Creator: Artifex Mundi
Platform: iOS
Target Audience: Players 12+; Players that like narrative/mystery based games
In this game Unsolved, it does a good job of immersing players into a series of different mysteries where each of them unfold hidden information such as puzzles, object scenes, and interactive dialogues. The main mechanic of this game is searching for hidden objects and the creator’s use this to serve a narrative device that gives different clues to advance the storyline. For example, discovering a random object in an adbandoned trailer found while driving or a little girl hiding in the closet might lead to information about a character’s past and contribute to the storytelling component of gameplay as shown in the screenshot.
In this game, it has a point and click interface that makes it easy for users to interact with environments and complete tasks such as solving puzzles. These mechanics aren’t obstacles but they are designed to contribute to the narrative’s progressions. Solving a complex puzzle, for example, could symbolize breaking through a character’s emotional barriers and add more depth to the user’s experience in the game.
In this game, each of the mysteries is set in a different location. The architecture in this game has been set up in a way that enhances the overall narrative of the game. In addition, this game’s design guides players through these environments in a way that’s very creative and keeps the player engaged. Through visual cues and interactive hotspots, it’s easy to stay intrigued in the game and continue to find it fun. How the creator uses architecture and different settings in the game creates a story that gives the users playing the game an immersive experience. For example in the beginning of the story I played, it set the scene of me being in Redwood Highway using visuaks.
While Unsolved: Hidden Mystery Games is a great game that offers a wonderful gameplay experience, I definitely noticed some accessibility challenges. Visual cues and intricate details in hidden object scenes can be a problem for players that have visual impairments. The fact that there is no voice narration of any alt text descriptions make the game less accessibility and less inclusive. However, this game also has some accessibility such as different difficult levels and hints which can help players who require assistance. Even with this, I think that the game creator could implement text to speech functionality and various text sizes. I also feel like the game could have more financial inclusivity because although the general game is free to download in the app store, certain content has to be paid for in order to use it, limiting the experience of users who are not willing or able to make purchases. Therefore, more financial transparency in the game would’ve been appreciated.
Overall, I feel that this game did a good job of intertwining narrative and certain mechanics to give an immersive experience. The way the game uses environmental storytelling and interactive tasks/puzzles to keep players engaged is something I enjoyed. However, the game could do a better job of addressing accessibility concerns and having ethical considerations as this would only enhance the player experience that comes with this game.
