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We all have played hidden object games in our schools countless times. My experience with these games was amazing. I’ve been playing these games since childhood, and still, one or two hidden objective games will be installed on my smartphone.
These games are genuinely entertaining to play, and on top of that, they are great for brain experience, too. Earlier, these games were limited to pictures made on paper, but today you can play them on your smartphones as well. The dramatic shift of these games into the digital landscape has boosted their presence and made them easy to access through mobile phones.
And the most important thing is, who doesn't like little mystery and creepy vibes, right? These days, finding free hidden object games is way easier. Just open your Play Store, search for hidden object games, and BAM, plenty of options show up right away.
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But let’s be real here: not all of the things that you find online are worth your time.
Many make you feel like “no, that’s not my type”, and many will make you quit the game instantly with ads showing rather than games. You choose to install them just because some of them are free, but trust me, I’ve been there, and not all hidden object games are equal. I’ve played and tested tons of them, and made the list of best ones based on some criteria.
So, what makes these 10 games stand out? Here are the criteria I focused on during my testing.
Here are the criteria that I’ve focused on when making this list:
1. Game Quality
The first thing that I’ve looked at is game quality, their core mechanics, graphics, and their ability to offer a user experience. If all games work the same or their story is similar, there would be no fun left. Therefore, I’ve selected the games that not only offer unique gameplay mechanics but also have great visuals and offer an unparalleled gaming experience.
2. Free-to-Play with No or Less Hidden Cost
The next criterion that I’ve focused on is selecting only the games that are completely free to play or reasonable in purchasing. Online hidden object games that are available solely for earning purposes should not be counted in the free gaming. This is why I’ve added the games that aren't driven by pay-to-win mechanics and filled with ads that will ruin your gaming experience.
3. Community Recommendations
The best way to identify whether the game you are thinking of playing is worth your time is to check the forums and discuss it. And this is what I did, I went to community channels, checked each game review, and what the community truly thought about them. So, I chose the games that the majority of the gaming community preferred.
4. Platform Availability
Platform availability was another crucial factor that I considered when looking for the best hidden object games online. You need a game that you can conveniently play at any time and from any place. Therefore, I checked every game's availability on both Android and iOS platforms.
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1. An Elmwood Trail
An Elmwood Trail is indeed one of the best game genres that a person can access easily on a mobile phone. It has a vibrant and at the same time very well-executed art style, accompanied by perfect music, which all together create a feeling you would love to experience. In particular, such pleasure is doubled when it’s with you on those heavy, gloomy autumn days.
It is a case of mystery-solving and rescuing the lost girl. The process will be very full of fun, interesting, but challenging puzzle journeys. It's just that a few riddles may be kind of unsettling to you, as there are no hints provided. For example, if a puzzle is presented to you, you have to work out what you should do by yourself. But I think that, when you’re familiar with the game, perhaps you can catch a clue to what it might be.
More than that, it is also a really engaging and dynamic process, as you are given the opportunity to select your dialogue, which, undoubtedly, raises the humor of the game even further. My impression is that the decisions the player makes are very influential, and the players are in the dark as to whether they can trust others, which heightens the mood.
It is a game in which energy limits do not restrict the player; they don't have to wait for any cooldown time and therefore can be played as much as desired in one session. There are generally no ads, except if you want a hint, you will have to watch an ad.
2. June’s Journey
June’s journey is another hidden mystery game where you try to find hidden objects to solve every case. In this game, you solve mind-teasing mysteries and find hidden clues that can give you leads in your case to unveil a scandalous hidden family secret.
The game is completely free to play, which means users don't need to pay anything to play the game. The game is available on the web, Android, and iOS platforms. The game also contains a few ads, but they don't interrupt the gameplay sessions. The game is available in many languages like English, Deutsch, Polski, and many more. It’s totally worth your time, but it also demands patience. This is not one of the games that you can play endlessly in one day.
3. Hidden Through Time
In this game, you have to spend a little in order to experience no ads and money-grabbing gaming. If you don’t have any problem spending two or three bucks, this might be the best hidden object game that you can play anytime you want. Hidden Through Time has an adorable and eye-catching artistic style and game mechanics. The gameplay is highly interesting, and your objective is to find the hidden objects throughout the history of humanity.
Unlike the above two games, this one doesn't have murder mystery storylines. It’s more of a “where’s waldo” type hidden object finding game, where you have to search for something small on a really busy screen. I have played this game, and trust me, it's quite challenging, but at the same time, it's too fun to play as well.
The best part about the game is that it has several sequels, so you can enjoy it continuously even after you finish the first one.
4. The Lost Lands Games
The Lost Lands series offers a perfect blend of mysteries, hidden objects, and puzzles. The game doesn't show any ads or demand money, meaning you can play as much as you want without any complications.
There are a total of 9 series available on the Play Store and App Store, and they are completely free. Each sequel blends unique storylines and gameplay mechanics. However, they are not murder mystery types of games—there are several fantasy elements like ghost appearances or monsters, so if you are more of the type of person who really enjoys paranormal, then you might like The Lost Lands free hidden object games.
The gameplay of these games is slightly different, where you won’t find too many hidden objects. Instead, there are more puzzles. This is what makes this game a lot of fun, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The game also offers plenty of exciting things, and you will not feel stuck in any phase, just finding things. But I warn you, the puzzles are so challenging that they will help you improve your cognitive skills and sharpen your mind.
5. Sherlock: A Hidden Object Mystery
Sherlock: A Hidden Object Mystery is a match-3 puzzle video game where you team up with the legendary Sherlock Holmes in his unimaginable new investigation. While this game is fully free to play; however, there are some in-app purchase options which give you the ability to unlock optional bonuses instantly.
You can disable in-app purchases from your mobile device settings. The game blends every element, like match 3 puzzles, hidden objects, and mystery, which makes it worth playing. You, being a Sherlock Holmes, solve many mysterious quests and different famous stories and books.
Let me give you an example, you get to enter Wonderland and help Alice or Dorothy in OZ. There are tons of famous classics involved, and if you are someone who likes to read fantasy story-type books, then you will definitely like this game. However, the only negative aspect of this game is that you can’t play continually. You can play this game online and offline without any interruptions.
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6. Boxes: Lost Fragments
Unfortunately, this is not completely free to play as you get the first 10 levels or chapters for free and you will need to purchase the rest. Although the game is very enjoyable and has unique gameplay mechanics, in my opinion, it's worth your time. The game doesn’t have any hidden object elements, but it does have super fun puzzles that will blow your mind for sure.
It has amazing 3d graphics, a cryptic atmosphere, intricate machinery, and smooth controls, which make this game more appealing for those who don't like to compromise between quality and experience.
In this game, you are a legendary thief whose mission takes place in a grand and lavish mansion. Here, you will find a series of mystery puzzle boxes, designed for I don’t know what purposes. The game offers you a thrilling experience, and each puzzle level tests your skills to navigate this mysterious journey.
7. Another Shadow
I’m sure you will like this game as it offers a perfect combination of horror and mystery elements. Not a completely hidden object game, but the game's core mechanics are highly unique as it has engaging puzzles. You may like this game if you like solving mysterious and paranormal events. The game art is simple but takes you to a retro-like cartoon atmosphere.
In this game, you interact with two game characters, and Bastian is trapped in a dark and horrifying world. The other character, Carissa, tries to find a way to bring her friend from the dark before the shadow of an ancient curse gets what it wants.
Your goal is to find a way to bring Bastian back by solving challenging puzzles and mysteries. But remember one thing: whatever you do, one world will affect the other; therefore, you need to make the right choices and decisions to save your friend.
8. The Room 3
The Room 3 is by far one of the most immersive hidden object games here in my list that presents ominous ethereal soundtracks and 3D graphics. If you are looking for thrilling hidden object games for Android, iOS and PC, this game has the quality to make you say “wow, what an amazing game”.
The game story takes a major turn when you are lured to an island by an unknown and mysterious character known as “The Craftsman”, who forces you to solve a series of physics-based trials to progress. The experience this offers makes you feel like you are watching Saw.
The puzzles in this game draw you into the world, where you will feel like you are actually there and interacting with objects within the game. You don’t just touch a toaster that’s sitting on a fountain in this game, there’s more that still you need to find. Add to that a creepy and goosebumps-inducing environment that brings it all together.
9. Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride
Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride is also an intriguing and slightly frightening game on the list, especially if you are not afraid of the supernatural. The first in the series, the Grim Legends, delivers an interesting twist on the genre. It presents a dark and sad fantasy world, telling the story of two sisters whose scary end was meeting a terrible fate.
With the game, minus the gloomy history, the settings are presented in a rather dark mode, just in a different form, which can be considered as almost a shade of the melancholy tale.
The paintings are exceptionally creative, but the manner in which the story is told doesn't do justice to the art. In capture games, the aspect of storytelling doesn't need to be huge as long as the game gives good puzzles and appealing visuals, and Grim Legends was very good at that. As for the time it takes to finish Grim Legends, players are pleased with the duration of the game since it's not too long, and it can easily be done in under five or ten hours if you play it continuously.
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10. Hidden Folks
Imagine what “Where’s Wally” would look like if drawn by a New Yorker cartoonist, and I’m guessing you probably have a good idea of what Hidden Folks is all about. Forget the preconceived notions about monochromatic minimalism; each image in this game is a variety of micro-narratives, filled with details and bubbling with life.
The game is highly engaging as you will spend most of the time scouring every pixel to locate the most obscure objects that the game tasks you with finding. There are a lot more fun challenges that the game has, though, as Hidden Folks provides artistry that’s more than worthy of its demand for forensic study and extended appreciation. This is a modern hidden object game in every aspect that is definitely worth your time and money.
That’s the end of the list. I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay here. These games have everything from thrill to finding hidden objects, and this is why I genuinely think that you'll all definitely like them. From the initial creative spark to the detailed design of compelling gameplay, every stage plays a critical role in the game development process. All these are available on Android and iOS, plus you don’t need to play them all day, just for a few minutes a day.
To play these games, you don’t need any powerful gaming phone or high-speed internet connection; a simple and decent Android phone can easily handle these apps. So if you are looking to fill your day with horror, mystery, thrill, and puzzle-solving adventure, these free and paid hidden object games might just work for you.
DC Kumawat is the CEO of Orion InfoSolutions, a leading provider of IT solutions to businesses of all sizes. He has over 14+ years of experience in the IT industry. He is a passionate advocate for the use of technology to improve business performance.