Find My Frogs Review (PC)

Hidden object games are amphibious in nature—transparent pieces of ubiquitous art that frequent numerous ponds and still find fresh ways to breathe life into the mainstream, no matter its depth, size, or populous. They are, in many respects, games that require no formal explanation or a float to tread — like Find My Frogs, in the case that you don’t have to be an expert to understand how certain amphibians can be near-perfect subject materials or photogenic focal points. Like a lot of leaves in its pond, things just work as they should, similar to how pieces of a puzzle just naturally align themselves together in a way that doesn’t require an in-depth analysis. And while hidden object games aren’t for everyone, such independent arts are, without a doubt, canvases that we can’t help but admire, nonetheless.

There’s no denying that there is an abundance of hidden object titles available in this day and age; the mere fact that we only recently covered 100 Zombie Cats speaks volumes about the overwhelming quantity of them alone, funnily enough. But this—Find My Frogs—is somewhat different than the other eggs in the basket, so to speak. Conceptually, it’s one and the same: a player navigates a series of levels and, with the aid of a stern eye for detail and small ink blots of a rather peculiar design, checks a series of different subjects from a rather generic list. In 100 Zombie Cats, there were felines to unearth. Here, it’s the same basic scenario — but with amphibians. Not a lot to touch base on there, then.

So, is Find My Frogs worth hopping into the pond for, or is it something that you would be much better off letting slip through your fingers? Let’s dive a little deeper and find out.

A Frog In Need Is a Friend Indeed

Find My Frogs is an effortlessly wholesome, albeit incredibly simple hidden object game in which you have just the one task to complete: find frogs. As the title openly states, the purpose of the game is to draw you into a colorful world—Moss Glade—and have you scrub the ponds and other woodland grottos in an effort to unearth a total of 350 frogs and toads. In addition to the surplus of amphibians to locate, you also have the responsibility of tracking down a little over sixty “special” secretive items, all of which can contribute to a generously-sized catalog that you must flesh out in order to fulfill a checklist.

Unlike a lot of other hidden object games, Find My Frogs doesn’t utilize a timed feature, meaning, if you would soon rather relax and bathe in the ambiance of the world and all its colorful boroughs, then there’s nothing preventing you from doing just that. See, there isn’t much of a challenge to throw yourself into here; if anything, the game invites you to take your time and enjoy the atmosphere and the therapeutic benefits that tie in with the experience. And I’ll be honest — I’m a real sucker for that sort of approach. After all, there’s nothing worse than forking out cash for a hidden object puzzler just to have it shed its skin and close the curtains after the first five minutes or so. Find My Frogs, however, doesn’t do that; it rewards you for taking small steps without resorting to the usual fluff.

Amphibians Aplenty

Moss Glade is a real treat to explore. In fact, it’s thanks to the small but meaningful moments and short encounters that you share with the frog folk that Find My Frogs, in general, is a lot sweeter and more immersive than your bog-standard hidden object IP. For example, during several instances with the frogs, you have the option to interact with their activities—picking strawberries, capturing a heartwarming photograph, or bouncing a beach ball around in a small hot spring, to list just a handful of things. What’s more, as you can physically enter a lot of the treetop houses with as little as a single click, as well as jump into several other important locations dotted around the region, you can also witness various communal events take shape, too. And I think that’s a fantastic addition; it adds depth to an otherwise two-dimensional canvas.

Visually, Find My Frogs is one of the sweetest hidden object games I’ve had the pleasure of plugging into. To say that it’s cute just wouldn’t be doing it justice, either. From the coddled gestures to the sketchbook line work, the wholesome interactions to the soothing soundtrack that floats over the natural ambiance of the scene, the composition is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in quite some time. And I’ve seen a lot over the past several years. The fact that this particular creation was also built by just two talented developers, too, just adds to the overall appeal. In fact, I find myself hoping that the folks over at My Eye Studio will return to the pond to produce another chapter in the future. Here’s hoping that, with the full backing of puzzle fans and amphibian enthusiasts alike, greater things will come to fruition. Fingers crossed.

Verdict

While there’s certainly no shortage of hidden object games on the market, there is one that beckons to be found, and I suddenly find myself pointing a finger at the wholesome world of Find My Frogs. Sure, it’s of a similar design as most hand-drawn scrub-and-scout puzzlers on the shelves, but it’s also in possession of some genuinely impressive qualities—an entire index of hidden secrets, interactive activities, and eccentric personalities, to list just a small handful. It’s still a hidden object game at heart, and so, if you’re looking for something that actively tries to break away from the usual trappings, then you might be in for a shock with this particular puzzler. If, however, you know what you want, and you’re more than willing to dab your brush on a canvas that’s distinctly similar to its kin, then you won’t find a shortage of subjects to paint here.