Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 102 reviews
  • story
  • grinding
  • gameplay
Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships Game Cover
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Dive into Danger to Rescue Bess from Kidnappers!

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 102 reviews
story14 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • The game features a good variety of puzzles and activities, providing a decent level of challenge.
  • The music and graphics are well done, creating an enjoyable atmosphere.
  • The inclusion of Bess and George adds a fun element, and the story has some interesting twists.
  • Many puzzles are tedious or overly complicated, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
  • The game suffers from a lack of character interaction, making it feel flat and unengaging.
  • Navigation around the island is cumbersome, with long travel times that detract from the overall experience.
  • story34 mentions

    The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing due to its historical elements and plot twists, particularly the return of a familiar villain. However, many criticize the overall narrative as lacking depth and character development, leading to a sense of wasted potential. While the game features entertaining puzzles and beautiful locations, some players feel that the story ultimately falls flat and can feel like a chore to complete.

    • “Story-wise, I am surprised that they brought back a villain from one of her early games, and that it is revealed that the villain had tracked Nancy's successes through the series.”
    • “The game itself is cool, with a great story, extremely pretty locations, and you can even go scuba diving!”
    • “But the story was absolutely brilliant, 10/10, and, for me, is what won me over.”
    • “The story is just a heaping plate of wasted potential.”
    • “While it has some solid virtues, I feel like it fails to entertain, and finishing the main story feels more like a chore than anything else.”
    • “The plot was as flat as you can get.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, with many tasks and puzzles lacking challenge and requiring excessive backtracking. Activities like driving the golf cart and engaging with monkeys are seen as filler that prolongs gameplay without adding meaningful engagement. Overall, while some find enjoyment in the game, the grinding elements detract from the overall experience.

    • “Driving the golf cart, playing endless games with the monkeys, sailing... all are just tedious additions to pad out the run time.”
    • “However, it became extremely tedious... go here, do this, only to find out that I needed to go back to the beginning to get what I needed, then back again, etc.”
    • “Out of the Nancy Drew games that I have played, this one is fun, but a little tedious to constantly travel from place to place.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging and innovative puzzles, staying true to the franchise's immersive, puzzle-based mechanics. However, the driving segments around the island received negative feedback, with some players expressing frustration over this aspect. Overall, the game maintains the core elements that fans enjoy, while also introducing new challenges.

    • “It turned out to be pretty fun because the puzzles and gameplay were interesting and new.”
    • “Most games in the franchise are well-known for their immersive, puzzle-based gameplay and suspect-questioning mechanics, which I always enjoy, and this one did not disappoint.”
    • “Only one or two episodes I've played so far have deviated drastically from the core gameplay, one being a Nintendo DS release (aimed toward very young players and not nearly on the same level as the main series).”
    • “Except for driving around the island, I didn't love this sort of gameplay in other Nancy Drew games, but I really hated it in this one.”
    • “Only one or two episodes I've played so far have deviated drastically from the core gameplay, one being a Nintendo DS release aimed toward very young players and not nearly on the same level as the main series.”
    • “The background music haunted my mind long after gameplay.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the Nancy Drew games is generally praised for its quality and integration with the visuals, maintaining a consistent standard across the series. However, some players find the music overly cheerful and repetitive, which feels out of place given the serious themes, such as kidnapping, present in the game. Overall, while the music is memorable, it may not always align with the game's tone.

    • “This goes without saying, but the music in basically all of the Nancy Drew games is good and this one is no exception.”
    • “Great visuals and music though.”
    • “The music is way too cheery considering we are dealing with a kidnapping, and is really repetitive.”
    • “The background music haunted my mind long after gameplay.”
    • “The music is way too cheery considering we are dealing with a kidnapping, and is really repetitive.”
  • graphics10 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the visuals and art style, others criticize them for feeling outdated, likening them to 1980s Nintendo games. Despite the nostalgic charm, many feel the graphics have not evolved significantly over the years, maintaining a consistent look reminiscent of early 2000s titles. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, but there is a clear desire for more modern updates.

    • “This is a great game with lots of puzzles to play, and I love the graphics in this game.”
    • “Great visuals and music though.”
    • “The graphics were great as always, and seeing Bess and George was great.”
    • “Graphics are even dumber than the 1980s Nintendo games.”
    • “The art style has been identical across all 35-or-whatever-they're-up-to-now games, such that it feels like they were all made in the early 2000s and are just slowly getting released for marketing reasons.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized by pleasant steel drum music that effectively creates an island vibe; however, this lighthearted sound contrasts with the game's high-stakes narrative, leading to a dissonance in tone.

    • “Pleasant steel drums perfectly invoke an island atmosphere, though their lighthearted sound does clash with the high stakes of the narrative.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users express that the game effectively evokes a strong sense of escapism, making them feel as though they are genuinely experiencing a vacation. This emotional connection enhances the overall enjoyment and immersion in the game.

  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the presence of a comical hint-giving bird, reminiscent of the one found in Blackmoor Manor, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay.

    • “The game features a funny hint-giving bird that's reminiscent of the one in Blackmoor Manor.”
    • “The humor in the game is highlighted by a hilarious hint-giving bird, much like the one from Blackmoor Manor.”
    • “I love the funny hint-giving bird; it adds a delightful touch of humor similar to the one in Blackmoor Manor.”
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