Ghost Detective

The last week or so in March 2026, this game abruptly stopped working. Despite an a app update a few days ago (about April 1), the same problem persists: Every time I open the app, it seems to start normally, my Netflix gamer name flashes on screen in the corner (as usual), then an error message would pop up about being unable to connect to the network/to check my Internet connection. The problem wasn't on my end as other apps and Safari had no problem connecting the my Internet network. Hard restarting the app and my iPad didn't help. Before the most recent update, I would have given this game about 4 stars. I'm not a huge fan of "Hidden Object" games, but this is different enough from what I usually come across that I'm willing to stick with it. Overall, not the best game out there, but it is interesting enough to play a little each day. It avoids the tendency in"Hidden Object" games to make scenes a crowded closet or store full of detailed objects. The storyline of being a ghost solving your own murder is a bit predictable, but this at least adds a different twist to the genre. The best part of Ghost Detective is probably the way it uses its setting of New Orleans to explore the culture of the city.

I usually skip the character dialogue in games, as they add nothing to the game itself and are usually pretty dull. In THIS game, though, I’ve read every word. Each character is complex and flawed and mostly pretty endearing. They’re like people in our own lives: occasionally maddening but we root for them anyway. The STORY actually makes up for the sometimes predictable hidden object puzzle. I only say “occasionally predictable because after playing 80+ levels, I’ve seen it all! Literally. I’ve come to the end of the game. That has also NEVER happened to me before. I usually get bored with a game LONG before I run out of levels. This game has kept me engaged with the puzzles and the story for a very long time. I hope and wish the developers will come up with more levels to play. Speaking of which, I do have one significant complaint. There are three locations that are unlocked later in the game (university, cafe and grocery) that NEVER get any real play. They unlock and…exist, but the characters are NEVER sent there. So…why? Why even build them? Maybe that’s an indication that more game is coming soon, but those locations unlocked at least 20 levels before the end of the game! I would occasionally go there to pick up points or whatever, but they seemed pretty lonely out there with no one to visit. I hope the developers will FIX this. Overall, this is an EXCELLENT hidden puzzle and interactive game. I loved it and I must because this is the first game review I’ve ever written…that may seem obvious. I’m not very fluid in gaming lingo. I only came here to see if there were more games LIKE Ghost Detective to play now that I’m done, but I decided to write this fan letter while I’m here. WELL DONE, Developers! Very well done.

I really want to love this game but the Stakeout mode is so incredibly frustrating. It takes about 7 or 8 times for me to get through all three rounds. I play lots of these types of games so I don’t feel like I’m a terrible player. Having to start back at level one when you fail level two or three is ridiculous, why can’t you just play the current level again to move on? Most levels are fine and if I fail I don’t mind having to play a scene again but the stakeout is just too much the way it is set up. If you are looking for relaxing seek and find this is not it, everything is timed. Might be nice to have the option to chose timed or not timed for a relaxed mode. Also not loving how the scenes are set up. Objects in the background are so small you have to zoom way in and then it is too big for the objects in the foreground, you spend so much time moving the screen around. I will say I like that the objects are not always the same. For example, a crane might be a construction crane in one scene but in another might be an origami crane. Kinda of cool, keeps things interesting! Great to be able to play this with a Netflix account, no ads and you don’t have to accrue energy to play a scene. I like the story line as well and having the option to choose from different responses when talking to other characters makes it a bit different for everyone. All in all a good game just hate the stakeout, more time even would be good. I am usually short about 4 items when time runs out every time.