Bluebeard's Castle is a hidden object game series published by Big Fish Games, based on the fairy tale Bluebeard.
The first game is told through the perspective of Emily, whose sister, Clarice, married Bluebeard. However, she hasn't been heard from after receiving the last letter from her, where she expressed her suspicions about what secrets he is hiding. Emily takes matters into her own hands to find her sister and free the souls of the wives slain by Bluebeard.
The sequel, "Bluebeard's Castle: Son of the Heartless", takes place years after the first game. This time, the tale tells of Jack Knight, Clarice's son, who has been experiencing terrible nightmares and is doomed to die young because of a broken pact his father made. At the advice of his aunt Emily, he seeks out the castle of his father to find a way to rid himself of the curse he is burdened with.
Bluebeard's Castle and Son of the Heartless explores these examples:
- Barred from the Afterlife: The six previous wives are unable to find rest because of their deaths by Gilles' hands and subsequent imprisonment behind the forbidden door.
- Beard of Evil. The title character. The sequel reveals that his blue beard is one of the signs of the pact he made with the demon to save his life.
- Beat Still, My Heart: The Dark Heart, which was once the heart of Gilles de Brais, has been separated from its owner and is the cause of the curse that has affected the people of Nantes living near his castle and continues to beat despite it no longer having a body.
- Bittersweet Ending: Emily successfully breaks the seal and frees the souls of Bluebeard's previous wife, even saving her sister Clarice from suffering the same fate. However, Gilles manages to escape with the possibility that he will marry again and will kill again.
- The Bluebeard: Gilles de Brais, aka Bluebeard.
- Deal with the Devil: The sequel reveals that Gilles be Brais, when he was fatally wounded by a wolf, called for help. A demon answered him and offered to save him in exchange for yearly sacrifices that would sustain him, which Gilles did so through his wives. However, due to the pact being broken, a deadly curse has run rampant.
- Haunted Castle: Bluebeard's castle is haunted by the spirits of his previous wives in the first game, and then haunted by the spirits of residents near the castle in the sequel.
- Rapunzel Hair: Soliel has very long hair that has grown all over the place, appearing blue because of the curse and then turning golden blond upon being freed from the curse.
- Rhymes on a Dime: The messages and riddles left for Emily to read are written in rhyme, adding to the mystery and providing a puzzle that needs solving in order to progress.
- Rule of Seven: In the first game, Bluebeard married seven times, the last one being Clarice. Emily also had to collect seven keys to open the door where her sister is being held and rescue her.
- Rule of Three: In the sequel, in order to end the curse caused by the Dark Heart, Jack has to locate three magic totems held by their three guardians - Allan, Salvadora and Soliel.
- Unknown Relative: The sequel reveals that one of the totem's guardians, Soliel, is the sister of Gilles.
- Your Days Are Numbered: Jack is doomed to die young because the pact his father made with a demon had been broken because of Emily's rescue of his mother years ago.
