Hidden object games can be a great way to kill time. Not all games need to be walking simulators or even high-definition adventures that push the limits of graphical capabilities. All you need is good ambient music, an interesting setting, and puzzles to keep the mind active.
Hidden object games know how to make finding each item feel like an accomplishment. Sometimes, it is the key to understanding how a puzzle works, while other times, combining those items with others will reveal the path ahead. From nostalgic treasure hunts to more modern puzzle solving, these are the eight best hidden object games you should try.
8Wind Peaks
Simple And Calming
Sometimes, when you’re looking for hidden objects, you just want to sit back and relax while goofy images cross your screen. Wind Peaks isa cozy gamethat doesn’t have huge puzzles, but does give you a Where’s Waldo experience with a list full of items to find.
The story is also simple as it follows a group of campers who find a map leading to a more whimsical part of the forest. As you find more objects on the list, you will be able to progress further through their adventure. You’re also treated to some calming outdoor ambiance that might make you consider taking up camping.
7Bonfire Stories: Faceless Gravedigger
A Dark And Stormy Night
Hidden object games may not always be the flashiest games around, but when they get the ambiance right, they create an experience worth getting lost in. Bonfire Stories: Faceless Gravedigger is that little dip intohorror when you don’t want to deal with jumpscares.
The game has voice acting, a few cheesy cutscenes from even cornier characters, and plenty of minigames that will challenge you before proceeding to the next part of the story. It lives up to its name as a Bonfire Story since it knows when to show off its unsettling tone without driving those squeamish to horror away from the game.
6True Fear: Forsaken Souls
A Horror Game Worth Playing
If you’re looking for a hidden object game that might actually scare you off your seat, then True Fear: Forsaken Souls might just be the game you’re looking for. The game is divided into two parts, each one sold separately, and has you searching for clues to find your missing sister.
While the animation is limited, the game does not play around with its sound effects. This allows it to pull off some scares that you wouldn’t expect from a hidden object game. The ambiance is also a treat for those who love the horrid and the unexplainable. It’s the perfect game to enjoy on a late night with the lights out.
5Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride
Enter A World Of Fantasy
The neat thing about the hidden object genre is that it’s not tied to any one setting. You have your Wild West settings, your cozy forests, and sometimes, you even have thosesettings that take you to far-off fantasy lands. Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride sets you off on a fantasy adventure to
What makes this entry into the genre memorable is its use of colors and dark yet whimsical tone. It also has a few more animations than the usual hidden object game, which allows you to have a more dynamic visual experience. The game truly feels like an interactive fairy tale which is great for anyone who loves hidden castles, lost legends, and cuddly sidekicks.
4Dark Mysteries: The Soul Keeper Collector’s Edition
The Mystery Deepens
There’s nothing more mysterious thana Lovecraftian story. So if you see this game in the bargain bin, don’t dismiss it. Dark Mysteries: The Soul Keeper takes you to a faraway island where an evil necromancer has something truly dark planned for you.
From stormy weather to rickety bridges that could collapse at any second, the game has a fantastic setting. Furthermore, there is a mysterious castle on the hill surrounded by ominous clouds. The setting really does make you want to explore ahead, while the set pieces for each area are so rich with detail that they make you want to stick around to take it all in.
3I Spy Spooky Mansion
A Nostalgic Trip
While many hidden object fans might set their eyes on the latest entries in the genre, one of the greatest titles exists in the past. This is I Spy: Spooky Mansion. You may remember this title from when you were a kid as you find yourself trapped inside a house and a voice telling you to solve a puzzle for escape instructions.
Don’t worry, there are no jump scares here. There is only an overwhelming and nostalgic Halloween ambiance filled with skeletons, bats, ghosts, and many staples from a typical haunted house. Everything from the music to the rhyming instructions given to you is memorable, making it one of the best hidden object games of all time.
2The Room Series
A Modern Twist
Nothing tickles the brain more than finding the clue necessary to solve a difficult puzzle. The Room series challenges you to think in three dimensions to open strange boxes and uncover the mysteries hidden within. Later titles even allow you to explore different rooms within a location as you try to find answers to difficult puzzles.
This series is full ofpuzzle mechanics including object finding, decoding, and riddle solving. The games also have a unique atmosphere that ranges from museum-like to Lovecraftian. The fourth game titled, The Room VR: A Dark Matter, adapts everything that makes the franchise great into an experience in virtual reality.
1Hidden Folks
An Impressive Art Style
If you’re looking for a hidden object game that uses its art style as a way to hide objects in an even more clever way, then Hidden Folks is the challenge for you. The game has a distinct, black-and-white doodle art style that almost feels like sketches on a notebook.
Interestingly enough, the game uses a cappella for its sound design. So everything from the grumbling of citizens to the sprouting of crops from the ground all have those vocal sound effects that give the game a unique charm to it. This makes it extra fun as you search for the objects on your list across cities, small towns, farms, and forests.
