Left in the Dark: No One on Board

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 338 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Left in the Dark: No One on Board Game Cover
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"Left in the Dark: No One on Board" is a hidden object puzzle adventure game set on a mysterious and abandoned cruise ship. As the player, you'll uncover the ship's ominous past and face supernatural forces while searching for hidden objects and solving intricate puzzles. With its eerie atmosphere and challenging gameplay, this game will keep you on the edge of your seat.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 338 reviews
story67 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a spooky atmosphere that enhances the experience.
  • The puzzles and hidden object scenes are enjoyable, providing a mix of challenge and relaxation.
  • The game has a decent length for a casual experience, making it suitable for players looking for a quick playthrough.
  • The story is predictable and lacks depth, making it less engaging for players who enjoy a strong narrative.
  • Voice acting is subpar, with some performances feeling amateurish and detracting from the overall immersion.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under three hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • story232 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it predictable, cliché, and lacking depth. While some appreciated the engaging elements and atmosphere, others criticized the plot for being nonsensical, filled with plot holes, and poorly executed. Overall, the narrative is seen as average at best, often failing to captivate players despite its potential.

    • “I appreciated the hand-drawn art and the gripping storyline.”
    • “The story is a mixture of classic murder mystery with some supernatural elements, set on an abandoned ship, a seaside small town, and a ghost island: the setting works well with the carefully paced plot.”
    • “The game adds elements from a classic ghost story and from a classic slasher story to the mix, and there you have your mysteries to solve.”
    • “The story has a lot of plot holes even for a hidden object game.”
    • “The story is thin, as well, falling far short of any of the Grim Legends trilogy.”
    • “The story is very short and doesn't develop enough for you to care much for the characters.”
  • graphics84 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the clear, sharp visuals and appealing art style, while others criticize them as dated, low-resolution, and inconsistent. Many appreciate the atmospheric elements that enhance gameplay, but several users note issues like blurry hidden object scenes and awkward lighting. Overall, while the artwork has its moments of beauty, it often falls short of modern standards, impacting the overall experience.

    • “As always, the graphics were clear, sharp, and very well-drawn.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, clear and visually appealing hidden object scenes, an interesting array of challenging puzzles, and a fantastic map that allows you to jettison to particular areas within the game really get the thumbs up from me!”
    • “The game was made with hand-drawn graphics and art which is amazingly well done, and you can just see that there was a lot of love, time, and effort put into this game.”
    • “Graphics are dated, up to the point where it hinders the gameplay.”
    • “The graphics are kinda wonky like early Artifex Mundi hidden object games... there are weird lighting artifacts, wonky sizing and perspective, low resolution or blurry weird composites of images.”
    • “The graphics are lackluster and actually nearly dated looking, and nothing is that visually appealing, none of the jump scares come as a surprise.”
  • music48 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting for the setting, with some tracks being praised for their quality and ability to enhance the experience. However, many users noted that the repetitive nature of certain music loops can become annoying over time, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some found the soundtrack to be beautiful and immersive, others criticized it for being mediocre or unremarkable, with a few even opting to turn it off entirely.

    • “The game's visuals and the unsettling soundtrack add to the atmospheric experience.”
    • “The music is atmospheric and of high quality.”
    • “Excellent mix of suspenseful music and threatening sounds.”
    • “However, the background music does not fit the supposed spooky ambience of the game, and since it is a loop of about 30 seconds of music, it is very repetitive and becomes annoying after some time.”
    • “You keep listening to the same 30-second music in the background again and again until you decide to mute it.”
    • “It has a very amateurish feeling to it, as does the game music, which I turned off rather quickly.”
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as standard for the hidden object genre, featuring a mix of puzzles and mini-games that are accessible for casual players, though often criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth. While some players appreciate the intuitive mechanics and fun elements, many find the gameplay too short and simplistic, with dated graphics and a mediocre story detracting from the overall experience. Overall, it offers a familiar but unremarkable adventure that may appeal to beginners but leaves seasoned players wanting more.

    • “It offers a mix of puzzles, from relatively simple challenges to more intricate mechanical setups.”
    • “The gameplay itself is intuitive and fun, and the minigame puzzles are easy for beginners who are just looking for a taste of the hidden object game genre - or casual players like me who don't necessarily want a brain-busting challenge!”
    • “Another great hidden object game from Artifex Mundi :) very nice and detailed visuals, quite decent puzzles, and fun gameplay.”
    • “Graphics are dated, to the point where it hinders the gameplay.”
    • “Bad story, mediocre visuals, boring gameplay, and annoying music.”
    • “Hidden object scenes are so easy that it becomes boring after a while, and there is no alternating gameplay.”
  • atmosphere23 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is consistently described as dark, moody, and creepy, enhanced by high-quality music and visuals that evoke a sense of mystery. While many players appreciate the atmospheric elements, some note that issues like poor voice acting can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is a strong point, making it a compelling choice for those who prioritize ambiance in their gaming experience.

    • “The atmosphere reminded me of classic literature—dark, moody, and filled with mystery.”
    • “The game's visuals and the unsettling soundtrack add to the atmospheric experience.”
    • “Genuinely creepy atmosphere.”
    • “Really bad voice acting; completely undermined the creepy atmosphere every time.”
    • “The puzzles and hidden object scenes are reasonably engaging, if not especially challenging, and the story and atmosphere are pretty decent, albeit lacking any kind of context or backstory.”
    • “I don't know what was the problem with the atmosphere, but I just couldn't really care about the story - this is quite unusual; I really do pay attention to the story of a game, it's one of the most important parts of the game for me.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the ridiculousness of the story, poor voice acting, and laughable animations. While some moments are genuinely funny, others come off as so bad they're amusing, leading to a mixed reception where players appreciate the humor despite feeling unsatisfied with the overall experience.

    • “Anyway, the last boss... sorry, the bad guy... it was hilarious how he was defeated...”
    • “I busted out laughing when he started talking.”
    • “I feel cheated & unsatisfied with the story, ridiculously bad voice overs (so bad that they were funny), cheesy jump scares, overly simplistic puzzles, boring ending & did I mention the hilariously terrible voice acting??”
    • “I don't really know how to convey the ridiculousness of this game - it's not funny, but it's also laughable.”
    • “The attempts at humor feel forced and often fall flat, leaving me more confused than amused.”
    • “I expected a lot of laughs, but instead, I found the jokes to be stale and unoriginal.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as lacking depth, with inconsistent voice acting that fails to enhance the experience during key moments. While players find enjoyment in the lighthearted puzzles, the overall narrative and emotional engagement are considered underwhelming, leading to a more entertaining than impactful experience.

    • “Gotta say, this game made me feel pretty damn good at solving puzzles and everything else... primarily because they weren't as challenging... but they were fun!”
    • “However, the voice acting is not consistently polished and it occasionally falls short of delivering the desired emotional impact.”
    • “The voice acting, while good in some places, seemed rather flat and unemotional when the tension in the game was rather high.”
    • “The playthrough was very short, with fairly run-of-the-mill puzzles, and the story was boring, lacking any satisfying or conclusive elements.”
    • “The emotional depth was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
    • “I expected a gripping narrative, but instead, I found a predictable plot that failed to evoke any real feelings.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many users noting a lack of extras such as additional scenes or puzzles to encourage repeated play. While some found it enjoyable, the short length and simplicity of the content contributed to a diminished replay value, often rated around 3/10.

    • “Those gave the other ones really a nice replay value.”
    • “A fun hidden object game with some replayability.”
    • “Minimal replay value.”
    • “Was fun, but a little short with simple puzzles and no replayability.”
    • “The replay value for the game is low.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, user reviews indicate a mixed experience with stability; while some players encountered numerous bugs and glitches that detracted from their enjoyment, others praised the smooth gameplay and lack of issues in certain titles.

    • “It was so touchy yet so buggy.”
    • “Was the only one I had to skip, not because I didn't understand it, but because the middle lock was so buggy.”
    • “Honestly, there were often bugs and glitches that bothered me enough to impair my enjoyment of the game.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than challenging, with repetitive tasks leading to a sense of monotony, especially in hidden object and farming genres. While the initial experience may be enjoyable, the lack of complexity in puzzles contributes to a feeling of boredom during subsequent playthroughs.

    • “It was fun the first time through, but the second time it got a little tedious at parts, but I tend to get that feeling with hidden object games.”
    • “Also, the puzzles are far too easy and more tedious than challenging.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The optimization of the game is generally considered average, with the main character's voice performance being consistent with previous titles from the developer, but not particularly standout. Overall, players find the optimization satisfactory but not exceptional.

    • “The main character is a voice I recognize from several other games they've made, and she delivers a solid performance based on the game.”
    • “The main character is a voice I recognize from several other games they've made, and she does a solid performance based on the game.”
    • “This entry features the same female voice actress for the protagonist as in many Artifex Mundi games, who turns in an average performance.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game suffers from insufficient character development, leading to predictable plot outcomes without adequate justification for the characters' actions or growth.

    • “The lack of plot and character development makes it too obvious what is going on, but there is never a good reason given for it.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and rushed, leaving me disconnected from the story and its characters.”
    • “The characters are one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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