History Main / HiddenObjectGame

* ''WheresWaldo'': Trope Maker, or rather the UrExample.

* Hidden Expedition

* VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles

* The video game adaptation of Agatha Christie's ''Death on the Nile''
* The ''VideoGame/VampireSaga'' series.

* The "House of 1000 Doors" series: Family Secrets, The Palm of Zoroaster, The Serpent Flame, and Evil Inside.
* The ''VideoGame/NightmareRealm'' series.
* The Videogame/{{Awakening}} series
* The Videogame/{{Mystery Trackers}} series

* The ''Videogame/WitchesLegacy'' series

* The Mystery Trackers series

* CorpseParty has this as its primary gaming element: in order to avoid a [[MultipleEndings Wrong End]], you have to locate certain items while moving through the plot.

* Another series is the "House of 1000 Doors": Family Secrets, The Palm of Zoroaster, The Serpent Flame, and Evil Inside.

A Hidden Object Game (often abbreviated [=HOG=]) is a subgenre of {{Casual Video Game}}s where the player has to find [[NeedleInAStackOfNeedles a series of objects in a cluttered scene]], which are almost always photorealistic. Basically, the "gameplay" consists of just staring at the screen until you find something and clicking on it. Some games will reward you for finding many items in quick succession. The [[SturgeonsLaw really bad ones]] don't even try to hide the objects well, or worse yet, [[PixelHunt too well]].

In most cases, expect objects that have no business being anywhere near the scene pictured and a good helping of AnachronismStew (a jumbo jet inside the depths of an ancient Egyptian tomb, for example). After getting the objects, you'll be given one of them to take with you for use in your exploration of the game's setting (for instance, if you get an axe, expect to find a door with a busted lock somewhere). However, the ''Travelogue 360'' series has no overworld, while ''Nightmare Adventures The Witch's Prison'' has no hidden object scenes, aside from a joke [[ShowWithinAShow Game Within A Game]].

Most current games are primarily horror games, although there are a few mystery ones (sometimes, they're both). Of course, there's not much else you can do outside horror, either because horror stories have deserted locations, it adds a good atmosphere to an otherwise boring game, and gives you a reason to find the objects. Basically, they're SurvivalHorror titles with hidden object levels replacing the monsters. Although most of them have subtitles, they're either a standalone game or part of a long series.

* ''WheresWaldo'': Trope Maker, or rather the UrExample [[note]]Well, how far can a book take this genre?[[/note]].

The hidden object scene is dominated by Big Fish and Alawar, but other, smaller companies are starting to make names for themselves. The top 5 list of 2012 [=HOGs=] on Gamezebo (''the'' website for [=HOGs=]), [[http://www.gamezebo.com/news/2012/12/24/best-hidden-object-games-2012 doesn't include any games from Big Fish or Alawar]].

* I Spy, which began as a series of childrens' books and later became computer games, is probably one of the earliest games of this type. [[note]]In ''I Spy'', you GottaCatchEmAll (whatever ey are) and get one for finishing a Hidden Object Scene.[[/note]]

* MysteryCaseFiles

* The ''VampireSaga'' series.

* The Videogame/DarkParables series

* ''WheresWaldo'': Trope Maker, or rather the UrExample [[hottip:*:Well, how far can a book take this genre?]].

* I Spy, which began as a series of childrens' books and later became computer games, is probably one of the earliest games of this type. [[hottip:*:In ''I Spy'', you GottaCatchEmAll (whatever ey are) and get one for finishing a Hidden Object Scene.]]

* Travelogue 360 [[hottip:*:You can only go to Hidden Object Scenes. There is no overworld. And once you've finished, the story progresses, as opposed to receiving an item.]]

* [[DinerDash Diner Town Detective Agency]] co-starring Flo and featuring many characters from the ''Dash'' series of games.

Basically, Hidden Object Games are [[SurvivalHorror Survival Horrors]] with no monsters and hidden object levels.

These games are mostly horror games, although there are a few mystery ones (sometimes, they're both). Of course, there's not much else you can do outside horror, either because horror stories have deserted locations, it adds a good atmosphere to an otherwise boring game, and gives you a reason to find the objects. Although most of them have subtitles, they're either a standalone game or a long series.

* [[Videogame/DinerDash Diner Town Detective Agency]] co-starring Flo and featuring many characters from the ''Dash'' series of games.

* The DarkParables series

* [[DinerDash Diner Town Detective Agency]] co-starring Flo and featuring many characters from the ''Dash'' series of games.