Hidden In My Paradise [Review]

Hidden in My Paradise is proof that a simple idea for a game can still be an effective one. This comes from developer Ogre Pixel, creator of Tiny Sticker Tale and Lonesome Village.

Genres: Puzzle, Indie game, Casual game

Platforms: Nintendo Switch [reviewed], Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Mac operating systems, Android

Publishers: Ogre Pixel, Crunchyroll

Engine: Unity

The premise to this game is very simple. Players find hidden objects and recreate scenes with said objects to meet level objectives. Meeting level objectives nets the player gold and tickets for the item shop. The game seeks to make this process as comfortable as possible for the player, and levels are made with multiple accessibility options. Examples include the ability to adjust lighting levels and multiple different color filters. Also included is the option to zoom closer in and further out. If a player is stuck, they can request the game to show you the general location of an object for no penalty or cost. A level can be completed in about 10-15 minutes, making this game ideal for short play sessions. 

If that was all there was to it, it would be a serviceable title. However, Hidden in My Paradise goes a little farther by allowing players to build their own stages from which they can share with others. In turn, this could potentially give the game tons of content to keep going after the base game is finished, as long as there is a thriving community making stages.

I'm not much of a creator in that sense, but I did play around with the stage builder, creating a place full of possums (very on brand I know). It was easy for me to use, and I believe it would be accessible for most people. I felt I could accomplish what I wanted to do easily.

All of this is enhanced by very cute, aesthetically pleasing graphics with tons of adorable animals and fun objects.

I played my review copy on the Nintendo Switch. While I think it would be a little easier to control with a mouse, it was manageable. This also gave it the advantage of being something I could take on the go, and I found myself playing this on my breaks at work  (Thank you devs for the free key).

It's cute, it's simple, and it's affordable at $9.99. There's a lot to like in this tiny little package. To me, It truly is the perfect example of an ideal casual game.                                       

Rating: 9/10