Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice

About

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice is a single player puzzle game with a mystery theme. It was developed by HeR Interactive and was released on July 17, 2009. It received very positive reviews from players.

In Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice, players solve puzzles and gather evidence as detective Nancy Drew, exploring the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. The plot involves a phantom threatening to destabilize Venice's cultural gems, and Nancy must uncover the truth behind the masked figure while immersing herself in the local culture. Players can choose from two difficulty levels, making this game approachable for newcomers and challenging for experienced adventure game enthusiasts.

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Single-Player

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice screenshot

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 181 reviews

story32 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Engaging storyline with a compelling mystery that keeps players invested.
Fun and challenging puzzles, including the enjoyable mini-game Scopa, which adds a unique element to the gameplay.
Beautifully designed locations in Venice, with great attention to detail and an immersive atmosphere.

Some puzzles can be tedious and frustrating, particularly the repetitive tasks like unlocking doors and the Scopa mini-game.
The game lacks character development and interactions, making some parts feel less engaging.
Navigation can be clunky, and certain puzzles may require excessive trial and error, leading to a less satisfying experience.

story
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
34%
6%
The story in this game is generally engaging and features interesting characters, though some players find it simpler or less compelling compared to other titles in the series. While many appreciate the plot's complexity and the integration of detective themes, others criticize it for being predictable or lacking depth in character development. Overall, the narrative is enjoyable for most, complemented by a beautiful setting and a variety of puzzles, though some gameplay elements may detract from the storytelling experience.
- “The story is one of the best in the series and is complemented by interesting characters and perfectly leveled puzzles.”
- “The story was definitely enjoyable for this one for sure.”
- “The story is interesting, with a lot to learn about through talking to the other people (or snooping through their stuff).”
- “The story is okay, but I guessed who's behind the mystery before I was halfway done; I often found the navigation clunky.”
- “The puzzles and games felt repetitive, there was little for Nancy to do (and few helpful hints) throughout, and the story felt so far-fetched that the finale felt unearned.”
- “Compared to other Nancy Drew games, the story is very shallow (at least to me) and the characters lacked their usual backstory.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many puzzles and mini-games described as overly challenging and unenjoyable. While some puzzles are engaging, a significant number are criticized for being repetitive and lacking in reward, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel punishing and drawn-out.
- “Some of the puzzles and minigames are very tedious.”
- “The mini-games themselves are tedious and not even fun.”
- “There were a few parts that were tedious and downright unenjoyable, like a puzzle where you literally match colors for 30 minutes or a card playing minigame where your opponent has unskippable annoying lines counting the number of points you each get.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it tedious and unbalanced, leading to a linear and uninspiring experience. While the game mechanics and inventory system are appreciated, many feel that the focus on story detracts from engaging gameplay, resulting in a lack of enjoyment overall. Despite some fun elements, the gameplay is often described as boring and not compelling enough for an adventure game of its length.
- “I like the game mechanics, inventory system, and pacing of the story.”
- “It's a great game with fun, easy gameplay.”
- “Note: my review has very minor gameplay spoilers (mini-game related but no culprit giveaways, so don't worry!)”
- “The actual gameplay is boring and the story is also boring.”
- “In fact, most of the gameplay can be described as tedious or confusing.”
- “It's sacrificed gameplay for story and doesn't pull it off.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and contribution to the immersive atmosphere, with players enjoying the diverse Italian songs performed by gondoliers and the engaging soundtrack. The attention to detail in the music complements the game's setting and enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature that players appreciate alongside the story and characters. Overall, the music significantly enriches the gameplay, adding to its charm and appeal.
- “The atmosphere and music are top tier.”
- “Love the soundtrack and the suspects.”
- “Great suspects, music, and atmosphere.”
- “Earning and spending money - to buy costume parts, gelato, magazines, song requests from gondoliers, etc. - too much trouble to earn substantial cash and not enough to buy everything.”
- “I played this again after several years, but instead of rushing through it, I took my time riding on different gondolas (different Italian songs belted out by different gondoliers), played countless rounds of scopa (a card game) which I was able to appreciate this time and it became quite addicting, and danced on stage to earn more than 1000 euros.”
- “Music, setting, games, story.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive Italian setting, featuring gondolas, carnivals, and rich cultural details that enhance the experience. Reviewers highlight the top-tier music and the engaging environment, which contribute to a captivating and suspenseful narrative. Overall, the combination of beautiful scenery, interesting characters, and atmospheric elements makes it a standout aspect of the game.
- “I liked the game overall due to the Italian atmosphere: gondolas, carnival, masks, gelato, Italian words, game of scopa.”
- “Just like DBD, it's very immersive and atmospheric, and I loved all the small details to really enhance the environment!”
- “The atmosphere and music are top tier.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the accurate portrayal of the character Colin as a "nice guy," which elicited genuine laughter from players. Additionally, the side stories and music contribute to the comedic experience, while the closet feature adds an amusing element to the gameplay.
- “Colin is a very accurate depiction of a 'nice guy' that it made me laugh out loud.”
- “The side stories were funny, and I loved the music.”
- “The closet feature was great and funny.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the monetization model, highlighting the option to save progress and enjoy the game repeatedly without interruptions from ads.
- “You can save your progress and return to play scopa anytime, without any ads.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt the gameplay experience.”
- “I appreciate that there are options to support the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly even on older hardware, which is a significant advantage. However, the repetitive navigation back to the theater after each performance can be tedious.
- “The graphics are decent and the game itself runs smoothly, even on an older laptop, which is a plus.”
- “Every time you finish a performance, you're kicked back out to the map, forcing you to turn around and re-enter the theater to click on the curtain again. It's tedious and disrupts the flow of the game.”
- “The optimization is lacking; it feels like I'm constantly navigating unnecessary menus instead of enjoying the gameplay.”
- “The frequent loading screens and backtracking make the experience frustrating, as it interrupts the immersion and pacing of the game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game suffers from minimal character development, with players expressing disappointment in the weak storyline and lack of depth for the characters. This has contributed to a negative overall impression, particularly for fans of the series.
- “So far, this is my least favorite game of all time. There is very little character development, and I hated the puzzles at the end.”
- “The storyline is very weak, and there is not much character development for anyone.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The graphics are generally considered acceptable and decent, with smooth performance noted even on older hardware, which is a positive aspect for players.
- “The graphics are decent, and the game itself runs smoothly, even on an older laptop, which is a plus.”
- “Graphics were acceptable.”
- “The graphics are decent and the game itself runs smoothly, even on an older laptop, which is a plus.”

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30h Median play time

30h Average play time

30-30h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice is a puzzle game with mystery theme.

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 30 hours playing Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice.

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice was released on July 17, 2009.

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice was developed by HeR Interactive.

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice is a single player game.

Similar games include Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge, Nancy Drew: Sea of Darkness, Nancy Drew: The Captive Curse, Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes, Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor and others.

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