A certain free game called Find Differences: Detective is currently holding fast near the top of the iOS charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
I've played it, and I'm not entirely sure why it's proving so successful. I mean, sure, it's a reasonably chirpy spot-the-difference/hidden object game, but there's little skill or wit to its execution.
If you're after a top sleuthing experience, you'll be far better served playing one of these crackers.
Figure out a way to play at least one of these games next. It would be a crime not to.
If you want to play the part of sleuth with real style on iOS, there's one game you should turn to first. Layton's Mystery Journey is a member of the esteemed Layton series, but it's the first that was made at least partially with mobile in mind.
It's far more ambitious than a glorified spot the difference game too, with a series of brain-tickling conundrums to solve. It's also set in one of the most charming videogame worlds imaginable, complete with delightful voice acting.
Framed 2 is another stylish puzzler with a great film noir style. But it's the ingenious central mechanic that really impresses here.
Like its predecessor, Framed 2 plays out like and interactive comic book. It's up to you to rearrange the story panels to lead to a more favourable outcome for your put-upon protagonist.
There's an element of the hidden object game to Find Differences: Detective, but that genre is pulled off with far more style and finesse in Hidden Folks.
Like an interactive Where's Wally book, Hidden Folks gives you a series of beautiful hand-drawn sketches and asks you to dig out the hidden details.
Agent A gives you a colourful world of secrets and espionage, but its puzzles are way more inspired than Find Differences: Detective's simplistic spot-the-difference examples.
It's more akin to an escape-the-room puzzler like, well, The Room, with lots of compact environments to scour for clues. It's a proper adventure, and way more worthy of your time.
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