Mystery Case Files: Huntsville

About

In Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, players become master detectives by solving over 15 crimes through examining clues and exploring strange crime scenes. This hidden object game features more than 20 unique locations and thousands of items to find, providing a new experience with each playthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Mystery Case Files: Huntsville screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

A nostalgic experience for fans of the genre, as it is the first game in the Mystery Case Files series.
Fun and challenging gameplay that exercises your item-finding skills, making it enjoyable to play alone or with friends.
The game has a charming art style and humor, providing a light-hearted atmosphere while solving cases.

The game suffers from technical issues, particularly with fullscreen mode and low resolution, making it difficult to play on modern monitors.
Some objects are poorly defined or too niche, leading to frustration when trying to find them within the time limits.
Repetitive gameplay with limited variety in puzzles and scenes can make the experience feel dull over time.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as lackluster, with many players finding it basic and unengaging, lacking significant stakes or depth. While some appreciate the detective theme, others prefer older hidden object games that relied less on a thin narrative. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling element.
- “This game has a fun story line.”
- “Finally, the searching for the items itself, it is a great finder game and I really enjoy the entire series and it's fun to come back to after a bit and play again; it has a very basic story, but it is enjoyable.”
- “Even has a decent story, such as it is.”
- “The story placed into the game does not appeal to me as the stakes feel rather insignificant.”
- “The story is not very good and the crime computer is tedious at best, so this game is not good for any reason other than the hidden object content.”
- “There is a theme (a detective solving 'cases'), but no real story.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Overall, the graphics of the game are viewed as a mixed bag; while some appreciate the nice artwork and nostalgic charm, many criticize the low resolution and grainy visuals that feel outdated compared to more modern titles. Users recommend newer collections for better graphics and varied gameplay, although the classic retains some appeal for its familiar mechanics.
- “The artwork is very nice and the game mechanics are a familiar friend.”
- “The graphics are wonderful and the puzzles aren't difficult.”
- “A classic that holds up pretty well, particularly if you ignore the lower resolution graphics.”
- “If you're looking for hidden object games and haven't played them before, then you're better off sticking to the Artifex Mundi collections. They have more modern graphics and more varied gameplay than these old MCF games.”
- “A classic that holds up pretty well, particularly if you ignore the lower resolution graphics and the issues with the graphics settings, which don't always revert back to your original resolution when you exit.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Gameplay in the hidden object genre is described as simplistic and repetitive, primarily revolving around finding objects within a time limit, which can create stress for players. While the artwork is praised, many reviewers suggest that newer collections, like those from Artifex Mundi, offer better graphics and more varied gameplay experiences. Overall, the classic mechanics may feel outdated compared to modern alternatives.
- “The artwork is very nice and the game mechanics are a familiar friend.”
- “Each level consists of a time limit you're pressured by, and though I always managed to finish with quite a bit of time left over, the stress associated with rushing through levels and scenes negatively impacted the gameplay as a whole for me.”
- “As the origin of the hidden objects genre, the game mechanic is way too simple; all you need to do is find objects over and over.”
- “If you're looking for hidden object games and haven't played them before, then you're better off sticking to the Artifex Mundi collections. They offer more modern graphics and more varied gameplay than these old MCF games.”
- “Each level consists of a time limit that you're pressured by, and though I always managed to finish with quite a bit of time left over, the stress associated with rushing through levels and scenes negatively impacted the gameplay as a whole for me.”
- “As the origin of the hidden objects genre, the game mechanics are way too simple; all you need to do is find objects over and over.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The music in the game is generally appreciated for its integration with gameplay, but many players find it repetitive after a short period. The game offers options for adjusting sound effects and music volume separately, enhancing user control over the audio experience.
- “The music perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive experience.”
- “I love that there are options for full-screen mode and separate sliders for sound effects and music.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and really enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music felt very repetitive after only playing for the time that I did.”
- “Options include full-screen and separate sliders for sound effects and music.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players find the game challenging and enjoyable for speed runs, enhancing its replayability. However, some express concerns about the cost relative to its replay value, suggesting it’s better to purchase on sale or in a bundle, and note issues with window resolution.
- “Challenging the first time through and highly replayable for speed runs.”
- “The game offers a great replay value, especially when you aim for speed runs.”
- “Challenging the first time through, but not very replayable unless you're into speed runs.”
- “The price to replay value is disappointing; it's better to get it on sale or in a bundle.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
- “It is not optimized at all, which is frustrating!”
- “The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the requirements.”
- “I experience frequent lag and crashes, indicating a lack of proper optimization.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that while the game generally runs smoothly, certain collectible objects can be buggy, occasionally causing delays that affect the timer.
- “Some objects, however, are a little buggy to collect and can decrease time from the timer.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly criticizing the lackluster story and the cumbersome crime computer, which detracts from the overall experience. The hidden object content is noted as the only redeeming feature.
- “The story is not very good, and the crime computer is tedious at best, making the game feel like a grind with little reward.”
- “Grinding in this game feels endless and unfulfilling, detracting from any enjoyment I might have had.”
- “The repetitive tasks required to progress make grinding a chore rather than an engaging part of the gameplay.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is praised for its abundant humor, providing players with a lighthearted and entertaining experience throughout.
- “There's lots of humor to be found.”
- “The witty dialogue and clever puns kept me laughing throughout the game.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, making every moment enjoyable.”