Top Ten Nancy Drew PC Games

I grew up idolizing Nancy Drew and her ability to face any danger with courage and solve any mystery with her quick-thinking and intelligence.  So it seemed only natural I would fall in love with HerInteractive’s Nancy Drew video games, which allow you to take on the persona of Nancy Drew as you complete logic puzzles to solve mysteries.  It’s been four years since the last game was released, but in honor of the 33rd game coming out this fall (Midnight in Salem), here my top ten favorite Nancy Drew video games (so far).

Shadow at the Water’s Edge

In this mystery, Nancy visits a Japanese ryokan and tries to discover the secret behind the ghost haunting the family.  The gameplay was long with enough places to visit that the game felt immersive. I especially loved the mini games, however, such as the Bento sorting and the ability to make avatars for Nancy’s phone.

The Secret of Shadow Ranch

This is one of the most celebrated Nancy Drew games and for good reason.  It has compelling characters, a decent length for gameplay, and plenty of chores to keep Nancy busy (if you like th games with chores).

Secret of the Old Clock

I love this one because it is the only historical Nancy Drew.  Based on her first book, it takes players back to the 1930s.  Nancy gets to drive around town in her iconic blue roadster, play mini golf, and more.  I can’t help but hope that we will one day see another historical game!

Sea of Darkness

This maritime adventure is set in Iceland, where Nancy gets to view the Northern lights, explore a restored ship, venture into ice caves, and, of course, buy plenty of souvenirs.  The gameplay is long and there are a myriad of settings for Nancy to visit, so it never feels like the game is stalling.  The graphics in this one are really beautiful, as is the soundtrack.

Labyrinth of Lies

The graphics in this Greek adventure are really beautiful, though it is a shame Nancy has to spend so much time exploring Hades and does not really have the ability to walk around outside too much.  Still, there is plenty to do and explore in this game, and the puzzles felt new–sometimes the games use similar puzzles.

The Captive Curse

Nancy visits a Bavarian castle and learns about the monster that roams the forest outside, sometimes kidnapping young women.  The setting for this game was especially enjoyable–it’s always fun to explore a castle!  I also love the games where you can earn money to purchase and collect souvenirs.

Ghost of Thornton Hall

Ghost of Thornton Hall is one of the creepier games, which normally I don’t like so much.  (Curse of Blackmoor Manor, for instance, terrified me with its emphasis on the occult.)  However, this one was pretty enjoyable.  I don’t know why, but there’s something compelling about getting to explore cemeteries.

The Haunting of Castle Malloy

The Haunting of Castle Malloy has a somewhat weak plot, but it is set in Ireland, where Nancy is investigating the disappearance of her friend’s betrothed.  I really liked getting to explore an old castle, roam the grounds and see (and shear) the sheep, visit an Irish pub (where the only beer is root beer), and more.  Plus, the soundtrack is really good!

Treasure in the Royal Tower

Treasure in the Royal Tower is one the earlier games, but don’t let that convince you it isn’t any good.  The plot sees Nancy investigating an inn once associated with Marie Antoinette as she tries to find hidden treasure.  This game has one of the more intriguing settings for players to explore.

Stay Tuned for Danger

The second game released by HerInteractive, Stay Tuned for Danger has Nancy investigating threats made against a soap opera star.  The older games are fun to play because players must sometimes advance the game by going to sleep, plus clues must be found in order for the game to progress, adding some difficulty.  (There’s also the novelty of having to find a landline instead of having ready access to a cellphone.)  I also remember that players had to accuse characters of committing the crime and lost if they guessed wrongly; the later games usually just have the villain reveal themselves before a final chase scene.

What are your favorite Nancy Drew video games?