Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 137 reviews

story28 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Beautiful setting and atmosphere that immerses players in the Italian culture, complete with gondolas and gelato.
Engaging storyline with interesting characters and a variety of puzzles that cater to different skill levels.
Fun mini-games like Scopa that add an enjoyable layer to the gameplay and provide educational elements.

Repetitive puzzles, such as the lockpicking and Scopa mini-game, can become tedious and frustrating over time.
Some puzzles are overly complicated or poorly designed, leading to confusion and a lack of intuitive gameplay.
Limited exploration due to a small number of accessible locations, which can make the game feel linear and restrict player engagement.

story
50 mentions
56 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally well-received, featuring an engaging plot with interesting characters and a beautiful setting, particularly noted for its complexity and suspense. However, some players found certain aspects, such as character development and predictability, lacking, while others criticized the gameplay mechanics that detracted from the narrative experience. Overall, it stands out as one of the better entries in the series, with a mix of enjoyable puzzles and a compelling storyline.
- “The story is one of the best in the series and is complemented by interesting characters and perfectly leveled puzzles.”
- “Great storyline!”
- “The story was definitely enjoyable for this one for sure.”
- “The actual gameplay is boring and the story is also boring.”
- “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 and the characters lacked their usual backstory.”
grinding
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
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 or punishing. While some puzzles are engaging, a significant number are criticized for being repetitive and lacking in enjoyment, leading to a less rewarding gameplay experience.
- “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
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and unengaging, often describing it as boring and linear. While some appreciate the game mechanics and inventory system, others criticize the pacing and the reliance on a money mechanic that extends gameplay unnecessarily. Overall, the gameplay lacks the depth and excitement expected from an adventure game, leading to a less enjoyable experience for many players.
- “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
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for enhancing the atmosphere, with a variety of Italian songs performed by gondoliers that contribute to the immersive experience. While the overall soundtrack is enjoyable and complements the engaging story and characters, some players feel that the stage show minigame could benefit from additional songs to maintain freshness. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly enriches the gameplay.
- “The atmosphere and music are top tier.”
- “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.”
- “Definitely in my top 3 favorite Nancy Drew games - great atmosphere (scenery and music), great story and characters, and you get to do a lot of spy-like tasks.”
- “At the very least, I think the stage show minigame could've done with a few more songs to help keep it fresh longer.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive Italian setting, featuring gondolas, carnivals, and rich cultural details that enhance the experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful scenery and top-tier music, which contribute to a captivating and suspenseful environment, making it a standout aspect of the game. Overall, the combination of engaging characters and a well-crafted atmosphere places it among the favorites for many players.
- “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.”
- “I thought it had a great story, beautiful atmosphere, and suspense.”
graphics
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally considered decent, with smooth performance even on older hardware, making for an acceptable visual experience.
- “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.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
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, re-enter the theater, and click on the curtain again. It's tedious and disrupts the flow of the game.”
- “The optimization is lacking; the constant backtracking after each performance feels unnecessary and frustrating.”
- “The game could benefit from better optimization, as the repetitive process of returning to the theater after every performance is a major annoyance.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users found the humor in the game to be enjoyable, particularly highlighting the funny side stories and the amusing closet feature, which contributed to an overall entertaining experience.
- “The side stories were funny, and I loved the music.”
- “The closet feature was great and funny.”
monetization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the monetization model that allows them to enjoy the game without ads after saving their progress, enhancing the overall experience.
- “You can save your progress and return to play scopa anytime, without any ads.”
- “The monetization model is fair and allows for a great gaming experience without constant interruptions.”
- “I appreciate that I can enjoy the game without being bombarded by ads or paywalls.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is notably lacking, with users highlighting a weak storyline that fails to provide depth or growth for the characters.
- “The storyline is very weak and there isn't much character development for anyone.”
- “Character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth in the characters throughout the game.”