"We wanted to make a very playful, interactive game where our focus was invoking this curiosity for these little worlds and the little stories that unfolded. That was always the vision for the game, and all design decisions we made tried to cater to that sense of exploration."
"Hidden object games have been around for decades - they've existed well before computers, when people searched for objects in paintings and printed drawings - but Hidden Folks was a distinct step forward. De Jongh calls Hidden Folks a 'searching' game; objects are certainly hidden, but the game is more than just spotting objects."
"The searching genre has also emerged as a way for developers to inject story and curiosity into hidden object games. It's easy to draw a line from Hidden Folks to the likes of interactive city discovery games, mystery games, history discovery games, and adventure hidden object games."
Hidden Folks, released in 2017 by Adriaan de Jongh and Sylvain Tegroeg, evolved the hidden object game genre into something distinct. Rather than simply spotting objects, the game focuses on exploration and curiosity within intricate pen-and-ink worlds. Players search for items while discovering interactive details and stories within each scene. The game's success spawned numerous similar titles, establishing a new 'searching' genre that prioritizes narrative and discovery over mechanical object-finding. While some imitators copy the art style and assets, genuine successors like Wind Peaks, Hidden Through Time, and Lost and Found Co. capture the spirit of curiosity-driven exploration that defines the genre.
#hidden-object-games #game-genre-innovation #exploration-and-discovery #interactive-storytelling #indie-game-design
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