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interactive versions of the popular puzzle book series
one of my favorite things in kids' media is stuff that goes WAY harder than it has any right to. it's so easy to phone this stuff in, but these games truly felt like so much love and care was put into them. i think walter wick, the man who did the art for the original ispy books, is a truly one of a kind artist, and while i'm not sure if he participated in the environments for these games, or if they're moreso just based on his work, but they absolutely nail the art here
also, there's a weird amount of replayability to these. you play through all the riddles, then it will give you the option to play again on a harder difficulty, and there will be other new elements, too. spooky mansion is the example everyone knows, where you get to go through escaping the house three times, and the final time feels like a cute little culmination moment (no spoilers in case you wanna see it for yourself)
my favorite still has to be ispy: treasure hunt. i don't what it is but they somehow made the environment of smuggler's cove feel like a real ass lived in town. and it feels huge!! and it feels like it has real history, like you can see the lives of the pirates passing through here. ALL THIS FOR FUCKING EDUCATIONAL KIDS HIDDEN OBJECT GAME. like who does this anymore??
unfortunately, i'm not sure if any are playable anymore save for maybe spooky mansion?? (not the ugly wii version, good LORD talk about a downgrade). however, i'm pretty sure all of them are findable on youtube playthroughs, so go check 'em out! if nothing else, they're great to fall asleep to
Related Recs
I love having silly things to do and playing these games is one of them. The best part is the nostalgia from growing up playing these/watching the shows theyβre based on :p
Mar 30, 2025
My parents and their friends bought me every educational PC game they could find and there were so many I loved but the Nancy Drew series is closest to my heartβ¦ for girls who arenβt afraid of a mouse π₯Ή i loved going through everybodyβs stuff and getting into their business and exploring these beautiful thoughtfully designed environments. I fell off with the newer ones but I played pretty much all of them.
Iconic theme music and soundtrackβ¦ so cozy and atmospheric and fun but also scary sometimes! The first one I ever played was Message in a Haunted Mansion when I was super little and listening to the theme music as I explored the haunted house scared me so much I cried π
Jan 17, 2025
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shell shockers!!! its a fps game where you are an egg and u gotta kill other eggs
edit: im adding more bc now im thinking about it alot
-samorost: this weird ethereal adventure puzzle game with very simple gameplay. youll prob only play it once but i would redo it all the time if was bored in class
-the wikipedia game: doubt i need to explain this one
-run 1 and 2: just addicting and makes you feel adrenaline
Apr 9, 2025
Top Recs from @el_ugh
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or junk journaling, if you'd like to not perpetuate myths about crows liking to collect trinkets. i just think it sounds cuter
weirdly, as someone who's a writer, i've never really been good at or liked journaling. every planner i've ever owned has remained empty. if i try to write something any time other than when the fancy strikes me, it just feels inauthentic, like i'm trying too hard. this has been the first time journaling actually felt like it had a purpose for me, and actually felt weirdly therapeutic
basically, it's just anything i can recycle, i make into a page. i like a common theme, so places i've visited, media i like, similar aesthetics, emotions i'm feeling. and then we get the qr code page & i'm reminded that this is probably the quintessential depiction of what scoring 121 on the RAADS-R looks like
eh, i'm having funπ€·ββοΈ
Apr 16, 2024
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mae borowski returns to her hometown of possum springs, and with her return comes some long-time-coming reunions and unsolved mysteries
this game broke me
played it the week it came out back in 2017, and in hit me in that way some media does where it comes at a point in your life where it feels all too specific to your circumstances and it opens wounds you didn't even know went that deep. this shit felt like the therapy session you needed but reeeeally didn't want to go to. healing and hurtful, all at once
also just happens to be extremely funny. it's a very specific kind of humor, where even in the rare moments it doesn't land, it still lands because the circumstances around it make it all the funnier. something as simple as a too-long pause in the dialogue will have me in stitches
deserves all the love in the world, and it will forever have my whole heart. WITCHDAGGAH
Apr 19, 2024
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in agreement with mouse nitw soup rema see
also agree with them that definitely limbo or inside will scratch the little nightmares itch, arguably playdead's games are a big inspiration for little nightmares.
depending on what you're into (more story or more gameplay heavy) for story. i cannot recommend "what remains of edith finch" enough. just a true gem and some of the best of interactive storytelling
for gameplay i love the witness, hi fi rush, and neon white. all very different, but maybe you'll find something you'll like
for a mix if both, disco elysium. dialogue HEAVY, but based in like ttrpg systems, it's really fun. REALLY long though, like maybe put aside some time to crack that one open lol
Apr 19, 2024