Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 280 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill Game Cover
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Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED is a first-person perspective, point-and-click adventure game where you play as Nancy Drew and investigate a murder at a local school. The game features 3D animated characters, each with a secret to protect, and offers new puzzles and storyline twists. With vintage Nancy Drew references and the choice between Junior or Senior Detective difficulty levels, players can enjoy a classic mystery game experience without the fear of starting over. Take risks and uncover the secrets hidden within the high school halls.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews
story26 positive mentions
grinding11 negative mentions
  • A nostalgic experience for long-time fans of the Nancy Drew series, providing a fun introduction to the franchise.
  • The remastered graphics and voice acting enhance the overall experience, making it more enjoyable than the original.
  • The game features engaging puzzles and a well-structured mystery that keeps players invested.
  • The game is quite short, with many players finishing it in under three hours, leading to a feeling of underwhelming content.
  • Some puzzles can feel tedious and lack depth, making the gameplay less challenging compared to later entries in the series.
  • The character development is minimal, and the story can feel flat and predictable, especially for seasoned players.
  • story98 mentions

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its straightforward murder mystery elements and pacing, while others criticize it for being cliché, lacking depth, and having an unsatisfying conclusion. The remastered version has made some improvements, adding depth to characters and enhancing the narrative, but many still feel it falls short compared to newer titles in the genre. Overall, while the story can be engaging for newcomers, it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or immersive experience.

    • “I absolutely adored the puzzles and the storyline; I didn't need a single walkthrough for this one.”
    • “The characters are nice and the story keeps you guessing with some welcome twists.”
    • “Very impressed - the story is deep enough and complex enough to keep your attention and sink your teeth into, the puzzles are interesting, clever, and logical.”
    • “It's a classic since it's the first, but it's a major snoozefest plot-wise!”
    • “The story is not interesting and neither are most of the puzzles.”
    • “The plot is a shadow of what was in the original version.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics of the remastered Nancy Drew game are generally considered dated but have received some improvements, making them more visually appealing than the original. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and the effort to update the visuals, others note persistent graphical glitches and a lack of modern polish. Overall, the graphics are acceptable for a point-and-click adventure, though they may not meet the expectations of players familiar with more contemporary titles.

    • “The graphics are definitely better - with a heavy uplift on character animation especially - and countless references to other games scattered around.”
    • “The graphics are also much better than the older Nancy Drew games, instead looking a lot like the new ones, and the storyline was not only superb, but also long enough to keep me entertained the whole way through!”
    • “It certainly helps that the graphics got a much needed face-lift.”
    • “To start off with, during playing, I was faced with an awful graphical glitch that caused intense flashing lights.”
    • “The graphics/animations were pretty cheesy, even by 2010 standards, and the voice acting was pretty bad.”
    • “I feel like I should have played the original version rather than the remastered, because then I'd be kinder to it for how bad it is, but seeing it with modern graphics and mechanics makes it feel worse.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay of the remastered version has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it has aged poorly compared to newer titles in the series, particularly in terms of interface and depth. While it serves as a good introduction to the Nancy Drew franchise, many feel that the gameplay lacks the richness and complexity found in later installments, with some puzzles being too simplistic. Overall, the remaster retains the original's core mechanics but does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience, leading to a perception of it being short and somewhat underwhelming.

    • “Voice acting, gameplay, and navigation were all stellar.”
    • “If you're new to the Nancy Drew franchise, this is a good place to start as it introduces you to the mechanics and general vibe of these games.”
    • “However, unlike the older games, 'Secrets Can Kill' has all the advancements in gameplay design that make the newer games so much more enjoyable to navigate.”
    • “Overall, the game has aged poorly, particularly in regards to the gameplay loop.”
    • “I feel like I should have played the original version rather than the remastered, because then I'd be kinder to it for how bad it is, but seeing it with modern graphics and mechanics makes it feel worse.”
    • “So after four hours of gameplay, six puzzles in total, and a mediocre plot, I'm confident in saying it was a waste of my time.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the intense and suspenseful soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, while others criticize the inconsistent audio and poorly timed suspense cues that can create unnecessary tension. Many appreciated the nostalgic elements and the incorporation of tracks from other games, though some felt certain music choices were out of place. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes to the game's immersive experience, it also has notable flaws that detract from the enjoyment for some players.

    • “The soundtrack, however, is excellent; I loved it so much that it sometimes sounded intense.”
    • “+ beautiful soundtracks.”
    • “On one hand, I really liked the environment and music, and I liked that the puzzles were thought-provoking and not just all frustrating like in many narrative-driven games.”
    • “The scary music in the library had me on edge.”
    • “Like another user mentioned, the random suspense music for no reason is annoying and put me on edge.”
    • “The music that was never in sync would blare suspense music while simply talking to someone.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious, with players noting that the puzzles and exploration often feel repetitive and lacking in engagement. While some appreciate the game's relaxing nature, many feel that the limited locations and uninteresting characters contribute to a frustrating experience, overshadowing the plot and making the gameplay feel drawn out. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game could benefit from more variety and less busy work.

    • “I would say it isn't one of my favorites though because of the tediousness of finding all the clues.”
    • “Unfortunately, there are not as many locations that you can explore thoroughly and it soon becomes tedious.”
    • “Five minutes into the game, I guessed the culprit, was right, and found the rest of the game incredibly tedious.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny characters and witty dialogue, particularly Nancy's bluntness regarding serious topics like murder. Players appreciate the amusing puzzles and the overall lighthearted tone, with some even finding the graphics to be comically engaging. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its mystery elements, making for an entertaining experience.

    • “Loved the puzzles, the story was okay, and the characters were funny.”
    • “The story is intriguing enough, and the characters are funny in how hostile they are.”
    • “I also find Nancy's straightforward approach to asking about murder hilarious.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere in this Nancy Drew game is described as a mix of realism and spookiness, providing an unexpectedly intense experience for a children's game. While some players found the immersion lacking, others appreciated the unique atmosphere and enjoyed the overall experience.

    • “Mystery, puzzles, atmosphere, and learning rolled into one!”
    • “It's weirdly atmospheric for a kids' game.”
    • “Every Nancy Drew game (with a few exceptions) is great and this one was at least a 6/10. The final few puzzles were too confusing for me, and the atmosphere and immersion aren't great, but I enjoyed myself for the almost 4 hours I spent with this game.”
    • “This game in particular has a more realistic atmosphere that is a bit more intense compared to other Nancy Drew titles.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits minor graphical glitches, bugs, and occasional dialogue issues, but these do not significantly detract from the experience. It runs well on Windows 10, and while some players encountered numerous glitches, they found them manageable and did not impact their enjoyment of the game.

    • “Runs great on Windows 10.”
    • “There are some minor graphical glitches and bugs, and some weird dialogue, with some minor typos, but I do see the effort they made updating the original to the new format.”
    • “It's short and pretty straightforward, and to be honest, there were a lot of glitches when I played, but the glitches were not enough to make me dislike the game.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being lacking, with players noting a minimal challenge and a short playtime of around three hours, which contributed to a sense of underwhelming character progression.

    • “On the other hand, the character development was poor; there were hardly any choices to make, and I literally beat the game with little difficulty in about 3 hours.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players feel that the emotional impact of the game is diminished due to the lack of challenging puzzles, leading to a sense of disengagement and a feeling of merely going through the motions rather than experiencing a deeper emotional connection.

  • replayability1 mentions

    The game has limited replayability, with users noting that there isn't much incentive to play through it multiple times.

    • “There isn't much replay value.”
    • “The game lacks incentives for replaying.”
    • “Once you finish the game, there's little reason to go back.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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