Nancy Drew®: Shadow at the Water's Edge

This game made this 32 yo fully grown adult cry. Not once, not even twice. But four times. ON JUNIOR MODE. How is this game meant for children?? HOW??? WHO MADE THIS GAME SO HARD? I STILL HAVE TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE. TWELVE HOURS!!! TWELVE HOURS I WILL NEVER GET BACK!!!!!!!! The clicking...going to the wrong staircase EVERY TIME... I can't believe I had to look up TWO DIFFERENT GUIDES. And I still struggled to finish this game!!! I should have let Nancy die and stay dead tbh. The voice acting of Japanese characters being (primarily) white people was also CRAZY WORK. Who decided this?? I clocked that granny's voice IMMEDIATELY. Disgraceful. I'm so glad I was too scared of the Grudge when I was a kid in the 90s because I think I would have had a complete psychotic BREAKDOWN over trying to finish this godforsaken game. Nancy Drew is a stronger soldier than I ever could be.

Puzzles are very repetitive (hope you like sudoku because here is another giant sudoku) and suspects are slim and obvious. Very creepy atmosphere.

My absolute favorite ND game to date (tied with Alibi in Ashes probably) given its setting in Japan and its puzzle heavy content. I loved the spooks, and I am not a horror fan at all! It just suits the game so well and after having replayed this one often I know all the jumpscares by heart. Making bento boxes is still my absolute favorite mini-game, I can play that for hours and have a save file handy just to play some bento when I feel like it. The music and atmosphere definetly inspired me to visit Japan some day and in 2 weeks I finally will!

i love this game

очень класная игра мне нравится мивако ИСТЕРИЧКА ДУРА но яд умаю я смогу найти путь к ее сердцу правда я не знаю ее рут очень трудный и мало вариантов чтобы заинтересовать

Very detailed and challenging game with advanced puzzles.

good

a meep mop mee moop beep soon glop.

Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water’s Edge is still a nostalgic gem! Recently, I’ve already sunk 10+ hours into this game again as an adult, and it’s just as magical as it was in my childhood. The atmosphere, the setting... Everything still holds up beautifully. Characters & Environment ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 = 4.5/5 The setting is fantastic, from exploring the subway on our way to pachinko to wandering the ryokan. As for characters, Yumi is still as energetic, and Nancy is as iconic as ever. Her voice actress, Lani Jean Minella, brings so much warmth, curiosity, and tradition to the classic Nancy we all know. (Fun fact: she also voiced Eve in Mass Effect 3! I'm a huge Mass Effect fan.) The mechanical cat Suki is a nice touch, and the little cultural center inside the ryokan adds charm and personality to the setting. Puzzles ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 = 4.5/5 The bento box puzzle? I'm kind of addicted lol You also get fun brain teasers like monograms, renograms, and sudoku. Even the more “okayyyyyy this is how we do this?” puzzles, like logging into Yumi’s computer, are quirky in a good way. Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 4/5 No spoilers, but my main gripe is definitely with the culprit because a few choices there made me go "hmmm" a bit. True to classic Nancy Drew games style, the characters are mostly part of the mystery instead of ones you're meant to "fall in love with." That’s totally fine, and they’re fun to interact with when they're not annoyed with Nancy (she does grate their nerves a lot) lol Still, the overall mystery is engaging and atmospheric (really like the spookiness, and this may be the eeriest ND game in the series). Bonus Points! Being able to end the day and grade papers in Nancy’s room, take photos with her phone, change her phone settings and collect phone charms, and design your own avatars? Those little touches make the experience feel extra personal and cozy. CONCLUSION: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is absolutely one of the stronger entries in the entire Nancy Drew collection. Nancy Drew games need to keep going! 💪💛

Enjoyed the puzzles.