Dexter: Hidden Darkness Review

Two long years after the show’s finale, Dexter finally has its very own spin-off mobile game Dexter: Hidden Darkness. Developed by BlooBuzz Studio, this casual Hidden Object game has been welcomed by content-starved fans around the world. Having watched the series and played the game, I’m finding it difficult to understand why.

Although the game’s content doesn’t follow on from the shows finale – no, you’re not a woodchuck, thank God – the premise is still fairly familiar. You play as Dexter Morgan, a socially awkward yet inexplicably attractive Miami-Metro blood analyst by day and an appalling yet considerate serial killer by night.

Dexter: Hidden Darkness is an odd name, as there are a lot of things placed secretly throughout this game – it is after all, a hidden object game – but darkness certainly isn’t one of them. Despite the fact Dexter killed over one hundred murderers throughout the shows eight year run, Dexter: Hidden Darkness features even more exclusive content filled with additional slayings. There are several levels, referred to as ‘episodes’, to download and play through, however they do become a little repetitive.

Most episodes require you to find random objects within an absurdly cluttered crime scene, one or two of the items you’re asked to find will propel the plotline along. However, these particular objects won’t be there when you replay the level, which you probably will have to do so you can get enough points to unlock future levels. Other mini-games include re-arranging tiles to create a full image and time trials.

Transitioning between these mini-games is somewhat enjoyable, particularly if you watched the show, as many familiar characters make an appearance. However, the dialogue is in dire need of an English-speaking proofreader.

Every episode has a single goal: for Dexter to kill a fellow serial killer. More often than not, Dexter will slay the correct perpetrator early on, then discover there’s an even worse criminal on the loose. This is when Dexter will continue the investigation himself, accompanied by his ghostly father who’ll randomly slide into frame every now and then.

Although there is a good amount of content, progress is irritatingly slow. Each level you play through mercilessly depletes your energy, which is by far the worst aspect of Dexter: Hidden Darkness. You’re then forced to make a choice: do you wait ages for your energy supply to replenish itself or do you spend real cash to progress quicker? If you’re interested in the latter, you can choose between Energy Packs made up of steaks and coffee, Instant Results, Instant Access and Bonus Wheel.

Considering the success of Dexter, a little bit of originality would have been nice, the game feels very generic and could have easily been Criminal Case or CSI: Hidden Crimes. Fans of Dexter who also happen to enjoy Hidden Object games will probably enjoy all the new content available throughout Dexter: Hidden Darkness, but if you’re just looking for a hidden object game, you might be best picking another title to scratch that casual gaming itch.