Grim Tales: Guest From The Future Collector's Edition stands out as a hidden object puzzle adventure game that blends mystery with time-travel elements. Released in 2019, this PC title from Elephant Games draws players into a narrative where you step into the shoes of a detective unraveling a family curse tied to a deadly illness. As part of the long-running Grim Tales series, it challenges you to investigate scenes, solve riddles, and piece together clues to prevent a tragic fate for the Gray family. With its point-and-click mechanics, the game appeals to those who enjoy story-driven experiences filled with hidden object hunts and brain-teasing puzzles.
Gameplay
The core of Grim Tales: Guest From The Future revolves around exploring detailed environments to locate hidden objects that advance the plot. You navigate through various locations, scanning scenes for items listed at the bottom of the screen, often requiring keen observation to spot cleverly disguised elements. Beyond object hunting, the gameplay includes a variety of mini-games and puzzles, such as assembling mechanisms or decoding symbols, which tie directly into the story's progression. Inventory items collected during exploration play a key role, allowing you to interact with the environment in meaningful ways, like using a tool to unlock a door or reveal a secret compartment. The game's pacing keeps things engaging by alternating between hidden object sequences and puzzle-solving segments, ensuring a balanced mix that tests both perception and logic.
Controls are straightforward, relying on mouse clicks to interact with objects and navigate menus, making it accessible for casual players. The Collector's Edition adds layers with collectible portraits of the Gray family scattered throughout, encouraging thorough exploration. Achievements reward specific accomplishments, like completing puzzles without hints, adding replay value for completionists.
Game Modes
The primary mode is the main story campaign, where you follow the journey to uncover the origins of a mysterious illness plaguing the Gray family. This narrative-driven mode spans multiple chapters, each building on the last with escalating stakes involving time travel and family secrets.
In the Collector's Edition, a bonus game extends the experience, focusing on rescuing Alice's mom in an additional storyline that delves deeper into the lore. This mode unlocks after completing the main campaign, providing extra content for those invested in the plot.
Story and Setting
Set against a backdrop of a grim future intertwined with the past, the game weaves a tale of tragedy and redemption. Your character receives a visit from a future version of your daughter Alice, warning of an impending doom that could wipe out the family line. Locations range from eerie mansions to futuristic labs, each hand-drawn with atmospheric details that enhance the mystery. The narrative unfolds through cutscenes and dialogues, revealing twists about the illness's source and its connections to the Gray lineage.
Is It Worth Playing?
For enthusiasts of hidden object puzzle adventures, Grim Tales: Guest From The Future Collector's Edition offers a solid entry in the genre with its compelling story and varied challenges. Player reception has been positive, with 86% of 15 user reviews on platforms rating it favorably, praising its engaging puzzles and narrative depth. The game remains in a stable state without ongoing updates, as it's a complete 2019 release, but its self-contained nature means no need for live service elements. If you prefer single-player experiences that emphasize exploration and problem-solving over action, this title provides worthwhile entertainment, especially with the bonus content in the Collector's Edition. Those new to the series can jump in without prior knowledge, though fans of earlier Grim Tales games will appreciate the continuity.