Hidden Object: Home Makeover 3

Match three games can offer very little variation when it comes to gameplay, because there are only so many ways you can present the idea. Since all you need to do is click on the requested items, the challenge and the novelty lie in the actual environments and the story, not the mechanics. Depending on the case, it can be quite invigorating to scour locations for hidden items.

Hidden Object: Home Makeover 3 comes with a handful of different gameplay modes to provide the players with diversity, but the hidden object sequences are obviously the most important of all. However, you can also dabble in a few match three rounds, as well as fun variations on the main theme. Obviously, you must be a fan of the genre in order to handle so many action-less levels.

The story revolves Emma again, as it is the case in the rest of the series as well. She returns from a field trip to find out that her uncle’s house and garden need a bit of work, or even a complete makeover. As such, you set out to acquire the required items and make enough money to afford the work on the garden, and you can do that by organizing sales for the people around the neighborhood.

Although you may already be familiar with how hidden object games work, there are a few variations in this case. Sometimes, you’ll only be given the outline of the item you are looking for, while other times the clients will just name the objects. As such, it can get a lot trickier than usual, especially since you also have to watch out for the timer. Thankfully, there is a relaxed mode as well, but it’s not always possible to activate it.

The mini-games look and work nicely too, especially the match three ones. They are not very complicated, but it’s enough to distract you from the usual activity every once in awhile. Speaking of which, the visual quality is quite decent, and the level designers took their time with the environments. The music is rather dull, but at least it keeps your mind wandering.

When it’s all said and done, Hidden Object: Home Makeover 3 is hardly an original game concept, but it’s refined enough to help you unwind in front of the computer for a few hours. Not only that, but it also comes with enough gameplay modes to keep boredom away.