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Hidden object game

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A hidden object game, also called hidden picture or hidden object puzzle adventure (HOPA), is a subgenre of puzzle video games 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.cite-ref-ign-1-0[1]cite-ref-ew-2-0[2]

Time-limited trial versions of these games are usually available for download, although many are free to download on app stores. They primarily make money through in-app purchases and ads. Popular themes include detective crime stories, adventure, gothic romance, and mystery.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-0[3]

Contents

• Definition

• Subtypes

• Features

• History

• Popularity

• See also

• References

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. A hidden object puzzle within the game provides more objects or clues that will assist the playing in completing the game.cite-ref-kotaku-4-0[4]

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

• 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 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.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-1[3] An early hidden object game was Mother Goose: Hidden Pictures, released for the CD-i in 1991. Other early incarnations are the video game adaptations of the I Spy books published by Scholastic Corporation since 1997.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-2[3]

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.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-3[3]

More recently within indie games, 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?.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-4[3]

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.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-5[3]

Hidden object games draw players who were fans of games like Myst.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-6[3] In 2021, Big Fish Games' player base was 85% female, 76% of whom were over the age of 55.cite-ref-polygon-hidden-objects-history-3-7[3]