Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion

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Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion is a single player action game with a mystery theme. It was developed by HeR Interactive and was released on May 1, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

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.

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Single-Player

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion screenshot

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 386 reviews

story40 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience with charming characters and a fun storyline, making it a great introduction to the Nancy Drew series.
Puzzles are logical and rewarding, encouraging players to pay attention to details and use their knowledge of the mansion.
The atmosphere is engaging, with spooky elements that enhance the mystery, and the setting in a Victorian mansion adds to the overall charm.

The game suffers from dated graphics and a clunky interface, making navigation and interaction frustrating at times.
Some puzzles, particularly the floor tile puzzle, are overly finicky and can be difficult to complete due to bugs or lack of clarity.
The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it lacks depth in both story and character development compared to later titles in the series.

story
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
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 the game's structure. Overall, the narrative is seen as enjoyable but could benefit from more complexity and resolution in certain elements.
- “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
27%
60%
13%
The graphics of "Message in a Haunted Mansion" are often described as dated and reminiscent of 90s 3D design, which can make reading in-game notes challenging due to low resolution and lack of zoom features. Despite these shortcomings, many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and beautiful interior decor, acknowledging the game's age while still enjoying the overall experience. While the visuals may not meet modern standards, they contribute to the game's classic appeal for fans of the Nancy Drew series.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Between the weird characters, old graphics, and dull plot, it does little to excite.”
- “While I do think the dialogue could've been a little more fleshed out (especially if you miss key interrogation opportunities), it is an extremely pleasant adventure for all ages wrapped up in a dated, but respectable graphical bow.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and cozy mystery vibe, effectively capturing the charm of San Francisco's Victorian architecture and the gold rush era. While some players noted that the mansion lacks true horror elements, the overall theming, soundtrack, and realistic scenery contribute to a memorable and engaging experience. Despite some critiques regarding the puzzles, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
- “Nostalgic, cheesy, endearing, great atmosphere and soundtrack.”
- “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 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
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay is characterized as dated and clunky, with a confusing interface that can hinder player experience, leading to frequent reliance on external help. Despite these issues, it retains classic point-and-click elements with rewarding "aha" moments for curious players, though some mechanics feel unintuitive and repetitive. Overall, while it has its merits, the gameplay experience is mixed, with some reviewers noting it as a significant improvement over earlier titles in the series.
- “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.”
- “Good story, realistic non-overblown characters, good gameplay, and barely good enough puzzles to get a solid passing grade.”
- “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.”
- “This game was a disappointment on both a story and a gameplay level, even for those who grew up with Nancy Drew games.”
- “Worst of all, I found myself having to call for help every other second because the gameplay is so arbitrary.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and endearing qualities, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and charm. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as captivating and worthy of independent listening, while specific themes enhance key moments in the gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a vital element that elevates the game's experience.
- “The soundtrack is an absolute banger and is worth just listening to on its own!”
- “Nostalgic, cheesy, endearing, great atmosphere and soundtrack.”
- “Though its aged graphics wise, the interior decor of the game is actually very beautiful and the soundtrack always sets the mood.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a nostalgic and entertaining element, particularly due to the intentionally poor voice acting, which adds to the comedic experience rather than detracting from it. Players find the characters well-developed and amusing, contributing to an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “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
50%
50%
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, detracting from the overall experience.
- “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
100%
The game is plagued by stability issues, particularly with the floor puzzle, which is described as buggy and requiring precise interactions. Despite attempts to resolve these problems through reinstalling Steam and updating files, users continue to experience difficulties, highlighting the game's outdated interface as a contributing factor.
- “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
100%
Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is perceived as genuine, though there are some criticisms regarding the tone of Nancy's questions and a lack of emotional depth in the final bbg event, where the actor's reaction to being caught feels underwhelming.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally positive, with smooth performance and a cohesive storyline, though some players find the need to backtrack at times a bit daunting. Paying attention to details early on can enhance the experience.
- “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
100%
Despite being on the shorter side, the game offers high replayability, making it a worthwhile purchase for players.
- “It's a bit short, but it's very replayable and I'm really glad I bought it.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion is a action game with mystery theme.

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion is available on PC, Windows and Game Boy Advance.

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion was released on May 1, 2017.

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion was developed by HeR Interactive.

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion is a single player game.

Similar games include Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor, Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake, Nancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal Tower, Black Mirror, Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill and others.

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