Summary
- Hidden object games on Steam offer a variety of options, from silly concepts like finding cats in different historical settings to sci-fi adventures or photography quests. There are games for every taste.
- Some hidden object games like Toem and Sizeable provide a more immersive and creative experience, offering unique gameplay mechanics and interactive environments.
- Cozy Grove and Hidden Through Time add depth to the hidden object genre by incorporating simulation elements and exploring different historical periods. These games provide a more engaging and narrative-driven experience.
Hidden object games are casual puzzle adventures in which players must find hidden items in scenes. The pictures in which the objects are hidden are often intricate and can have players look for things based on an image or word to describe the object. These games frequently have mystery, romance, horror, or fantasy elements.
There are many hidden object games on Steam, and several of them are parts of a series. While whole collections can be great, some titles end up more popular than others. Whether part of a series or a stand-alone title, hidden object games provide players the same joy as Where's Waldo? In an adult format and with more items to find.
Updated October 20, 2023, by Chris Birsner: Hidden object games continue to grow in popularity, as many titles are released across nearly all gaming platforms on a monthly basis. Of all the platforms out there, Steam is a big marketplace for hidden object games, especially for those by indie developers. Some are a bit more creative with their hidden objects, like having players interact with a more lively environment to find items or telling a unique story throughout the adventure. Either way, there are so many games of this type, and it is worth taking the time to find the best hidden object game that fits the tone or gameplay experience the player is going for.
21 Cats In Time
While based on a silly concept, Cats in Time is a delightful puzzle game about finding cats inside dioramas. The story goes that Professor Tim Edger invented a time machine, but his cats got ahold of it and a bunch of them have been teleported to different points in history.
From western times to some point in the future, players will explore different settings as they search for cats, who can be hidden behind walls or just out in the open. While some cats can be found easily, others require players to fiddle with specific mechanics to unlock the door that is hiding them.
20 Space Legends: At the Edge of the Universe
Space Legends: At the Edge of the Universe is a sci-fi adventure to another planet at the end of the universe. The player must use their in-game journal and clues to save everyone and escape before everything is destroyed by a comet.
In this galactic game, players can do everything from repairing emergency ships and handling bad weather to healing a princess and trying to avoid being sent to jail. There are a variety of locations to explore with different detailed scenes. The game includes puzzles, mini-games, and stunning scenes of hidden items.
19 Toem
TOEM
- Released
- September 17, 2021
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Puzzle
It is rare for hidden object games, even those with solid stories, to truly feel like an adventure. Toem changes this, as it puts the player in the shoes of a character who is on their way to see a landmark that needs to be seen to be believed.
Toem is a photography game, but not one that focuses on getting the perfect photo. Instead, the camera is used to identify objects that players must capture to complete quests that will help them reach new areas. Along the way, there are also plenty of characters to interact with, along with a beautiful soundtrack.
18 Hidden Through Time
In Hidden Through Time, players travel through the four great ages on various levels. Levels include the Stone Age with dinosaur eggs, Medieval Times with crowns, and more. Players enjoy discovering secrets while exploring the history of the world.
This colorful game includes cryptic hints and cute hand-drawn items to uncover. Players can even create and share their own worlds using the map editor.
17 Sizeable
Hidden object games are all about poking around in an environment to find the specific items the player is expected to find. But what if there wasn't a laundry list to identify, and instead it was three pillars that could be found by solving puzzles?
That is the general premise of Sizeable. Each level is a diorama of a specific setting or time period and the goal of the game is to resize different objects to see how it or the level itself changes. Through fiddling with the different items, players will discover each of the three pillars they need to complete the level.
16 Bubble People
Just like Sizeable has players playing around with their environment, Bubble People is a delightful and free hidden object game that is just about interacting with the environment and experiencing a short love story to go along with it. Although this game has a simple art style, it still has a magical feel to it as players go through each section.
The point-and-click game could only be fifteen to twenty minutes of gameplay if the player only cares about the story. But in addition, there is an endless mode that allows players to continue exploring different areas and interacting with every little thing that they come across. Despite its short length, the story does pack a nice punch for those who enjoy a good narrative.
15 Cozy Grove
Cozy Grove
Hidden object games typically are nothing more than point-and-click experiences, but Cozy Grove has some additional depth. Not only does it feature a controlled charater, but it also includes some simulation elements for those that like activities such as fishing and decorating.
Players take on the role of a Spirit Scout as they move around an island interacting with various ghostly animals. Each character will have a set of tasks that the scout must perform in Cozy Grove. These tasks involve finding objects in the environment and bringing them back to the ghosts. The goal of the game is to keep collecting objects and put the ghosts at ease. The game is meant to be played daily, as there are only a certain amount of tasks that can be completed before the next day.
14 100 Hidden Frogs
100 Hidden Frogs is one of the games released as part of the 100 Hidden series by Anatoliy Loginovskikh. This is a free-to-play game set in a magical forest full of frogs. Players must look closely at the black-and-white landscapes of multiple levels.
Chrono Trigger: 10 Things You Never Knew About Frog
Frog was once a great swordsman by the name of Glenn, but was transformed into an amphibian before the start of Chrono Trigger.
The hand-drawn and cartoon art style add to the uniqueness of this game and make it look like a coloring book. This is emphasized when the found frogs become the only color on the screen.
13 Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek
Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek is the first game in the Enigmatis collection. The plot centers around a character whose body remembers events that their mind can’t recall. Players must not save themselves from a lurking evil but also find a missing teenage girl. The story is immersive, with many layers to keep players engaged for hours.
This game showcases rural Vermont during autumn. Along with hidden objects, players must complete puzzles, and riddles, collect evidence, and more.
12 I Commissioned Some Bees 0
Those that just want a quick hidden object game fix should check out I Commissioned Some Bees 0. This free game on Steam is a collaboration between artists that worked together to hide bees in various pieces of artwork.
There are 10 canvases in all, and each has a wide variety of bees that are either hiding in plain sight are purposely hiding behind specific objects already established in the artwork. In addition to a bunch of bees, there are also some other objects that players can be tasked to find. Plus, there is an unlimited hint system for those who get stuck.