I'd sure like to play a Casual Game that does not embrace horror as its primary plot device. Is it possible to find a Casual Game that does not take place in an abandoned hospital or insane asylum, features no tentacled monsters, mad doctors, vengeful witches or haunting evil -- and in which you might even encounter the odd flower or grassy meadow? LOL

I know there must be some out there because I have played a few that did not rely totally on horror to advance the plot. Eternal Journey, House of 1000 Doors, Nearwood, the Otherworld series -- just to name a few.

I am not squeamish, just bored with the repetitive story lines of most HOGs. I have enjoyed the Surface, Shiver, and Mystery Trackers games, Alien Town, and even the Puppet Show games. Just looking for a change of theme. For example, Calavera and Cadenza, even though they had evil magic overtones, didn't dwell on it and were fun to play.

Here are a few that are somewhat different:

Unsolved Mystery Club: Ancient Astronauts
Off the Record: The Italian Affair
Phenomenon: Outcome
Margrave: Curse of the Severed Heart
Margrave: The Blacksmith's Daughter
Amaranthine Voyage: The Tree of Life
Amaranthine Voyage: The Living Mountain
Secrets of the Seas: The Flying Dutchman
The Secret Order: Masked Intent (there is a CE of this game, but it is not listed on the Big Fish CE page - you can find it doing a search of all games)
Depths of Betrayal
Death at Fairing Point: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death at Cape Porto: A Dana Knightstone Novel
Death Upon an Austrian Sonata: A Dana Knightstone Novel

Thanks, Marian! There are a few on your list that I had not heard of before. I've played the Margraves, one Amaranthine, Phenomenon, and two of the Dana Knightstones. Did not know there were two Amaranthines, but I enjoyed the one I played; I rate it one of my Top Ten so far. I have Depths of Betrayal on my Trial list and will look up Off the Record, Unsolved Mystery Club and Secrets of the Seas!

Do you know anything about the Living Legends games?

I've played one of the Living Legends games. As I recall, the game environment was more colorful than some and it had a good length. It was a pretty game.

This is a pretty lame response to your question. There are so many of these games, so I will just plead game overload as my excuse.

By the way, there are three Phenomenon games; the one I put on the list is a fairly recent release, so it's possible you might not have played that one yet.

I played Living Legends: The Ice Rose. I thought it was pretty good, with a few nice twists, excellent graphics, and pesky mini-games that made you think (and definitely keep notes), but nothing that required math or musical knowledge. It featured a decent length of play, too, plus the bonus game in the CE version. There was really no "dialogue" except at a few plot junctures, although that was no big deal to me. It was a bit heavy on the HOGs for my taste.

It sounds like you thought it was a pretty good game overall. Have fun with whatever you decide to play next.

This is right up my alley. I don't like games with any kind of magic. I like sci-fi, but not fantasy. So I try to compile a list of these kinds of games.

New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia (a sinister society, but not horror)
Snark Busters series (I LOVE this series though the 3rd one used some ghosts)
Botanica series
Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink
Final Cut series (I really like this series, too)
Greed: The Mad Scientist
Grim Facade: Mystery of Venice
Grim Facade: The Cost of Jealousy
Murder She Wrote 2: Return to Cabot Cove (so cute to hear Jessica Fletcher again)
Mystery Trackers: The Void
Reality Show: Fatal Shot (haven't finished yet but I like it)
Space Legends: At the Edge of the Universe (kinda old school, but still kinda fun)
Surface series
Tesla's Tower: The Wardenclyffe Mystery (the name seems like it should be a series, but I don't think it is)
The Great Gatsby: Secret Treasure
Victorian Mysteries: The Yellow Room
Hidden Mysteries: The Gates of Graceland (really fun to play an Elvis themed game)
Castle: Never Judge a Book by Its Cover (based on the Castle tv show)
Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Hope Diamond (almost like Raider's of the Lost Ark)

I like anything that has to do with movies or tv. A lot of the games I play end up being detective stories because those are the most obvious ones to not use magic. I'd love to compile a list of games that don't use any fantasy / paranormal elements.

to GameBoomers HorseNBuggy! Great list!

Ana

to GameBoomers. Thank you for posting your list; it will be helpful for a lot of people.

Great question Renee! Altho I do play a few of the horror games, I skip most of them.

HorseNBuggy, great to have you here at the best gaming site in the world! Thanks so much for your list of recommendations! I printed it out. I've done a few you list and agree with your choices!

I have played quite a few of those, too, but never heard of a couple. I will check them out. These casual games are great for filling in the edges.

I have found the Hidden Mysteries series to be too easy and short, but loved the Final Cut ones, New York Mysteries (mafia), Clockwork, the Surface series, and all the Mystery Trackers. I am going to look up the Smithsonian one, since you say it is "almost like Raiders of the Lost Ark." That is intriguing.

hi, there!

I've recently stumbled upon several non-horror HOGs. I think, they'll do a perfect fit for you:
Dream Hills: Captured Magic
Crystals of Time
Insider Tales: the Lost Venus
Amy's Murderer: the Adventure game
Atlantis: Mysteries of Ancient inventor
Jane Lucky: the Lost Civilization
In Search of the lost Temple
Kelly Stanford: Turn of fate.

These are the first ones that come to mind mind when I think of non-horro dark-noire casual games. Hope this helps!;)

to GameBoomers, wjake. Thanks for the list!

Thanks a lot, wJake! I have just about given up on HOGs, even though they are diverting, because they have become so repetitive. I will check out these. I would love to add my support to those game designers who break out of the envelope.

Marian and HorseNBuggy, I picked up "Amaranthine: Tree of Life" at their current 2-fer sale. It is as good as the previous one. I also am enjoying "Off the Record: The Italian Affair." I only go for CE versions of casual games, because I want the longer play time, and many of the games suggested by wJake turned out not to have CE versions. Someone else suggested Dark Dimensions: City of Fog, and that appeals to me based on playing the Trial.

Glad you like Amaranthine Voyage: Tree of Life. I haven't played Off the Record: The Italian Affair. Eipix's recent Dead Reckoning: Silvermoon Isle Collector's Edition is another game that you might enjoy (same developer as Amaranthine and Italian Affair).

Hey, thanks for the tip!
(BTW, "Amaranthine" took a very long time to download. I usually take that as a sign that the game is complex, with good video, etc. Otherwise, the file would not be so much larger than other games.)

You're welcome. I'm sure you have already noticed that it's a buy-1-get-1-free CE sale this weekend, too. Good time to grab a new game or two.

Yep. That's why I sprang. Who doesn't want to save half?

Marian, I just finished Depths of Betrayal and absolutely loved it! The usual plot involving a mad scientist and his creation of a destructive Frankenstein/Robot, but I have yet to play a really original Casual game. At least there were no ghosts, vampires, kidnapped relatives, witches or dragons.

I am a fan of SteamPunk art and enjoyed that aspect of DOB. I also enjoy some humor in a game, and a few of the guards had a delightfully sassy tone. The artwork was very good, it was NOT overloaded with HOGs and the ones it had were more interactive than simple hunt-for-the-object. There was an interesting "navigation" concept in that most doors and gates were controlled by punch cards that you had to locate. A little more interesting than looking always for a key. The game features a good long playing time and a decent Bonus Game in the CE version (although that was pretty short, it "ended" the plot). No glitches, no timed stuff, no mazes, some pesky mini-games that had me scratching my head a few times.

The game doesn't offer you the option to choose a Difficult version of play, so that was the only down side for me. I think this is one I might replay. Thanks for the recommendation!

I am so glad to hear that you liked Depths of Betrayal; thank you for letting me know! I thought it was very well done and (at least in some ways) different from the norm.

It's interesting to see a different opinion than mine. To me, there are not enough scary, horror games out there! Fairy tale games (one in particular, where they had flowers you would tickle, and they'd laugh!). Make me shudder. Luckily, we're not all the same.

Thanks for letting me share.

I sure get what you are saying, Laurette! I don't go for "cutesy," either. However, one does get tired of the same old cast of characters and same old clichéd plots after playing a couple hundred games full of witches, vampires and ghosts. Sometimes, you want something a little different. That is why it is helpful to let people know that there are other options.

Good Morning to all of you......I want to thank you for the nice game lists this post has. I see several I had not considered that I will go do the trials and may have something new to play.

I also wanted to thank BFG for putting some of their trials out with 90 minute time for testing the game.

All of you have a great week.