Search for the Wonderland

Hidden object games are less about entertainment and more about relaxing for a while with a time-consuming activity. Some people really love puzzles, even when they are as simple as having to find a certain object in a pile of other items. Thus, spending a few hours looking at static pictures and trying to figure out where are the objects the game asks of you can be a very enjoyable activity.

Search for the Wonderland is a casual game with no story or characters to hold you back. Instead, it only contains a list of scenes you can choose from, all of which have different requests from you and a different array of items to find. These scenes depict a variety of places as well, including real and fantastical realms that feature the usual mysteries and magic artifacts.

Since there is no story to enjoy, the standalone levels must keep you entertained by themselves, otherwise boredom appears in a rush. Thankfully, the game at hand avoids this by including two different game modes”, such as Relaxed and Hardcore. While the Relaxed more asks you to pinpoint a rather long list of objects, the Hardcore mode puts a time limit over your head as well.

Gameplay-wise, all you need to do is click on the desired object and see whether it resembles any from the list. There are no restrictions to limit your clicks, which means that you are free to spam the screen as well. There are hints you can use to find items you don’t seem to spot in the scene, but the option has a cooldown period of a few seconds.

As far as the graphic quality is concerned, the game is obviously in 2D, given the fact that you are merely working with a couple of flat pictures. Still, there are some interesting special effects to lighten the mood every now and again, as well as a calming soundtrack playing in the background at all times. The music is not memorable, but it’s good enough to keep you company when you are tired of silence.

In the end, Search for the Wonderland is a bit too lackluster for most HOG fans, mainly because there are far better polished games out there. However, if all you’re looking for is an opportunity to find hidden items, this is just as good as anything else, at least if you don’t want to listen to a story at the same time as well.