I wanted to add my impressions of the game.

I think it's a very well created game, HER did an amazing job. I waited for the Steam release, which after sales tax was just under $35.

I started with a blind play-through, which was not easy for me, so I bought the strategy guide (I had thought of doing that anyways, to keep the guide on my phone with the others since SPY).

I played in amatuer (personally, I still call them Junior & Senior) and mostly used the classic navigation (others were right, that is rather wonky) I do like that you can change between classic and modern while playing the game (the underground maze is atrocious in classic mode, FYI, but in modern, it's so much easier)

Some of the puzzles are quite hard (though I did it all without using the option of hints on the task list!)

I followed the guide like a recipe, though, and was unclear (I was unclear, not the guide) on 2 puzzles (the first of which I was just misunderstanding what to do), so I loaded up Michael Gray's youtube page and watched a bit of his playthrough, which visually helped me.


My thoughts, I would like to make a written walkthrough for it and submit it here (like I did for MID), but I may have to play it more and more to get better with it before I can do that.



All that said, I know a lot of people hate MID, personally I am one who loves it, but I will say, the voice of Nancy is more characterized in this game (I loved Lani, but this new girl I think does good too, and this game, vocally she seams more fleshed out, if that makes any sense)

I know the game lists modern mode as using the wasd keys, but I learned, you can also use your arrow keys, and in modern mode, you can cycle inventory items with the E key. I should've realized modern mode would come so easy to me, before entering the ND world, I was a King's Quest girl (KQ8's navigation is all using the arrow keys)

I am really happy that you took your time to post your opinions of the game, Jen. I also did not realize how much you liked Midnight in Salem - good to know.

It sounds like you did much better with the puzzles than most players, for which I applaud you!

I am sure that a written walkthrough for Mystery of the Seven Keys would be most welcome here - I haven't played the game yet, but I understand that it is quite long so a written walkthrough would be quite time consuming.

Anyway, many thanks for weighing in about the game.

Thanks for your input NDLVR!

Mini-update:
I started a second playthrough, writing up a walkthrough as I went. This time some of the parts that gave me fits the first time came easier. As of right now (June 29, 11:57pm), it's ALLLLLLMOST done, probably 85%ish, so my plan is to finish it up tomorrow and submit it here.....if I can remember where on this site to submit it to


I will say, I love the coffee making puzzle, and although many people complain about the latte art, I personally enjoy it

Jen, send it to me please when you are done. I can't thank you enough for writing a walkthrough! It will be a treat to have!

While playing I wondered if the sign in the cafe with the password (that looks like a QR code) was a real QR code....so I scanned it on my phone with a QR reader. It leads to a hidden easter egg! (the video is adorable)

This is the link on HER's website it leads to:
Hidden Easter Egg

Thanks for that!

Nice find, Jen!

Just wanted to let every one know, I played the game again, just to make saved game files. They're all in Amateur mode, but if you get stuck, I can help

And with this game, the saved files are in a different location, and a different format (its similar to how the Agatha Christie saved games are set up)

Very good to know about the saved game files, Jen. Much appreciated!

For anyone who preordered a physical copy of the game, there is an update. One of the buyers who preordered called Digital River (the supplier) to inquire the status of this because it had been said that shipping would start July 22nd and nothing had happened. They were told that the games are now going to start shipping on August 23rd.

I think that everyone who preordered the physical game should now receive a key for a digital download from HeR Interactive or Steam while they are waiting. It is hard for me to understand why this delay has not already been announced by HeR Interactive. HeR may think that only collectors were interested in getting physical copies of the game, but many people had no intention of playing the game until they received the game in the mail.

On the Nancy Drew Amateur Sleuth blog, the KEY game physical copies were addressed:



There was no mention of a digital download key given to those waiting.

And I never thought there would be, sadly.