Hidden around the World review: a cosy little braintickler

The older I get, the more cosy games appeal to my brain. While I love a complex, layered game too, breaking up these adventures with something quieter in-between is brain-tickling. It’s a chance to take a break, slow down and really appreciate the full scope of what games can be.

Sometimes, you’re fighting monsters in fast-paced battles – and sometimes, you’re wandering through a cartoon version of Paris, placing tiny cats among the trees to take the perfect photo.

Hidden around the World is a lovely salve and chance to escape the real world, offering the chance to create your own slices of paradise as you wander various regions searching for hidden objects.

A cutesy hidden object adventure

Hidden object games have been around for a long time, dating back to the early decades of PC gaming. You can find these experiences everywhere, with an array of gimmicks used to mark them out as unique.

What I most like about Ogre Pixel’s efforts, both Hidden around the World and Hidden in my Paradise, is how lush and unique they feel in the space. There is a cohesiveness here that encourages you to immerse yourself in each scene, not only taking time to discover hidden objects, but also interacting with them, moving them around the scene and artfully placing objects to take special photos.

It’s in the little touches that Hidden around the World feels so moreish.

The art style is rounded and colourful, with tiny, cute little creatures populating each world. All objects are interactive, so you can pet critters (and receive coins in exchange), or even remodel scenes by picking up and relocating objects, or opening and closing doors.

You can also select various filters to colour your personal experience, with this option allowing more saturated vivid hues, sunset tones or a more muted colour palette.

In each location – all cartoon versions of the real world – you’ll be browsing complex illustrated scenes, zooming in and out while searching for objects, accompanied by a lush, peaceful soundtrack that lulls the mind.

Nothing else seems to matter as you browse these cosy scenes, forgetting all sense of time and the pressing nature of responsibilities. You forget the real world, and that’s a considerable pleasure, given current global events.

Hidden around the World is pure escapism

There’s really nothing more that you can ask of a game: that it transports you to a better, brighter or more compelling world, where you can fully immerse yourself in something fresh or new.

Hidden around the World offers the right balance of cosy and challenging gameplay to keep you locked into its loop, and away from those pesky worries.

All you need to be thinking about is where exactly that umbrella or juice is, and how you can find every object for your next photo opportunity.

While the game does occasionally get tricky with its object placements, hiding them in cupboards or drawers, or disguising them among objects of similar colours, the joy is in the hunt.

There are extremely low stakes here, and that’s what makes the experience so enjoyable. You’re not fighting off waves of creatures or fulfilling some grand quest. You’re taking your time, walking through parks and clicking your way through scenes to discover all sorts of little items, from pots and pans to gaming consoles, lost pets, and more.

Simplicity can be beautiful. Hidden around the World understands this intensely, delivering an experience that is quiet, cosy and entirely wonderful. For a break from the real world, or just an opportunity to pet some cutesy critters, this is one small journey that’ll take you far away.

A PC code for Hidden around the World was provided by the publisher for the purposes of this review.

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