9 Clues 2: The Ward

About

In "9 Clues 2: The Ward," players assume the role of detectives investigating a mysterious death at a psychiatric hospital on a storm-ridden island. As they delve deeper, they uncover a web of secrets and past tragedies, with each clue raising more questions. The game features a detective mode for a more immersive investigation experience. Players must piece together the asylum's dark past and solve the murder while dealing with uncooperative staff and unstable patients.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 408 reviews

story131 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Engaging story with interesting plot twists that keep players guessing.
Well-designed puzzles and hidden object scenes that provide a good challenge without being overly difficult.
Improved graphics and voice acting compared to the first game in the series.

Voice acting can be inconsistent, with some performances being subpar.
The game is relatively short, taking only about 3-4 hours to complete.
Some puzzles and hidden object scenes may feel too simplistic for experienced players.

story
315 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The story in "9 Clues 2: The Ward" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it engaging yet predictable, often drawing comparisons to popular horror themes and films. While some appreciate the eerie atmosphere and plot twists, others criticize the voice acting, character development, and overall coherence, labeling it as mediocre or convoluted. Despite its flaws, the narrative manages to captivate a segment of players, making it a decent choice for those who enjoy hidden object games with a story-driven focus.
- “The game masterfully weaves a captivating story filled with twists and turns, ensuring that players are both challenged and engaged throughout their investigation.”
- “The story is captivating as well and the graphics are a step up from the prequel.”
- “What shone and kept me coming back for more was the story, which in my eyes was the star of the show; it was actually really good and well worth playing just for that.”
- “The storyline, while present, fails to captivate, residing in the realm of mediocrity.”
- “Overall is pretty mid, from subpar voice acting and supremely weird facial animation straight out of deepfake, to puzzles that are just okay and story to be quite meh.”
- “The plot tries too hard to be mysterious.”
graphics
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
42%
9%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while some elements are visually appealing and well-designed, others, particularly character animations and certain hidden object scenes, can be subpar or inconsistent. Overall, the artwork is often described as decent to good, with some standout moments and a distinct style that enhances the game's atmosphere, though occasional graphical glitches and mediocre character designs detract from the experience. Players appreciate the clear and clean visuals, but opinions vary on whether the graphics meet the expectations for a title from Artifex Mundi.
- “The graphics are clearly recognizable and have a distinct feel.”
- “The promising looking, vivid intro sucks you right into the story and instantly gives a visual indication of the game's art style.”
- “Great storyline, awesome graphics, and wonderful puzzles!”
- “The graphics for the character's faces were quite jarring when they spoke.”
- “Graphics are mediocre and at times quite laughable; audio being sufficient to get the job done.”
- “The graphics are sub-par.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
7%
The gameplay in this title has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the variety of mechanics, including hidden object scenes and puzzles, while others found it repetitive and lacking depth. The introduction of a video rewind feature and the option to switch to mahjong adds some novelty, but many felt the overall experience was too easy and short, averaging around 2 to 4 hours. While the graphics and audio were generally appreciated, the narrative coherence and challenge level left something to be desired for a more engaging experience.
- “The investigation mechanic from the first game has been changed: instead of just finding and clicking on all the evidence in the crime scene without any clues, there is a fast rewind video clip of the dark figure performing the actions (which gives you strong hints as to where to click), and then you have to arrange the evidence in chronological order (a simple rearranging tiles puzzle).”
- “The gameplay was better than the sequel (9 clues: serpent's creek), but the plot was just as wonky.”
- “Gameplay overall has a nice flow to it.”
- “The gameplay itself doesn't work, either.”
- “Gameplay is pretty boring for a hidden object game and the story is hideous.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it is a usual first person hidden object puzzle adventure ordeal, with hidden object scenes not making perfect narrative sense, and everything being an artificial escape room type set-up.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the horror-mystery ambiance and building suspense during key moments. While some reviewers noted that the music can be repetitive, it is often described as fitting and enjoyable, contributing positively to the overall experience. The sound effects and voice acting also received commendations, further enriching the game's immersive environment.
- “The sound effects and the background music have better quality and are perfectly aligned with the horror-mystery ambience of the game.”
- “The ambient sound effects and music blend in seamlessly with the graphics and gameplay, and add to the enjoyment.”
- “The music creates a spooky atmosphere to the story.”
- “The music can be a bit repetitive.”
- “Credits music doesn't fit the game.”
- “I don't really remember the music, which means it was neither terrible nor breathtaking.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy yet slightly spooky autumnal vibe, enhanced by atmospheric background music and a sense of isolation. Reviewers note the effective blend of creepy elements and cartoonish aesthetics, creating an unsettling yet engaging environment that complements the story. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for being immersive and consistent, keeping players intrigued throughout their experience.
- “This game's cozy, ever so slightly spooky, autumnal atmosphere is best enjoyed with a cup of your favorite warm beverage.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is wonderful, and I never felt very lost on what to do.”
- “Unsettling atmosphere.”
- “It is a self-sufficient establishment and situated on a secluded island which creates an uneasy atmosphere.”
- “The music creates a spooky atmosphere to the story.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, the game has low to minimal replayability, primarily appealing to completionists seeking achievements or those who enjoy hidden object games. While some elements, like randomized scenes and collectible items, offer slight incentives for replay, many players find the experience tedious after the initial playthrough. It is best enjoyed at a lower price point, particularly for those not focused on 100% completion.
- “It's got plenty of achievements, and the hidden object scenes are randomized, so if you want to get 100%, there's some replayability here.”
- “Finding additional items you might have missed also helps with the replayability.”
- “The replay value only increases when you have clue symbols, asylum pieces, and hallucinations to collect.”
- “Probably not much replay value unless you are a completionist when it comes to trophies, but if you like hidden object games and mysteries, pick this one up when it's on sale.”
- “There is minimal replay value, although to get all achievements you do have to play twice, once for hidden object finder and another for mah-jong.”
- “This is where the game, since it has very little replay value, begins to get tedious.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players noting that it amplifies the silliness from the first installment, showcasing funny dialogue with memorable NPCs and absurd glitches that add to the comedic experience. The series' trademark "logic" sequences are particularly highlighted for their hilarity, making the overall gameplay enjoyable despite some annoying elements.
- “Dialogue with NPCs can be funny at times; some are quite the personalities.”
- “A particular mention for the series' trademark 'logic' sequences, which are just absurdly hilarious!”
- “I actually do really like the 9 Clues series' 'detective mode' hob sequences, even though I find their conclusions fairly arbitrary and hilarious most of the time.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the intriguing storyline and challenging puzzles, others find the backtracking tedious and the narrative lacking. The game avoids grindy achievements, but those who dislike repetitive tasks may still feel frustrated by the pacing and voice acting. Overall, the experience can become tedious as the plot struggles to maintain interest.
- “If you don't like them, you'll find it incredibly tedious with lots of backtracking for no reason other than to make the game longer, and will most likely roll your eyes at the voice acting and plot.”
- “This is where the game, since it has very little replay value, begins to get tedious.”
- “It’s all downhill from there, as the narrative flounders around attempting to find itself, puzzles become more obscure and tedious, and a veritable cornucopia of bad accents meander through lines as if the voice actors are simultaneously bored and learning to read for the first time.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor glitches reported that do not significantly disrupt gameplay. While some users noted occasional graphic issues and subpar voice acting, these did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. A few humorous glitches were mentioned, adding a lighthearted touch to the experience.
- “It's not perfect, especially some odd graphic glitches once in a while, but nothing game-breaking and some of the voice acting was only just okay at best.”
- “Ignoring the unspeakably awful plot for a moment: the mechanics work well, there's three kinds of hidden objects to discover, and minimal glitches (the wheelchair disappearing was a big one though).”
- “A few funny glitches, and Zed's voice was piercingly annoying, but all in all a very enjoyable game.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as lighthearted and not overly serious, with some players finding it difficult to connect deeply with the characters or themes. While it offers a bit of enjoyable fun, it lacks the depth to provoke strong emotional responses, leaving some players feeling indifferent despite completing the game.
- “Have the emotional connection with the goddamn violent murderer after you leave!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Character development in the game is criticized for being forced and unearned, with convoluted plot reveals that detract from the overall experience. While the environments and character designs are praised, the clunky animations further hinder the effectiveness of character growth. Overall, many feel that simplifying the plot could enhance character development significantly.
- “The environments and character designs were very good, but the character animations were a bit clunky at times.”
- “The big reveals are confusing and convoluted; the circumstances are strange and unlikely. They try to force-feed you character development that's not earned. There are just so many issues that could be resolved by trimming down the plot.”
- “Character arcs feel rushed and unconvincing, leaving players disconnected from the characters' motivations and growth.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development makes the experience feel shallow and unengaging.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others have experienced significant lag and technical issues. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual system configurations.