Many video games today take a lot of time and effort to get to the end. Luckily, there are casual games that don’t need much demand on time or skill in contrast to ones like Call of Duty or Red Dead Redemption. With hidden object games, you just have to find items on a list that are within a larger picture. Sometimes, you also need to solve intricate puzzles that require a bit of logical thinking.
Thanks to publishers like Big Fish Games and Elephant Games, hidden object games have become increasingly popular. There are countless games to choose from, whether you want to unwind after an exhausting day or to boost your problem-solving skills. So, here are five hidden objects game that you should start playing today.
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst
Starting off our list is the third installment of the popular hidden object series — Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst. In the game, the Queen of England asks you to investigate a mysterious mansion in Blackpool, the Ravenhearst Manor. In her letter to you, her Majesty explains that those who have entered the estate have witnessed strange things happen and that many of the doors have bizarre looking locks.
It’s up to you, the Master Detective to solve this mystery and inform her Majesty what is really going on in Ravenhearst Manor. Luckily, you have the journal of a young woman named Emma Ravenhearst, who will guide you every step of the way.
With each clue, you solve you get a piece of the journal detailing the events that happened in Ravenhearst. In the end, you will answer a 100-year-old case, but that doesn’t mean that the story is over. The rest of the games chronicles the events that take place after you solve the first mystery. With things getting a lot more grimmer and covering more extensively topics such as murder, ghosts, and black magic.
Urban Legends: The Maze
The Maze is an incredibly popular reality TV show that garners countless viewers. However, during the show’s finale, the transmission mysteriously stops, and the contestants seem to have disappeared.
Now it’s up to you to solve this mystery and find the participants. But exploring the bizarre sets and traps that make up The Maze will prove to be a challenge of itself. To make matters worse you’re not alone — there’s a strange man who’s ready to stop you. What really happened during the taping?
It was inevitable that there would be a hidden objects game about a reality TV show. Unscripted series have become a common phenomenon. Elephant Games uses this and combines it with the supernatural to deliver a unique take on the hidden objects game genre. The graphic design also brings all the magic of TV to life with exotic animals ready to pounce and, of course, a mysterious man in a terrifying mask. To top it all off, Urban Legends: The Maze is fast-paced and lasts longer than the average hidden object game.
Criminal Case
First released for Facebook in 2012, Criminal Case has grown in popularity and is now available in both iOS and Android. You start out as a rookie detective who works in Grimsborough, a town where every day there’s a murder. It’s up to you and your partner — although you will be doing all the work — to solve these crimes.
By locating relevant clues and rapidly clicking the items on the list, you’ll get a high score and earn stars. You can trade in these starts to interrogate suspects, examine evidence or buy power-ups. When you’ve finally caught the murderer, a speedy trial takes place. But that isn’t all — to unlock the next one, you’ll need to complete the case’s post-indictment chapter. This will give you clues to the larger mystery plaguing Grimsborough.
With each passing crime scene, the game’s dark and gritty story will keep you hooked until you finally click away the murderer. And, of course, Criminal Case’s crude humor will also make you giggle at the bickering your partner and the CSI crew take part. If you like dark plots and have quick reflexes, then give Criminal Case a try.
Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses
Edward Stratemeyer’s Nancy Drew couldn’t miss out in solving a mystery. The first installment of the series, Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses! follows the fictional amateur sleuth Nancy Drew, who’s on the set of the controversial remake of the film “Pharaoh!” However, strange accidents have been plaguing the crew and actors. Is someone behind these mysterious accidents or is Lois Manson, the original film’s star, back to finish the movie, no matter the cost?
Published by Her Interactive, Lights, Camera, Curses! can be enjoyed by anyone, especially fans of the fictional sleuth. The music and Nancy’s many catchphrases complement the challenging and creative puzzles and mini-games.
Besides that, no ending is the same. Depending on the number of points you collect throughout the game, you will have a different conclusion — a good reason to play the game more than once.
Surface: Alone in the Mist
In the seventh installment of the Surface series, you’re a sixteen-year-old girl named Carol. You wake up full of joy ready to celebrate your birthday. However, what’s supposed to be a joyous day quickly turns to horror, as all of the adults in town including your parents have disappeared. Children run rampant, but the only thing on your mind is to find out what happened to the adults. It will take a lot of strength and courage to solve this mystery.
You’ll have to travel to creepy buildings and meet mysterious characters who will help you on your search. To keep things even scarier, Elephant Games also added a horrifying soundtrack to build up the suspense.
Besides that, the game offers both simple and complex point-and-click puzzles, like matching objects you find to silhouetted shapes. To increase the difficulty level, you can go out of your way to collect unique flowers to unlock special items and more puzzles.
