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Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders may well tell a storyline independent of the publisher's other titles, but the game mechanics will be more than familiar to those keeping up with them. The mini-games, puzzles, and hidden object scenes all perform as they should, and the rune battle encounters have been switched up a little to try to keep them fresh in one of few changes to the game format. The protagonist's companion can make conversation painful at times, which is a shame as the developer chose to try something new here too. Regardless, the title will still sate fans of the publisher, and those looking for a quick GamerScore fix, as well as providing a great entry point for those new to the genre.
Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
optimization, character development
91% User Score Based on 141 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders Game Cover

About

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders is a single player casual puzzle game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by SoDigital and was released on June 29, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"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.

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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 141 reviews
story50 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions

  • Richly atmospheric visuals and a beautifully imagined world inspired by Persian legends, creating a captivating setting.
  • Engaging story with a mix of adventure, mystery, and light romance, featuring well-developed characters and solid voice acting.
  • Variety of puzzles and gameplay mechanics, including potion mixing and a helpful map system, ensuring accessibility for players of all skill levels.
  • Short gameplay length, typically completed in under 5 hours, leaving some worldbuilding and character development underexplored.
  • Puzzles and hidden object scenes are often too easy, lacking challenge for experienced players and resulting in minimal replay value.
  • Predictable plot twists and reliance on familiar tropes may detract from the overall originality of the narrative.
  • story
    142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders" centers on Tara, a young apothecary who must navigate a kingdom in crisis due to a mysterious plague, while contending with the sinister grand vizier Zaved. While the narrative is engaging and features solid voice acting, it is often described as predictable and somewhat clichéd, with a mix of adventure, magic, and light-hearted moments. Overall, the game offers a charming, if familiar, tale that balances storytelling with puzzle-solving, making it suitable for a younger audience and casual players.

    • “It follows the story of Tara, a young apothecary who finds herself at the center of a kingdom’s crisis when a mysterious plague begins to spread and the ailing king’s life hangs in the balance.”
    • “In her quest to uncover the source of the sickness and bring salvation to her land, Tara must face the sinister schemes of the grand vizier Zaved, who may be using the chaos to seize power.”
    • “The story unfolds steadily, balancing moments of mystery, adventure, and introspection.”
    • “The story feels a bit rushed with a lot of side quests that halt the main plot.”
    • “The characters are not particularly well developed and there is no sort of character development in the story.”
    • “The story is generic, nothing special.”
  • graphics
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty, vibrant colors, and detailed artwork, making them a standout feature. While some reviews note that the character animations could be improved and that the visuals may not be as crisp as in other titles, the overall aesthetic is described as charming and atmospheric, complementing the game's narrative effectively. Many players appreciate the clean interface and well-designed locations, contributing to a visually pleasing experience.

    • “The interface is clean and unobtrusive, allowing the artwork to remain the visual centerpiece.”
    • “The graphics are lovely, filled with vibrant colors and lush scenery.”
    • “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
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its melodic and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall immersion and complementing the visuals beautifully. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's emotional depth and orchestral richness, some note that the background music loop can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and enjoyment.

    • “Complementing the visuals is a melodic and atmospheric soundtrack that captures both the grandeur and melancholy of the journey.”
    • “The music swells during dramatic moments but retreats gracefully during exploration, maintaining a balance that enhances immersion without becoming repetitive.”
    • “The music is amongst the best I've heard in a hidden object game; they picked some really grandiose soundtracks which never get annoying.”
    • “Sounds and music are fine, but 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
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders" follows the traditional hidden object and puzzle format typical of Artifex Mundi games, enhanced by unique mechanics such as potion-making and character-switching. While the game features a mix of logical puzzles and mini-games that keep the experience engaging, some players find the overall gameplay simplistic and lacking in variety, with a playtime of around 4-5 hours. Despite its shortcomings, the game is praised for its smooth mechanics, intuitive design, and appealing story, making it a solid choice for casual gamers and fans of the genre.

    • “Tara’s background as an apothecary adds an inventive mechanic to the mix—throughout the game, she gathers herbs and ingredients, then mixes potions to heal others or unlock new paths.”
    • “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 minigames are very clever.”
    • “The mechanics of the game are very simplistic.”
    • “Persian nights lacks only in one segment, gameplay variety beyond the usual lightweight point-and-click mechanics (which here are a bit more challenging than in most modern HOGs).”
    • “Comparing to the other HOG games, it's very simplistic, both the gameplay and the story.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders" is highly praised for its rich, immersive world inspired by Persian legends, complemented by a melodic soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the adventure. While the graphics and voice acting are noted as decent, the overall ambiance, including the vibrant scenery and sound effects, significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders, developed by SoDigital and published by Artifex Mundi, is a richly atmospheric hidden object and puzzle adventure that takes players to a beautifully imagined world inspired by Persian legends and fantasy.”
    • “Complementing the visuals is a melodic and atmospheric soundtrack that captures both the grandeur and melancholy of the journey.”
    • “Amazing is the scenery, the colors, the whole atmosphere.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of warmth and levity, primarily through the interactions with the genie Minu, who adds a comedic element that balances the narrative's seriousness. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, with comparisons to an "incompetent" genie, others appreciate the subtle, unforced wit that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the writing and character dynamics contribute to a lighthearted tone that complements the game's simple yet engaging story.

    • “Her interactions with Darius bring warmth and a touch of romance, while the genie Minu adds levity and humor, helping to lighten the tone when the narrative risks becoming too serious.”
    • “The story, while simple, is never grating, supported by nice writing, sometimes even funny without trying too much to be.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders" is characterized by its clarity and accessibility, offering a heartfelt adventure with well-developed characters, despite some narrative shortcomings. While the ending feels abrupt, it ultimately delivers a satisfying and happy conclusion that resonates with players, making it a standout title for those seeking an emotionally engaging experience in a visually captivating setting.

    • “In the end, Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders is a heartfelt and visually captivating adventure that offers exactly what it promises: an enchanting, puzzle-filled journey through a magical desert kingdom.”
    • “Oh, and for what it's worth, the game ends up 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 surfing a simple story starring touching characters.”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while the graphics are among the best and some voice acting performances stand out, cut scenes are not well-optimized for higher resolutions, resulting in blurriness.

    • “Graphically among the best, and while some of the voice acting is bland, a few performances are surprisingly good.”
    • “Cut scenes are nice but not optimized for higher resolutions, as they tend to be blurry.”
    • “Cut scenes not optimized for higher resolutions: blurry.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is largely lacking, with minimal backstory provided for the main character and the genie companion, Minu. While character designs are visually distinct and expressive, the narrative fails to offer meaningful growth or depth, leaving players wanting more in terms of character exploration.

    • “Character designs are expressive and distinct, with Tara’s practical yet elegant attire reflecting her role as both healer and adventurer.”
    • “The characters are not particularly well developed, and there is no sort of character development in the story.”
    • “I wish there was more character development.”
    • “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, and neither does the genie companion Minu that you pick up early on in the game.”
    • “Which adds another complaint in that I wish there was more character development.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has limited replayability, with many users suggesting it is only worth purchasing at a discounted price due to its short length and minimal incentive to replay. Overall, the consensus indicates low replay value.

    • “Only ever truly worth it when it's on sale due to limited replayability and length to finish.”
    • “Minimal replay value.”
    • “I'd recommend waiting for a sale as opposed to paying full price for this as it has little replay value.”
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4h Median play time
4h Average play time
4-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders is a casual puzzle game with fantasy theme.

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iPhone and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders.

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders was released on June 29, 2017.

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders was developed by SoDigital.

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders is a single player game.

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