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Hidden Folks

Where’s Wally – or Where’s Waldo for my fellow North Americans – is a staple in almost everyone’s childhood.
Hidden Folks Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
humor, graphics
story, replayability
96% User Score Based on 4,262 reviews
Critic Score 73%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchAndroidXboxSteam DeckiPhoneWindowsPlayStationLinuxPCTabletMac OSPhoneiPadMobile Platform
Hidden Folks Game Cover

About

Hidden Folks is a single player casual puzzle game with comedy and violence themes. It was developed by Adriaan de Jongh and was released on February 15, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Hidden Folks is a hand-drawn, interactive, and charmingly animated hide-and-seek game. Explore various scenes filled with peculiar characters and intricate objects, all interactive and full of witty humor. Solve small puzzles while searching for specific folks, creating an engaging and immersive experience for players of all ages.

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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,262 reviews
humor537 positive mentions
story14 negative mentions

  • Charming hand-drawn art style with a whimsical aesthetic.
  • Engaging sound design with all sound effects made by human voices, adding a unique touch.
  • Relaxing gameplay that encourages exploration and interaction with the environment.
  • Some levels can be overwhelmingly large, making it difficult to find hidden objects.
  • The monochrome color scheme can strain the eyes during extended play sessions.
  • Hints can sometimes be vague or misleading, leading to frustration.
  • humor
    539 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Hidden Folks" is a standout feature, characterized by quirky, charming sound effects and clever animations that evoke laughter throughout gameplay. Players appreciate the unique mouth-generated sounds, which add a whimsical touch to the interactive experience, alongside funny hints and character descriptions that enhance the overall light-hearted atmosphere. While some find the humor delightful and engaging, a few note that the repetitive nature of the sounds can become overwhelming over time.

    • “The hand-drawn art, quirky humor, and charming sound effects make every level feel alive.”
    • “A charming and clever little game with the most hilarious sound effects.”
    • “The attention to detail is incredible, and I loved discovering the animations and funny interactions throughout each level.”
    • “It's literally a black and white 'Where's Waldo' book with some interaction (cutting down trees, clicking animals) and everything makes a sound that someone made with their mouth - not funny at all.”
    • “Unfortunately, this game is not funny at all.”
  • graphics
    462 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming hand-drawn, black-and-white art style that many players find endearing and unique, reminiscent of classic "Where's Waldo?" illustrations. However, some users note that the monochrome visuals can be straining on the eyes, especially during extended play sessions, and the simplicity of the graphics sometimes makes it challenging to distinguish between similar objects. Overall, the combination of cute artwork and quirky sound effects contributes to a delightful and immersive experience, despite some frustrations with visibility and detail.

    • “The visuals are stunningly unique—every scene is like stepping into a beautifully illustrated storybook.”
    • “Every tiny character and object feels thoughtfully placed, and the hand-drawn, monochrome art style creates a wonderfully cohesive world that’s both charming and easy on the eyes.”
    • “The hand-drawn art style, animation, and sound effects were interesting and fun.”
    • “The art style makes looking for some objects so tedious when the maps get larger.”
    • “The monochrome, minimalist art style and reused art assets make the scenes difficult to visually navigate and concentrate on.”
    • “The artwork, being monochrome and having a harsh black/white contrast, is kind of painful on the eyes after a while, especially if you have a big monitor.”
  • gameplay
    220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Hidden Folks" is characterized by a relaxing yet engaging experience, blending traditional hidden object mechanics with interactive elements and charming hand-drawn art. While many players appreciate the variety of puzzles and the whimsical sound design, some find the gameplay repetitive and occasionally tedious, particularly with certain mechanics that feel less rewarding. Overall, it offers a satisfying mix of exploration and challenge, appealing to both casual gamers and fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay is super relaxing yet engaging—I found myself going for 100% completion because it was just that fun.”
    • “This game is an absolute delight, combining charming hand-drawn art with clever hidden object gameplay that kept me entertained for hours.”
    • “The gameplay mainly revolves around you searching for items and characters in the various scenes; however, every once in a while, there is the odd puzzle map, and though they are simple, it's a nice break to the gameplay.”
    • “Even though some gameplay mechanics felt a little like a waste of time, like having many plants to cut or trees to dig into just to find nothing, I expected a little more of the 'interactivity' than just 'click here for nothing'.”
    • “I want to like this game, but the gameplay is so tedious and agonizing.”
    • “Without this sense of wider story or discovery, I found the gameplay alone -- of tedious searching -- uninteresting.”
  • story
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a unique approach to storytelling, relying heavily on environmental cues and character interactions rather than a traditional narrative. While there is no overarching plot, each scene is filled with charming details and hints that provide small backstories for characters and objects, creating a whimsical and engaging atmosphere. Players appreciate the creativity in the visual storytelling, though some express a desire for a more cohesive narrative framework.

    • “The visuals are stunningly unique—every scene is like stepping into a beautifully illustrated storybook.”
    • “Every little pixel, every little object and person has their own story to tell, which makes the searching part way more logical due to the hints at hand that provide useful information.”
    • “On top of that, each level has a nice little story to go along with it through characters in the scenes.”
    • “There's no story in the usual sense.”
    • “Without this sense of wider story or discovery, I found the gameplay alone -- of tedious searching -- uninteresting.”
    • “The plot is often an afterthought and only serves the purpose of driving you to the next puzzle.”
  • music
    87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting the absence of a traditional soundtrack. Instead, the game features a unique array of sound effects created entirely by human voices, which some find charming and humorous, while others feel it lacks the relaxing music they expected. Overall, the quirky vocal sounds contribute to the game's character, but the lack of a consistent musical backdrop leaves some players wishing for more traditional audio elements.

    • “The quirky soundtrack on par with interactive landscapes brings some variety to the casual quest of searching for hidden objects.”
    • “With its hand-drawn art style, interactive gameplay, and whimsical soundtrack, it's a joy to explore each scene and discover hidden objects.”
    • “Hidden Folks offers a good art style (hand-drawn) and an amazing soundtrack (and sound effects) that's made entirely with mouth sounds.”
    • “I expected relaxing music, but there's no music, just someone making mouth sounds in your ears.”
    • “There's not really any music whatsoever, but there's a ton of sound effects that someone made with their mouth.”
    • “There's no music, no audio design, no audible audio proficiency... it appears to be just one dude with an internal laptop microphone recording a thousand animal noises, wind rushes, muffled human gibberish sounds, thuds, whips, whooshes, and pops.”
  • replayability
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that once the objects are found, there is little incentive to replay. Some users mention that the lack of randomization and color differentiation diminishes the experience, while others find enjoyment in revisiting levels, especially if they have forgotten the locations of items. Despite some entertaining elements, the consensus is that the game may not warrant repeated playthroughs unless future updates introduce more content or variability.

    • “I really enjoyed going through the stages and felt there was replayability value in trying to get every object later on (vs. just getting enough to get to the next stage).”
    • “The variety of scenes and challenges offer endless possibilities for replayability, ensuring you'll never get bored.”
    • “There's a surprising amount of replayability, too, since everything is so densely packed.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's very little replay value.”
    • “There's limited replayability, but once you've finished it, you probably won't want to replay it anyway.”
    • “This game lacks replayability, so when you're done with it, you are done.”
  • grinding
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a prevalent sentiment that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious and overwhelming, particularly in larger levels where finding objects becomes a chore. While some players appreciate the relaxing nature of the gameplay, many express frustration with the repetitive mechanics and lack of hints, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the experience of grinding is seen as a double-edged sword, offering moments of enjoyment but often veering into tedious territory.

    • “You may spend many, many minutes looking for that one hidden folk, yet it is not tedious, but enjoyable: each time you look, something new seems to come to your attention.”
    • “Of course I'm just going by the first few scenes, as there seem to be no hints at all, so it's a matter of grinding to get through the game.”
    • “I want to like this game, but the gameplay is so tedious and agonizing.”
    • “Without this sense of wider story or discovery, I found the gameplay alone -- of tedious searching -- uninteresting.”
  • atmosphere
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its playful and relaxing qualities, enhanced by a lively soundtrack and charming sound effects that create an immersive experience. While some players feel a disconnect due to the uniformity of character design, the detailed environments and quirky animations contribute to a lighthearted and enjoyable ambiance reminiscent of classic seek-and-find books. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and comfort, making it a delightful escape for players.

    • “The quirky noises that the objects/people make support the overall comical atmosphere and thus shape the charm of this little game.”
    • “Hidden Folks is a fantastic game that is modeled after the popular children's books 'Where's Waldo?' and 'I Spy.' The atmosphere is lovely, and the level of detail in each scene is a fun challenge.”
    • “I understand that the developers aimed to create a playful and calming atmosphere, but I just couldn't connect with it.”
    • “However, unlike those books, which always included zany characters engaged in still-life storymaking, with characters smacking their lips at pies or peering around corners at parades or immersed in a book, this game is hindered by the uniform and featureless characterization of its 'folk.' Without facial expressions, the atmosphere comes entirely through environmental cues, not the people that made Where's Waldo come to life.”
    • “The sound design uses entirely unfiltered mouth-made sounds but manages to still create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere that will keep you playing for many hours.”
  • emotional
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is predominantly described as wholesome, charming, and heartwarming, evoking feelings of nostalgia and relaxation. Many players appreciate its simple yet engaging gameplay, likening it to childhood experiences, while some note a surprising depth beneath its cheerful exterior. Overall, it is recommended as a delightful emotional support game that provides a cozy and enjoyable experience.

    • “This is my emotional support game.”
    • “The storytelling in the hidden pictures has been an emotional adventure.”
    • “Made me feel like a child again.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many users reporting minimal bugs and smooth performance. While some minor visual glitches and occasional interaction issues were noted, they are not widespread enough to significantly detract from the experience. Comparatively, players find it to be less buggy than titles like Cyberpunk 2077.

    • “Sometimes it feels buggy, and even if I have found what I'm looking for, I can't press and collect.”
    • “Occasionally, there are minor visual glitches - people appearing behind lakes or buildings instead of in front of them, that sort of thing.”
    • “9.9/10 for making me feel happy and giggly (-0.1 for some small layering glitches and the fact you can't re-click the alligators for repeated delight).”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users emphasize the importance of running an optimized version of the game on Mac for better performance. Additionally, there are mentions of the price-performance ratio, suggesting that the game's optimization may impact its overall value.

    • “The game runs smoothly on the optimized version for Mac.”
    • “The price-performance ratio is excellent, providing great value for the quality of gameplay.”
    • “The system info and performance report feature is incredibly helpful for monitoring optimization.”
    • “The game runs better on the optimized version for Mac.”
    • “The price-performance ratio is disappointing.”
    • “The system info and performance report indicate significant optimization issues.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of aggressive microtransactions or money-grabbing tactics, creating an immersive experience without interruptions. While players appreciate the detailed environments and engaging interactions, some suggest that optional donations or cosmetic microtransactions could enhance the game further.

    • “You will not find any sort of money-hungry funny business, no nauseating microtransactions or pleas for more cash.”
    • “Deserves donations or microtransactions for cosmetics.”
    • “Deserves donations/microtransactions [cosmetics]”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is praised for its cute and creative design, which is both visually appealing and engaging. Players appreciate the simplicity and fun of the characters, alongside the enjoyable narratives that accompany them.

    • “Very creative, beautiful character design and fun stories.”
    • “The character design is also simple and fun to look at.”
    • “Cute character design.”
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6h Median play time
6h Average play time
3h Main story
7h Completionist
5-8h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Hidden Folks is a casual puzzle game with comedy and violence themes.

Hidden Folks is available on Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, iPhone, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 3 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 7 hours to finish. On average players spend around 6 hours playing Hidden Folks.

Hidden Folks was released on February 15, 2017.

Hidden Folks was developed by Adriaan de Jongh.

Hidden Folks has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its story.

Hidden Folks is a single player game.

Similar games include Hidden Through Time, Toem, A Castle Full of Cats, A Building Full of Cats, Hidden Cats in London and others.