Nancy Drew: Danger on Deception Island

About

In "Nancy Drew: Danger on Deception Island," players assume the role of Nancy Drew and must investigate a series of escalating accidents at a whale-watching business on a remote island. The game features point-and-click exploration, interviews with suspects, and puzzle-solving. Players can kayak in coastal waters, build sandcastles, and solve Morse code puzzles as they uncover the truth behind the mysterious events.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Nancy Drew: Danger on Deception Island screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 223 reviews

story35 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game features a charming atmosphere with beautiful settings and engaging music, particularly with its Celtic influences.
Puzzles are enjoyable and provide a good challenge without being overly difficult, making it accessible for both new and returning players.
The storyline is interesting and includes educational elements about marine life, which adds depth to the gameplay experience.

The game suffers from tedious backtracking and fetch quests, particularly with the clam collection, which can become frustrating.
Some characters are forgettable and lack depth, making it hard to connect with the story and its protagonists.
The gameplay can feel slow at times, and certain puzzles, like the pipe puzzle, are not intuitive and can lead to confusion.

story
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charm, twists, and engaging characters, while others criticize it for being predictable, having plot holes, or lacking depth. Many enjoy the nostalgic elements and the balance between story and puzzles, though some find the gameplay tedious and the narrative less memorable compared to other installments. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable but not without its flaws, often overshadowed by the gameplay experience.
- “The story is unique and tight.”
- “The aesthetic of the San Juan Islands is so charming, and the storyline is equal parts serious mystery and whimsical game for kids.”
- “Great old game with an interesting storyline and fun puzzles.”
- “The story itself was farfetched and the 'reveal' at the end just made me laugh - nope, no way that could actually have happened.”
- “In this game, it seemed to me like 80% of the game is rather slow and then they try to make all of this plot happen right at the end.”
- “I found the storyline to be boring and the gameplay tedious with the kayaking and cave mazes.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and nostalgic quality, with many reviewers highlighting its Celtic and Irish influences that enhance the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as brilliant and relaxing, contributing significantly to the game's unique feel, although some noted it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the engaging story and puzzles.
- “I also quite enjoyed some of the soundtracks in this game, particularly the pieces that are reminiscent of Irish and Celtic music, including the jig track.”
- “The music and soundtrack of this game is brilliant and so catchy.”
- “This game has an Irish/Scottish theme about it, so the majority of the soundtrack in this game is Celtic, so catchy!”
- “The music did lag for me just a little bit while I was playing, but that never stopped me from playing.”
- “The music gets a bit too repetitive.”
- “I dug the soundtrack for once versus the horrible Latino muzak of the Scarlet Hand that I mercilessly won't let you mute.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its older design, but many players find them nostalgic and fitting for the overall ambiance. While some reviews note that the visuals are lackluster, others appreciate the charm and aesthetic, suggesting that the graphics still serve the game's narrative and puzzles effectively. Overall, while improvements could be made to modernize the visuals, they do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
- “Great voice acting, music, puzzles, and visuals.”
- “Graphics are on point and gameplay is simple.”
- “I like the ambiance and aesthetic a lot.”
- “Please add more characters and locations and bring the interface up to current graphics standards!”
- “More seriously, though, this is one of the older games so the visuals are lackluster.”
- “First of all, the graphics are pretty bad as this is an old game.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
10%
20%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its charm and engaging narrative, effectively capturing the essence of an early 2000s point-and-click adventure. Reviewers highlight the gentle, non-threatening ambiance, complemented by a captivating soundtrack and varied puzzles, making it a standout entry in the series. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as fun, atmospheric, and immersive, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere and location, with the music for this game - 🤌👌 10/10 would recommend.”
- “As for atmospheric entries in the nd series, this one is near the top.”
- “Charming atmosphere and engaging narrative!”
- “The atmosphere was gentle and mostly non-threatening, with little exception.”
- “As always, her interactive does a great job of creating an interesting mystery for you to solve, while weaving in several fun subplots and exploring the culture and atmosphere of an American harbor town.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
90%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the need to backtrack through previously completed puzzles and engage in monotonous fetch quests. While some appreciate the storyline, the gameplay often feels unnecessarily drawn out and lacks variety, leading to a sense of boredom during certain tasks. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment of the game, particularly in a genre where such mechanics are less expected.
- “The puzzles and quests weren't too hard, and completing them felt rewarding rather than tedious.”
- “Grinding in this game is satisfying, as it allows you to gradually build your character and skills.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it keeps the gameplay engaging without feeling like a chore.”
- “However, the game got pretty tedious with a lot of back and forth to the same places, especially certain puzzles forcing the player to go back through previously completed puzzles just to re-access something.”
- “The story is good but the gameplay itself is often very tedious and unusually repetitive even for a puzzle game.”
- “Some of the quests are boring and very, very tedious.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky and nostalgic elements, with players enjoying Nancy's witty comments and unexpected comedic moments, such as a humorous exchange with the Hardy Boys. While some plot points may seem far-fetched, they contribute to the overall charm and atmosphere, making the experience both funny and engaging.
- “How I love adventuring with Nancy as she solves her dangerous mysteries and makes her hilarious comments.”
- “The story itself was far-fetched and the 'reveal' at the end just made me laugh - nope, no way that could actually have happened.”
- “There's also an unexpectedly funny quip with the Hardy Boys that gave me a laugh.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Gameplay is generally easy to learn but can feel clunky and tedious, particularly during navigation and certain activities like kayaking and cave mazes. While some players appreciate the interesting story and enjoyable puzzles, others find the overall experience slow and occasionally frustrating, suggesting that a walkthrough may be helpful.
- “Gameplay takes a minute to learn (it did come out in 2003...), but the story is interesting and each environment is fun to explore.”
- “There was quite a bit of gameplay in this Nancy Drew game and I enjoyed most of the puzzles.”
- “Gameplay can be clunky at times, and using a walkthrough may be necessary.”
- “I found the storyline to be boring and the gameplay tedious with the kayaking and cave mazes.”
- “Slow gameplay.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While some users recommend the game, they note that it suffers from a lack of replayability, suggesting that once completed, it may not offer enough incentive for players to return.
- “I would recommend this game, despite its lack of replayability.”