The Mystery Case Files series of games is one of the most popular in the "casual" PC downloadable space. While this series didn't invent the "hidden object" seek-and-find style of gameplay, it certainly brought it to the forefront. Now these types of games are all over the casual space and continue to be the most popular choice for lots of players. What makes Mystery Case Files stand above the rest is how Big Fish has continually added new gameplay features to add more depth. The 13th Skull contains so many different elements that it's more of a point-and-click adventure RPG than a simple hidden object game, and though it does have its flaws, it's the best game in the series thus far.
In 13th Skull, as in all Mystery Case Files games, you are a detective tasked with solving a crime. This time around you find yourself in the swamplands of Louisiana investigating the disappearance of a man who had just recently moved to the area. His daughter says she saw him abducted by a ghost, and the locals are so superstitious, it's difficult to get a realistic explanation. In the process of the investigation, you must uncover clues around the old run-down mansion where the family lives, as well as in the neighboring town.
While it's still present, the classic hidden object gameplay really takes a back seat to interviewing people around the town and solving more complex puzzles in order to advance the story. Speaking with people is more interesting in 13th Skull compared to other games in this genre because the characters are portrayed by live actors that you can actually interact with by giving or taking objects from them, as well as choosing different dialogue options. However, very few of these actors are any good. Most of them are desperately overacting, making it feel like you're watching a high school play, which is a shame because the story is pretty decent.
The puzzles offer a decent amount of challenge and a good amount of variety to keep things interesting. In addition, 13th Skull contains a similar tiered hint system to the Drawn series of games, enabling players to get progressively more specific hints or to skip the puzzle altogether if they can't figure it out. My only complaints are that the gameplay involves a lot of back-tracking between areas, and some of the fetch quests for certain characters are just ridiculous. How many private investigators do you know who would round up a maid's cleaning supplies for her or fix the toilet at the local tavern? There's also a point near the end of the game where a character keeps prompting you to hurry up, which is really annoying when you're trying to think about a puzzle.
Download Link
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