**Rating: 8/10**
I picked this up during a sale for basically pocket change, and honestly? It's one of the most charming little hidden object games I've played in a while. Sometimes you just need a game that doesn't demand 100 hours of your life, and this one delivers exactly that.
**The Good:**
- **The premise is wonderfully absurd.** An evil scientist threw a bunch of dollar bills into a black hole, and now you have to travel through black-and-white hand-drawn locations finding all 99 of them to save the universe . It's silly, it knows it's silly, and it leans into it.
- **The art style is unique.** Everything is black-and-white hand-drawn artwork that actually shifts into color once you've found all the hidden symbols in a level . It's simple but effective, and there's something satisfying about watching the scene fill with color as you complete it.
- **Pop culture references everywhere.** The game is packed with little nods and jokes scattered throughout the locations . It keeps things entertaining while you're scanning for dollar signs.
- **Perfect for short sessions.** Each level takes maybe 5-10 minutes to complete. It's the kind of game you boot up when you have 20 minutes to kill and don't want to commit to anything serious .
- **Price is unbeatable.** We're talking under a dollar during sales. For that price, even if you only play for an hour, you've gotten your money's worth .
- **Runs on anything.** 68MB install size, needs a potato to run. It'll work on your old laptop, your Steam Deck, whatever .
**The Bad:**
- **No hint system.** This is my biggest complaint. Some of the dollar signs are hidden in genuinely obscure spots, and when you're stuck on the last one or two, there's no help button . You'll be scanning the same area for way too long.
- **Music is repetitive.** The soundtrack is funky and kind of catchy at first, but it loops constantly and can get grating after a while . I ended up muting it and putting on my own music.
- **No zoom function.** For a hidden object game, not being able to zoom in on detailed artwork is a miss . Some areas get crowded with detail, and you'll be squinting.
- **Short.** You'll finish all the locations in about 30-60 minutes depending on how sharp your eyes are . It's a snack, not a meal. That's fine for the price, but set your expectations.
- **Controls are basic.** Mouse-only, point and click. Nothing fancy here.
**Quick Tips:**
- **Play this in short bursts.** It's designed for casual sessions. Trying to grind through all 99 bucks in one sitting will make your eyes tired.
- **Mute the music if it bothers you.** The loop gets old fast. Throw on a podcast or your own playlist instead.
- **Scan systematically.** Without a hint button, methodically scanning the image from corner to corner is your best bet when you're stuck.
- **Don't overthink it.** The dollar signs are all visible—they're not hidden behind clickable objects or puzzles. Just look for the "$" symbol.
- **Buy it on sale.** It regularly goes for 50-90% off . At full price it's already cheap, but at sale prices it's basically free.
- **Check out the bundle.** There's a Gabenwood Bundle that includes the sequel (Gabenwood 2: 99 Hidden Euro) if you enjoy this one .
**Verdict:**
Gabenwood: 99 Hidden Bucks isn't trying to be a masterpiece. It's a simple, charming, slightly goofy hidden object game that knows exactly what it is and doesn't pretend to be more. For the price of a candy bar, you get a handful of beautifully drawn black-and-white scenes to pick through, some pop culture jokes, and that satisfying moment when a level fills with color.
If you're looking for a deep narrative experience or a game with hundreds of hours of content, this isn't it. But if you want something to unwind with for half an hour, or you just enjoy the hidden object genre, this is an easy recommendation.
It's not perfect—the lack of a hint button and no zoom feature are genuine annoyances—but for what you pay, it's hard to complain. Pick it up on sale, mute the music, and enjoy the hunt.
