It's a fact: Hidden object games have a less-than-stellar reputation among the gamer cognoscenti. They're commonly viewed as low effort, vacuous, beneath the notice or caring of real gamers—a sort of proto-slop, in many ways, that predates the rise of AI. They're games your mom plays. Ewwww.
Dramatic exaggeration? Not really. Back in 2016, we published a story entitled "My shameful obsession with hidden object games on Steam," whose author chose to remain anonymous to avoid the consequences of their humiliating admission—and yeah, maybe that was a bit of dramatic exaggeration. But it vividly illustrates the point that hidden object games are not taken seriously by serious gamers.
I'm here to change that. I'm here to tell you that hidden object games are good, actually, and that it's a valid genre worthy of respect. Because videogames can be anything. Yes, violence tends to be at the core of most mainstream gaming experiences, your Calls of Duty and your Dotas and your Grand Thefts Auto and whatnot. But there's so much more out there. You can drive a bus, manage a cycling team, collect mushrooms on another planet, or play weird card games. So what's the big deal about just sitting back and looking for things?
I was introduced to the hidden object genre in 2009 by Find Your Own Way Home, an 'advergame' for an REO Speedwagon album of the same name. I was shocked to find that it was actually really good—here's an old review, from my pre-PCG days, if you're curious. Sure, it didn't hurt that I was a Speedwagon fan from way back, but it was just fun, too—relaxed and undemanding. Kind of like listening to nostalgic album-oriented rock, but that's a whole different conversation.
The Speedwagon rocks and I am not ashamed to say so!
I've played an awful lot of hidden object games in the years since, and I'm not going to pretend that they're all good. But in that sense, they're no different than any other genre. Which is the point: You may not like them, but it's time to start showing them some proper goddamn respect.
And you might like them! If you've made it this far, then I have to assume you're open to at least the possibility that maybe there might be something here worth giving a chance. And you better believe I can help get you started:
BEHOLD: MY HIDDEN OBJECT GAMES!
FIND MY FROGS
Find My Frogs, and the sequel Find My Frogs: Branches, are probably my favorite hidden object games. They are supremely chill: No timers, no click limits, no penalties or pressure of any kind, and the game world itself is about as sweet and wholesome as you can get. The day/night cycle is a lovely effect, and the ambient audio is surprisingly effective too: Neither has a direct impact on gameplay, but they play a big role in the whole turbo-relaxo vibe. It's basically interactive ASMR—to the extent that if you're into that, there actually is a spot of Find My Frogs ASMR. A demo for Find My Frogs: Branches is also up on Steam, so you can sample with zero risk.
I COMMISSIONED SOME BEES
There are actually dozens of games in this series, and not just bees—there are also cats, dogs, ladybugs, frogs, pigeons, mice, unicorns, and more. But they all follow the same basic pattern: Hundreds of tiny animals stashed away in crowded scenes of various styles, waiting to be found. They're a bit more zen than Find My Frogs, because they encourage a state of sort of effortless focus: The world fades, but the bees remain. More for people who really want to find shit rather than just chillax so completely they fall out of their chair, but still very relaxing. You can also give these games a try for the unbeatable price of $0—I Commissioned Some Bees 0 is free.
SNIPER DAN
This recommendation comes from PC Gamer contributor Rick Lane, who calls its hidden object/FPS mashup "a surprisingly effective symbiotic relationship." While the title suggests large calibre unpleasantness, Sniper Dan is actually about solving everyday problems for people: Dan uses his rifle to fix taps, clear leaves from parks, open stuck suitcases, or plant flowers. It's definitely more of a puzzle game than most straight-up hidden object games, but it nicely illustrates how far the genre has come over the past 20 years. And, once again, there is a demo.
CAT ME IF YOU CAN
Cat Me If You Can is a fairly conventional hidden object game, but for one major difference: It's fully 3D. This adds a real twist to finding and photographing the game's numerous elusive kitties, because you can't just look at the screen and pick things out—you need to move around the environment and look over, under, and behind things to see what's there. It took me some time to get used to it, and I can see where that added layer of complication might be a little overwhelming for hidden object fans who haven't spent any time in the FPS world. But it's another fun twist on the genre and I like it a lot. And yes, there's a demo.
MORELS: THE HUNT 2
A bit of a stretch, maybe, because Morels: The Hunt 2 is really more of a walking simulator/exploration adventure than a hidden object game. But at the end of the day, the core mechanic—spot and dig up mushrooms that are damned small and hard to find—is a fit. The game's more expansive 'outdoors' elements, like poison ivy, ticks, bad weather, and animal attacks, might make it a bit much for anyone looking for a more straight-ahead hidden object experience, but it aptly demonstrates the flexibility of the genre. (Also, I like it and this is my list so I can do what I want.) No demo for this one, alas, but it's currently on sale for $5 (75% off) in the Steam Autumn sale.
MYSTERY CASE FILES: THE 13TH SKULL
And here we have the OG experience—the stereotypical hidden object adventure that's the subject of so much dismissive ridicule and contempt from 'real' gamers. But the Mystery Case Files series is well-known to fans of the genre as among the best, and MCF: The 13th Skull is a standout example: A spooky tale of ghosts, curses, and a disappearance that only you can solve! If you want to sample the 'classic' style that made hidden object games so popular with your mom and her friends, this is a great choice. Again, no demo, but it's also on sale.
Now look, I'm not naive. I don't expect that I've suddenly convinced 30% of PC Gamer's readership to stroke their chins thoughtfully and say, "Hmm, yes, perhaps I have been missing out." (I'd be thrilled to get 3% of you, quite frankly.) But I do think it's long past time that we put the 'shame' of playing them behind us: Like 'em or not, hidden object games are real games, every bit as valid and legit as anything else out there. (And seriously—try one! You might just like it.)
