One of the most basic and (relatively) inexpensive genres of games, hidden-object games ask the player to find, well, hidden objects in a given scenario. Generally this involves some level of problem-solving and combining objects to find the next clue. There is no shortage of hidden-object games to satisfy the detective in you. The titles mentioned here-after should provide some good options for those looking to get into the genre with their Android device, and the Android Market is brimming with other options, each with their own clickable mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
There are plenty of hidden-object games developed for Android, and I've picked out some that I think are worth a try. You can follow the links to purchase them on Google Market, evaluate by downloading from this site, or post a request if you'd like it to be released on this site if it hasn't been yet.
- Amnesia - Chapter 0 - Awake (purchase - evaluate - request)
Amnesia - Chapter 1 - Jeffrey's Mystery (purchase - evaluate - request)
Amnesia - Chapter 2 - No Escape (purchase - evaluate - request)
- Amnesia is a game that offers a unique art style among other games of the genre, and a fairly well-developed premise as well, adding a bit more than "you woke up in X and have to escape because Y." The player wakes up in a strange office with amnesia (hence the name), with nothing but a blank clipboard that eventually fills in with the missing memories.
The puzzles in this game are actually quite tricky and require a bit of time to figure out, but the controls are a bit cumbersome and deduct from the overall gameplay. There is no moving around the room freely - one must click items from the perspective the game provides, making picking up the smaller objects quite a hassle. One other downside to this game is that it is not for tablets. It is playable, but will not expand to match a tablet's resolution.
Art Mogul (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Art Mogul is an interesting fresh mixture of risk-reward, hidden object game and business building. The slow pace might be off-putting to some, but if you bear with it and get hooked you will find a brand new kind of game.
Dream Sleuth: hidden object (purchase - evaluate - request)
- Dream Sleuth is a mysterious detective story from Nevosoft and is difficult to categorize: it’s a search game, a brain puzzle with hidden objects and much more. It has a beautiful soundtrack with an extreme movie plot.
Hidden Object 4 (purchase - evaluate - request)
- Scrollable hidden object game with 36 levels. You have to find 10 objects on every level to gain access to the next one.
Hidden Objects Quest (purchase - evaluate[/color] - request - review)
- Hidden Objects Quest is a fresh and fun reinvention of what makes Hidden Object Games great. It's loaded with exciting game play and awesome new ways to find objects. It features exclusive game modes that you won't find anywhere but here. These include, Hangman Quest, Hidden Time Bomb Search, Conveyor Quests, and Rainstorm Search. Visual effects are scattered throughout the 24 scenes and help to provide a unique and realistic search environment. An original music score and 20 unique games modes compliment over 100 quests to discover and enjoy. The game features a 500 hidden object library and every round of play is different - providing excellent replayability.
To top all of that, there is also a KIDS MODE designed for ages 3 years and up where the whole family can enjoy the adventure.
Infernus Verse 1 (purchase - evaluate - request)
Infernus Verse 2 (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Once again starting the player off in a horror-inspired bathroom setting, Infernus ups the ante in the field of hidden-object based play. The main selling points for me were the graphics (not spectacular but detailed and thoughtful) and the controls, which were completely reliant on swiping across the screen and using pinch to zoom on an item or area. In my mind this is the way controls should always be for this type of game when implemented on touch-screen devices, as it is intuitive, easy to get the hang of, and makes more sensible use of the technology for which it was developed.
Infernus comes in two "verses," the first of which is free. Personally I would like to give the second a chance, but while the first verse is visually and functionally impressive, it is so incredibly short that it doesn't leave much hope for a long play experience for your money.
Jekyll & Hyde Hidden Object (purchase - evaluate - request)
- As the name suggests, the story in the game is loosely based on The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde novel. Clues and objects are scattered all over London's foggy streets. As an added bonus you get 30 mini challenges that add a bit of variety to the gameplay.
Musaic Box (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Overall, Musaic Box is a great game. While its roots are based in the hidden object genre, it has enough puzzle elements to attract a broad spectrum of players. It is by no means a fast-paced game, but that just means more play time. The informational notes in the game kept me interested and motivated to click through each of the rooms, and the social feature seems like it could add an edge of competition to the game - if it catches on.
If you're a fan of the hidden object genre and want a game that goes above and beyond the point-and-click standard, Musaic Box will make a great addition to your library. At the moment, Musaic Box is on sale in the Android Market for just $0.99, and a 'Lite' version is available for free.
Mystery Seekers (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Ghosts have taken over a mansion and the owner no longer has the power to combat them. Because of this, you've been summoned to help but when you arrive at the mansion, the problem is worse than you had imagined. A dark and eerie mood hangs over the old home with many secrets lying in its wake.
Investigate the house and dispel the spirits to help the owners. Hunt the halls and surroundings to locate useful items and clues around every corner. Play mesmerizing mini-games, solve perplexing puzzles, complete multiple missions, meet intriguing characters, and even combat ghosts to expel them.
Mysteryville 2: hidden crime (purchase - evaluate - request)
- If you are new to hidden object games, perhaps this is the title you should check out first. It is fairly easy, yet fun and engaging at the same time.
Mystique Ch1: Foetus (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
Mystique Ch2: The Child (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
Mystique Ch3: Obitus (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- First up is Mystique, a hidden-object game that comes in three parts - only the first of which is free. It's a fairly standard experience for this genre, and places the player in a grotesque bathroom with blood, bandages, and an electric shaver. The controls are fairly intuitive, but often give the player a hard time when trying to grab an object. For a free game it's interesting and challenging enough, despite being a bit short. The game also provides a few surprise moments by way of triggered animations, like a bloody face appearing in the mirror after interacting with the electric shaver. This is a nice touch and adds a bit of depth to the game.
Paranormal Agency (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Yet another good hidden object game for Android and iPhone, yet this time, the story revolves around a mischievous ghost and a detective trying to send it back to where it belongs. Good to know, in case you actually pay attention to the story line in these games.
Pirate Mysteries (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Pirate Mysteries is basically a find-the-hidden-objects game, but it adds a few nice wrinkles. One of the wrinkles is a background story about Mary Blade and her buccaneer father going off to sea to find adventure and treasure. It's kind of humorous and adds a little fun to the game. Another nice touch are the mini-games between chapters.
Snark Busters (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Snark Busters is a perfect example of a game that doesn't necessarily do anything new or innovative, but is excellent nonetheless. A charming story, solid production values, and a challenging and lengthy campaign make this one of the best HOGs in recent memory. And besides, who doesn't like airships?
Special Enquiry Detail (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- An interesting hidden object thriller
Due to the large Display the Android Tablets are also the popular hidden objects to play well. At Special Enquiry is even a tricky thriller.
You can slip into the role of investigator and solve the murder. You have to help in the investigations, interrogate suspects and follow instructions. The mayor is, but you under enormous pressure to succeed. But a true New York cop up with that.
As usual in Hidden Object, there are plenty of things to discover. The pictures are beautifully drawn. 25 mini-games provide some variation in between. The initial free App offers 12 different chapters, 30 towns and an interesting history.
This is for hidden object fans App a must-have. Everyone else can possibly be fans of this genre. Special Enquiry is certainly a App a lot of fun and very recommendable.
Spirit of Wandering (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Nice graphics, tons of objects, Spirit of Wandering has it all. The action takes place back in those romantic days when pirates roamed the oceans in search of plunder. Downloading the game is free of charge.
The Magician's Handbook 2 (purchase - evaluate - request)
- The second in the series, Magician's Handbook II proves to offer a significant challenge to hidden object lovers. The objects are tough to find- this is a game that takes some time and some skill. Hidden object lovers who find other games too easy will likely not be disappointed by this one- those who find other games too difficult will likely want to choose something else. This game offers amazing artwork, very detailed scenes, lots of gameplay and lots of challenge. Well worth it.
The Mystery of the Crystal Portal (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Join Nicole, and her sidekick Igor, as they trek across the globe in search of her missing father! Discover a secret so big that it could threaten the very course of human history. Solve puzzles from her home in New York City, to distant lands on the other side of the world to find her beloved father and save human kind. Solve interactive puzzles and find many Hidden Object scenes in Mystery of the Crystal Portal - Beyond the Horizon.
Treasures of Mystery Island (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Here is a hidden object game for experienced puzzle lovers. The items blend really well with the background, which makes them difficult to find. Most of the time, you need to assemble various of the object's pieces together for an extra dose of challengingness.
Twisted Lands: Shadow Town (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- The developers of Twisted Lands spared no pain in creating artwork for this title, including many very detailed scenes as well as a visually stimulating menu and inventory system. The game starts off slow, adapting you to the controls and handling, and escalates the story (rather predictably) to a horror scenario.
It's a beautiful game and the graphics and animations easily kept my interest. The original version of Twisted Lands comes in at a reasonable $1.99, but there is also a lite version available.
The Secret of Grisly Manor (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- Finally we come to The Secret of Grisly Manor, another hidden-object game that packs stellar graphics for the genre. Grisly Manor is beautiful to look at, and intuitive to play, but garners a lot of complaints because it is quite short.
Despite its length, Grisly Manor is worth checking out for the reasonably difficult puzzles and great graphics. Similar to other games of the genre, Grisly Manor comes in at $1.99 which may or may not be a reasonable price for a puzzle game that lacks in length.
The Serpent of Isis (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- The Serpent of Isis isn't just the ordinary tap-to-find hidden object game - it offers so much more and really goes in-depth to intertwine with the story. Not only are you finding objects, but you're finishing puzzles and quests, all to unlock a bit more of the story. I'm usually not too fond of titles from this genre, but this one really drew me in.
The only negative thing I have to say is that the sales tactics are a little misleading. Aside from a disclaimer in the description, it appears that the entire game is free. However, it's just a demo and you have to pay $3.99 through an in-app purchase to access the full game.
The Time Machine Hidden Object (purchase - evaluate - request)
- Devastated, Professor George Einwin committed suicide. The day before his death, his young assistant Filby Young had met him. Full of guilt, the Professor claimed to have activated a chain reaction of uncontrollable events that would destroy the humanity and would leave the Earth close to the end...
To know the reasons of his death, Filby goes back to the Professor’s laboratory and discovers a strange spherical machine, which seems partially dismantled. Filby reactivates it and is thrown in time and space, against his will.
Help him to find all the parts of the machine and the anachronistic objects to restore the order in time and space!
The Room (purchase - evaluate - request - review)
- The Room is a 3D puzzle game from Fireproof Games. To uncover the secrets held within a mysterious safe, you must solve a series of intricate puzzles using physical manipulation.
While I'm not exactly a big puzzle game buff, The Room has me intrigued. Ornate safes, crazy locks, picking tools, and mysterious symbols - all in a wonderfully crafted 3D experience? It beats the hell out of trying to figure out which way to move a set of colorful blocks. The Room actually made its true Android debut as part of the latest mobile Humble Bundle, but now it's on the Play Store.
The game has received near-universal critical praise, and was a massive hit on iOS, where it achieved the much-coveted iPad Game Of The Year Award from Apple in 2012. There really aren't many more ringing endorsements that could be heaped on here, and at just $2, how could you not buy it?
Links:
- purchase: A link to the developer or app store, where you can buy the application in case it isn't free, or support the developer if it is.
- evaluate: A search link to the games, released on mobilism.org. If there's no release yet, please post a request (see hereafter).
- request: A link to the requests topic, in case the application (or last version) isn't yet released on this forum, and you'd like it to be. Here you can show your interested in a game to be released and offer some WRZ$, or post a request yourself. Please send me if you posted a request, then I will jump in and raise the reward...
- review: Some comments about the game I picked up from the web. Not meant to take for granted, but giving you an idea what the game is about. Nothing compares to your own experience!
Any Hidden-object game we've missed, but you think it belongs in this post, please send . Thanks!