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Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion

83%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, stability
83% User Score Based on 402 reviews

Platforms

PCWindowsGame Boy Advance

About

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion is a mystery adventure game where players help Nancy investigate eerie occurrences in a Victorian mansion in San Francisco. As Nancy, players explore the mansion's secrets, interact with spirits, and uncover a greed-fueled plot behind the haunting. The game features puzzle-solving, secret passages, and a compelling storyline to keep players engaged.

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot
+1

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 402 reviews
story40 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions

  • The game has a charming atmosphere and engaging story, making it a nostalgic experience for many players.
  • Puzzles are generally logical and rewarding, with some clever ideas that encourage players to pay attention to details.
  • It's a great introductory game for new players to the Nancy Drew series, offering a straightforward experience with a mix of mystery and fun.
  • The game suffers from outdated navigation and interface issues, making it difficult to know where to click or how to progress.
  • The floor puzzle is notoriously buggy and requires pixel-perfect precision, leading to frustration for many players.
  • The game is relatively short and lacks depth in character development and plot complexity, leaving some players wanting more.
  • story
    118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its interesting characters, atmospheric setting, and engaging plot, despite some finding it predictable and lacking depth. While the integration of puzzles and environmental storytelling is praised, some players express frustration over missing key plot points due to conversation choices and the need to explore thoroughly. Overall, the narrative is seen as enjoyable but could benefit from more cohesive elements and resolution of certain storylines.

    • “The music, the story, the setting, the characters, and all the small details really make it an incredible game.”
    • “I think around this game they kind of found their groove in how to nicely blend the story and puzzles together with some nice environmental storytelling as well.”
    • “The story's great, the puzzles aren't too tricky, and the atmosphere is fantastic.”
    • “All these leave the bones of a decent story, but lack any substance to really make it shine.”
    • “The plot is pretty bare, too, with the villain and motive being pretty easy to determine.”
    • “This game was a disappointment on both a story and a gameplay level, even for those who grew up with Nancy Drew games.”
  • graphics
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *Message in a Haunted Mansion* are notably dated, reflecting its origins in the late 90s, which can make reading in-game notes challenging due to low resolution and lack of zoom features. Despite the rough visuals, many players find a nostalgic charm in the game's aesthetic and appreciate the beautiful interior decor, though some aspects, like character design, may evoke the "uncanny valley." Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they are considered acceptable for the game's age and contribute to its classic appeal.

    • “Though its aged graphics-wise, the interior decor of the game is actually very beautiful and the soundtrack always sets the mood.”
    • “I give the graphics a pass due to the date of release, but the uncanny valley was strong with this one, especially with Charlie. If you love the classic Nancy Drew games, then I definitely recommend this one!”
    • “While I do think the dialogue could've been a little more fleshed out, it is an extremely pleasant adventure for all ages wrapped up in a dated, but respectable graphical bow.”
    • “The resolution with the graphics does make reading notes and other material hard at times, but other than that, this is a great point-and-click game!”
    • “[i]Message in a Haunted Mansion[/i] is one of the earliest Nancy Drew mysteries, and it shows in some areas, such as the game's shorter length and graphics.”
    • “Due to the age of the game and graphics quality, this made the cursive writing very difficult to read, and it took me some time to read all of what was written.”
  • atmosphere
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and cozy mystery elements, with a strong sense of place in settings like San Francisco's Victorian architecture. While some players note that the game lacks true horror, it effectively creates a spooky ambiance with memorable scenery, a fitting soundtrack, and moments of tension. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the experience, making it enjoyable despite some critiques of the puzzle design.

    • “However, the game really shines with its theming and atmosphere.”
    • “The story's great, the puzzles aren't too tricky, and the atmosphere is fantastic.”
    • “The puzzles are challenging and addictive, the characters are funny and well developed, the scenery and atmosphere (my favorite) are realistic and memorable.”
    • “The mansion itself isn't really creepy and there is never an atmosphere of horror.”
    • “This could have been one of the scariest Nancy Drew games if the atmosphere lived up to it.”
    • “For an early 2000s game, they did pretty well with creating a spooky atmosphere!”
  • gameplay
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a dated interface and clunky movement mechanics, making navigation and interaction often frustrating and unintuitive. While it offers classic point-and-click puzzle elements with rewarding "aha" moments, many players find the gameplay loop arbitrary and in need of improvement, leading to mixed experiences overall. Despite its nostalgic value, the game struggles with certain mechanics that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The dated gameplay can make things difficult for all the wrong reasons, but otherwise it's a classic point-and-click puzzler with plenty of 'aha' moments to reward inquisitive players.”
    • “I have always counted this game as the start of what I would dub 'the golden twelve', or the best 12 games in the series, which consisted of this game all the way to #14 before quality in the storytelling and gameplay started to drop.”
    • “There are some odd movement mechanics, but you can get the hang of them after a bit.”
    • “The interface and gameplay loop are very dated, and it can be difficult to know where you are able to click and what will happen when you do.”
    • “Nothing is intuitive, and certain mechanics have to be duplicated for the game to proceed.”
    • “Worst of all, I found myself having to call for help every other second because the gameplay is so arbitrary.”
  • music
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised, with many users describing the soundtrack as exceptional and worth listening to independently. It effectively enhances the game's spooky atmosphere and complements key moments, such as entering Abby's room and completing the final puzzle. Overall, the music is considered a standout element that contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.

    • “The soundtrack is an absolute banger and is worth just listening to on its own!”
    • “Though its aged graphics-wise, the interior decor of the game is actually very beautiful and the soundtrack always sets the mood.”
    • “On replaying it, I love how charming the storyline, characters, scenes, and music of this game are.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its nostalgic charm and intentionally poor voice acting, which adds to the comedic experience rather than detracting from it. Players find the characters well-developed and amusing, making the challenging puzzles and historical context more engaging and entertaining. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the game's appeal, creating a memorable atmosphere.

    • “Instead of ruining the game, this just makes it very, very funny.”
    • “It's funny considering the plot of the game was to learn the history of the Victorian styled mansion in Chicago, and I found myself far more interested in the time period it was based on currently instead.”
    • “The puzzles are challenging and addictive, the characters are funny and well-developed, the scenery and atmosphere (my favorite) are realistic and memorable.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be mostly enjoyable, with most puzzles being straightforward and engaging. However, some users noted that certain puzzles, particularly the floor tile puzzle, can feel tedious. Despite this, the majority of tasks are considered fun and not overly repetitive.

    • “You get to snoop through people's stuff, and any tasks you are given are straightforward and not tedious, unlike some of the other entries.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, particularly regarding the floor puzzle, which is described as buggy and requiring precise interactions. Users have reported persistent issues despite attempts to resolve them through reinstalling Steam and updating files, highlighting the challenges posed by the game's outdated interface.

    • “The floor puzzle is notorious for being buggy and precise.”
    • “Reinstalling Steam, updating the files, troubleshooting compatibility, and nothing has worked.”
    • “Cons: older interface (it's a very old game, the third in this long-running series) and a little buggy.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as genuine, though some users noted inconsistencies in tone, particularly in Nancy's questions and during the final bbg event, where the actor's lack of emotional response to being caught was highlighted as a drawback.

  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The Nancy Drew games are praised for their strong character development, alongside engaging historical facts and excellent game design, making them enjoyable for both solo players and those playing with friends or partners.

    • “If you are looking for historical facts, great game design, good character development, and something to do with a friend or solo, you gotta check out the Nancy Drew games!”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally smooth, allowing for a seamless experience as long as players pay attention to details early on, despite some moments that may require backtracking.

    • “It is a little bit daunting to have to go back and forth at points, but as long as you keep your eyes peeled for every detail early on, the game runs smoothly with the storyline.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Despite being on the shorter side, the game offers high replayability, leaving players satisfied with their purchase.

    • “It's a bit short, but it's very replayable and I'm really glad I bought it.”

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