I’m an avid fan of video games and I love playing them to unwind and have fun. Spending some time on my farm in Stardew Valley or working on my latest build in The Sims 4 is one of my favorite ways to unwind after a long day of classes or doing homework in the library. When I was packing up to move out of my dorm last semester, I was scrolling through YouTube to find something to watch while I figured out how I was going to transport everything home. I stumbled across this YouTube creator called WizardKitten who posted videos about these video games based on the fictional teen detective, Nancy Drew. I remembered how I used to read Nancy Drew mysteries when I was younger and was instantly intrigued. After watching one playthrough of a game, Danger on Deception Island, I was hooked. These video games managed to seamlessly combine captivating storytelling with engaging puzzles and immersive atmospheres. I was amazed at the amount of hard work the developer, HeR Interactive, put into creating these games.
I watched a few more playthroughs of some games, even when I wasn’t frantically throwing clothes into moving bags or contemplating why I owned so much stuff. I even decided it was time for me to play a Nancy Drew game by myself. After meticulously combing the Internet to determine what game to start with, I decided to download the 13th game in the series, Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon. I was sold when I discovered that the primary location of this game is a restored 19th-century steam train! Once I started playing the game, I was thrust into a fictional past involving the Gold Rush and an eccentric business magnate named Jake Hurley. I had such a great time exploring the train, talking to the various characters onboard, and solving puzzles that eventually led to the unearthing of a secret gold mine. Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon, like many games in the Nancy Drew series, captured a wonderful sense of adventure further enhanced by excellent storytelling and engaging puzzles. I felt such a sense of accomplishment when I solved the mystery, and eagerly began searching for my next game. Since playing more games, my love and respect have only grown and tapped into that same joy I felt while reading Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid. What is so beautiful about these games is that there truly is something for everyone, from exploring the hidden passages of a medieval English castle to going undercover at an elite all-girls boarding school. I have had the best time solving these mysteries, and I can only hope that others will come to feel the same.