Nancy Drew: Labyrinth of Lies – Review

The Nancy Drew series is top notch and Nancy Drew: Labyrinth of Lies is another great game. In the game you’ll explore a museum, stages and more amazing scenes and of course solve a mystery. In my review you’ll find out more.

Why Labyrinth of Lies?

Nancy Drew: Labyrinth of Lies is a mystery adventure game that places players in the role of the famous teenage detective Nancy Drew. Set in a museum preparing for a large Greek mythology exhibit, the game combines investigation, puzzles, and storytelling with a theme inspired by ancient myths. As with other Nancy Drew titles, the experience focuses on exploration, observation, and solving mysteries rather than fast-paced action.

The story begins when Nancy travels to a museum that is preparing a special exhibit based on Greek mythology. However, strange things begin happening behind the scenes. Important artifacts go missing, suspicious behavior raises questions, and the exhibit staff seem to be hiding secrets. Nancy must uncover what is really going on before the exhibit opens.

The museum setting is one of the game’s most interesting features. Instead of a single small location, players explore several areas connected to the exhibit, including backstage rooms, workspaces, and display areas filled with mythological references. The setting blends modern museum environments with creative interpretations of ancient Greek themes.

Greek mythology plays a major role in the story and puzzles. Throughout the game, players encounter references to famous myths, gods, and legendary figures. Some puzzles involve interpreting mythological clues or understanding stories from ancient Greek culture. This adds an educational layer to the experience while also making the puzzles feel thematically connected to the plot.

Gameplay follows the traditional Nancy Drew formula. Players explore environments, examine objects, collect clues, and speak with various characters who are connected to the museum. Each character has their own role in the exhibit and may have information that helps move the investigation forward.

The puzzles in Labyrinth of Lies are varied and often quite creative. Some involve pattern recognition or logic, while others require players to carefully observe details in the environment. Certain puzzles are inspired by ancient Greek themes, which helps the game feel cohesive and immersive.

The game also does a good job building mystery. As Nancy gathers more clues, the situation becomes increasingly complicated. Players may begin to question the motives of different characters and wonder who might be responsible for the strange events happening in the museum.

The atmosphere is less spooky than some other Nancy Drew games, focusing more on intrigue and intellectual challenge. Instead of dark forests or haunted locations, the tension comes from unraveling secrets and understanding the connections between the characters and the missing artifacts.

Visually, the game presents detailed environments filled with props, decorations, and historical references. While the graphics are not highly realistic by modern standards, the museum locations are colorful and interesting to explore. The game also includes voice acting for the characters, which helps bring the dialogue and story to life.

However, the game does have some drawbacks.

One of the main challenges players may encounter is the difficulty of certain puzzles. Some puzzles require careful attention and patience, and it may not always be immediately clear what the next step should be. Players unfamiliar with puzzle adventure games may occasionally feel stuck.

The pacing can also feel slow at times. Much of the gameplay involves exploring rooms, reading information, and solving puzzles before the story progresses. Players who prefer more action-oriented gameplay may find the pace gradual.

Another potential issue is that some players may find the museum setting slightly repetitive compared to games that allow exploration of large outdoor environments. Because the game mainly takes place inside the exhibit and surrounding rooms, the variety of locations is somewhat limited.

Despite these limitations, the game offers an engaging mystery for players who enjoy thoughtful problem-solving.

You might also want to check out this post: Gift Guide for Nancy Drew Fans

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

This game is only 1-player and it’s for PC/MAC. We’ve been playing together on two computers on the Steam version for this game.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL.

Pros

Interesting museum setting inspired by Greek mythology.

Creative puzzles connected to mythological themes.

Engaging detective story with multiple suspects.

Encourages observation and logical thinking.

Detailed environments filled with interactive clues.

Educational elements related to mythology.

Cons

Some puzzles can be quite difficult or unclear.

The pacing is slower compared to action-focused games.

The museum setting may feel somewhat repetitive over time.

Graphics and character animations show their age compared to modern games.

Summary

Overall, Nancy Drew: Labyrinth of Lies offers an intriguing mystery adventure that blends detective work with the fascinating world of Greek mythology. Its creative puzzles and thoughtful storytelling make it an enjoyable experience for players who enjoy solving mysteries and uncovering hidden secrets. While the slower pacing and challenging puzzles may not appeal to everyone, fans of puzzle-driven adventures will likely find it a rewarding investigation.