Neil Patrick Harris on His Latest Escape Room-Inspired Game, Family Travel Essentials and More
From Le Labo's luxe fragrances and the exact 3D printer he uses to make gifts, to playing cards that upgrade anyone's game night, the 'Group Therapy' star reveals his favorites.
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Danielle Directo-Meston
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Neil Patrick Harris attends the "Group Therapy" premiere during the 2024 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Theater on June 6, 2024, in New York City; Box Two game. Courtesy of Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival; Theory11
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Superstar game master Neil Patrick Harris is giving aspiring sleuths a new mystery-in-a-box to solve.
The Group Therapy star has unveiled Box Two, the follow-up to his first escape room-inspired game released in 2020. Designed for ages 14 and up, the tabletop game “literally extends outside of the box — there’s a whole story, narrative, and secret digital experience that I can’t wait for you to — oops, I said way too much already,” Harris tells The Hollywood Reporter. The activity can be played alone or with another person, and a surprise awaits those who solve every puzzle. There are physical keys, tokens and more accouterments to discover during gameplay.
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“Box Two (and prior to that, Box One) challenged me to find ways to take that sincere passion and make it something digestible and fun for people of all ages to experience, even those new to this sort of game and interactive, immersive experience,” Harris adds. “There are tons of twists and turns throughout Box Two, and the box itself is an engineering marvel. I love the idea that people might discover Box Two and use it as a sort of gaming gateway drug to the world of immersive games.”
A well-known supporter of immersive experiences, the How I Met Your Mother actor regularly speaks at Reality Escape Convention (among the top conferences for escape room businesses). His enthusiasm extends to video games, too: He even starred in a Nintendo commercial with his two kids, who he shares with chef husband David Burtka.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a massive fan of board games, escape rooms and all things immersive,” the 51-year-old says. “I don’t know if I’d go as far as calling myself an expert, but I’d rank my ability level a strong 8.22918 out of 9.9189… I kid. I’m an 8.13893!”
Harris puts that skill to the test — often with Burtka and their twins — when he travels the world seeking the crème de la crème of interactive entertainment. His top picks are documented on Wondercade, the escape room-centric website he launched in 2021.
Of his favorite adventures, “it’s hard to pick just one! One of my most memorable was actually here in New York City at BrainXscape,” reveals Harris. “The production quality was divine. We loved it so much that after we played one round, we stayed an extra hour and immediately played in a different room.”
For those closer to Hollywood, he adds, “The L.A. escape room community is robust. Lots of options to choose. My favorites are a bit outside the city center, but well worth the drive. One is called The Basement, which has multiple rooms that further a larger narrative. The production design is top-notch: in one room we were at the bottom of a wet elevator shaft, needing to escape before being crushed by the looming elevator car dangling above us. Brilliantly stressful good times.”
“My family and I love games of all varieties — from Clue to Codenames and even Running Charades, which, I gotta say, has to be extremely confusing for our dogs to witness. Think about that game, from our dogs’ perspective. They must think we have ADHD issues, right? Sorry, what was the question?” quips Harris. “Yes, we love gathering friends and family and making a whole night of it, with food and drinks aplenty.”
On that note, the Doogie Howser M.D. star shares some of his favorite things. From game night essentials (including his own creation) and travel must-haves (like the “suitcase burrito” he loves) to the distraction-free tablet he uses to take notes, read on for Harris’ product recommendations.
Neil Patrick Harris Presents Box Two
“If you love puzzles, riddles, secret compartments, and all things mysterious — this game has everything.”
Le Labo Travel Tube Fragrance Set
Teenage Engineering OB-4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
$499.00 $549.00 9% off
“I love everything this company makes. This portable speaker looks retro and futuristic at the same time.”
ReMarkable Tablet
“I use this to take notes and stay organized on the go.”
DJI Neo Drone
“It’s the smallest, lightest, newest drone by DJI. I love bringing it on vacations and trips to remember.”
Fuji X100VI Camera
“Speaking of cameras, as much as I love my trusty iPhone, sometimes
you need a little more. I love the built-in film looks on this Fuji X100VI camera.”
Courtesy of Brand
Apple AirPods Max Headphones
$477.00 $550.00 13% off
“Noise cancellation, on. Yes please.”
Prusa MK4 3D Printer
“I used this to literally MAKE holiday gifts for friends and family. I loved every minute of it.”
Theory11 Playing Cards
“Theory11 makes the best playing cards on the planet. There’s hundreds of styles for any game night.”
Halfday Garment Duffel Bag
“Sometimes the best diversion requires a weekend trip. This bag keeps your suits unwrinkled, with plenty of space for more. It’s like a suitcase burrito. In a great way.”
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