Mysteries of Neverville: The Runestone of Light

About

Play a thrilling hidden object adventure and solve the mystery of Neverville. The runestone of light that has protected the town of Neverville for centuries is missing. With nothing to protect the town, an evil fog has surrounded the people inside. You are the daughter of Cygnus Rastlin, the greatest mage and guardian of Neverville. Find out who is lurking in the fog! Is it the notorious necromanc…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Mysteries of Neverville: The Runestone of Light screenshot

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 30 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features nice graphics and well-drawn characters, making it visually appealing.
There is a good variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes, which can be skipped if needed.
The hint system is effective, allowing players to quickly find their way and objectives.

The game is very short, with most players completing it in around 1.5 to 3 hours.
The story is generic and ends abruptly, leaving players wanting more closure.
Some puzzles and item uses are illogical or frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
The game's story is characterized by well-drawn characters and a straightforward narrative, though it often relies on standard tropes and predictable twists. While some players found the plot engaging and the voice acting commendable, others criticized it for being simplistic, rushed, and filled with nonsensical elements. Overall, the story offers a fun but unremarkable experience, lacking depth and innovation.
- “The story develops nicely.”
- “Despite the fact that the story is nothing really new, it is a fun little hidden object adventure with a good level of challenge.”
- “Great art, full featured, and a captivating story.”
- “I cannot in good faith recommend this; from typos to silly broken puzzles, the story makes no sense and the solutions are so dumb. For example, using acid on a scarecrow's hand to grab a pickaxe to dig up shears that are barely in the dirt. I should add that she is a scantily clad knight with just a helmet who is supposed to be a guardian. If she is a guardian, shouldn't she have the strength to pick up shears out of the dirt or use her knight gloves to pick up a piece of a puzzle out of a thorn bush? Hell, I'll even give a stupider one: a spider is on a lock on a super low gate; you would brush it off, right?”
- “But then the cons noted above started piling up; the story became rushed and there was a lot of 'collect X number of items' which stalled the adventure play constantly. I was really bummed that the graveyard was not a separate scene from the gateway.”
- “As can be clearly seen, the whole storyline is somehow simple, without any major associated plot.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The graphics in the game are generally described as nice but somewhat dated, reflecting its age. While many players appreciate the sharp and lovely artwork, some find it off-putting or mismatched with the game's overall aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are considered average to good, especially for a title that has recently been re-released on Steam.
- “The graphics are sharp and well defined with art that is quite lovely to look at.”
- “Lovely, clean, clear artwork and graphics.”
- “The game has good story and really nice graphics.”
- “Graphics-wise, you can tell the game has some age to it.”
- “I normally love hidden object games, but something about the graphics was very off-putting.”
- “The voice acting was fine, but the mismatched accents were odd, and the main character's artwork, even in her armor, just felt sexualized and impractical.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay in "Mysteries of Neverville" features 14 locations that players will revisit, but the overall experience is relatively short, lasting around two to three and a half hours. While there are puzzles and mini-games, they lack variety and innovation, often rehashing mechanics from previous titles by the developer. Overall, the gameplay feels underwhelming and lacks the depth and craftsmanship to justify its value.
- “There are 14 locations to visit in Neverville, and you’ll visit each of these locations at least twice during your gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is a bit short; I needed 3.5 hours, which is still okay for a standard edition.”
- “I must say that the game is short; around two hours max of gameplay.”
- “Although puzzles and mini-games are present, there aren’t many, and the ones included follow the same mechanics seen previously in other titles by Urchin Games.”
- “I don't like to say mean things about independent games, and Mysteries of Neverville wasn't actually painful to play, but it was clearly done on the cheap and doesn't offer much exciting in the way of gameplay, story, or craftsmanship to make it worth your time or money.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while the sound effects effectively enhance the atmosphere during interactions, the absence of a soundtrack is noted as a missed opportunity for a fantasy-themed experience. However, the overall quality of the audio, including voice acting, is praised, and the lack of music is not seen as a significant drawback given the game's short duration.
- “Excellent music, sounds, and voice acting.”
- “There is no soundtrack, but the sound effects are present and create the necessary atmosphere for the game, especially at every interaction.”
- “It's a shame considering this is the perfect type of game to use fantasy-based music, but since it's a 2-hour adventure, it's definitely not a deal breaker.”
- “It’s a shame considering this is the perfect type of game to use fantasy-based music, but since it’s a 2-hour adventure, it’s definitely not a deal breaker.”
- “There is no soundtrack, but sound effects are present and create the necessary atmosphere for the game, especially at every interaction.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a lightly eerie tone, enhanced by effective sound effects that compensate for the absence of a soundtrack, creating an immersive experience during interactions.
- “Lightly eerie atmosphere.”
- “There is no soundtrack, but sound effects are present and create the necessary atmosphere for the game, especially at every interaction.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with many users labeling the game as a low-quality cash grab that relies on asset flipping. Players are advised to avoid it unless they have a particular affinity for poorly made games.
- “Everything looks asset flipped; it's a cheap cash grab. Avoid this game unless you enjoy awful experiences.”
- “The monetization is aggressive and feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by a funny ending, though some players felt it was marred by an unfinished feeling due to unused items. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the experience, despite some narrative inconsistencies.
- “Spoiler alert... this game had a funny ending - it felt like there was unfinished play, because I ended up with 2 items that were not used.”