Hidden Around the World Review (PC)

Hidden in My Paradise developer Ogre Pixel has put out a brand-new hidden object game for PC. Unlike its previous chapter, the aptly titled Hidden Around the World pushes the boat out to cross vast waters and boundaries in an attempt to capture the beating heart of multiple cultures and landmarks, from the serene canals of Venice to the bustling neon-soaked streets of Tokyo. With the same land-scrubbing gameplay hook and interactive elements that made its predecessor the vibrant delight that it was, Hidden Around the World doesn’t aim to reinvent the wheel, but simply stretch the four corners of the earth to incorporate fresh locations, objects, and theme-appropriate set pieces. And I suppose that’s all that this is: a familiar game with a huge helping of diversity. Honestly, it doesn’t need to be anything more than that to make a lasting impression.

Hidden Around the World might not redefine the hidden object sphere with its familiar features and scrubbing techniques, but for what it’s worth, it does keep ahold of some of its own in-house features and creative styles, with its cozy pixel-pasted aesthetic and charming UI providing an effortlessly wholesome and engaging experience for both old-school explorers and newcomers alike. It might not be the most technically impressive game available on PC, but that isn’t exactly what you want from a game like this. It’s free-flowing, wholesome fun that doesn’t require a lot of effort to solve, nothing more, nothing less.

Of course, the signature gameplay mechanics are still as instantly recognizable as ever, with the same search and find blueprint and the same lovable set pieces to match the original design as featured in Hidden in My Paradise. In other words, it isn’t a new experience; it’s the same experience, only with different biomes, objects, and interactions. But, again, this isn’t a bad thing. On the contrary, it’s a great way to suppress old memories and provide a familiar backdrop for fans of the ever-evolving series. And as for those who are new to the saga, well, it’s an easy entry-level experience that, in all honesty, really doesn’t require you to think outside of the box to understand, let alone complete.

With thanks to its broad range of locations and cozy cultural references, Hidden Around the World makes for a charming excursion that touches on all of the right places. It might not get everything right, but it certainly does a brilliant job of encapsulating all of the quirks and local infusions of big city culture and sweet suburban life. And it packs a lot into its core, too, with cities and boroughs that range from Paris to New York and a number of other photogenic locations between. It might not harbor the most visually striking representation of the modern world, but to give credit where it’s due, it does lean into all of its usual aspects to create a lovingly crafted, albeit voiceless narrative that speaks for each country in the best possible light. And that’s all I want from a game like this: a simple puzzle that captures the essence of its chosen cities.

While there isn’t a whole lot of replay value to it, the game does provide more than enough locations and challenges to keep you invested for longer than the average hidden object title. Granted, it could do with more, but for what it does provide—a seamless tour of the capitals—it certainly justifies the price tag. What’s more, it crams a lot into each of its locations, too, with all sorts of intricate set pieces and, to add, a suite that allows you the flexibility to create your own bite-sized scenes and fill them with wholesome details of your own. It’s a small perk, but it definitely adds an extra layer of depth to the overall experience. It might lack replay value and the weight of a full campaign, but it’s still worth checking out, if only for the creative tools and communal support.

Suffice it to say, Hidden Around the World is an easy game to learn on the fly. With barely any mechanics to swivel your head around, you can, in all honesty, slip into the deep end and begin stacking objects right off the bat. What’s more, as it offers a beginner-friendly tool that allows users to build and share their own worlds and creations, it’s also a communal experience that can give you inspiration and, more importantly, the tools to formulate your own personal cubbies. In other words, you don’t need to be a detective, much less an artistic director to enjoy the wealth of content that Hidden Around the World spouts out. In short, you just need a cursor, a keen eye, and a willingness to pluck out cozy embellishments.

Verdict

Hidden Around the World takes the wholesome pixel-coated aesthetic from its original incarnation to new boroughs in a globe-trotting journey that bears all of the cozy elements of a lovable and simple entry-level search and find puzzler. With a generous collection of cities and famous landmarks to explore and a vast selection of set pieces and interactive doohickeys to fumble around with, it doesn’t just replicate all of the original components, but bolsters them with a fresh lick of paint. And that’s all that you truly need here. It might not supply the most complex mechanisms in the world, but it serves its purpose, and that counts for a lot.

If you happened to miss out on Ogre Pixel’s Hidden in My Paradise back in 2024, then consider Hidden Around the World as an ideal place to commence your journey into the depths of lovingly crafted sticker-like search and find tales. It might not provide a huge expedition that can keep your fingers twiddling for weeks, but if you happen to be on the market for a smooth and reliable globe-traversing excursion from the far reaches of the earth to the center, then you should definitely make Hidden Around the World the next spot to lay your anchor.