My friend Emily introduced me to hidden object games when we were 14. And they are just as fun to play now!
Hidden object games have many different story lines and game formats but the aim is always the same: to find objects in a scene. The player is usually given a narrative context when the game begins for them to understand what they are working towards. The objects found at different levels will lead to progression through the narrative.
Hidden objects games can be:
- Mysteries like Nancy Drew or Mystery Case Files.
- Expeditions into the rainforest, ocean, deceased grandfather’s mansion.
- Quests such as Wild West Quest or the Pharaoh’s quest
- Secrets like the Secret of Margrave Manor
- Searching for treasure
As you can tell from the examples above, hidden objects games cover a range of topics which means the narrative is always fresh but the game aims are similar enough to not feel lost.
You may be wondering why I am reviewing these games if I say I play them? Well, hidden objects games are great for all the family! They are fun and challenge your brain at the same time! There is a real sense of achievement when you have found all the objects on the list, solved all the clues and moved on to the next level. Furthermore, it trains your eye to be more sensitive to detail, whilst making your memory work hard: you have to remember what objects look like and sometimes you even learn new words( I didn’t know that a faucet was the American for tap before!)
Probably the best place to find hidden object games is bigfishgames.com. You can either play a mini-version of the game online or download a 1 hour trial version for free. Personally, I download the trial versions, skip all the narrative and try and get through as many levels as I can in an hour. The great thing is, if you really enjoyed the game and would like to finish it and take your time, the games are not that expensive to buy. Prices start from $6.99. Great value for keeping the kids happy, and entertained whilst learning! And of course you can always play with them 