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Hidden object game

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A mockup of a hidden object game. The player might be instructed to find a pair of binoculars, a lion, and a purple ribbon.

A hidden object game, also called hidden picture or hidden object puzzle adventure (HOPA), is a subgenre of puzzle video games in which the player must find items from a list that are hidden within a scene. Hidden object games are a popular trend in casual gaming.[1][2] Time-limited trial versions of these games are usually available for download, although many are free to download on app stores. They primarily make money through in-app purchases and ads. Popular themes include detective crime stories, adventure, gothic romance, and mystery.[3]

Definition

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In a hidden object game, the player wanders from one place to another to discover objects that allow the player to finish the game. The player adds objects to their inventory. A hidden object puzzle within the game provides more objects or clues that will assist the playing in completing the game.[4]

Hidden objects generally tend to feature:[4]

  • Courageous, adventurous female protagonists.
  • Characters who need to be rescued from something and have relations to the main protagonist.
  • Fantasy themes with supernatural elements and themes of romantic horror.
  • Visuals of hand-painted 2D art that can be playable even on weak personal computers.

Hidden object games (HOGs) are categorized into several subtypes based on gameplay:

  • HO/HOG (Hidden Object Game): The classic format where players find objects based on word lists.
  • AHOG (Adventure-Hidden Object Game): Combines hidden object scenes with narrative-driven exploration and puzzles.
  • iHOG (Interactive Hidden Object Game): Features interactive elements and advanced adventure mechanics, requiring object manipulation and puzzle-solving.
  • FrOG (Fragmented Object Game): Players search for object fragments to assemble into a whole.
  • HOPA (Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure): Focuses heavily on puzzles and point-and-click adventure gameplay alongside hidden object scenes.

Each subcategory offers a unique mix of object-finding and other gameplay elements.

Boosters and hints in hidden object games are essential tools that enhance gameplay and help players progress through levels. Here is a list of some common types of boosters and hints:

  • Magnifying Glass: Highlights the item, helping players locate specific objects.
  • Zoom Booster: Allows better focus on intricate areas within the scene.
  • Time Extensions: Adds extra time to complete levels, useful in timed challenges.

Some boosters are accessible as daily rewards or can be obtained through in-game currency.

History

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Hidden object games originated in print publications such as the I Spy books or a regular feature in Highlights for Children, in which the reader was given a list of objects to find hidden in a cluttered illustration or photograph.[3] An early hidden object game was Mother Goose: Hidden Pictures, released for the CD-i in 1991. Other early incarnations are the video game adaptations of the I Spy books published by Scholastic Corporation since 1997.[3]

Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, released by Big Fish Games in 2005, came at the rise of casual gaming in the mid-2000s. Mystery Case Files: Huntsville established many of the principles in both gameplay and narrative that would be predominant in hidden object games since then.[3]

More recently within indie games, new takes on the hidden object genre have changed the approach. For example, Hidden Folks is considered more of a searching game, where the players have to find one character among hundreds on the screen that look similar to each other, similar to Where's Wally?.[3]

Popularity

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Huntsville broke prior sales of casual games, and the series' third iteration Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst was the third best-selling game on personal computers during the end-of-year sales period of 2007. This motivated gaming companies to expend in this sort of storytelling that focuses on puzzles with little animation.[3]

Hidden object games draw players who were fans of games like Myst.[3] In 2021, Big Fish Games' player base was 85% female, 76% of whom were over the age of 55.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ George Roush (October 17, 2008). "Everest: Hidden Expedition iPhone Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009.
  2. ^ Albert Kim (September 30, 2008). "Casual Games: 'Peggle Nights' and 'The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes'". EW.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2008. Mystery titles, particularly hidden-object games, have become a hugely popular segment of the casual-game market.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Carpenter, Nicole (October 5, 2021). "Video game culture owes a lot to hidden object games". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Hidden Object Games Are Mindless Fluff, And That's Why I Love Them Archived 2021-11-08 at the Wayback Machine By Mike Fahey from Kotaku.com. May 1 2016.
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