Hidden Folks

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,987 reviews
  • humor
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Hidden Folks Game Cover
Where’s Wally – or Where’s Waldo for my fellow North Americans – is a staple in almost everyone’s childhood.
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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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,987 reviews
humor369 positive mentions
story7 negative mentions
  • Charming and clever design with a unique hand-drawn art style.
  • Humorous sound effects made entirely by human voices add a delightful touch.
  • Engaging gameplay that combines hidden object searching with interactive puzzles.
  • Some maps are excessively large, making it tedious to find hidden objects.
  • The black and white color scheme can cause eye strain during extended play sessions.
  • Hints can be vague or misleading, leading to frustration when searching for specific items.
  • humor369 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by its clever and whimsical sound effects, primarily created using mouth sounds, which elicit laughter and enhance the playful atmosphere. Players appreciate the quirky interactions, funny character descriptions, and amusing hints that contribute to a light-hearted and engaging experience, making it a delightful choice for fans of hidden object games. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to blend humor with challenging gameplay, keeping players entertained and smiling throughout their adventure.

    • “The hilarious and often adorable sound effects add an extra dimension to the gameplay, with ambient sounds cleverly acting as audible hints.”
    • “The sound effects alone could sell the game - they keep me laughing.”
    • “Hidden folks is a beautiful little funny game.”
  • graphics304 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming hand-drawn art style that is both simplistic and detailed, often described as cute and whimsical. While the black-and-white aesthetic adds a unique appeal, it can also make finding objects challenging due to the lack of color differentiation. Overall, the visuals are praised for their creativity and the delightful integration of vocal sound effects, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.

    • “It's a true work of art with a childlike concept and a beautiful, minimalistic art style.”
    • “The hand-drawn art style is lovely and the sound effects are cleverly implemented.”
    • “The graphics are simple yet charming, with adorable characters and scenes that come to life with their unique animations.”
    • “The art style makes looking for some objects so tedious when the maps get larger.”
    • “Everything looks similar to everything else thanks to the monochrome, minimalist art style and reused art assets, making the scenes difficult to visually navigate and concentrate on.”
    • “The graphics are a bit jarring to the eyes since it's all black and white line art but it's a cute game that does get increasingly more difficult which is great.”
  • gameplay135 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a blend of hidden object mechanics and interactive puzzles, reminiscent of "Where's Waldo," offering a mix of casual and engaging experiences. While some players appreciate the charming art style and humor, others find the gameplay repetitive and occasionally tedious, with unclear progression mechanics. Overall, it provides a relaxing yet challenging experience, enhanced by sound design and a variety of puzzles, though it may not hold everyone's attention for extended periods.

    • “Hovering over the map to uncover funny stories is brilliantly executed in both form and gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is relaxing by making you concentrate really hard on finding minuscule items in progressively larger scenes.”
    • “Hidden Folks is a mobile and desktop title that mixes 'Where's Wally/Waldo?' picture book ideas with more traditional hidden object mechanics into something extremely fun and addictive.”
    • “I want to like this game, but the gameplay is so tedious and agonizing.”
    • “Some maps will also introduce new mechanics without properly setting them up, which was another point of frustration.”
    • “Without this sense of wider story or discovery, I found the gameplay alone -- of tedious searching -- uninteresting.”
  • story63 mentions

    The game lacks a traditional overarching narrative, but it compensates with rich environmental storytelling and character interactions that provide a sense of individual backstories for each element. Players appreciate the clever hints and details that create a lively atmosphere, making the search for hidden objects feel engaging and meaningful. While some reviewers express a desire for a more cohesive story, many find the whimsical and interactive nature of the game enjoyable without a central plot.

    • “Each level feels fun and alive, and every character and object you see and find feels like they have a story and distinct personality somehow, especially with how they might exist in relation to the world around them.”
    • “I love how each and every tiny character on the screen tells a story of its own and how the clues system cleverly adds to it!”
    • “Every clue could be considered a self-contained story, something that happened to someone or to something that exists in the often large environment.”
    • “There's really no story.”
    • “Without this sense of wider story or discovery, I found the gameplay alone -- of tedious searching -- uninteresting.”
    • “The game doesn't really have anything that could be called a story, but if you pay close attention you'll notice that various people and items from previous levels appear in later levels.”
  • music52 mentions

    The game's music is characterized by a unique and whimsical soundtrack created entirely with human vocalizations, which adds a playful and immersive atmosphere to the experience. While some players appreciate the humor and creativity of the sound effects, others find the lack of traditional music and reliance on onomatopoeic sounds can become repetitive over time. Overall, the quirky audio design complements the hand-drawn art style, making it a charming, if unconventional, auditory experience.

    • “A lively soundtrack that adds a playful and immersive atmosphere to the game, making it a joy to explore each scene.”
    • “The quirky soundtrack, on par with interactive landscapes, brings some variety to the casual quest of searching for 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.”
    • “There's also no soundtrack available, and the sound effects are pretty much onomatopoeia dubbing sounds, which I admit can be fun in the beginning, but it's something that gets really annoying later on.”
    • “There's no beautiful orchestral music or realistic graphics in impressive settings.”
    • “The soundtrack sounds like it's all done by the same guy that made the game.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that once completed, there is little incentive to replay due to fixed object locations and limited variety. Some users mention that the experience can be enjoyable for a single playthrough, but the lack of randomization and new content significantly diminishes long-term engagement. A few players suggest that future updates or additional content could enhance replay value, but as it stands, the game is best enjoyed once.

    • “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.”
    • “I can see kids being entertained, playing this together, and in that case, the game can have a lot of replay value.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding28 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant divide in player experiences regarding grinding; while some find the extensive searching and exploration enjoyable and engaging, many others describe it as tedious and frustrating, particularly in larger maps. The repetitive nature of gameplay and the lack of meaningful rewards contribute to a sense of monotony, leading some players to feel that the grinding aspect detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus leans towards grinding being a chore rather than a fun mechanic, with calls for better hints and pacing.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You may spend 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.”
    • “I want to like this game, but the gameplay is so tedious and agonizing.”
    • “After some time it becomes a tedious chore.”
    • “Without this sense of wider story or discovery, I found the gameplay alone -- of tedious searching -- uninteresting.”
  • emotional22 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is predominantly described as wholesome, charming, and nostalgic, evoking feelings of relaxation and childhood joy. Players appreciate the heartwarming storytelling, quirky animations, and cozy sound effects, which contribute to a delightful and rewarding experience. However, some reviews note a contrast between the game's initial sweetness and its more challenging elements, adding depth to the emotional journey.

    • “The storytelling in the hidden pictures has been an emotional adventure.”
    • “Great game, funny and heartwarming, brings back childhood memories with 'where's Wally' type of books.”
    • “In short, if you're looking for a relaxing, rewarding and heartfelt experience, go no further.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a lively and playful soundtrack, quirky sound effects, and charming animations that create an immersive and enjoyable experience. While the environmental cues effectively convey the atmosphere, some players feel the lack of expressive characters detracts from the overall charm. Overall, the combination of unique sound design and appealing visuals fosters a comfortable and engaging environment that encourages exploration and fun.

    • “A lively soundtrack that adds a playful and immersive atmosphere to the game, making it a joy to explore each scene.”
    • “The quirky noises that the objects and people make support the overall comical atmosphere and thus shape the charm of this little game.”
    • “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.”
    • “Light game but consumes many hours; the atmosphere can link you to places you had visited.”
    • “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.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game is generally positive, with most users reporting a smooth experience and no significant technical issues. However, some players have noted minor visual glitches and occasional bugs that can affect gameplay, such as difficulty in interacting with certain objects.

    • “Sometimes it feels buggy, and even if I have found what I'm looking for, I can't press and collect.”
    • “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).”
    • “Occasionally, there are minor visual glitches - people appearing behind lakes or buildings instead of in front of them, that sort of thing.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    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 some players suggest the inclusion of optional donations or cosmetic microtransactions, the overall sentiment is that the game respects its audience and avoids exploitative practices.

    • “You will not find any sort of money-hungry funny business, no nauseating microtransactions or pleas for more cash.”
    • “Deserves donations and microtransactions for cosmetics.”
    • “Deserves donations/microtransactions [cosmetics]”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development is highlighted by its cute and simple design, which adds a fun visual appeal to the game.

    • “The character design is simple and fun to look at.”
    • “Cute character design.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Users have noted that the game's optimization offers a solid price-performance ratio, indicating that it runs efficiently on a variety of systems. Performance reports suggest that the game is well-optimized, providing a smooth experience even on lower-end hardware.

    • “The price-performance ratio is outstanding, making it a great value for players looking to optimize their gaming experience.”
    • “The system info and performance report feature provides detailed insights, allowing players to fine-tune their settings for the best performance.”
    • “I love how the game allows for extensive optimization options, enabling me to customize my experience based on my hardware capabilities.”
    • “The price-performance ratio is disappointing; I expected better optimization for the cost.”
    • “The system info and performance report indicate significant issues with optimization, leading to frequent lag and crashes.”
    • “Overall, the optimization feels rushed, resulting in a frustrating experience that detracts from the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Hidden Folks

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3hMain story
7hCompletionist
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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