15 Nancy Drew Games That You Have Never Played Before

During the year 1998, the computer games developer Interactive started releasing Nancy Drew computer games on their website. Some of the titles are derived from Nancy Drew novels that have already been published, such as The Secret of the Old Clock and The Secret of Shadow Ranch.

The ESRB has assigned the games an “E” rating (“Everyone”), indicating that they are intended for players aged 10 and above. 

nancy drew games

They are designed to be played in the popular adventure game format. Nancy must be moved about in a virtual world in order to speak with suspects, collect clues, solve riddles, and ultimately solve the murder.

The games have earned praise for their success in encouraging female participation in video gaming.

Secrets Can Kill, The Remastered Edition

Secrets Can Kill, The Remastered Edition

According to someone who has played through every game in the series, rating these games is not an easy task. As a result, it needed to be done in a way that was enjoyable.

Secrets Can Kill has to be included on this list since it was the first game of its kind, and it was so large that it required two CDs to include everything. This is the lowest-ranked, but still in the top ten, mystery novel for those who like both nostalgia and the excitement of a high school mystery.

The remastering enhanced all of the previous issues, resulting in a comic that will go down in history.

Platform

  • Windows Vista
  • Mac OS X
  • Windows XP
  • Mac OS X Intel
  • Windows 7

Minimum System requirement

  • 1 GHz CPU.
  • 256 MB of RAM.
  • 1 GB of HDD
  • 32 MB DirectX 9.0 compatible video card.
  • 16 bit DirectX compatible sound card.
  • 24X CD-ROM drive.
  • Mouse and speakers.

Message in a Haunted House 

Message in a Haunted House 

The reason why Message in a Haunted Mansion was so amazing was due to the fact that it was so scary. It’s true that there are many other games that have followed suit with ghosts and the paranormal, but any good detective understands that there is always a scientific explanation for what goes bump in the night.

In this particular instance, they were found behind hidden doors and with decoded codes, and they were apprehended. As far as it is recalled, this was the first game to combine everything that was great about the Her Interactive series, including the sketchy characters and Victorian-era setting, all in one package.

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Game Boy Advance

Minimum System requirement

  • OS: Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10.
  • 166 MHz CPU.
  • 16 MB RAM.
  • 16-Bit DirectX 7.0 compatible graphics video card.
  • 135 MB available space.
  • 16-Bit DirectX 7.0 compatible sound card.

Ghost of the Thornton Hall

Ghost of the Thornton Hall

The mix of a dark tale with fascinating characters resulted in The Ghost of Thornton Hall becoming such a success. Despite the fact that the game was much darker than most fans were used to, the narrative was unquestionably a favorite and an utter pleasure to unravel as a puzzle.

The riddles became tiresome as the game progressed, but players persevered and were rewarded with one of the most highly acclaimed Her Interactive games to date.

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Mac OS X
  • Android

Minimum System requirement

  • 1.5 GHz CPU
  • 512 MB of RAM
  • 3GB or more hard drive space.
  • 128 MB DirectX 9.0 compatible video card.

The Silent Spy 

The Silent Spy 

This game was wonderfully done, especially considering that it was one of the later PC games to be released, and the narrative was excellent. Despite the fact that we don’t know much about Nancy’s mother, it was via this game that her history was brought to light.

You must navigate your way through Kate Drew’s history in Scotland, where you will be tasked with carrying out the same job that she carried out years before. It wasn’t only the mystery in this game that was smooth but it was also the gameplay that was perfect.

The presence of a little danger is never a bad thing, and this game was action-packed to the extreme, with no boring moments.

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Mac OS X

Minimum System requirement

  • Processor: 1.5 GHz or greater Pentium 4 CPU or equivalent class.
  • Memory: 512 MB RAM.
  • Graphics: 128 MB DirectX 9.0 compatible video card.
  • Storage: 3 GB available space.

The White Wolf of Icicle Creek 

The White Wolf of Icicle Creek

The 16th game in the series takes place in Alberta, Canada, which was an interesting setting for the game, to begin with. The anticipation of discovering where the next mystery would lead a player is half the pleasure of playing these games, and this one did not disappoint.

From lunch preparation to explosions and all in between, it is the white wolf that truly emerges as the game’s star in this adventure.

A series of riddles and accusations will bring the player to the conclusion of the game when they will find themselves in a heart-pounding situation before figuring out how to get out of it. 

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Wii

Minimum System requirement

  • 128 MB of RAM.
  • An Intel Atom Z510 CPU
  • ATI FireGL T2-128 graphics card

Shadow at the Water’s Edge 

Shadow at the Water's Edge 

This is without a doubt one of the most memorable playthroughs of any video game ever produced. Not only does Nancy go to Japan, but she also has access to the whole city of Tokyo (and beyond) by train. It was as close to an open-world experience as you could get in a PC game of this kind, and it was enthralling. 

The music was fantastic and perfectly suited the story, and each character was vibrant and interesting. Not to mention the fact that there were a few unforgettable jump-scares sprinkled throughout the game’s cutscenes.

Nancy was the only one who can put her Sodoku abilities to the test while also tracking down a malevolent poltergeist, all while creating Bento boxes!

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Mac OS X
  • Classic Mac OS

Minimum System requirement

  • 512 MB of RAM
  • ATI FireGL T2-128 graphics card
  • Intel Pentium 4 1.50GHz CPU

The Curse of Blackmoor Manor 

The Curse of Blackmoor Manor 

Blackmoor Manor was a spooky house that every fan enjoyed visiting, despite the fact that it was frightening. When it comes to mystery games that also happen to be horror games, there’s nothing better than delving into The Curse of Blackmoor Manor, and that’s precisely what it delivered.

While the game’s scenery was stunning, it was the exploration of each character’s dark history that elevated it to a new level of excellence in terms of narrative elements.

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Classic Mac OS
  • Interactive Films

Minimum System requirement

  • 64MB RAM
  • 300 MB hard drive space
  • 16-bit color graphics video card with at least 16MB of VRAM
  • 16-bit Windows-compatible stereo sound card.

The Final Scene

The Final Scene

This game was most likely one of everyone’s first experiences with video games, and it was also one of the first games to include an action-packed conclusion. As players race against the clock to find out whodunit, they come face to face with a villain who seems to be one step ahead of them at all times. 

Ultimately, it was the dynamic use of travel in this game, coupled with the creative hiding places for all of the necessary information, that made it so enjoyable to play.

Also worth mentioning is that every hidden tunnel made things that much more exciting. This, along with Stay Tuned for Danger, were perhaps two of the most popular songs on the radio.

Platform

  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 7

Minimum System requirement

  • OS: Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10.
  • Processor: 166 MHz or greater Pentium or equivalent class CPU.
  • Memory: 16 MB RAM.
  • Graphics: 16-Bit DirectX 7.0 compatible graphics video card..

Warning at Waverly Academy

Warning at Waverly Academy

Warning at Waverly Academy was another game that stood out as a remarkable experience. Nancy was assigned to investigate the goings-on at a private school in this game, which was unlike any other game in the series up to that time. It was also unlike any other game in the series up to that point. 

This game was heavily reliant on interviews, and the player was expected to develop a real connection with each individual with whom they interacted.

Nancy receives frequent threats from an unknown assailant under the identity of the ‘Black Cat,’ who is trying to destroy the graduating class. 

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows

Minimum System requirement

  • 1GHz CPU
  • more than 256MB RAM
  • GPU that is better ranked than 32-bit DirectX 9.0 compatible video card
  • Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista.

Ghost Dogs of Moon Lakes 

Ghost Dogs of Moon Lakes 

Another particular favorite was Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake, mostly because it was a game that had to be played at midnight, in the dark, in order to be considered legitimate. Aside from the spooks, this game featured some very scary moments when it came to going out of the cabin in the middle of the night. 

To make up for the eerie atmosphere, the player was urged to go through a series of intriguing puzzles with an outdoor theme in order to come closer to figuring out what was going on in the game. The narrative, on the other hand, was what kept us so enthralled. 

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows

Minimum System requirement

  • 16 MB of RAM
  • 160MB or more of hard drive space
  • 16-Bit DirectX 7.0 compatible graphics video card
  • 16-Bit DirectX 7.0 compatible stereo sound card

The Creature Kapu Cave

The Creature Kapo Cave

This game was released only a few weeks before the last one and was an amazing joy to play. Time is not as difficult as some of the other games, the player may still take in the sights and sounds of island life, at least for a little while.

Together with the Hardy Boys, Nancy must assume the role of a research assistant in order to find out what is causing the problems on this Hawaiian island, which they do.

However, it was not only the puzzles that made this game so unforgettable, it was also our ability to work together with the Hardy brothers and participate in an apparently infinite number of interesting activities that entrenched this game in our minds.

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Mac OS

Minimum System requirement

  • Windows XP, Windows Vista
  • 1GHz Processor Speed
  • 128MB RAM Memory
  • 1GB Hard Drive Space
  • 32MB DirectX-compatible video card
  • 16-bit sound card
  • CD-ROM 24x

Danger on Deception Island

Danger on Deception Island

While on vacation in the United States, Nancy becomes involved in a case of vandalism and receives a threatening letter. Despite the fact that it was the ninth game in the series, it was unexpectedly superior in terms of fluidity and visual quality.

Each character was well-developed and gave just the right amount of information to keep the narrative moving, and the outside setting was absolutely appropriate for the story.

This whole game was filled with a feeling of dread, and it struck the ideal mix between being scary and exciting at the same time. Not to mention the fact that the gamer will have the opportunity to kayak and go orca-watching.

Platform

  • Microsoft Windows

Minimum System requirement

  • OS: Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista.
  • Processor: 200MHz CPU.
  • Memory: 16MB RAM.
  • Graphics: 16-bit graphics video card.
  • DirectX®: 7.0 or higher.
  • Hard Drive: 200MB of free space.
  • Sound: 16-bit sound card.

The Secrets of the Old Clock

The Secrets of the Old Clock

‘Charming’ would be the word that comes to mind while thinking of The Secret of the Old Clock. This game was a piece of antique art on every level, from the chronology that was set in the year 1930 to the historical allusions to the Great Depression. 

It was impossible not to be spellbound by the music, the characters, and even the setting that the Lilac Inn had been created around for players. The village itself was quaint and gave the impression that one had traveled back in time to solve a mystery that had been unsolved for many decades.

Platform

  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 7

Minimum System requirement

  • 400MHz Pentium.
  • 64MB RAM.
  • 300 MB Hard Drive space.
  • 16-bit color graphics video card with at least 16MB of VRAM.
  • 16-bit Windows-compatible stereo sound card.
  • 12X CD ROM.
  • Mouse and Speakers.

The Shattered Medallion 

The Shattered Medallion 

While some people adored and others despised this game, it cannot be denied that The Shattered Medallion is an excellent game. Even while the narrative was intriguing, it was not everyone’s favorite, many people liked the game because of the puzzle-heavy gameplay. 

The puzzles were creative and complex, and they got a lot of positive feedback from people who like this kind of stuff. For those who were just interested in the narrative, this wasn’t the greatest choice, but it was nonetheless memorable.

Platform

  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 7

Minimum System requirement

  • OS: Windows® XP/Vista/7/8/10.
  • Processor: 1.5 GHz or greater Pentium 4 CPU or equivalent class.
  • Memory: 512 MB RAM.
  • Graphics: 128 MB DirectX 9.0 compatible video card.
  • Storage: 3 GB available space.
  • Sound Card: 16 bit DirectX compatible sound card.

Midnight in Salem

Midnight in Salem

Of course, Nancy’s most recent instance had to be brought up in conversation! While Midnight in Salem is unlikely to become a favorite any time soon, it did leave a lasting impact on the audience.

This heralded the beginning of a new age in Her Interactive detective games, and everything from Nancy’s voice actor to the gameplay was revamped to reflect this. 

Although the game had a mixed reception overall, the visuals and narrative were the highlights of the experience. In addition, it was updated and brought up to date, allowing users to interact with objects and clues in ways they had never been able to do in the past.

Platform

  • Windows Vista
  • Mac OS X
  • Windows XP
  • Mac OS X Intel
  • Windows 7

Minimum System requirement

  • Processor: Intel Core i3 3.00 GHz.
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM.
  • Graphics: Intel HD 4000, 2 GB of video RAM.
  • Hard Disk Drive: 8 GB storage space.
  • Keyboard, mouse, and speakers.