically Box TWO), and honestly, it’s a bit of a weird beast.
Most people walk into this thinking it’s just "more of the same." They expect another round of clever ciphers and hidden compartments. But the reality is that Box Two is a total departure from the first one. It’s less of a traditional escape room and more of a playable magic show mixed with a weirdly immersive tribute to a fictional 1970s polymath named Sir Eriick Planhart.
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The Mystery of Sir Eriick Planhart
The whole vibe of Neil Patrick Harris Box 2 centers on the "Planhart Challenge," a puzzle competition supposedly founded in 1973. From the second you crack the seal, you’re not just a guy in sweatpants; you’re an elite competitor. You get a letter from Eriick Planhart—who, if you’re quick with an anagram, is just a cheeky way for NPH to insert himself into the lore—and a custom key.
The setup is premium. Like, really premium. Theory11, the company that produced this with Harris, doesn't do cheap cardboard. The box itself has a weight to it that feels expensive. But here’s the kicker: your first choice in the game actually matters. This isn't a linear path where everyone sees the same thing at the same time. Depending on how you start, your journey through the layers of the box changes.
What’s Actually Inside Neil Patrick Harris Box 2?
I won't spoil the "aha" moments because that’s the whole point, right? But you should know that you’re going to need more than just your brain. You’ll need an internet-connected device—a phone is fine, but a laptop is easier for the chat interface.
The box is packed with physical artifacts that feel like they belong in a museum or a high-end magic shop. We’re talking:
- A custom metal key that actually feels like it could start a vintage car.
- A jigsaw puzzle that isn't just a picture; it’s a functional tool.
- A handkerchief that hides secrets only visible under specific conditions.
- Items like a pocket watch and a weirdly heavy arcade token.
One of the coolest technical feats in Neil Patrick Harris Box 2 is the "false bottom" mechanic. At a certain point, a compartment slides and locks. You can’t put the box back together until you finish. It’s a literal physical manifestation of "no turning back."
The Puzzles: Magic vs. Logic
There is a massive debate in the puzzle community about whether Box Two is actually "better" than the first. If you love hardcore math and complex ciphers, you might be disappointed. There aren't many traditional codes here. Instead, it leans heavily into "sequential discovery."
Basically, you find a thing, which opens a thing, which reveals a video, which tells you to use the thing you found twenty minutes ago in a way you didn't think was possible.
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Some players have complained that it feels a bit too "guided." There’s an AI-style chatbot that walks you through parts of it. If you get stuck, the hints are built into the narrative. It’s less "I am a genius for solving this" and more "I am experiencing a story told through objects."
Is It Worth the $60?
Let's be real: this is a one-time play. Once you know the secrets, you can’t really "un-know" them. However, Theory11 designed Neil Patrick Harris Box 2 to be resettable. You don't have to destroy anything to solve it (unlike the Exit series games). You can put everything back, reset the locks, and hand it to a friend.
It takes about 90 minutes to two hours for most people. If you’re a pro who does escape rooms every weekend, you might blitz through it in 60. But if you take your time to appreciate the production value—the videos, the acting, the tactile feel of the props—it feels like a solid evening of entertainment.
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Why the Mixed Reviews?
You'll see some 1-star reviews on Target or Amazon. Usually, these come from people who had technical glitches with the website or found one specific puzzle—the "16-ton hoist" or the "handkerchief" bit—to be a bit finicky. It’s a high-tech game. If your Wi-Fi drops or your phone doesn't like the chat interface, the immersion breaks.
But for most of us, the "magic" outweighs the "tech." There’s a moment with a flashlight and the interior of the box that feels genuinely like a movie. It’s that NPH flair. The guy loves magic, and it shows in every corner of this product.
Actionable Tips for Your First Play
If you’re about to dive into Neil Patrick Harris Box 2, do yourself a favor and prep your space. Clear a medium-sized table. You’ll need room to spread out the artifacts.
Keep a flashlight nearby. Not just your phone light—an actual flashlight helps with some of the "hidden" visual puzzles. Also, have a pen and a scrap of paper. Even though it's not a math-heavy game, you’ll want to jot down a few names and numbers as they pop up in the videos.
Don't force the components. Everything is high quality, but it's still a puzzle box. If a drawer isn't opening or a key isn't turning, you probably haven't solved the trigger yet. Yanking on it will just break the mechanism.
Play solo or as a duo. Any more than two people and you’ll be fighting over who gets to hold the cool stuff. It’s designed as an intimate experience. Put your phone on "Do Not Disturb," grab a drink, and let Sir Eriick Planhart take over your evening.