Hidden in My Paradise

I don't know if I've grown up to be a huge fan of the hidden object genre because my mom loves them so much or because I've learned to slow down and enjoy the little things; regardless, I've dabbled in yet a new title! This time around, I got to play Hidden in My Paradise, a game that caught my attention when I read you get to decorate; as anyone who knows me will tell you, I'm a bit addicted to that.

This title, developed and published by Ogre Pixel, brings a lot of unique approaches to the genre without sacrificing simplicity. Hidden object games have changed a lot throughout the years — some of them are just about looking for that one Wally hidden among a thick crowd, others are about unravelling mysterious storylines and walking through old mansions. Hidden in My Paradise falls somewhere in the middle, allowing you to choose how complex you want your experience to be but never becoming more than what it's supposed to be.

Let me elaborate by telling you about the gameplay itself! In the game, we play as the aspiring photographer Laly, and we get to explore different areas, ranging from a forest and a beach to a city. Each one has a handful of levels you can play through, and the deeper you go, the bigger and more challenging they become. You'll also find a few challenges to complete in each one; namely, you can find the fairies that are hiding in plain sight as objects (you'll find them by looking for sparkles), and you can recreate images to get some extra points. By this, I mean that you're giving a few photographs with items in them, and you have to grab them and make the image; it doesn't have to be a one-to-one remake, as you can add things or rearrange the way they are presented, but you do have to find all the stuff in the pictures.  

The main incentive to finish all the challenges, aside from the obvious fun of it, is that you'll get currency to unlock decoration items. For those who aren't keen on decorating or don't care to make a map for others, this might not be a big deal, but I was ecstatic about it. While it's fun to go into the sandbox mode in any hidden object game that allows you to create a map, it was very exciting to have to work for them; it gave me reasons beyond completion (which isn't usually a big incentive for me), and I could feel the dopamine hits when I would get to play the gacha. These sorts of mechanics are usually found in pay-to-win titles, so it was nice to feel the nostalgia of being a kid with a few coins and wondering what cool toy I'd get without worrying about my money. Plus, every time I'd get to a new map, my mind would whirl with ideas to decorate with the new stuff in them.

Another fun aspect of Hidden in My Paradise is that you get to move things around even as you're playing the maps. If you find it easier to just move everything to one side as you look for objects, you can do that; if you like a particular level and want to decorate it differently, nothing is stopping you. It's a simple yet unique and fun addition that I never knew I'd love.

Honestly, I think I found my new favourite hidden object game. Aside from its uniqueness and how fun it is, I feel it was very well made, as placing items on things isn't clunky, and it's rare to see interactable furniture that works properly. A great example is the adorable in-game Ferris Wheel or Merry-Go-Round! It adds life to the game. Heck, you can even click on the animals on the map for a chance to get a few coins! Hidden in My Paradise is just bursting with charm and wholesomeness.