A hidden object game, also called hidden picture or hidden object puzzle adventure (HOPA), is a subgenre of

puzzle video games Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, Sequence, sequence solving, Spatial ability, spatial recognition, ...

in which the player must find items from a list that are hidden within a scene. Hidden object games are a popular trend in casual gaming. Time-limited trial versions of these games are usually available for download, although many are free to download on

app store An app store, also called an app marketplace or app catalog, is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software called applications, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of functions which, by definition, do not i ...

s. They primarily make money through in-app purchases and ads. Popular themes include detective crime stories,

adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

, gothic romance, and mystery.

Definition

In a hidden object game, the player wanders from one place to another to discover objects that allow the player to finish the game. The player adds objects to their

inventory Inventory (British English) or stock (American English) is a quantity of the goods and materials that a business holds for the ultimate goal of resale, production or utilisation. Inventory management is a discipline primarily about specifying ...

. A hidden object puzzle within the game provides more objects or clues that will assist the playing in completing the game.Hidden Object Games Are Mindless Fluff, And That's Why I Love Them
By Mike Fahey from Kotaku.com. May 1 2016.

Subtypes

Hidden object games (HOGs) are categorized into several subtypes based on gameplay: * ''HO/HOG (Hidden Object Game)'': The classic format where players find objects based on word lists. * ''AHOG (

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

-Hidden Object Game)'': Combines hidden object scenes with narrative-driven exploration and

puzzle A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together ( or take them apart) in a logical way, in order to find the solution of the puzzle. There are differe ...

s. * ''iHOG (Interactive Hidden Object Game)'': Features interactive elements and advanced adventure mechanics, requiring object manipulation and puzzle-solving. * ''FrOG (Fragmented Object Game)'': Players search for object fragments to assemble into a whole. * ''HOPA (Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure)'': Focuses heavily on puzzles and

point-and-click Point and click are one of the actions of a computer user moving a pointer to a certain location on a screen (''pointing'') and then pressing a button on a mouse or other pointing device (''click''). An example of point and click is in hypermedi ...

adventure gameplay alongside hidden object scenes. Each subcategory offers a unique mix of object-finding and other gameplay elements.

Features

''Boosters'' and '' hints'' in hidden object games are essential tools that enhance gameplay and help players progress through levels. Here is a list of some common types of boosters and hints: * ''Magnifying Glass'': Highlights the item, helping players locate specific objects. * ''Zoom Booster'': Allows better focus on intricate areas within the scene. * ''Time Extensions'': Adds extra time to complete levels, useful in timed challenges. Some boosters are accessible as daily rewards or can be obtained through in-game currency.

History

Hidden object games originated in print publications such as the '' I Spy'' books or a regular feature in '' Highlights for Children'', in which the reader was given a list of objects to find hidden in a cluttered illustration or photograph. An early hidden object game was ''Mother Goose: Hidden Pictures'', released for the

CD-i The Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I, later CD-i) is a digital optical disc data storage format as well as a hardware platform, co-developed and marketed by Dutch company Philips and Japanese company Sony. It was created as an extension of CDDA ...

in 1991. Other early incarnations are the video game adaptations of the ''I Spy'' books published by

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since 1997. '' Mystery Case Files: Huntsville'', released by Big Fish Games in 2005, came at the rise of casual gaming in the mid-2000s. ''Mystery Case Files: Huntsville'' established many of the principles in both gameplay and narrative that would be predominant in hidden object games since then. More recently within

indie game An indie video game or indie game (short for independent video game) is a video game created by individuals or smaller development teams without the financial and technical support of a large game publisher, in contrast to most "AAA" (triple-A ...

s, new takes on the hidden object genre have changed the approach. For example, '' Hidden Folks'' is considered more of a searching game, where the players have to find one character among hundreds on the screen that look similar to each other, similar to '' Where's Wally?''.

Popularity

''Huntsville'' broke prior sales of casual games, and the series' third iteration '' Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst'' was the third best-selling game on personal computers during the end-of-year sales period of 2007. This motivated gaming companies to expend in this sort of storytelling that focuses on puzzles with little animation. Hidden object games draw players who were fans of games like ''

Myst ''Myst'' is a 1993 adventure video game developed by Cyan and published by Broderbund for Mac OS. In the game, the player travels via a special book to a mysterious island called Myst. The player interacts with objects and traverses the ...

''. In 2021, Big Fish Games' player base was 85% female, 76% of whom were over the age of 55.

References