Where’s Wally? Search pictures are timeless, but with Hidden Folks, the puzzle genre is only really making the step to the iPhone and iPad. The result is one of the most fun and original iPhone games at the moment.
Hidden Folks: interactive search pictures
Hidden Folks is an idea of Adriaan de Jongh, who put together this charming game together with artist Sylvain Tegroeg. The idea is childishly simple: at the bottom of the screen you see the figures and objects that you have to find in a huge mess that appear on the rest of your screen.
This doesn’t sound very exciting, but the graphic style and sound effects make it happen. The Hidden Folks search images are much more than a static drawing. Each level is a world in itself, in which you can see dozens of figures come to life. In the jungle landscape, monkeys jump through the treetops, campers sit around a campfire and a couple sails in a boat across the river.
Just looking closely at a picture to find all Hidden Folks isn’t enough either. You will really have to investigate, zooming in and out and seeing which objects are hiding a secret. For example, you can roll up the canvas of some tents, chop away bushes and dig holes to discover objects that you did not see before.
This is accompanied by comic sound effects that are all recorded. Tap a tree and you will hear someone whisper ‘whoeeeshhh’ in your ear, or select a male and he will greet you friendly. Comical, and it contributes to the idea that as a giant you are taking a look at a miniature landscape.
A glimpse into a miniature world
Hidden Folks costs 3.99 euros once and currently contains 14 levels. There is also a set of stickers for iMessage so that you can also send the funny figures to your friends. In the level overview you can already see various areas that will be added later via updates. We have already filled a lot of boring train rides with discovering the cartoonish worlds of Hidden Folks, and can recommend everyone to try this too.