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Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst Game Cover
92%Game Brain Score
story, atmosphere
graphics, gameplay
92% User Score Based on 141 reviews

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Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst Game Cover

About

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is a single player casual puzzle game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Big Fish Games and was released on April 21, 2010. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst" is a hidden object game where players take on the role of a Master Detective to investigate the mysterious Ravenhearst Manor. The game features 32 unique rooms with thousands of items to find and dozens of puzzles to solve. By uncovering hidden diary pages, players delve deeper into the manor's unsettling past and ultimately unlock its mystery.

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Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst screenshot
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst screenshot
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst screenshot
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst screenshot
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst screenshot
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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 141 reviews
story22 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a strong narrative focus and a gothic atmosphere, making the experience engaging and immersive.
  • Richly illustrated hidden-object scenes and clever puzzles provide a satisfying challenge, enhancing the sense of exploration.
  • The nostalgic value and emotional connection many players have with the game, often recalling fond memories of playing it with family, adds to its charm.
  • The game's graphical fidelity is low, making it difficult to spot some hidden objects, especially on modern screens.
  • Technical issues, such as problems with full-screen display and unresponsive gameplay, can hinder the overall experience.
  • Repetitive gameplay and a lack of variety in puzzles may lead to a monotonous experience for some players.
  • story
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Ravenhearst" is a compelling blend of gothic atmosphere and fragmented narrative that immerses players in the haunting tale of Emma Ravenhearst, with diary entries and jigsaw puzzles revealing deeper layers of the plot. While some players find the story simple, it effectively drives gameplay and enhances the overall experience, making it a memorable entry in the Mystery Case Files series. The game's ability to evoke emotions and maintain intrigue has influenced subsequent titles, solidifying its reputation as a classic in the hidden object genre.

    • “What sets Ravenhearst apart from many casual games of its era is its strong narrative focus, gothic atmosphere, and willingness to intertwine story progression with gameplay in a way that feels purposeful rather than incidental.”
    • “The story of Emma Ravenhearst is not merely a backdrop but a driving force that gives context to every object found and every puzzle solved.”
    • “The way the music, story, graphics, and gameplay work together creates a mysterious and eerie ambiance.”
    • “The story is sadly disconnected from any actual gameplay, save the jigsaw puzzles, but it's serviceable.”
    • “The story is fine but not that engaging and has no real sense to it.”
    • “This game has a story, but the gameplay does not support it other than taking place in the same house.”
  • graphics
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics evoke a unique gothic aesthetic, blending unsettling visuals with a tragic narrative, though opinions vary on their quality. While some players appreciate the art style and atmospheric design, others criticize the low resolution and dated appearance, making it a mixed experience overall. Despite these graphical shortcomings, the engaging story and well-crafted hidden object gameplay contribute to a suspenseful ambiance.

    • “The combination of unsettling visuals and the tragic narrative conveyed through Emma’s diary entries gives the game a gothic tone that was uncommon in casual titles at the time.”
    • “The art style and the hidden objects do make for an experience that feels well-crafted and suspenseful.”
    • “The way the music, story, graphics, and gameplay work together creates a mysterious and eerie ambiance.”
    • “This game is very dated; most of the objects it asks you to find are from the 19th century, and the graphics are extremely low.”
    • “Graphics are very low resolution.”
    • “There are truly no unfairly hidden items; there are simply hundreds of them to sort through, and the graphics, at least on my computer, are comparable to the game I already own.”
  • gameplay
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst" is characterized by its strong narrative integration and gothic atmosphere, featuring richly illustrated hidden-object scenes that require careful observation. While the game introduces puzzles, the majority of the experience revolves around hidden-object gameplay, with a notable lack of inventory mechanics. Players can choose between two difficulty modes, and the overall ambiance is enhanced by the cohesive interplay of music, story, and graphics, although some reviewers feel the narrative is somewhat disconnected from the gameplay.

    • “What sets Ravenhearst apart from many casual games of its era is its strong narrative focus, gothic atmosphere, and willingness to intertwine story progression with gameplay in a way that feels purposeful rather than incidental.”
    • “Gameplay is built around richly illustrated hidden-object scenes that demand careful observation and patience.”
    • “What truly elevates Ravenhearst above simpler hidden-object titles is its extensive use of puzzles and mechanical challenges.”
    • “The story is sadly disconnected from any actual gameplay, save the jigsaw puzzles, but it's serviceable.”
    • “In this title, the puzzles have been introduced for the first time; however, 90% of the game still consists of hidden objects gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay: as I said before: old school.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst" is widely praised for its strong gothic narrative and immersive design, effectively blending story progression with gameplay. Reviewers highlight its eerie ambiance, enhanced by moving imagery and atmospheric music, making it ideal for cozy, spooky gaming sessions. However, some players note that repetitive sound effects can detract from the overall experience.

    • “What sets Ravenhearst apart from many casual games of its era is its strong narrative focus, gothic atmosphere, and willingness to intertwine story progression with gameplay in a way that feels purposeful rather than incidental.”
    • “In the broader context of hidden-object games, Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst stands as a turning point that demonstrated how narrative depth and atmospheric design could coexist with accessible gameplay.”
    • “Ravenhurst is a lovely atmospheric game, perfect for cozy autumn evenings in.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is spooky.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are pretty eerie and the puzzles are much more advanced and fun to solve.”
    • “The spooky atmosphere works; some scenes have moving imagery and a few eerie moments.”
  • music
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received positive feedback for its eerie and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with creative sound effects that complement the gameplay. Players appreciate the improved audio options, including separate sliders for music and sound effects, which contribute to a mysterious ambiance that aligns well with the game's theme. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, adding suspense and depth to the challenging puzzles and engaging story.

    • “The atmosphere and music are pretty eerie, and the puzzles are much more advanced and fun to solve.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are pretty eerie and the puzzles are much more advanced and fun to solve.”
    • “Classic MCF: Ravenhearst is one of the best hidden object games that includes some unique puzzles and has the most creative creepy music and sound effects I've experienced in a game to set the mood.”
    • “The way the music, story, graphics, and gameplay work together creates a mysterious and eerie ambiance.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be mostly manageable, with the exception of repetitive puzzle-solving for diary pictures, which can become tedious. Overall, the game is still recommended despite this minor annoyance.

    • “The one thing that does get tedious is when you have to solve a puzzle for a picture in the diary each time; other than that, the game is recommended.”
    • “Grinding becomes a chore rather than a challenge, making the experience feel more like a job than a game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, turning what could be exciting gameplay into a monotonous task.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy involves a significant amount of ads and puzzles, requiring players to navigate through approximately 30 minutes of content to access additional features, which some users find frustrating.

    • “The monetization model is incredibly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
    • “I feel like I'm being forced to spend money just to progress, which ruins the overall experience.”
    • “The amount of ads and paywalls is overwhelming, making it difficult to enjoy the game without shelling out cash.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its hilariously absurd puzzles, which encourage players to engage in creative thinking and exploration to find solutions.

    • “The actual puzzles are hilariously ridiculous and can be solved with a little creativity and exploration.”
    • “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, making every moment a fun experience.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game compelling, as the gradual revelation of the narrative deepens their engagement and understanding of the psychological weight of the story. The manor is described as a living entity, with its rooms resonating with the emotional echoes of past events, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

    • “The narrative is revealed gradually, encouraging players to remain engaged not just to complete objectives, but to understand the emotional and psychological weight of the events that transpired within the manor’s walls.”
    • “The manor itself feels like a living presence, its rooms echoing with the emotional residue of past events.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers a focused experience reminiscent of the Mystery Case Files series, but it lacks significant replay value. While it may not encourage multiple playthroughs, it is still considered a worthwhile investment of time for fans of the genre.

    • “If you like the Mystery Case Files series, this will be a nice welcome, single-focus treat that, while it might not have any replay value, is worth your time and respect as this series goes forward.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is a casual puzzle game with horror and mystery themes.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst was released on April 21, 2010.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst was developed by Big Fish Games.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is a single player game.

Similar games include Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate, True Fear: Forsaken Souls Part 1, Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek, The Room and others.