Although I think the Mysterious Case File (MCF) games are second to none, I am very impressed with 'Interpol - the trail of Dr Chaos'. Extremely good graphics and the objects are neatly hidden as in MCFs.

On the other hand, I was not particularly impressed with 'Big City Adventure - San Francisco'. It appeared to me that it had been hastily put together in order to jump on the hidden object bandwagon. But no doubt many others will like this game.

What do you Casual Games Boomers think?

Bernie

I have to say that Interpol - the trail of chaos surpassed MCF for me. I really enjoyed it.That has to be my #1 spot for now and when I get home and see the list of others I played I will mention the others I really rated tops.

Ana

Hi Bernie,
Here's my list in order,best first:

1 Interpol
2 Mystery PI Lottery Ticket
3 Magic Academy
4 MCF (all three)
5 Big City Adventure
6 Mysteryville 1 and 2
7 Hidden Expidition Everest
8 Mortimer Beckett(would have been higher,just too short)
9 Abra Academy
10 Magic Handbook

I have really enjoyed all the ones I have played. My biggest complain is, if they are too short. I even liked the Travelogue 360 games, but they made me dizzy.Agathe Christie was also good but I thought some of the objects were tough to find.


thracia

I'll go along with what you say Ana - I, too, think that Interpol has just taken the lead! MCF 'paved the way' for other games of this 'ilk' so, as it has been quite a while now since the last MCF game, I am really looking forward to the next one which, I feel, will surpass all others

Bernie

The only thing I don't like about Interpol-Dr. Chaos is ... (I'll put the rest in the correct thread.)

Plus, ... (Ditto.)

But apart from those, it's one of my favorites.

I basically agree with yours too, except that I haven't yet played Lottery Ticket so I'll substitute Death on the Nile.

Why doesn't anyone like Paparazzi or Private Eye? I thought those had excellent stories and scenes, and although objects were super hard to find, you could use up your hints, then go back and play again and make it through. I liked the music and the whole, retro look and feel. One major problem was that objects didn't disappear when you find them, as I remember, and that is annoying.

Just curious why no one mentions those.

Margaret

Good list Thracia - I have downloaded PI Lottery Ticket but have yet to play it. Will look forward greatly in anticipation after your recommendations

Margaret, I have not played Paparazzi nor Private Eye so thanks for the tip-off. I'll have a look for these at BigFish



Bernie

My favorites are still the MCF games in descending order as they have gotten better with age. Followed closely by the Hidden Expedition games.

I loved Mortimer Beckett but don't think of it as a hidden object game or I would move it way up on the list.

RE: Paparazzi, Private Eye - it is too difficult for me when the items don't leave the screen after you find them. Plus, some items were so obscure that you just couldn't find them without the hints. I don't mind items but if you cannot see them how can you find them?

I haven't played MysteryVille 2 yet but with the first game the items were always the same no matter how often you played. It got a little boring for me.

I got too dizzy with the 360 degree games and 2-D is plenty difficult enough to find hidden objects for these old eyes. In all fairness though, the 2nd game was better than the first.

Just MHO,
Linda

Oh good -- I think they are worth at least a try, for free. But you might be put off by the objects not disappearing, or something else, enough to nix a purchase. Then again you might think they are a lot of fun, like me.

I didn't realize how annoying nonremoval of found items would be until I tried it -- when the objects you've found stay, the screen never gets less crowded. Bothered me every time.

(Now, I'm old and senile and I could be thinking of Magic Academy instead... I'm pretty sure it's Pap and PE-GUM which have this fault, though.)

Sally of Minute Gamer has an interesting post about What makes a good hidden objects game which explains what she didn't like about Paparazzi. She likes Private Eye: Greatest Unsolved Mysteries much better, though. (The link is to her review.) Apparently the same company designed both.

Margaret

I really did love Oberon Media's Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile. It was a bit (hahahaha try A LOT) on the difficult side, but the scenes are so beautifully composed. I wrote a walkthrough on it but it's one of my first ones so it's scattered and I totally have to reorganize it.

So for me the top spot would be Death on the Nile.

1. Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile (for the beautiful scenery)
2. MCF: Ravenhearst (I love those automaton puzzles)
3. Hidden Expedition: Everest (just gorgeous)
4. Travelogue 360: Rome (after they patched it and took out the highlighted hints)
5. Interpol: Trail of Dr. Chaos (the repeating lists ruined it)
6. Dream Day Wedding (Wedding is by far better than the Honeymoon)
7. Private Eye: Greatest Unsolved Mysteries (really HARD, which is a nice change)
8. MCF Huntsville
9. Stone of Destiny (if they make a sequel that's twice as long I'll be jumping on it)
10. Snapshot Adventures: Secrets of Bird Island (look for and take pictures of birds - not quite in this category but boy is it EVER GOOD!)

Margaret, thanks for the vote of confidence - I need to update that article with the latest and greatest (and flops!)

Interpol: Trail of Dr.Chaos so far has kept my interest for longer than the other games. There must be SOMETHING to this game. My 49-year-old son, who is not into gaming at all, has been visiting for a week and was watching me play Dr. Chaos. Since then, he has been up till 1 or 2 A.M. with Dr. Chaos.
I have only played the demo for Mortimer Beckett and plan on buying it as soon as BF gets it. It seems that game will be my second choice.

Hi,
I have purchased or played the demo on most of the hidden object games.

1. Hidden Expedition Titanic because it was the first one of this type that I have seen.

2. All the Mystery Case Files and as Linda said in the order that they were published.

3. Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile. It was fairly long and has a great story and graphics

4. Interpol the Trail of Dr. Chaos

5. Mystery PI – The lottery ticket

6. Big City Adventure – San Francisco - I really liked this one as it has lots of different scenes.

7. Dream Chronicles – It is low because of the piano puzzle. NOT fair!!

8. Magic Academy

9. Magicians Handbook –Cursed Valley - if I am not confused, that was a little short.

I am thinking about getting Hidden Exp. Everest as it really looks fun and the demo was great, too. Some of the jokes really appealed to my sense of humor!

HorseDancer

Stone of Destiny ? Not heard of that one, is it a Big Fish game? I adored Everest ...

Jenny, you can read a bit about it HERE.

Ana

Thanks Ana. I have a strange feeling I may have played for the free hour ..

Pulling this one out of your list because it sounds interesting, and I was wondering who published it?

My parents are bird watchers and my mom in particular would love a game like this. (And I would too.)

Jess, you can check it out Here.

Ana

Ah, I should have known. All the good ones are on Big Fish.

Thanks for link, Ana!