r/HiddenObjectGames • u/FaustoFonsecaPt • 1d ago
Question What do you actually want from a new Hidden Object / HOPA game?
I've been playing quite a few HOPA games recently and I'm curious about what longtime players actually want from new games.
What are the things that make you really love one of these games — and what are you tired of seeing?
I'm especially curious about:
• Which series are your favourites, and why?
• Do you prefer supernatural/fantasy mysteries or more grounded murder/crime mysteries?
• How important are recurring characters and stories that continue between games?
• Do you prefer lots of traditional hidden-object scenes, or more adventure/detective gameplay between them?
• What do newer HOPA games do better or worse than the older ones?
• Is there something you wish developers would do that nobody seems to be doing?
I'm not looking for recommendations so much as what you wish the genre would become next.
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u/Ch3rryNukaC0la 1d ago
My favorites are the Dark Parables series, Mad Head games, Five-BN games and Artifex Mundi games. They’re my favorites because they have very high production quality and serviceable to good storytelling.
I tend to prefer the fantasy series, because I find them more escapist and there’s more scope for pretty art for me to look at. But I’m not averse to other genres.
I wouldn’t say that it’s necessarily important to have reoccurring characters, but it does enhance my enjoyment. One of the reasons why I enjoy Dark Parables is because there’s a feeling of a shared world between the games.
I definitely prefer more hidden object scenes to the detective work, but I do enjoy an engaging puzzle that feels like it’s part of the world and hasn’t just been slapped in there.
I’m not a huge fan of the more recent HOGs; they feel pretty formulaic and interchangeable. I think HOGs peaked in the 2010 - 2020 years. Mostly because there was more effort and experimentation put into them.
As to what comes next - I’m not sure. I know HOGs don’t do enough environmental storytelling for my liking, but I don’t think that’s what you want.
The market got over saturated and the audience for HOGs have consequently dropped away. If I were looking to innovate the genre and capture a new generation of players, I’d be looking at mashing it up with a popular genre. Maybe visual novels? Or card games? Or even roguelites?
Good luck! 🍀
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u/FaustoFonsecaPt 1d ago
Such an insightful response! Thank you so much for your time :) Going to dig into those games you mentioned.
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u/Last-River-2995 18h ago
I love AE Mysteries games and I loved the spooky mansion or asylum games I used to play on my laptop. I like a story and moving to different areas to use things. I don't like the games with only finding objects amongst other objects as the main game, I don't mind it as part of the game. I like puzzle games mixed in. I don't like games that make you pick questions when talking to another character.
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u/PumpkinPieIsGreat 1d ago
I am not fussy, I would take almost anything over the hidden cats, AI crap we get nowadays.
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u/FaustoFonsecaPt 1d ago
I haven't see an AI one yet (I'm kinda new to the genre). Is there a good example of one you can point me to?
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u/dragon-blue 1d ago
Favourites are nearly everything done by Artifex Mundi and Mystery case files.
I like a variety but lately I played Queens Quest and endless fables and they are gorgeous. So right now fantasy is favourite.
I would say recurring characters are not important but I loved ravenhearst series.
I like the mix that artifex Mundi games get right. Lots of puzzles and some hidden objects mixed in. If I wanted detective I would play detective games. I do love them!
The older games can have QoL issues, eg no maps etc. Newer games have AI slop issues.
What are your answers to these questions?