The standard formula for innovation in the games industry is to go bigger with each new release. But developers of the best games on Android take advantage of the best Android phones and their superior technology by refining and perfecting smaller-scale projects. Enter, hidden object games, mechanically simple puzzlers that stimulate problem-solving and deduction skills. By drawing back on scale and complexity a tad, these games can focus more on tone and themes in order to enhance the gameplay. If you enjoy great puzzle games, these are some of the best around, inviting you to relax, observe, and learn.
June’s Journey: Hidden Object
An interesting game up first, June’s Journey: Hidden Object is a 1930s-themed murder mystery in which you play the titular June on her journey quest to find the truth about a death in the family. The gameplay hardly needs a tutorial; there’s a beautifully detailed picture in front of you with a list of objects you need to find along the bottom of the screen. There is no time limit, in the early levels at least, so you can take your time and enjoy the music that is just sinister enough to fit the theme. There is a mechanic where the faster you find the randomized objects, the more money you make for the game’s secondary mechanic, but that is entirely optional. This secondary mechanic is a base building sim not unlike Simcity Buildit, where you spend money accrued in the hidden object gameplay on furnishings and upgrades for a mansion. This is a good entry point for getting your feet wet, simple, and uncomplicated.
Secret Cat Forest
Taking the tranquility theme to the next level, Secret Cat Forest is a hidden object game set in an isolated house owned exclusively by cats. Gameplay requires that you gather resources like wood and fish to attract various wild felines to your house with furnishing designed just for them. The game goes into detail about the differences between the cats and what attracts them. The hidden object link is a bit complicated; this gameplay isn’t just finding objects hidden in a detailed picture. Fishing has a little mini-game where you must release your finger at the exact right time to get the maximum amount of fish from a fish, and the wood gathering mini-game has more in common with a clicker game. The environment is pretty and calm, and the cats are cute. This is about as peaceful as things get, so it’s recommended if you’re stressed out.
Hidden objects of Eldritchwood
On the complete opposite side of the tonal spectrum, Hidden objects of Eldritchwood is a mysterious fantasy narrative where the intrigue hinges entirely on your ability to find popcorn and guitars at a carnival. The gameplay is once again made up of finding randomized objects concealed within detailed pictures, with unnecessarily ominous music, before being transferred to a hub map where you select the next puzzle. The production value for this game is almost strangely high, with the first cutscene featuring a reasonably realistic, albeit brief, car-driving sequence that seemed almost out of place. This one is worth checking out simply for the aesthetic design, with satisfactory gameplay included.
Hidden through time
As the name may have given away, Hidden through time is a historically themed hidden object game with a doodle art style that gives it a surreal charm. The images presented feature stick people clad in clothes of the period running around and performing tasks; while you are tasked with finding specific objects. The game does feel a little busy with the constant movement and shifting of time periods, combined with the fast and whimsical music. Having said that, the game still presents a solid primary loop, and the amount of assets on screen is very impressive. Check it out if you’re in the mood for something a little more energetic.
Hidden Folks
Weirdly similar to the previous entry, Hidden Folks is a hidden object game with a doodle art style that requires you to search detailed moving scenes packed with moving characters. In terms of gameplay, this title is almost the same as Hidden Through Time, with two major differences. Firstly, the historical gimmick is absent, and you get to play in various settings, from forests to industrial cities and towns. The second big difference is the sound design, as the sound effects in Hidden Folks are made up of acapella sounds. This feels like it should get annoying, but strangely, it doesn’t. This one is worth a download simply for the sound design or if the music in Hidden Through Time was too much for you.
The Room 3
The Room 3 is by far the most immersive game here, presenting an ominous ethereal soundtrack and 3D gameplay that could pass for a TellTale game. The plot involves you being lured to an island by a mysterious character known as “The Craftsman,” who forces you to solve a series of physics-based trials to progress. Like Saw, but not Saw. The TellTale comparison was not made lightly; these puzzles draw you into the world and make you feel like you’re interacting with it. You don’t just touch a toaster that’s sitting on a fountain in this game. Add to that a creepy atmosphere that brings it all together. Highly recommended.
Bridge to another world: Escape from Oz
One of the better creations of Big Fish Games, Bridge to another world: Escape from Oz is a hidden adventure game based on The Wizard of Oz. This dark retelling of the familiar tale doesn’t hold back, complete with voiced cutscenes and slick animations. The gameplay is your standard point-and-click adventure complete with scene exploration, combinable items, and a thread of logic that strains credulity. If it’s too hard for you, the game does offer a few difficulty settings, increasing the number of hints you can take advantage of. This is a solid hidden object puzzle game with a cool dark fantasy aesthetic, passable voice acting, and brilliant art.
Cube Escape: Paradox
On the surreal side of things, Cube Escape: Paradox brings across this unsettling atmosphere right from the start. You are a famous detective, who was woken up in a mysterious room with amnesia, being taunted by an old enemy. You must solve your foe’s intricate puzzles to win your freedom, slowly reconstructing your memory. This is one for challenge lovers, as some of these puzzles are genuinely hard to solve. Add to that, the storybook visuals and the sinister soundtrack make for an unnerving experience. If you can overlook the odd bug, Cube Escape: Paradox is pretty absorbing.
Bonfire Stories: Faceless Gravedigger
Another atmospheric adventure from Big Fish Games, Bonfire Stories: Faceless Gravedigger presents a true horror experience on your Android device. You’re on a mission to save your partner as intrigue builds regarding a haunted resort develops. The puzzles are your standard collection of mini-games but are helped along by foreboding music and unsettling vibes. While it is a cheesy experience, the game does manage to hit that sweet spot of making you feel clever without spoon-feeding information. The game can be a little slow and overbearing with the dialogue here and there, but this is a high-quality and legitimately entertaining little game. Very highly recommended, especially for fans of cheesy horror.
The Office Quest
To end on a weird one, The Office Quest is a puzzle game following a bored-looking man in a dog onesie going on a procrastination-based adventure. Along the way, you will be required to solve complex, office-based puzzles that open a window into this strange and nonsensical world. A world where onesies are the dress code, and the dress code is the law. The game’s humor is largely based on its randomness, the effectiveness of which varies from person to person. But the jokes are made with energy and confidence, and the puzzles present challenges that manage to be reasonable without being too easy. By far the funniest game here; check it out.
See the unseen on the Play Store
The point-and-click genre has found new life through mobile hardware, which links to the idea of smaller but innovative projects. Games that once could only be played on a PC play a bit better on the best Android tablets, thanks to their portable nature. Now that graphics technology has improved, the best Android apps no longer need to offer inferior designs to run half-decently. The entries on this round-up will tide you over for a while, but we are updating the list all the time, so if any hidden object games have escaped our notice, let us know in the comments below. Happy hunting!
