Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall

About

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by HeR Interactive, Inc. and was released on May 14, 2013. It received very positive reviews from players.

In Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall, players assume the role of the famous teen detective as they investigate a mysterious disappearance at a historic mansion. Players explore the haunted estate, gather clues, and solve puzzles to uncover the truth behind the ghostly happenings. With multiple suspects and a spooky atmosphere, it's a challenging and engaging mystery game for all ages.

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Single-Player

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall screenshot

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 466 reviews

story94 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a haunting atmosphere, beautiful pre-rendered art, and a compelling story that keeps players engaged.
Puzzles are well-designed, offering a good level of challenge without being overly frustrating, and there are multiple endings to explore.
The characters are interesting and well-developed, with enjoyable dialogue that adds to the overall experience.

The game can be quite dark, making it difficult to see important items, which can lead to frustration during gameplay.
Some players experienced crashes and technical issues, particularly when loading saved games, which detracted from the overall enjoyment.
While the story is intriguing, some found it hard to follow at times, and the pacing can feel slow with long dialogue sequences.

story
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The story in this game is generally well-received, with many players praising its depth, engaging characters, and intriguing plot twists, particularly in the context of a spooky mystery. However, some players found it difficult to connect with the narrative or noted plot holes that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game is recommended for its compelling storytelling and challenging puzzles, though opinions vary on its execution and complexity.
- “This game has easily the strongest cast of characters, engaging mystery and backstory, a plethora of damn good puzzles, and memorable locations to explore.”
- “The story of this family and the tragedy of Charlotte is very engaging and fascinating.”
- “From the southern gothic aesthetics to the multi-generational family melodrama to the complex and mysterious characters, the story and artistic direction of this game is possibly the best of the series.”
- “However, I just couldn't get into the story with this one.”
- “Definitely not my all-time favorite, as I found the story hard to understand at times, and the final puzzles to get to the resolution are annoyingly difficult.”
- “I was bored with this game, too many puzzles and the story didn't captivate me.”
atmosphere
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
22%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting and spooky qualities, enhanced by beautiful pre-rendered art, effective sound design, and a Victorian setting that immerses players in a creepy ambiance. Many reviewers highlight the balance of jump scares and atmospheric tension, making it a standout feature that complements the engaging puzzles and storyline. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a major strength, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment and experience.
- “One of my favorite Nancy Drew games, 10/10 atmosphere and the mystery slays.”
- “I enjoyed the spooky atmosphere and the Victorian vibes the mansion gave throughout.”
- “Perfect atmosphere, just the right amount of spooky.”
- “I will say this one was definitely more focused on the characters and their personalities than on a mysterious atmosphere.”
- “The overall story and ending are just okay in my opinion, but the atmosphere and spooks certainly give it four out of five stars in my book.”
- “Not only were there quite a few jump scares but the atmosphere and background sounds definitely put it over the edge!”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The graphics in this game have received generally positive feedback, with many players noting a significant improvement over previous installments, featuring detailed visuals and a spooky ambiance. While some users appreciated the artistic direction and atmospheric aesthetics, a few expressed disappointment with character rendering, likening them to "paper dolls." Overall, the graphics contribute effectively to the game's engaging storyline and immersive experience.
- “I loved the graphics in this installment and it felt more detailed with a spooky ambiance.”
- “The visuals are scary but beautiful at the same time.”
- “Intriguing, and amazing graphics.”
- “Didn't care for the graphics; I'm not sure why some of the new games have such good rendering on the characters while in some, like this one, they all look like paper dolls who have been pasted onto a slightly more realistic looking picture of the setting.”
- “If you are a serious gamer, you can't expect these games to have the kinds of graphics and interaction that other games have (i.e. Portal), but for what they are, they are very well done and fairly entertaining.”
- “The graphics are also pretty neat.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for its high quality and ability to enhance the spooky atmosphere, with many reviewers noting it as one of the best soundtracks in the Nancy Drew series. The soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's tension and immersion, making it a recommended experience to play in a dark setting for maximum impact. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and atmosphere creates a compelling and eerie experience that complements the game's puzzles and story.
- “This tops the rankings for music & atmosphere.”
- “I recommend playing this game at night with the lights off, you'll get some delicious scares and the music makes everything perfectly spooky.”
- “The music in the game is top notch as well; definitely one of the best Nancy Drew soundtracks to date.”
- “Also that god damn soundtrack scared the shit out of me, I felt like someone was following me.”
- “While there are a lot that I have not played (since I have a Mac), the characters, puzzles, storyline, music, and atmosphere of this game are all very enjoyable.”
- “The graphics, voices, and music are A+!”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics, engaging puzzles, and a compelling storyline, creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere. Players appreciate the unique communication mechanics and the ability to skip conversations, enhancing the overall experience. The characters are interesting, and the updated style of gameplay aligns well with player preferences, making it a standout in the first-person puzzle and detective genre.
- “Excellent gameplay, fantastic puzzles, and scary!”
- “They are totally my kind of game - the gameplay, the puzzles, the stories, even the humor (yeah, it's there ;)) is exactly my preference.”
- “The location itself doesn't really pertain much to the game (though it is stated), which in my opinion, makes the gameplay so much more realistic.”
- “The good points were a genuinely creepy atmosphere, and the mechanic of being able to talk to people (in person and by phone) which shouldn't be a big deal, but which is weirdly rare in first person puzzle and detective games.”
- “I also liked the new style and format for gameplay, an update was much needed - the ability to skip conversation is an absolute lifesaver.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its hilarious dialogue and entertaining character interactions, particularly highlighting the comedic elements surrounding the character Harper. Players appreciate the blend of spooky themes with witty writing, making the overall experience enjoyable and aligned with their preferences.
- “The dialogue is absolutely hilarious; I really enjoyed that there was a good amount of spooky ghost appearances, and the puzzles were enjoyable!”
- “They did my girl Harper dirty, but she was really funny, to be honest.”
- “They are totally my kind of game - the gameplay, the puzzles, the stories, even the humor (yeah, it's there ;)) is exactly my preference.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight strong character development as a key strength of the game, noting that it is complemented by an engaging storyline and impressive animation. Players appreciate the depth and evolution of characters, which contribute to an eerie atmosphere throughout the experience.
- “Great storyline, excellent character development, and it definitely gives you an eerie feeling.”
- “Also, great character development and animation!”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious due to the difficulty of some puzzles, which can lead to frustration. However, those who appreciate a challenging, atmospheric experience may still find it worthwhile.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall is a puzzle game.

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall was released on May 14, 2013.

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall was developed by HeR Interactive, Inc..

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall is a single player game.

Similar games include Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge, Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor, The Room Two, Nancy Drew: Midnight in Salem, Quern - Undying Thoughts and others.

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