Left in the Dark: No One on Board Review

There's something immediately very familiar about Left in the Dark: No One on Board. Almost too familiar. Its storyline is a lot like other games in the Hidden Object genre, and for that very reason it's not as gripping as it could be. Focused on a private investigator figuring out just what happened to a ship embroiled in a curse, it's the gameplay that will be most prominent here rather than the storytelling.

Admittedly, Left in the Dark: No One on Board is pretty formulaic when it comes to its mechanics too, but they are fun at least. There's a suitable mix of Hidden Object scenes and puzzles. The former offers up a selection of regular objects, then some that need combining such as shells that must be cut apart by a knife to reveal a much needed pearl. It's typical stuff, but as always it's oddly satisfying to complete.

Puzzles are similarly familiar. Jigsaws and logic puzzles being the most entertaining on offer. There are more environmental challenges too, often requiring seeking out a number of items to combine before opening up a new area. That in itself means there's a certain amount of going back and forth, returning to earlier spots to seek out items that are now more important. It extends the length of the game artificially, rather than in a satisfying manner.

It's all pretty standard stuff - the kind of thing that can usually enthuse Hidden Object fans. Left in the Dark: No One on Board doesn't quite click though. It's a little too formulaic for comfort and its characters aren't overly engaging. It's all fine, but lacks real excitement, leaving that sense that Left in the Dark: No One on Board is a slight missed opportunity.