Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders

About

"Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders" is a hidden object adventure game set in the mystical world of ancient Persia. You play as a young alchemist on a quest to save your sister from the clutches of an evil sorcerer. Solve puzzles, find hidden objects, and uncover the secrets of a mysterious desert city to save your sister and break the sorcerer's curse.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders screenshot

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 133 reviews

story49 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game features a great story with engaging characters and a charming setting inspired by Persian mythology.
The graphics and voice acting are of high quality, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
The puzzles are varied and enjoyable, with a good mix of hidden object scenes and mini-games.

The game is relatively short, taking only about 2 to 4 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
Many of the puzzles and hidden object scenes are considered too easy, lacking challenge for experienced players.
There is minimal replay value, and some collectibles can be easily missed, requiring a full replay to obtain them.

story
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and charming characters, often likening it to classic tales like "One Thousand and One Nights." However, some critiques highlight its predictability and reliance on familiar tropes, leading to a perception of a generic plot. Overall, while the story is enjoyable and well-presented, it may not offer the depth or originality that some players seek.
- “A really nice adventure in Persia with a good story flow and solvable riddles.”
- “The story is well done but a bit simplistic and predictable.”
- “The story is great, the soundtrack is nice, and the art is gorgeous.”
- “The story is generic, nothing special.”
- “The characters are not particularly well developed and there is no sort of character development in the story.”
- “While I know these sorts of games aren’t expected to be giant stories, if you’re adding in a story and focusing on it and the action with less emphasis on other elements, give players more meat.”
graphics
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
20%
6%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their high quality, vibrant colors, and detailed artwork, making them one of the standout features. Many reviews highlight the well-designed locations and fine animations, contributing to an overall visually appealing experience. While some voice acting may not match the graphics' excellence, the combination of stunning visuals and engaging music enhances the game's atmosphere.
- “Graphics have appropriate quality: the locations are well-designed and detailed, the animations are fine.”
- “The graphics and music are gorgeous.”
- “A great adventure game with absolutely beautiful graphics.”
- “The graphics were on par for this genre, the voice overs I felt were a bit better than most, but still B-rated at best, and the music and sound effects were good enough to add to the game atmosphere, but nothing to brag about.”
- “While the artwork and overall flow of the game was well done, it was too easy and childish.”
- “Near the end, with Darius, they should have altered his appearance in a certain way and did not, which stood out to me, but aside from that, I found the game to be aesthetically pleasing.”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
21%
9%
The music in the game receives generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere. However, some players noted that the background music loop can become repetitive over time. While the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and fitting, there are criticisms regarding its authenticity in representing specific cultural sounds, particularly Persian music. Overall, the music is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The music is great, the puzzles at first are almost too easy, but get harder as the game progresses.”
- “The adventure is very bright, full of emotions and colors, ringing the gentle sounds of music from oriental nights.”
- “The music is amongst the best I've heard in a HOG; they picked some really grandiose soundtracks which never get annoying.”
- “The background music loop can become disturbing after some time.”
- “The music does not in any way at any point sound like any Persian music I've ever heard, neither modern nor classical.”
- “The adventure is very bright, full of emotions and colors, ringing with the gentle sounds of music from oriental nights.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
71%
13%
The gameplay in "Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders" is characterized by a blend of classic hidden object mechanics and innovative features, such as character switching and engaging mini-games that enhance the experience. While the overall mechanics are simple and accessible, the game offers a mix of logical puzzles and hidden object challenges, though some players feel the variety is limited. Despite its enjoyable elements, the game is noted for its relatively short playtime of around 4-5 hours, which has led to mixed reviews regarding its value.
- “The gameplay is also loosened up by small mini-games.”
- “Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders is one of those hidden object games that does everything right: smooth gameplay, good plot, excellent setting, great puzzles with adventure and romance.”
- “The gameplay itself is pretty intuitive, and the mini-games are very clever.”
- “The mechanics of the game are very simplistic.”
- “That price for the length of the gameplay time is not fair.”
- “Persian nights lacks only in one segment, gameplay variety beyond the usual lightweight point ‘n’ click mechanics (which here are a bit more challenging than in most modern HOGs).”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some find it to be humorously bad and reminiscent of an incompetent genie, others appreciate the simple yet charming writing that occasionally delivers unintentional laughs. The overall tone is light-hearted, with a few clever moments that reflect the developers' passion for the project.
- “The story, while simple, is never grating, supported by nice writing that is sometimes even funny without trying too hard.”
- “While the puzzles are simple, there is true ingenuity and a funny sensibility that shows this game is really a labor of love.”
- “With the genie Minu, we have a humorous touch in the game.”
- “It's like Prince of Persia meets Aladdin, but the genie is incompetent and not funny.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, lacking any real wit or charm.”
- “I expected clever humor, but instead, it was just cringeworthy and awkward.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game's graphics are highly praised, though some voice acting is inconsistent. However, cut scenes suffer from poor optimization at higher resolutions, resulting in blurriness.
- “Cut scenes are nice but not optimized for higher resolutions, as they tend to be blurry.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, with impressive scenery and vibrant colors that enhance the experience. While the graphics and sound effects contribute positively, the voiceovers are considered average. Overall, the atmosphere effectively immerses players in the adventure.
- “I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere of this adventure.”
- “Amazing is the scenery, the colors, the whole atmosphere.”
- “The graphics were on par for this genre, the voiceovers were a bit better than most, and the music and sound effects added to the game atmosphere.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has minimal replay value, with users suggesting that it may be better to wait for a sale rather than purchasing at full price due to its lack of content that encourages repeated playthroughs.
- “Minimal replay value.”
- “I'd recommend waiting for a sale as opposed to paying full price for this, as it has little replay value.”
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is notably lacking, with minimal backstory provided for the main character and the genie companion, Minu. While Darius receives some background towards the end, overall, players express a desire for deeper character exploration and growth throughout the story.
- “The characters are not particularly well developed, and there is no sort of character development in the story.”
- “A little bit of background story is given to Darius towards the end of the game, but you, as the main character, have pretty much no character backstory and no character development. Neither does the genie companion Minu that you pick up early on in the game.”
- “This adds another complaint: I wish there was more character development.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features well-developed characters, particularly Darius, whose voice acting enhances the emotional depth of the narrative. Despite its hidden-object format, it delivers a satisfying and deserved happy ending, making it a standout experience for players seeking an emotionally engaging story.
- “The characters are well-drawn, both physically and emotionally, and Darius has a good voice actor.”
- “The game ends with a happy ending that feels well-deserved and is, ironically enough for a hidden-object game, emotionally satisfying.”
- “Definitely one of the glowing jewels in Artifex's crown, if you are in the mood for a simple story starring touching characters.”