As I have already admitted to being a big fan of a game that probably isn’t that popular, why not take it to another level. I have been a gamer most of my life. I have a collection that disgusts and frustrates my wife. I own every system that you can buy a game on at the moment. And I LOVE hidden object games. Yup, you read that right.
I know that will more than likely knock several points off my “Hard Core Gamer” card, but honestly, I don’t care. I love ’em. I haven’t yet figured out exactly why I so thoroughly enjoy them, but I do. Maybe it all stems from my childhood and literally wearing out the “Wheres Waldo” books when they first came out. On my mac right now I am playing at least three different games. On my iPhone have probably at least six different types.
If you go to Pop Cap games and more so Big Fish Games, you will find a myriad of different styles, different “stories” and different developers pumping these things out. Literally HUNDREDS of different hidden item games.
My favorites now and for a while, have been the “Mystery Case Files” line of hidden object games. The first one of them that I played, oddly enough, was a game for the DS called “Mystery Case Files: Millionheir”. There was a simple albeit very thin story to move the “story” along but the real draw was just finding stuff. Given a list, and find what is on it, that is the name of the game. However recently with “Dire Grove” and “13th Skull” the line of MCF games has significantly upped the production value. Adding in live actors much deeper “story” as well as great soundtracks and truly mind-bending puzzles.
There is something to be said about just relaxing in bed with a laptop and looking for nonsense on a screen. I really enjoy the simple pleasure of figuring out a complex puzzle in my head and seeing it unfold on screen. It’s also a GREAT way to get loved ones involved in gaming. My wife likes playing them with me so much, almost to a fault, that she will routinely ask me if I “need any help finding something” while playing them. These types of games, for the most part, take little if any skill. If you can see something, you can play the game. Even the really complex and complicated puzzles allow you to just simply “skip” them and move along, with no real penalties. In the most recent MCF game (13th Skull) they introduced achievements. Granted they don’t feedback into any kind of friend list or anything but it does add to the greater sense of accomplishment.
I know I am not going to probably sway anyone to go out and buy such an utterly casual game or style of game, but it feels good to get it out there nonetheless. I will continue to play them AND enjoy them. Though I will say this, however, if you are looking for a style of game that is as complicated as you want it to be, try out a hidden object game. Also, I noticed the other night, it’s much like going on a scavenger hunt in the home of a hoarder, and that’s kinda fun anyway.
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